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Introducing zcf

Kickstart Your Projects, Minus the Bloat: Introducing zcf

Every new project begins with a familiar ritual: creating a directory, copying over configuration files, setting up a basic structure, and maybe pulling in some boilerplate from a previous project. To streamline this, we have great scaffolding tools like create-vite or create-next-app. They're fantastic, but they often come with a hidden cost: they require a specific runtime, like Node.js, and can bring along a host of dependencies.

What if you just want the files? What if you want to start a project from a template without installing a heavy toolchain first?

Enter zcf, a minimalist, lightning-fast command-line tool with a simple promise: start a new project from any template on GitHub, with zero configuration and zero dependencies.

Link to the project: https://github.com/UfoMiao/zcf

What is zcf?​

zcf (which you can think of as "Zero Config From") is a standalone CLI tool that downloads a copy of a GitHub repository—or even just a subdirectory within it—to your local machine. That’s it. It’s a tool that does one thing and does it exceptionally well.

It doesn't initialize a git repository, it doesn't install packages, and it doesn't ask you any questions. It just gives you the template files you asked for, letting you get to work immediately.

Why You'll Love It​

  1. Zero Dependencies. Really. zcf is written in Rust, which means it compiles down to a single, small binary file. You don't need Node.js, Python, or any other runtime installed on your system to use it. This makes it a perfect, lightweight addition to any developer's toolkit, regardless of what language or ecosystem you're working in.
  2. Blazing Fast Because it's a compiled binary with no dependency overhead, it's incredibly fast. The time it takes to run is essentially just the time it takes to download the files from GitHub.
  3. Use Any Repo as a Template Unlike official scaffolders, zcf isn't tied to a specific framework. Any public repository on GitHub can be your template. If you have your own personal boilerplate for a client-side app, a serverless function, or a documentation site, you can use zcf to instantly spin up a new project from it.
  4. Subdirectory Support This is a killer feature. Many projects, especially monorepos, contain multiple templates or examples in subdirectories. With zcf, you can grab just the specific folder you need without downloading the entire repository.

How to Use It​

Getting started is simple. You can install it via Homebrew on macOS/Linux or download the pre-compiled binary for your system from the releases page.

Once installed, the command is intuitive.

To clone a full repository:

Bash

# zcf <user>/<repo> <your-new-project-name>
zcf UfoMiao/react-vite-template my-awesome-app

This will download the contents of the react-vite-template repository into a new folder named my-awesome-app.

To use a subdirectory from a repository:

This is perfect for monorepos that contain multiple templates.

Bash

# zcf <user>/<repo>/tree/<branch>/<path-to-subdirectory> <your-project-name>
zcf UfoMiao/templates/tree/main/react-vite my-react-starter

This command dives into the templates repository, finds the react-vite folder on the main branch, and downloads it into my-react-starter.

Who is this for?​

  • The Minimalist Developer: If you value speed and simplicity and want to avoid unnecessary dependencies, zcf is for you.
  • The Polyglot Coder: If you work across different ecosystems (JavaScript, Rust, Go, Python) and want a universal project starter that doesn't rely on Node.js.
  • The Template Creator: If you maintain your own set of boilerplate projects on GitHub, zcf is the fastest way for you and your team to use them.

In a world of complex toolchains, zcf is a breath of fresh air. It’s a simple, robust, and incredibly fast utility that respects your time and your system's resources. Give it a try for your next project.