Building a Node API can be streamlined by using Nx to create a project with Fastify as the chosen framework, celebrated for its speed and plugin architecture. Fastify's popularity is evidenced by over a million weekly downloads on npm. This guide demonstrates how to create a Node API project using the `create-nx-workspace` command with Fastify and Docker support, and provides insights into running tests, building for production with esbuild, and deploying using Docker. Nx facilitates testing with unit and E2E tests, leveraging Fastify's plugin architecture, and uses esbuild for efficient bundling, with a caching feature that optimizes repeated commands. Docker support is integrated, simplifying the creation of a Docker image that encapsulates the app bundle, allowing for easy deployment on platforms like Fly.io. The process is designed to be user-friendly, with Nx handling dependencies and automating tasks to ensure a seamless transition from development to production.