End-to-end proof that the full React + Vite + Tailwind + TypeScript
pipeline works against the existing Express API:
client/src/pages/Extensions.tsx
Minimum-viable port of the Extensions tab. Fetches /api/extensions
via the typed api wrapper; renders an add form backed by Zod
validation (ExtensionCreateSchema). Uses @tanstack/react-query for
server state (queryKey: ['extensions'], invalidate on mutate).
Full CRUD UI (trash / restore / purge / search) is a follow-up —
this ships just enough to prove the stack works.
client/src/lib/api.ts
Thin fetch wrapper. Every React page goes through apiFetch<T>(),
which narrows ApiResponse<T> to the success shape and throws
ApiError on failure. Central spot for future request/response
instrumentation, auth-token refresh, etc.
client/src/App.tsx
Replaced the Vite starter splash screen with a minimal router:
BrowserRouter basename='/app', routes for / (landing) and
/extensions. QueryClientProvider wraps the tree so every page can
use useQuery/useMutation.
client/src/shared/
Mirrored copy of /shared/types.ts + schemas.ts. Canonical source
stays at /shared/ (used by backend). A post-migration task is to
wire proper TypeScript project references so the client can import
straight from /shared — TS 6's cross-root bundler-mode paths
resolution isn't pulling it in cleanly. For now, the mirror is
header-annotated 'do not edit, mirror only'.
client/src/index.css
Tailwind v4 @theme block declaring the shadcn design tokens as
first-class CSS custom properties, which exposes the
bg-background / text-foreground / border-border utility classes
the page components use. v4 no longer uses @apply for these —
the theme block is the idiomatic form.
server.ts
Added:
app.get('/app/*splat', ...) → sendFile public/app/index.html
so React Router deep links (e.g. /app/extensions) resolve
client-side. Express static middleware below continues to serve
the hashed /app/assets/*.js + .css.
Build output (checked into public/app/ so the next prod docker
rebuild ships the React bundle without requiring a client/npm
install step in the Dockerfile — that's a day-8 refinement):
index.html 0.46 kB gzip 0.29 kB
index.css 9.51 kB gzip 2.69 kB
index.js 329.24 kB gzip 100.98 kB
Typecheck green on both sides:
server: npx tsc --noEmit → EXIT 0
client: npx tsc -b → EXIT 0
client: npx vite build → 150 modules, 219ms
How to see it live (after Daniel rebuilds prod):
https://<host>/app/ → React landing page
https://<host>/app/extensions → React-rendered Extensions list
https://<host>/ → unchanged vanilla JS app
Nothing destructive. The vanilla JS /extensions tab still works
identically. The React /app/extensions route talks to the same
/api/extensions backend endpoints. Both render from the same
PostgreSQL rows.
This closes out the 7-day migration scaffolding. The rest is a
port-one-tab-at-a-time grind that Codex (or anyone) can pick up
tab-by-tab with the Playwright suite as the safety net.
New client/ directory, standalone from the backend: Vite 8 + React
19.2 + TypeScript 6. Tailwind v4 via @tailwindcss/vite plugin (no
postcss config needed). shadcn/ui compatibility wired via
components.json + lib/utils.ts. @tanstack/react-query + react-router-dom
installed for server state + routing.
Vite config essentials:
base: '/app/' — Express mounts SPA at /app/*, vanilla JS stays at /
outDir: '../public/app/' — build lands next to existing static assets
@/* → ./src/* (client-local imports)
@shared/* → ../shared/* (typed wire protocol shared with backend)
server.proxy '/api' → localhost:3000 for `npm run dev`
tsconfig.app.json — added baseUrl + paths + include ../shared so the
shared/types.ts + schemas.ts are typechecked on the client side too.
src/index.css — Tailwind v4 @import, shadcn HSL design tokens (light +
dark schemes). Replaces the vite starter template's decorative styles.
No backend touched. Express route serving /app/* lands in Day 7.
