Summary

Here is a summary of starter kits and documentation I went through when deciphering this puzzle.

NOTE: May become instantaneously out of date.^1.

Webpack + server (koa) + react-router

https://github.com/RickWong/react-isomorphic-starterkit

Yes isomorphic
Yes HMR server

Webpack middleware + server (koa) + react-router + redux + redux-simple-router

https://github.com/davezuko/react-redux-starter-kit

Testing
No isomorphic

Webpack middleware + server (express) + react-router + redux + redux-router

https://github.com/erikras/react-redux-universal-hot-example

Testing
Yes isomorphic
Yes HMR server (Not sure how—webpack-isomorphic-tools?)

Webpack middleware + server (express) + react-router + redux + redux-simple-router

https://github.com/jlongster/react-redux-universal-hot-example

Testing
Yes isomorphic
Yes HMR server (Not sure how—webpack-isomorphic-tools?)
Fork of erikras

Webpack middleware + server (express) + redux

https://github.com/rackt/redux/tree/master/examples/universal

Yes isomorphic
No HMR server

Webpack + server (express)

http://jlongster.com/Backend-Apps-with-Webpack--Part-I
http://jlongster.com/Backend-Apps-with-Webpack--Part-II
http://jlongster.com/Backend-Apps-with-Webpack--Part-III

https://github.com/jlongster/backend-with-webpack

Webpack + HMR server (fake server) [For learning only—if using HMR React]

https://github.com/webpack/hot-node-example

Webpack + HMR [For Learning]

https://github.com/webpack/docs/wiki/hot-module-replacement

Express

Https

https://nodejs.org/api/https.html#https_https_createserver_options_requestlistener

SSL certification and private key

http://stackoverflow.com/a/12907165/1438446

http://blog.codinghorror.com/everything-you-know-will-be-obsolete-in-five-years/