Introducing Jengo React Starter Kit – Build CI4 Apps with React & Inertia.js Effortlessly

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Hi devs 👋,

After working with CodeIgniter 4, React, and Inertia.js across a few projects, I found myself repeating the same setup steps over and over again — composer configs, Webpack, directory structure, React + Inertia integration… You know the drill.

So I decided to package it all up into something clean and reusable:

jengo/react-starter-kit

A Composer-powered starter kit for building full-stack apps using:

  • ✅ CodeIgniter 4 – a fast PHP framework
  • ⚛️ React – frontend library of choice
  • 🧭 Inertia.js – the glue between backend and frontend
  • 🎨 Tailwind CSS + DaisyUI – modern UI styling

✨ Features

  • ⚡ Pre-configured Inertia.js bridge for CI4
  • ⚛️ React + Webpack setup ready to go
  • 🎨 Tailwind CSS + DaisyUI support out of the box
  • 📁 Opinionated folder structure for smooth separation of concerns
  • 🚀 Dev server powered by CI4’s php server at port :8080
  • 🧪 Includes a clean welcome page with layout structure

🚀 Quick Start

composer create-project jengo/react-starter-kit my-app

cd my-app
npm install
npm run dev

Visit http://localhost:8080 and you’re up and running!

🔍 Folder Structure

app/Controllers/       # Backend routes/controllers
resources/js/Pages/    # React components
resources/js/Shared/   # Shared layouts/components
public/                # Web root

📸 Welcome Page Preview

A basic layout is already set up with a simple welcome message: 

// Home.jsx
export default function Home() {
  return (
    <Layout>
      <h2>🎉 Welcome to Jengo React Starter Kit</h2>
      <p>
        You're now running a full-stack app powered by{" "}
        <strong>CodeIgniter 4</strong>, <strong>React</strong>, and{" "}
        <strong>Inertia.js</strong>.
      </p>
    </Layout>
  );
}

🤔 Why This?

There wasn’t a starter kit that bridged CodeIgniter 4 with React and Inertia.js in a clean, modern way — especially one that embraced Tailwind and developer ergonomics.

So I created one — and I’ll keep improving it as I use it in real-world projects.

📦 Package Link

👉 https://packagist.org/packages/jengo/react-starter-kit

🛠️ Maintained by Me

I’m also maintaining a modern InertiaJS adapter for CI4 that this starter kit uses under the hood.

🧠 Let Me Know What You Think

Would love your feedback!
Try it out, drop a star ⭐ on the repo if it helps you, and feel free to suggest improvements or contribute.

Happy coding,
—Ian (a dev who believes AI & tools should empower creators everywhere)

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