Contributing to Create Awesome Node App

March 9, 2026 · View on GitHub

First off, thank you for taking the time to contribute! 🎉

Whether you're fixing a bug, improving documentation, adding a template, or suggesting a feature — every contribution helps make CNA better for the whole community.

New here? Start by checking the official site to understand what CNA does, then come back here to dive in.

Please note we have a Code of Conduct — follow it in all your interactions with the project.

🐛 Reporting Bugs

Use the GitHub issue tracker to report bugs.

Before filing, please:

Include as much detail as possible:

  • A reproducible test case or steps to reproduce
  • The version of the CLI you're running (create-awesome-node-app --version)
  • Your Node.js version (node --version) and OS
  • Any relevant modifications or unusual environment details

💡 Suggesting Features

We love good ideas! Use the feature request template on GitHub Issues.

Describe the problem you're solving and the solution you have in mind — the more context, the better.

🔀 Contributing via Pull Requests

Pull requests are the best way to propose changes. Before opening one:

  1. Work against the latest main branch — make sure your fork is up to date
  2. Check existing PRs — someone may already be working on the same thing
  3. Open an issue first for significant changes — we'd hate for your time to be wasted on something that doesn't align with the roadmap

Steps

  1. Fork the repository and create a branch from main
  2. Make your changes — focus on the specific fix or feature; avoid reformatting unrelated code
  3. Ensure tests pass — run npm test from the root
  4. Write clear commit messages — follow Conventional Commits if possible
  5. Open a Pull Request — fill out the template and link the related issue
  6. Stay engaged — respond to review comments and CI failures

GitHub docs: Forking a repo · Creating a pull request

🧱 Contributing Templates or Extensions

Template and extension data lives in a separate repository: github.com/Create-Node-App/cna-templates

To add or update a template/extension, open a PR there following the conventions described in that repo's README.

🔍 Finding Something to Work On

  • Look for issues labelled help wanted or good first issue
  • Browse the open issues for bugs or feature requests that interest you
  • Check the Roadmap section in the CLI README

🛠 Local Development

# Clone and set up
git clone https://github.com/Create-Node-App/create-node-app.git
cd create-node-app
fnm use
npm install

# Build the CLI
npm run build -- --filter create-awesome-node-app

# Test your changes
./packages/create-awesome-node-app/index.js my-test-app

Again, thank you for helping make Create Awesome Node App better! 🚀