Rails backend provides a JSON API; React frontend consumes the API and manages application state
rails-react-starter — Rails Starter Template
By clement-avenel
Rails React Starter is a starter project that combines a Rails JSON API backend with a React frontend, including TailwindCSS and Docker configuration.
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What stands out
A quick read of the recorded project description.
Frontend and backend are organized in separate directories: server for the Rails app, client for the React app
Integrates TailwindCSS for frontend styling
Provides Docker and docker-compose initialization and startup commands
Includes two GitHub Actions workflows: CodeQL and Ruby on Rails CI
Under the MIT license, the code can be freely used, modified, commercialized, and distributed
Template Details
This project targets Rails applications that need a separated frontend and backend structure: the Rails side provides a JSON API, while the React side consumes the API and manages application state. The repository offers both local and Docker startup methods. The local workflow involves entering the server and client directories to install dependencies, create/migrate/seed the database, and run startup commands. The Docker workflow uses docker-compose to initialize the database and start services together. The tech stack listed in the README includes Ruby, Rails, React, TailwindCSS, and Docker, along with badges for two GitHub Actions workflows: CodeQL and Ruby on Rails CI. The project is under the MIT license, allowing free use, modification, commercial use, and distribution of the code, but third-party assets such as demo images, fonts, and icons require separate license verification; external services like domains, hosting, and databases may incur additional costs. The repository does not provide further details on routing, authentication, or deployment.
Is it right for your project?
Use Cases
- Projects that need to quickly set up a separated Rails JSON API and React frontend structure
- Those who want to use TailwindCSS as the styling solution in a Rails project
- Those who want to start the Rails and frontend development environment together via Docker Compose
- As a reference project for learning Rails and React frontend-backend collaboration
Suitable For
- Developers familiar with Rails and React basics who need a separated frontend-backend starting structure
- Teams that prefer a Dockerized local development workflow
- Users looking for a freely modifiable Rails + React starter under the MIT license
Getting started & customization
Use these recorded setup notes alongside the repository instructions for your chosen version.
- 1
Local Rails initialization: enter the server directory and run bundle install, rails db:create, rails db:migrate, rails db:seed in sequence
- 2
Local React initialization: enter the client directory and run npm install
- 3
Local startup: run rails s in the server directory and npm start in the client directory
- 4
Docker initialization: with docker and docker-compose installed, run docker-compose run server bin/rails db:create db:migrate db:seed
- 5
Docker startup: run docker-compose up
License & source material
Usage conditions & limitations
Free to use · keep license noticeThis entry covers the free version under the MIT license in the public repository; the free scope is the code of this version and does not mean external services or third-party assets are free.
Must comply with when using
- Free use, modification, commercial use, and distribution of this version's code are permitted.
- When distributing copies or substantial portions of the code, retain the original author's copyright notice and the full MIT license notice.
- The code is provided as is; warranties and liability limitations are governed by the original license and applicable law.
Additional costs & items to verify
- Demo images, fonts, icons, and other third-party assets must be checked against their respective licenses and cannot be judged solely by the code's MIT license.
- External services such as domains, hosting, databases, payments, or AI may incur additional charges.
View Original Text Basis
https://github.com/clement-avenel/rails-react-starter/blob/main/LICENSEhttps://github.com/clement-avenel/rails-react-starter/blob/main/README.mdPermission is hereby granted, free of charge
Original License Text
Compiled by DeepSeek based on repository license and README ·2026-10-02. Results only cover the materials read; dependencies, images, fonts, and subsequent term changes are subject to their respective original texts.
Project checks & description sources
Template Information
- Source platforms
- GitHub
- Documentation and maintenance reference score
- Less documented · 53 / 100
- Technologies
- Rails · React
- Website type
- Starter
How this score is calculated
Our heuristic uses license records (up to 30), a demo link (12), a preview (10), stars (15), recorded maintenance (15), description completeness (8), feature records (5) and classification data (5). It is not a code, security or performance test, or a Google score. A link does not establish tested functionality.
What to verify for this project
- Repository update recorded
- 2023-06-05
- Screenshot last checked
- 2026-10-02
No demo link is recorded. Use the repository instructions to evaluate the project locally; the screenshot alone cannot establish interactive behavior.
The catalog identifies Rails as the primary stack. Check the actual dependency manifest and lockfile for versions and hosting requirements. These notes use recorded metadata, not a code audit or a deployment test.
Use a selection guide →How this description was prepared
AI-assisted description based on catalog records and repository material. Repository authors are not automatically the reviewers of this description.
Automatically checked against source and license rules; no manual editorial review.
Inspect the recorded source material
SHA-256: 86413f1c044d2fb77f01a02403027b7addad2d2c785618d74be973f2896d4afd
2026-10-02T15:00:21.296Z
Source file / repository[](https://github.com/clement-avenel/rails-react-starter/actions/workflows/codeql.yml) [](https://github.com/clement-avenel/rails-react-starter/actions/workflows/rubyonrails.yml)  # Rails React Starter It combines the power of the React JavaScript framework with the simplicity and robustness of the Rails web application framework. The project is set up with a Rails backend that serves a JSON API and a React frontend that consumes the API and manages the application's state. ## Tech Stack - Ruby 3.1.2 - Rails 7.0.4 - React 18.2.0 - TailwindCSS 3.2.4 - Docker ## Setup Rails - `cd server` - `bundle install` - `rails db:create` - `rails db:migrate` - `rails db:seed` ## Setup React - `cd client` - `npm install` ## Run Rails - `cd server` - `rails s` ## Run React - `cd client` - `npm start` ## Setup with docker Assuming you have docker and docker-compose installed - `docker-compose run server bin/rails db:create db:migrate db:seed` ## Run with docker - `docker-compose up`
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