Make new project setup more repeatable

By Sai Krishna Chaitanya Annam · 2026-10-19

Write down the decisions hidden in setup steps

A new project often requires the same choices every time: framework, project name, runtime, port, and Git branch. Capture those inputs explicitly before automating. A setup script is easier to reuse when its assumptions are visible rather than scattered across copied terminal history.

Keep platform-specific commands clear

Windows PowerShell and Linux shells have different command syntax and conventions. Generate a script for the platform where it will run, and avoid treating a script written for one shell as portable to another. StartMyDev is designed to generate setup scripts for Windows and Linux with selectable project options.

Review before running

Generated scripts are still code. Read the commands before executing them, especially if they install packages, change files, configure Git, or request elevated permissions. Prefer the least privilege needed and avoid running a script as an administrator unless its steps genuinely require it.

Make reruns predictable

A useful setup script should make clear what it creates and what happens when a target directory or configuration already exists. Test the generated script in a disposable directory or a clean environment, then refine it so a second run does not unexpectedly overwrite work.

Keep the setup reproducible

Record the versions and external prerequisites that matter to the project, and keep the resulting setup instructions with the code. StartMyDev can generate scripts for several project types, including React, Angular, Spring Boot, Flask, and Node.js; inspect the generated output and adapt it to the actual repository before relying on it.

References & further reading

StartMyDev project

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