Overview

MERN is a scaffolding tool that simplifies the process of building isomorphic apps using Mongo, Express, React, and NodeJS. It aims to minimize setup time and enable developers to quickly start working with these proven technologies.

Features

• Easy setup and scaffolding for building isomorphic apps
• Integration with MongoDB for database management
• Utilization of the Express web framework for server-side functionality
• React Router for handling page requests and browser history
• Support for Redux for state management
• Webpack configuration for bundling modules
• Server-side rendering of assets through webpack
• Hot module replacement for efficient development

Installation

1. Ensure that MongoDB is running on your system. If not, refer to the MongoDB installation guide for instructions.
2. Make sure you have npm version 6 or higher installed.
3. Clone or download the MERN repository.
4. Open a terminal or command prompt and navigate to the MERN directory.
5. Run the following command to install the dependencies: npm install
6. After the installation is complete, you can start using the available commands.

Available Commands

• npm run start: Starts the development server with hot reloading enabled.
• npm run bs: Bundles the code and starts the production server.
• npm run test: Starts the test runner.
• npm run watch:test: Starts the test runner in watch mode.
• npm run cover: Generates a test coverage report.
• npm run lint: Runs the linter to check for lint errors.

File Structure

• webpack.config.dev.js: Webpack configuration for development environment.
• webpack.config.prod.js: Webpack configuration for production environment.
• webpack.config.server.js: Webpack configuration for bundling the server in production.
• webpack.config.babel.js: Webpack configuration for server rendering of assets included through webpack.

Summary

MERN is a scaffolding tool that simplifies the setup and development process for building isomorphic apps using Mongo, Express, React, and NodeJS. It provides features such as easy setup, integration with MongoDB and Express, server-side rendering, and support for Redux. The installation process involves ensuring MongoDB is running, installing dependencies, and utilizing available commands for development, testing, and production bundling. Overall, MERN aims to speed up the development process and leverage popular technologies for building robust web applications.