Build Bleeding-Edge, Full-stack Next.js Apps with create-o3-app

Create O3 App is a command-line tool that generates type-safe, full-stack Next.js applications with experimental web development technologies.

You can use the CLI to build modern web applications that require a backend and a frontend.

It generates a project with a pre-configured structure, including a database ORM, an authentication solution, and a type-safe API layer.

This setup is ideal for prototyping, building personal projects, or for any developer eager to learn and implement the latest web technologies.

GitHub

Official Website

Features

🚀 Next.js application generation with App Router architecture.

🔥 oRPC integration for type-safe client-server communication.

🛡️ Flexible authentication options with BetterAuth or Auth.js.

🗄️ Drizzle ORM database layer with automatic migrations.

✅ ArkType runtime validation for enhanced type safety.

📝 Strict TypeScript configuration with comprehensive type inference.

⚡ Pre-configured NeonDB database setup.

🎨 Tailwind CSS styling with optimized configuration.

🔧 Complete development tooling with Biome and Prettier.

🐳 Optional Docker configuration for containerized deployment.

🎯 Modular architecture allowing selective feature inclusion.

📡 Multiple package manager support (npm, pnpm, yarn, bun).

Use Cases

Rapid prototyping of full-stack applications with experimental web technologies
Building type-safe applications that require end-to-end TypeScript inference
Creating Next.js projects with modern authentication and database integration
Developing applications where you prefer newer tools over established alternatives
Setting up development environments for testing cutting-edge web development libraries

How to Use It

1. You can start a new O3 Stack project using the interactive command-line interface. This method guides you through the setup process by asking a series of questions about your desired configuration.

Open your terminal and run the following command.

npx create-o3-app@latest

The CLI will prompt you to enter a project name and select the components you wish to include, such as an authentication method, Drizzle ORM, and oRPC.

2. For a non-interactive setup, you can pass flags directly in the command line. This approach is useful for automating project creation or when you already know your exact requirements.

The command below creates a new project named my-new-app that uses better-auth, includes Drizzle ORM and oRPC, and initializes a Git repository.

npx create-o3-app@latest --project-name my-new-app --auth better-auth --drizzle-orm --orpc --git

3. You can customize the setup with several available options.

--project-name <name> specifies the name for your project directory.
--auth <type> sets the authentication method. Your choices are authjs, better-auth, or none.
--drizzle-orm is a flag to include Drizzle ORM for database management.
--orpc is a flag to add the oRPC package for your API layer.
--git initializes a new Git repository in your project folder.
--docker adds a Dockerfile to your project for containerization.
--run-time <runtime> selects the JavaScript runtime. Your options are node, pnpm, bun, or yarn.

For example, to create a minimal project with only Next.js and TypeScript using the Bun runtime, you would execute this command.

bunx create-o3-app@latest --auth none --no-drizzle-orm --no-orpc --run-time bun

Full-Stack Configuration:

pnpm dlx create-o3-app@latest \
  --project-name full-stack-app \
  --auth better-auth \
  --drizzle-orm \
  --orpc \
  --docker \
  --git

Development Prototype:

bunx create-o3-app@latest \
  --project-name prototype \
  --run-time bun \
  --auth authjs \
  --drizzle-orm

Related Resources

The T3 Stack. A popular stack for building full-stack, type-safe Next.js applications with a focus on stability.
Drizzle ORM. The official documentation for the TypeScript ORM used in the O3 Stack.
Next.js. The official website for the React framework that underpins the O3 Stack.
oRPC. The documentation for oRPC, the type-safe API layer included in the stack.

FAQs

Q: How does Create O3 App differ from T3 Stack?
A: Create O3 App focuses on experimental, cutting-edge technologies while T3 Stack prioritizes stable, proven tools. O3 includes oRPC instead of tRPC, ArkType for validation, and BetterAuth as an authentication option.

Q: Can I use Create O3 App for production applications?
A: Yes, but understand that the included technologies are newer and may have less community support than established alternatives. The generated applications include production-ready configurations and deployment options.

Q: What happens if I don’t need authentication or database features?
A: Create O3 App uses modular architecture. You can skip authentication with --auth none and omit the --drizzle-orm flag to generate applications without these features.

Q: Does Create O3 App support different deployment platforms?
A: The generated applications work with standard Next.js deployment platforms. The optional Docker configuration supports containerized deployment to any Docker-compatible hosting service.

Q: Can I modify the generated application structure after creation?
A: Yes, the generated applications use standard Next.js project structure. You can add or remove features, modify configurations, and integrate additional libraries as needed for your specific requirements.