Starters: create-next-app vs create-t3-app

We want a consistent, low-friction starting point. These are the two common “starter generators”.

create-next-app (official Next.js starter)

When to use:

• you want a minimal baseline and you’ll add pieces (Tailwind, tests, tRPC) intentionally

Docs:

• https://nextjs.org/docs/app/getting-started/installation 

Typical command:

pnpm create next-app@latest

create-t3-app (opinionated full-stack starter)

When to use:

• you want a batteries-included starting point (often includes TS, Tailwind, tRPC, auth options)
• you accept that some choices are made for you up front

Docs:

• https://create.t3.gg/ 

Typical command:

pnpm create t3-app@latest

How this ties to our onboarding

• We can use either generator, but the important part is the standards we document:
  • Next.js App Router usage
  • server/client boundaries
  • Zod validation patterns
  • tRPC protected procedures
  • test strategy (Vitest + Playwright)

Decision note:

• We currently plan: pnpm, single app at repo root, and exercise pages per exercise (tracked in AGENTS.md).

Exercise starter repository (required for submissions)

This repo includes a prepared starter at exercise-starter/.

Learners must:

1. copy that directory
2. run git init in the copied directory
3. push exercise results to their own remote repository

Reference:

• /exercises/00-getting-started