Kenji

The easiest way to create a JavaScript application is by using kenji. This CLI tool enables you to quickly start building a new Next.js application, with everything set up for you. You can create a new app using the default Next.js template, or by using one of the official Next.js examples. To get started, use the following command:

Interactive

You can create a new project interactively by running:

npx kenji@latest
# or
yarn dlx next-app
# or
pnpx kenji
# or
bunx kenji

You will be asked for the name of your project, and then whether you want to create a TypeScript project:

✔ Would you like to use TypeScript? … No / Yes

Select Yes to install the necessary types/dependencies and create a new TS project.

Non-interactive

You can also pass command line arguments to set up a new project non-interactively. See kenji --help:

Usage: kenji <project-directory> [options]

Options:
  -V, --version                        output the version number
  --ts, --typescript

    Initialize as a TypeScript project. (default)

  --js, --javascript

    Initialize as a JavaScript project.

  --tailwind

    Initialize with Tailwind CSS config. (default)

  --eslint

    Initialize with ESLint config.

  --app

    Initialize as an App Router project.

  --src-dir

    Initialize inside a `src/` directory.

  --import-alias <alias-to-configure>

    Specify import alias to use (default "@/*").

  --use-npm

    Explicitly tell the CLI to bootstrap the app using npm

  --use-pnpm

    Explicitly tell the CLI to bootstrap the app using pnpm

  --use-yarn

    Explicitly tell the CLI to bootstrap the app using Yarn

  --use-bun

    Explicitly tell the CLI to bootstrap the app using Bun

  -e, --example [name]|[github-url]

    An example to bootstrap the app with. You can use an example name
    from the official Next.js repo or a public GitHub URL. The URL can use
    any branch and/or subdirectory

  --example-path <path-to-example>

    In a rare case, your GitHub URL might contain a branch name with
    a slash (e.g. bug/fix-1) and the path to the example (e.g. foo/bar).
    In this case, you must specify the path to the example separately:
    --example-path foo/bar

  --reset-preferences

    Explicitly tell the CLI to reset any stored preferences

  -h, --help                           output usage information

Why use Kenji?

kenji allows you to create a new Next.js app within seconds. It is officially maintained by the creators of Next.js, and includes a number of benefits:

• Interactive Experience: Running npx kenji@latest (with no arguments) launches an interactive experience that guides you through setting up a project.
• Zero Dependencies: Initializing a project is as quick as one second. Create Next App has zero dependencies.
• Offline Support: Create Next App will automatically detect if you're offline and bootstrap your project using your local package cache.
• Support for Examples: Create Next App can bootstrap your application using an example from the Next.js examples collection (e.g. npx kenji --example api-routes).
• Tested: The package is part of the Next.js monorepo and tested using the same integration test suite as Next.js itself, ensuring it works as expected with every release.