#Installation

#Requirements

• Node.js 22.12 or later. We recommend the current LTS release. Dotpress is tested on Node.js 22, 24 and 26. With Node.js 22.18 or later, Node.js runs TypeScript files directly, without a build step: the examples of this documentation use it.
• TypeScript, with strict enabled. The packages are tested with TypeScript 6.
• Zod 4, for the schemas.

The packages are ES modules. A CommonJS project can still load them with require(), which Node.js 22.12 supports for ES modules.

#Install the core and an adapter

Dotpress runs on the HTTP server of your choice: install the core, the adapter of your server, the server itself and Zod.

#Express

npm install @dotpress/core @dotpress/adapter-express express zod

yarn add @dotpress/core @dotpress/adapter-express express zod

pnpm add @dotpress/core @dotpress/adapter-express express zod

bun add @dotpress/core @dotpress/adapter-express express zod

deno add npm:@dotpress/core npm:@dotpress/adapter-express npm:express npm:zod

#Fastify

npm install @dotpress/core @dotpress/adapter-fastify fastify zod

yarn add @dotpress/core @dotpress/adapter-fastify fastify zod

pnpm add @dotpress/core @dotpress/adapter-fastify fastify zod

bun add @dotpress/core @dotpress/adapter-fastify fastify zod

deno add npm:@dotpress/core npm:@dotpress/adapter-fastify npm:fastify npm:zod

#Hono

npm install @dotpress/core @dotpress/adapter-hono hono @hono/node-server zod

yarn add @dotpress/core @dotpress/adapter-hono hono @hono/node-server zod

pnpm add @dotpress/core @dotpress/adapter-hono hono @hono/node-server zod

bun add @dotpress/core @dotpress/adapter-hono hono @hono/node-server zod

deno add npm:@dotpress/core npm:@dotpress/adapter-hono npm:hono npm:@hono/node-server npm:zod

Not sure which one to pick? Your routes do not depend on it, and you can switch later: see Choosing an adapter. For AWS Lambda, see the Lambda adapter.

#Configure TypeScript

A configuration for Node.js 22.18 or later, which runs the .ts files directly:

{
  "compilerOptions": {
    "target": "ES2023",
    "lib": ["ES2023"],
    "module": "NodeNext",
    "moduleResolution": "NodeNext",
    "types": ["node"],
    "strict": true,
    "noEmit": true,
    "allowImportingTsExtensions": true,
    "erasableSyntaxOnly": true,
    "verbatimModuleSyntax": true,
    "skipLibCheck": true
  },
  "include": ["src", "test"]
}

Node.js only strips the types: erasableSyntaxOnly rejects the TypeScript syntax it cannot strip (enums, parameter properties), and relative imports end with .ts. Set "type": "module" in package.json.

If you compile your code with tsc or a bundler instead, keep strict: true and use your usual settings.

#Add packages

Each package is optional. Install it when you need it:

#Start from an example

Each example is a complete project, with its tests, that you can copy:

npx degit dotpressjs/dotpress/examples/express my-api
cd my-api
npm install
npm run dev