Advanced Usage

Flags, catalog cache, and environment variables for create-vlang-app

Working with V in Generated Projects

Every CVA template is V-native: dependencies live in v.mod, formatting uses v fmt, static checks use v vet, and tests run with v test.

# Scaffold (v install runs unless --no-install)
create-vlang-app my-app --template web-server

# Refresh module deps later
cd my-app
v install

Skip automatic install

Use --no-install when scaffolding if you want to review v.mod before running v install yourself.

CLI flags

Flag	Description
`-v, --verbose`	Print additional logs
`-i, --info`	Print environment debug info
`--no-install`	Skip v install after scaffolding
`-t, --template <slug>`	Template from cva-templates
`--addons / --extend`	Extensions to merge into the project
`-f, --force`	Overwrite non-empty target directory
`--interactive / --no-interactive`	Prompt for options or run headless
`--list-templates / --list-addons`	Print catalog entries
`--set key=value`	Override template variables
`--keep-on-failure`	Preserve partial output on error
`--strict-version`	Require exact CLI/catalog versions (see CVA_STRICT_VERSION)
`--offline`	Do not reach network for catalog refresh
`--no-cache`	Bypass ~/.cache/cva (see CVA_NO_CATALOG_CACHE)
`--cache-dir`	Override catalog cache location
`--pin <ref>`	Pin cva-templates git ref
`--refresh always\|stale\|manual`	Catalog refresh policy (CVA_REFRESH)

Catalog cache

The CLI caches Create-Vlang-App/cva-templates under ~/.cache/cva by default. Manage it with subcommands:

create-vlang-app cache dir
create-vlang-app cache list
create-vlang-app cache clean
create-vlang-app cache verify
create-vlang-app cache outdated
create-vlang-app cache update
create-vlang-app cache doctor

Environment variables

CVA_CACHE_DIR — catalog cache path (default ~/.cache/cva)
CVA_STRICT_VERSION — fail when CLI and catalog versions mismatch
CVA_NO_CATALOG_CACHE — disable catalog caching
CVA_REFRESH — always, stale, or manual
CVA_SKIP_GIT — skip git init after scaffolding

CI/CD Integration

Use the github-setup extension for workflows powered by vlang/setup-v:

create-vlang-app my-app --template web-server --addons github-setup --no-interactive

Deployment Workflow

Troubleshooting

Catalog or module issues

Run create-vlang-app cache doctor to validate cache integrity
Set CVA_REFRESH=always to force-refresh cva-templates
Ensure ~/.vmodules is writable when running v install

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