zzaidatpro/backend-mern-http-only ? reverse-engineered prompt

Build me a simple backend for a MERN app that I can deploy on Vercel, with clean routes, controllers, models, and middleware already wired up.

I want it to handle basic API requests, connect to a database, and use secure HTTP only cookies for auth instead of storing tokens in local storage. Please set it up so it’s easy to add things like signup, login, logout, and protected routes, and make sure the server entry point works cleanly for local development and deployment.

Keep the code organized and practical, with sensible error handling and a basic structure I can extend later. If you need current setup details, look up the latest docs online and adapt it for a Vercel friendly backend.