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Overview

Foundation Nova is the JavaScript and TypeScript edition of Foundation. It provides strict presets and guided tooling so you can build with confidence and predictability.

Why Nova?​

  • Strong defaults that lower setup overhead and reduce drift.
  • Strict linting and typing that catch defects early and keep code dependable.
  • Guided generators that help scaffold and maintain project files.
  • Freedom with guardrails lets you override when needed while sensible restrictions prevent risky patterns.
  • Consistent developer experience across projects and repositories.

Designed For…​

  • Developers who want clear rules with override control when needed.
  • Teams that prefer strict code with Airbnb-style familiarity.
  • Projects that need predictable builds and low setup overhead.

Our Values ✨​

  1. Automatic — All project essentials are provisioned with minimal DevOps effort. You should not need to wire up basics by hand; the defaults handle it.
  2. Explicit — Every configuration detail is visible and precise. If a nuance matters (for example "." vs "./", or pairing module with moduleResolution), it must be written out, not implied.
  3. Independence — Configurations (e.g. ESLint, tsconfig) stand on their own. There are no hidden base presets or cross-dependencies filling in values behind the scenes.
  4. Predictable — Given the same inputs, the outputs are always the same. Features that introduce non-determinism (e.g. incremental, artifact caches, package-lock drift) are disallowed.
  5. Modern but stable — Use forward-looking features that are officially supported and reliable. Avoid unstable or experimental options where bugs are still being worked out.

Scope and Boundaries​

  • Node.js LTS first — Nova tracks the latest long-term support baselines for Node.js.
  • Modern modules — Nova targets ESM-based builds and excludes legacy "script" pipelines.
  • No experimental features — Only officially supported and stable options are allowed. Your project is not a beta playground.

Preset Philosophy​

  • Airbnb-inspired — Strict, familiar defaults adapted from eslint-config-airbnb.
  • Pre-curated — Each preset is a complete config with correctness, safety, and style rules already chosen for you. No need to hand-pick individual rules.
  • Scenario-based — Presets are tailored to different intents: library, browser app, Node service, or framework. No single "base" config to inherit from.
  • Compositional — Designed to work with runtime fundamentals (e.g., bundler frameworks, node scripts) rather than fight them. You pick the preset that matches what you are building and extend it as needed.
  • Balanced freedom — Overrides are allowed so projects can grow, but guardrails prevent risky or disliked patterns.