This is mostly a property of your choice of framework. Many contemporary frameworks come with a project generator, because setting up a basic project is so ted

This is mostly a property of your choice of framework. Many contemporary frameworks come with a project generator, because setting up a basic project is so tedious that it has to be automated. All these files are configurable, and likely the default configuration is insufficient for your goals. You're starting out with a bunch of technical debt. It's no wonder if we have to consult online resources to get anywhere.