NestJS TypeScript Starter

NestJS TypeScript Starter is the official MIT-licensed starter repository for the NestJS framework, giving you a TypeScript project skeleton for a Node.js server-side application together with pnpm scripts for development, watch mode, production, and testing.

What is the NestJS TypeScript Starter?

It is a TypeScript starter repository published by the NestJS organization (github.com/nestjs/nest), where the framework's author Kamil Myśliwiec is listed as the maintainer. The repository supplies a bare project structure rather than a finished app: you install dependencies with pnpm, then run scripts that compile and boot the application. NestJS itself is described on the page as a progressive Node.js framework for building server-side applications, and the starter is the default starting point for that framework on the Node.js runtime.

What makes the NestJS TypeScript Starter stand out?

• NestJS framework base — targets NestJS, a Node.js framework for server-side applications, with TypeScript as the project language.
• pnpm-based setup — dependencies are installed with pnpm install; no other package manager is configured in the repository's instructions.
• Run scripts — pnpm run start (development), pnpm run start:dev (watch mode), and pnpm run start:prod (production mode).
• Test scripts — pnpm run test for unit tests, pnpm run test:e2e for end-to-end tests, and pnpm run test:cov for coverage.
• AWS deployment path — the page points to NestJS Mau, which deploys a NestJS application to AWS in a few clicks from the browser.
• Runtime introspection — NestJS Devtools lets you visualize the application graph and interact with the running NestJS application in real time.
• Learning and support channels — official documentation at docs.nestjs.com, video courses at courses.nestjs.com, a Discord server, an enterprise support offering, and an official jobs board.
• MIT license and open funding — the project is MIT licensed and supported through Open Collective backers and sponsors plus PayPal donations.

Who should use the NestJS TypeScript Starter?

• Backend developers starting a new Node.js API: clone the repository, run pnpm install, and begin writing server-side code in TypeScript instead of wiring up a build toolchain by hand.
• Teams standardizing a TypeScript server architecture: use the starter's fixed script names so every project in the organization builds, watches, and tests the same way.
• Developers evaluating NestJS: spin the starter up in watch mode with pnpm run start:dev and explore the framework before committing to it.
• Learners following the official material: pair the starter with the NestJS documentation and the courses site for hands-on practice.

How does the NestJS TypeScript Starter work?

1. Clone the repository, then run pnpm install to fetch dependencies.
2. Start the app with pnpm run start, or use pnpm run start:dev for watch mode during development.
3. Switch to pnpm run start:prod for production mode.
4. Verify the code with pnpm run test, pnpm run test:e2e, and pnpm run test:cov.

Alternatives

• Express — a minimal, unopinionated Node.js HTTP library without NestJS's project scaffolding and script conventions.
• Fastify — a Node.js server framework focused on low-overhead request handling; NestJS can also run with Fastify as its underlying HTTP adapter.
• AdonisJS — a batteries-included MVC framework for Node.js with a different structure and conventions than NestJS.

FAQ

Is the NestJS TypeScript Starter free?

Yes. The repository ships under the MIT license, so you can use, modify, and redistribute it, including in commercial products. Development is funded voluntarily through Open Collective backers and sponsors and through PayPal donations rather than through paid licensing.

Do I need pnpm to use this starter?

The setup, run, and test commands shown in the repository all use pnpm, including pnpm install, pnpm run start:dev, and pnpm run test:e2e. Other package managers are not documented on the page, so sticking with pnpm keeps you on the commands the starter was written for.

How do I run the tests?

Use pnpm run test for unit tests, pnpm run test:e2e for end-to-end tests, and pnpm run test:cov to produce a coverage report. All three are preconfigured scripts, so no test runner setup is required before your first run.

Where can I get help with NestJS?

The page lists the official documentation at docs.nestjs.com, a Discord community server, video courses at courses.nestjs.com, and a paid enterprise support channel. There is also an official jobs board and accounts on X and LinkedIn for release updates.