Because Express isn't enough. It lacks structure and conventions.

Apper provides:

- Much needed structure to server-side code with strong conventions

- Reliable directory hierarchy for code based on REST end-points

- Design for real-time right off the bat

- Transparent minification & bundling for single page apps

Apper lets you create bigger apps by using smaller independent chunks as subapps. Simply place individual subapps anywhere in the directory hierarchy, and they get exposed under a relative base URL.

Nested subapps are totally cool and highly encouraged. In fact, simply by moving a subapp directory to another directory updates the exposed relative URL of that subapp. No frills.

PS: Posting to Hacker News for the first time, always been an anonymous reader. Would love some constructive comments about where to take this framework thing forward :)