Relay — Express REST API Starter (JWT Auth + CRUD)

Relay requires Node.js 18 or higher and uses ESM (ES Modules) throughout. There is no build step needed — you can run it directly after installing dependencies.

Out of the box, Relay uses an in-memory data layer so you can run and explore it immediately with zero database setup. The data layer is designed to be swappable, so you can drop in a real database (such as PostgreSQL or MongoDB) by replacing the data layer without restructuring the rest of the codebase.

You receive a complete, runnable Express 4 project with JWT authentication (register, login, me), a full Notes CRUD resource with search, filtering, and pagination, zod validation, security middleware (helmet, cors, rate limiting), central error handling, request logging, a health endpoint, and an interactive API explorer served at /. It is a production-shaped foundation, not a minimal hello-world scaffold.

Authentication is implemented with JWT — covering register, login, and a protected /me endpoint — with passwords hashed using bcrypt. Security is further reinforced with helmet, CORS configuration, body size limits, and rate limiting on auth routes, making it a solid and responsible starting point for a real backend.

The Notes CRUD is included as a concrete, working example of the layered routes → services → data pattern, but the structure is intentionally clean and modular. You can add new resources or replace Notes by following the same pattern, since validation, error handling, and auth middleware are all wired in centrally rather than per-resource.

As a digital marketplace product, Relay is sold as a code starter rather than a managed service, so support and update terms are governed by the marketplace's standard policy. It is recommended to review the seller's listed support options on the product page before purchasing.