diff --git a/CODEOWNERS b/CODEOWNERS
index db2a964ee181..b882bb5a4b1d 100644
--- a/CODEOWNERS
+++ b/CODEOWNERS
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ packages/context/* @bajtos @raymondfeng  @kjdelisle
 packages/core/* @bajtos @raymondfeng @kjdelisle
 packages/example-getting-started/* @bajtos @kjdelisle
 packages/example-log-extension/* @virkt25
+packages/example-rpc-server/* @kjdelisle
 packages/metadata/* @raymondfeng
 packages/openapi-spec/*  @bajtos @jannyHou
 packages/openapi-spec-builder/* @bajtos @raymondfeng
diff --git a/packages/cli/generators/example/index.js b/packages/cli/generators/example/index.js
index 93dfaeae98d1..8faa04539685 100644
--- a/packages/cli/generators/example/index.js
+++ b/packages/cli/generators/example/index.js
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ const EXAMPLES = {
     'An application and tutorial on how to build with LoopBack 4.',
   'log-extension':
     'An example extension project for LoopBack 4',
+  'rpc-server': 'A basic RPC server using a made-up protocol.',
 };
 Object.freeze(EXAMPLES);
 
diff --git a/packages/example-getting-started/README.md b/packages/example-getting-started/README.md
index 558b6360b212..cc8700d62b3f 100644
--- a/packages/example-getting-started/README.md
+++ b/packages/example-getting-started/README.md
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ lb4 example getting-started
 
 3. Switch to the directory and install dependencies.
 ```
-cd loopback4-example-getting-started && npm i
+cd loopback-example-getting-started && npm i
 ```
 
