trisha217/SimpleMERNApp ? reverse-engineered prompt

Build me a simple MERN starter app for practicing the basics.

I want a small full stack web app with a clean front end and a Node and Express backend connected to a MongoDB database. Keep it simple and easy to run locally, with a nice homepage and a basic CRUD flow so I can create, view, edit, and delete items from the database.

Please set up the project so the front end and backend work together smoothly, and make the UI straightforward for someone who just wants to see the app working. Add any setup notes needed so I can install dependencies, start both sides, and connect to my local MongoDB without confusion.

If you need to check current best practices or docs while building it, go ahead and look them up online. Focus on getting a working, polished beginner friendly app rather than adding extra features.