yzope8236-cpu/mernprac ? reverse-engineered prompt

Build me a simple MERN practice app that actually runs end to end, with a clean starter UI and a backend that can save and fetch a few basic records from a database.

I want something small and easy to understand, like a simple list of items I can add, edit, delete, and view in the browser. Please wire up the server, connect it to MongoDB using environment variables, and make sure the app starts without extra manual setup beyond filling in the env file.

Keep the code organized, add sensible defaults, and make the app feel polished enough to use as a practice project. If you need to check current docs online for anything, go ahead.