---
title: "Initialize the Project"
url: https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/tutorials/task-manager/nodejs/init-project/
description: "Build a React task manager app to create and manage tasks. You can perform CRUD and filter functionality on tasks."
last_updated: 2026-08-17T12:16:04Z
service: All Services
type: tutorial
related_links:
  - name: "Catalyst NoSQL Help Documentation"
    url: /en/cloud-scale/help/nosql/introduction/
  - name: "CLI Help Documentation "
    url: /en/cli/v1/cli-command-reference/
  - name: "Initialize Resources From CLI"
    url: /en/cli/v1/initialize-resources/introduction/
  - name: "Project Directory Structure"
    url: /en/cli/v1/project-directory-structure/introduction/
  - name: "Catalyst Multi-Orgnization Portal"
    url: /en/getting-started/catalyst-organizations/#access-the-multi-org-portal
  - name: "Catalyst Tools"
    url: /en/catalyst-extensions/vs-code-extension/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.

> **Info:**

* [Learn more about Project Directory Structures](https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/cli/v1/project-directory-structure/introduction/).

* [Learn more about Catalyst CLI](https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/cli/v1/cli-command-reference/).

For this application, we will be initializing the project, an Advanced IO function, and React client components.

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

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

```sh
catalyst init
```

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

> **Info:** [Learn more about Catalyst’s multi-org portal feature](https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/getting-started/catalyst-organizations/#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 **TaskManager** from the list and click **Enter**.
    ![catalyst_tutorials_nosql_taskmanager_cli_proj_sel](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/tutorials/task-manager/catalyst_tutorials_nosql_taskmanager_cli_proj_sel.webp)

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

6. The CLI will initiate the function setup. Select **Advanced IO** as the function type to code your backend logic.
    ![catalyst_tutorials_nosql_taskmanager_cli_func_sel](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/tutorials/task-manager/catalyst_tutorials_nosql_taskmanager_cli_func_sel.webp)

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

8. Enter "`task_manager_function`" 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_nosql_taskmanager_cli_func_cmpltd](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/tutorials/task-manager/catalyst_tutorials_nosql_taskmanager_cli_func_cmpltd.webp)

    The CLI will now initiate the client setup.

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

10. Select **JavaScript** as the React app type and press **Enter**.
    ![catalyst_tutorials_nosql_taskmanager_cli_client_js_sel](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/tutorials/task-manager/catalyst_tutorials_nosql_taskmanager_cli_client_js_sel.webp)

11. Enter "`task-manager-client`" as the name of your client package and click **Enter**. You can also provide any name of your choice. All of the required React packages, such as "`react`," "`react-dom`," and "`react-scripts`" will be installed through the **Catalyst React plugin** ([`zcatalyst-cli-plugin-react`](https://www.npmjs.com/package/zcatalyst-cli-plugin-react)).
  ![catalyst_tutorials_nosql_taskmanager_cli_client_name_config](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/tutorials/task-manager/catalyst_tutorials_nosql_taskmanager_cli_client_name_config.webp)

The client is now successfully initialized as a React web application.
![catalyst_tutorials_nosql_taskmanager_cli_init_cmpltd](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/tutorials/task-manager/catalyst_tutorials_nosql_taskmanager_cli_init_cmpltd.webp)

The [client directory](https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/cli/v1/project-directory-structure/client-directory) will be created in the standard structure in the project directory.

This is the structure of the *TaskManager* project’s directory if the client is initialized as a React app.
![catalyst_tutorials_nosql_taskmanager_proj_first_dir](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/tutorials/task-manager/catalyst_tutorials_nosql_taskmanager_proj_first_dir.webp)

Catalyst initialization is now complete.