---
title: "Initialize The Project"
url: https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/tutorials/event-app/nodejs/initialize-project/
description: "Configure a Catalyst Event Function and associate it with a Rule in Catalyst Signals that will send automated onboarding emails to the application users when they sign up."
last_updated: 2026-08-17T12:16:04Z
service: All Services
type: tutorial
related_links:
  - name: "Initialize CLI Resources"
    url: /en/cli/v1/initialize-resources/introduction
  - name: "Project Directory Structure"
    url: /en/cli/v1/project-directory-structure/introduction
---

# Initialize the Project

You can now begin working on your Catalyst project from the CLI. The first step is to initialize the project in an empty directory. This will be the home directory of your project, and all of the project files will be saved in it.

For this application, we will initialize an [Event Function](https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/serverless/help/functions/event-functions/), which will contain the logic of the action that is required to occur once the event happens, and a [Basic web app](https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/cli/v1/initialize-resources/initialize-client/#basic-client-applications) as the client component.

> **Note:** Ensure that you enter the function's package name or class name exactly as instructed, because the application's code contains the same name.

1. Create a folder for the project on your local machine and navigate to it from the CLI.

2. Initialize a project by executing the following command from that directory:

```sh
catalyst init
```

3. Navigate using the **arrow keys**, select your preferred portal, and press the **Enter** key. If you have no other organizations associated with the account, then the default one will be selected automatically.
    ![catalyst_tutorials_eventapp_cli_init](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/tutorials/event-app/catalyst_tutorials_eventapp_cli_init.webp)

> **Note:** You can find out more about Catalyst’s multi-org portal feature from this [help document](https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/getting-started/catalyst-projects/#access-the-multi-org-portal).

4. The CLI will now ask you to associate a Catalyst project with the directory. Associate it with the project that we created earlier from the console. Select **EventApp** from the list and press **Enter**.
    ![catalyst_tutorials_eventapp_cli_sel_proj](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/tutorials/event-app/catalyst_tutorials_eventapp_cli_sel_proj.webp)

5. Navigate using the arrow keys and select **Functions**, **Client** using the space bar. Press **Enter** to initialize.
    ![catalyst_tutorials_eventapp_cli_func_client_sel](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/tutorials/event-app/catalyst_tutorials_eventapp_cli_func_client_sel.webp)

6. The CLI will initiate the function setup. Select **Event** as the function type for your Event function.
    ![catalyst_tutorials_eventapp_cli_event_func_sel](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/tutorials/event-app/catalyst_tutorials_eventapp_cli_event_func_sel.webp)

7. Select the latest runtime of *Node.js* as the function stack.
    ![catalyst_tutorials_eventapp_cli_sel_node_versions](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/tutorials/event-app/catalyst_tutorials_eventapp_cli_sel_node_versions.webp)

8. Enter "`event_app`" as the package name, "`index.js`" as the entry point, and your email address as the author, then press **Enter**. Alternatively, you can press **Enter** without entering inputs to fill in the default values. The CLI will prompt the initialization of the Node dependencies. Press **Y** to confirm the installation, and press **Enter** to confirm your choice. The Node modules will be installed.
    ![catalyst_tutorials_eventapp_cli_func_init_completed](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/tutorials/event-app/catalyst_tutorials_eventapp_cli_func_init_completed.webp)

The CLI will now initiate the client setup.

9. Select **Basic web app** and press **Enter** to initialize your client as a [basic web app](https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/cli/v1/initialize-resources/initialize-client/#basic-client-applications).
    ![catalyst_tutorials_eventapp_cli_clientinit](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/tutorials/event-app/catalyst_tutorials_eventapp_cli_clientinit.webp)

10. Enter a name for your client package and press **Enter**. For the purposes of this tutorial, we are naming our client package "`EventAppClient`". You can use the same of provide a name of your choice.
    ![catalyst_tutorials_eventapp_cli_completed_client](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/tutorials/event-app/catalyst_tutorials_eventapp_cli_completed_client.webp)

The Catalyst initialization is now complete.

The project directory is now set up with the client directory and the functions directory along with configuration files and dependencies. The project directory also contains the [`catalyst.json`](https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/cli/v1/project-directory-structure/catalyst-json/) configuration file and a hidden `.catalystrc` file.

The structure of your project directory should now appear as shown below:
![catalyst_tutorials_eventapp_first_dir](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/tutorials/event-app/catalyst_tutorials_eventapp_first_dir.webp)