MERN STACK Boiler Plate
Tags: webdev, react, mongodb, tutorial
Published: 2023-11-14 06:01:06

The MERN stack is like a dream team for building web apps. It includes MongoDB for data storage, Express.js for the server, React for the front-end, and Node.js to tie everything together. It's a popular choice among developers for creating web applications.

[I previously wrote an article](https://dev.to/skateallday/dynamic-data-rendering-with-react-simple-maps-1ep2) about dynamically rendering data onto a travel map which, will not necessary to read before this one, really showcases the fun visuals we can create in modern web development.

Today, I'm going to go through the project technologies. 

Here are the four languages that we will use within the MERN Stack. 

**MongoDB Database:** First, get your MongoDB database up and running. It's like the digital warehouse where your data will live. Make sure you have it installed and configured.

**Express.js Server:** Next, create your Express.js server. Think of it as the traffic cop that handles requests and serves data from your MongoDB database.

**React Front-End:** Now, it's time to build the React front-end. This is what your users will see and interact with. Create your components and design the user interface.

**Node.js Glue:** Node.js plays the role of glue here. It connects your React front-end to the Express.js server. It's like the wiring that makes everything work together.**

Now that might seem like a whole load of jargon to process, but just think of each of these as main missions filled with side quests that will level you up into a full stack demi-god. 

**MongoDb Database**
MongoDB is like the chef in the kitchen, expertly preparing your data, but it doesn't have a Chrome extension you can magically whip up in your browser. It's more like the secret sauce behind the scenes.

To interact with MongoDB, you'd need to play the role of the customer at a restaurant. You don't create the restaurant or the chef; you visit it. Your web browser is like the restaurant, and MongoDB tools are the menu that lets you order, view, and manage your data. So, you can't create MongoDB in Chrome, but you can definitely dine at the MongoDB restaurant with the help of web-based tools.

**Express.js server** 
Your Express.js server is like the conductor of a symphony in the world of web development. It acts as the stage manager, orchestrating the flow of your web application. Just as a stage manager sets the scene, Express.js prepares the environment for your app to shine. It's the traffic cop ensuring that requests find their way to the right destinations and fetching the necessary data from the MongoDB database, like actors retrieving props. Express.js creates the scenes, or routes, where the action unfolds, and it handles the applause by serving responses back to the audience, your users. It's like a theatre in constant rehearsal, making sure everything runs smoothly, and just like a conductor keeps the show going, Express.js ensures your web app operates seamlessly, delivering the experience your users deserve. It's the maestro of your web application's performance.

**CREATE-REACT-APP** 
Creating a React app using Create React App (CRA) is like painting a masterpiece on a digital canvas. It all begins with a blank canvas, and CRA is your virtual easel and paintbrush. With a simple command, you set up your creative workspace. Imagine you're an artist who picks up their favourite set of brushes (in this case, TypeScript) to start bringing your ideas to life. The components you design are like the vibrant colours on your palette, each with its unique role in your visual story. As you shape your user interface, it's akin to crafting a captivating composition. Just as artists draw inspiration from the world around them, you gather ideas from the digital landscape to create a web application that's both visually appealing and user-friendly. CRA takes care of the technical intricacies, allowing you to focus on the artistic side of web development. It's a platform that empowers you to paint your digital dreams, one pixel at a time.

**Node.js**
Node.js, the glue of your MERN stack web application, is like the bridge that connects two magical islands: your Express.js server island and your React front-end island. It's the mythical storyteller who weaves a tale connecting these distinct worlds. Just as a bridge links two lands, Node.js bridges the server and the front-end, ensuring they speak the same language and share data harmoniously. It's like the wiring in a complex machine, making sure that all the cogs and gears run smoothly. Think of it as a unifying force that binds your web app together. Just as a masterful chef combines various ingredients to create a delightful dish, Node.js mixes your server logic and front-end magic to serve a delectable user experience. It's the bard of your web development saga, harmonizing your MERN stack components into a beautiful, functioning whole.

Your MERN stack journey is a thrilling quest where MongoDB serves as the silent powerhouse, Express.js takes the director's chair orchestrating the web symphony, React paints a vivid canvas with TypeScript as its brush, and Node.js emerges as the master storyteller weaving connections between server and front-end islands. This dream team transforms web development into a captivating adventure, with each technology playing a vital role. MongoDB is the secret sauce, Express.js is the orchestrator, React is the artistic palette, and Node.js is the unifying force. Together, they create a seamless and enchanting digital experience, turning you into a full-stack demi-god on this exciting mission filled with coding quests.