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Guide · Open source

How to use bulletproof-react: clone, explore and adopt its structure

Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

Bulletproof React is an open-source collection of documented best practices and a sample React application written in TypeScript. This guide explains what it offers, how to get the code onto your machine, and how to take the ideas that fit your project. By the end you will know where to look in the repo and which parts to adopt selectively.

Bulletproof Reactalan2207/bulletproof-react · ★ 36k · MIT

Quick start

  1. 1Clone the repo. Run git clone https://github.com/alan2207/bulletproof-react to get a local copy of the sample app and docs.
  2. 2Read the overview. Open the application overview doc to understand how the sample app is organised.
  3. 3Study the project structure. Read the project structure doc to see how folders and boundaries are laid out.
  4. 4Pick the topics you need. Choose the guides for components, API layer, state, testing or security that match your current problems.
  5. 5Adapt to your stack. Replace the suggested tools with ones that suit your project, keeping the principles and your team's conventions consistent.

What is bulletproof-react and what is it not?

The README describes Bulletproof React as an opinionated guide that shows how to do some things in a certain way. It proposes a project structure and choices for components, API calls, state, testing, and security, with the aim of keeping codebases consistent as they grow.

It is explicitly not a template, boilerplate or framework. You are not forced to follow it exactly, and the tools it uses are presented as suggestions you can replace.

  • A set of documented best practices for React with TypeScript
  • A sample application you can read and run
  • Not a ready-to-run framework or starter kit

Clone the repository

The install method given in the README is to clone the repository. The source does not list any prerequisites, so check the repo for its own setup notes before you start.

Run the clone command from the README:

git clone https://github.com/alan2207/bulletproof-react

Explore the documentation and sample app

The README links to a set of topic guides in the docs folder. Reading them alongside the sample app is the main way to get value from the repo. The topics include application overview, project standards, project structure, components and styling, API layer, state management, testing, error handling, security, performance, deployment and additional resources.

The README suggests focusing on the principles and concepts rather than the specific libraries in the sample app.

  • Start with the application overview to see how the sample app is organised
  • Read project structure to see how folders and boundaries are laid out
  • Read state management, API layer and testing when you plan those parts of your own app

Choose which ideas to adopt

Because the guide is opinionated rather than prescriptive, the practical approach is to pick the parts that solve problems you already have. A new project might adopt the folder layout first, while an existing app might use the guide as a checklist for consistency and boundaries.

The README notes that some projects need a different approach, and that is fine as long as your team stays consistent.

  • New project: adopt the project structure and standards early
  • Existing app: review components, API calls and boundaries against the guide
  • Team: agree on shared conventions and write them down

Contribute to the project

If you want to improve the repo, the README lists the contribution steps: clone the repo, create a branch, run the yarn prepare script, make and test your changes, then push the branch and open a pull request.

git checkout -b your-feature

What people use it for

  • Setting up the folder layout for a new production React application
  • Giving a team shared conventions for organising React components and API code
  • Reviewing an existing React codebase for consistency and clear boundaries
  • Learning how a larger React project can be structured beyond small tutorials

Frequently asked questions

Is bulletproof-react free to use?

Yes, the project is licensed under the MIT License, as stated in the README. You can read the LICENSE file in the repository for the full terms.

How do I install bulletproof-react?

The README's install method is to clone the repository with git clone https://github.com/alan2207/bulletproof-react. The source does not give further install steps, so follow the repo's own documentation after cloning.

Is bulletproof-react a boilerplate or framework?

No. The README says it is not a template, boilerplate or framework. It is an opinionated guide with a sample application that you can adopt selectively.

Do I need to know React before using bulletproof-react?

The guide is aimed at developers with working knowledge of React and its ecosystem. It is not a first introduction to React, so beginners may want to learn the basics first.

What is bulletproof-react compared to Feature-Sliced Design or Create React App?

Feature-Sliced Design, Epic React and Create React App are comparable projects in this space. Bulletproof React focuses on documented architecture and best practices, whereas Create React App is a tool for generating a project. Check each project's documentation to decide which fits your needs.

Can I replace the tools bulletproof-react suggests?

Yes. The README says the tools and libraries in the sample app are a suggestion and you can replace them with something that fits your needs better.

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Our verdict

Bulletproof React suits developers starting a production React app who want a clear structure, and teams that want shared conventions. Beginners who need an introduction to React, or anyone who wants a ready-to-run framework or a fixed architecture, should pick something else.

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