express-jwt-postgres-api

Skill: Express.js JWT API with PostgreSQL and Docker

Builds a production-style Express.js REST API with JWT authentication, a PostgreSQL database, layered middleware, and Docker Compose for local development.

Execution Context

This skill runs inside Deep Agents CLI (v0.0.34+). Available tools:

Tool	Usage in this skill
write_todos	Plan the build steps
execute	Run npm, docker, curl, and inline tests
write_file	Create source files, SQL, compose, and .env
edit_file	Adjust files if a test reveals an issue

Critical execution rules:

1. Always start by creating the plan via write_todos.
2. Create files one by one via write_file — never generate everything at once.
3. Test each module via execute immediately after creating it.
4. Verify required environment variables before starting the server.

Execution Plan (use with write_todos)

• 1. Check prerequisites (Node.js 18+, npm, Docker, Docker Compose)
• 2. Verify environment variables (JWT_SECRET, DATABASE_URL, PORT)
• 3. Initialize project and install dependencies
• 4. Create src/db.js (PostgreSQL pool)
• 5. Create middleware (auth.js, logger.js)
• 6. Create routes (auth.js, notes.js)
• 7. Create src/index.js entry point
• 8. Create db/init.sql and docker-compose.yml
• 9. Create .env, start the database, run the API
• 10. Test the full register → login → create-note flow

Prerequisites Check

Use execute to verify the toolchain:

node --version    # requires 18+
npm --version
docker --version
docker compose version

Environment Setup

Verify required environment variables via execute:

for var in JWT_SECRET DATABASE_URL; do
  if [ -z "${!var}" ]; then
    echo "WARNING: $var not set — will fall back to .env defaults"
  fi
done
echo "Environment check done"

Security note: Never hardcode production secrets. The .env below uses placeholders; keep it out of version control via .gitignore.