Node.js has been one of the most popular choices for building server-side applications. It is fast, scalable, and easy to learn. However, one of the downsides of building web applications with Node.js is that it requires a lot of HTML and CSS code, which can be tedious and time-consuming.

That's why we've stripped our Node.js server-side application back to just the EJS and Node code, removing all HTML and CSS. This gives you the bones of a ready-to-go template, which you can quickly customize to make it look any way you want.

So, what are the advantages of this approach? Here are a few:

1. It's faster to build

With all the HTML and CSS already removed, you can focus on building the functionality of your application without worrying about styling it. This can significantly speed up your development time, allowing you to get your product to market faster.

2. It's more flexible

By removing all the HTML and CSS, we've created a more flexible starting point for your application. You can quickly swap out the styling with your own, without having to navigate through a bunch of pre-existing code.

3. It's easier to maintain

Because the code is stripped back to just the essentials, it's much easier to maintain in the long run. There's less code to debug and fewer files to sift through, making it easier to find and fix issues when they arise.

4. It's more scalable

As your application grows, you'll likely need to make changes to the HTML and CSS code to accommodate new features and functionality. With a stripped-back template, you'll have more room to grow and make these changes without having to navigate through a lot of pre-existing code.

In summary, stripping back our Node.js server-side application to just the EJS and Node code gives you a more flexible, faster, and easier-to-maintain starting point for your web application. It allows you to focus on the functionality of your application without getting bogged down in the styling, and it gives you more room to grow and scale your application as needed.