 4. Start the app!
diff --git a/packages/example-rpc-server/.prettierignore b/packages/example-rpc-server/.prettierignore
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..f84e220671a5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/example-rpc-server/.prettierignore
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+*.js
+*.d.ts
diff --git a/packages/example-rpc-server/LICENSE b/packages/example-rpc-server/LICENSE
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..065cc147fcce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/example-rpc-server/LICENSE
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+Copyright (c) IBM Corp. 2018. All Rights Reserved.
+Node module: @loopback/example-rpc-server
+This project is licensed under the MIT License, full text below.
+
+--------
+
+MIT license
+
+Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
+of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
+in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
+to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
+copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
+furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
+
+The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in
+all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+
+THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
+IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
+FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
+AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
+LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
+OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN
+THE SOFTWARE.
diff --git a/packages/example-rpc-server/README.md b/packages/example-rpc-server/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..a39fed335724
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/example-rpc-server/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+# @loopback/example-rpc-server
+
+An example RPC server and application to demonstrate the creation of your
+own custom server.
+
+[![LoopBack](http://loopback.io/images/overview/powered-by-LB-xs.png)](http://loopback.io/)
+
+## Usage
+
+1. Install the new loopback CLI toolkit.
+```
+npm i -g @loopback/cli
+```
+
+2. Download the "rpc-server" application.
+```
+lb4 example rpc-server
+```
+
+3. Switch to the directory and install dependencies.
+```
+cd loopback-example-rpc-server && npm i
+```
+
+4. Start the app!
+```
+npm start
+```
+
+Next, use your favourite REST client to send RPC payloads to the server
+(hosted on port 3000).
+
+## Request Format
+
+The request body should contain a controller name, method name and input object.
+Example:
+```json
+{
+  "controller": "GreetController",
+  "method": "basicHello",
+  "input": {
+    "name": "Janet"
+  }
+}
+```
+The router will determine which controller and method will service your request
+based on the given names in the payload.
+
diff --git a/packages/example-rpc-server/index.d.ts b/packages/example-rpc-server/index.d.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..13ed083fde3a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/example-rpc-server/index.d.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+// Copyright IBM Corp. 2017,2018. All Rights Reserved.
+// Node module: @loopback/example-getting-started
+// This file is licensed under the MIT License.
+// License text available at https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+
+export * from './dist';
diff --git a/packages/example-rpc-server/index.js b/packages/example-rpc-server/index.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..20cb263c2a1f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/example-rpc-server/index.js
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+// Copyright IBM Corp. 2017,2018. All Rights Reserved.
+// Node module: @loopback/example-getting-started
+// This file is licensed under the MIT License.
+// License text available at https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+
+const nodeMajorVersion = +process.versions.node.split('.')[0];
+const dist = nodeMajorVersion >= 7 ? './dist' : './dist6';
+
+const application = (module.exports = require(dist));
+
+if (require.main === module) {
+  // Run the application
+  application.main();
+}
diff --git a/packages/example-rpc-server/index.ts b/packages/example-rpc-server/index.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..3e1026e0d517
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/example-rpc-server/index.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+// Copyright IBM Corp. 2018. All Rights Reserved.
+// Node module: @loopback/example-rpc-server
+// This file is licensed under the MIT License.
+// License text available at https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+
+// NOTE(bajtos) This file is used by TypeScript compiler to resolve imports
+// from "test" files against original TypeScript sources in "src" directory.
+// As a side effect, `tsc` also produces "dist/index.{js,d.ts,map} files
+// that allow test files to import paths pointing to {src,test} root directory,
+// which is project root for TS sources but "dist" for transpiled sources.
+export * from './src';
diff --git a/packages/example-rpc-server/package.json b/packages/example-rpc-server/package.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..3dce267ab204
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/example-rpc-server/package.json
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+{
+  "name": "@loopback/example-rpc-server",
+  "version": "4.0.0-alpha.0",
+  "description": "A basic RPC server using a made-up protocol.",
+  "keywords": [
+    "loopback-application",
+    "loopback"
+  ],
+  "engines": {
+    "node": ">=6"
+  },
+  "scripts": {
+    "build": "npm run build:dist && npm run build:dist6",
+    "build:current": "lb-tsc",
+    "build:dist": "lb-tsc es2017",
+    "build:dist6": "lb-tsc es2015",
+    "build:watch": "lb-tsc --watch",
+    "clean": "lb-clean",
+    "lint": "npm run prettier:check && npm run tslint",
+    "lint:fix": "npm run prettier:fix && npm run tslint:fix",
+    "prettier:cli": "lb-prettier \"**/*.ts\"",
+    "prettier:check": "npm run prettier:cli -- -l",
+    "prettier:fix": "npm run prettier:cli -- --write",
+    "tslint": "lb-tslint",
+    "tslint:fix": "npm run tslint -- --fix",
+    "pretest": "npm run clean && npm run build:current",
+    "test": "lb-dist mocha --opts node_modules/@loopback/build/mocha.ts.opts DIST/test",
+    "posttest": "npm run lint",
+    "start": "npm run build && node .",
+    "prepare": "npm run build"
+  },
+  "repository": {
+    "type": "git",
+    "url": "https://github.com/strongloop/loopback-next.git"
+  },
+  "author": "",
+  "license": "MIT",
+  "files": [
+    "README.md",
+    "index.js",
+    "index.d.ts",
+    "dist",
+    "dist6"
+  ],
+  "dependencies": {
+    "@loopback/context": "^4.0.0-alpha.18",
+    "@loopback/core": "^4.0.0-alpha.20",
+    "@types/express": "^4.0.39",
+    "@types/node": "^8.0.51",
+    "@types/p-event": "^1.3.0",
+    "express": "^4.16.2",
+    "p-event": "^1.3.0"
+  },
+  "devDependencies": {
+    "@loopback/build": "^4.0.0-alpha.5",
+    "@loopback/testlab": "^4.0.0-alpha.13",
+    "@types/mocha": "^2.2.43",
+    "mocha": "^5.0.0",
+    "source-map-support": "^0.5.2"
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/example-rpc-server/src/application.ts b/packages/example-rpc-server/src/application.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..fff6c9ed4f95
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/example-rpc-server/src/application.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+// Copyright IBM Corp. 2018. All Rights Reserved.
+// Node module: @loopback/example-rpc-server
+// This file is licensed under the MIT License.
+// License text available at https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+
+import {Application, ApplicationConfig} from '@loopback/core';
+import {RPCServer} from './servers/rpc-server';
+import {GreetController} from './controllers';
+
+export class MyApplication extends Application {
+  options: ApplicationConfig;
+  constructor(options?: ApplicationConfig) {
+    // Allow options to replace the defined components array, if desired.
+    super(options);
+    this.controller(GreetController);
+    this.server(RPCServer);
+    this.options = options || {};
+    this.options.port = this.options.port || 3000;
+    this.bind('rpcServer.config').to(this.options);
+  }
+
+  async start() {
+    await super.start();
+    console.log(`Server is running on port ${this.options.port}`);
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/example-rpc-server/src/controllers/greet.controller.ts b/packages/example-rpc-server/src/controllers/greet.controller.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..7405b08ee36c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/example-rpc-server/src/controllers/greet.controller.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+// Copyright IBM Corp. 2018. All Rights Reserved.
+// Node module: @loopback/example-rpc-server
+// This file is licensed under the MIT License.
+// License text available at https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+
+import {Person} from '../models';
+
+export class GreetController {
+  basicHello(input: Person) {
+    return `Hello, ${(input && input.name) || 'World'}!`;
+  }
+
+  hobbyHello(input: Person) {
+    return `${this.basicHello(input)} I heard you like ${(input &&
+      input.hobby) ||
+      'underwater basket weaving'}.`;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/example-rpc-server/src/controllers/index.ts b/packages/example-rpc-server/src/controllers/index.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..a9cd16687a64
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/example-rpc-server/src/controllers/index.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+// Copyright IBM Corp. 2018. All Rights Reserved.
+// Node module: @loopback/example-rpc-server
+// This file is licensed under the MIT License.
+// License text available at https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+
+export * from './greet.controller';
diff --git a/packages/example-rpc-server/src/index.ts b/packages/example-rpc-server/src/index.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..c2c78068b553
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/example-rpc-server/src/index.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+// Copyright IBM Corp. 2018. All Rights Reserved.
+// Node module: @loopback/example-rpc-server
+// This file is licensed under the MIT License.
+// License text available at https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+
+import {MyApplication} from './application';
+import {ApplicationConfig} from '@loopback/core';
+
+export async function main(options?: ApplicationConfig) {
+  const app = new MyApplication(options);
+
+  try {
+    await app.start();
+  } catch (err) {
+    console.error(`Unable to start application: ${err}`);
+  }
+  return app;
+}
+
+main().catch(err => {
+  console.error('Unhandled exception!');
+});
diff --git a/packages/example-rpc-server/src/models/index.ts b/packages/example-rpc-server/src/models/index.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..01eb22361169
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/example-rpc-server/src/models/index.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+// Copyright IBM Corp. 2018. All Rights Reserved.
+// Node module: @loopback/example-rpc-server
+// This file is licensed under the MIT License.
+// License text available at https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+
+export * from './person.model';
diff --git a/packages/example-rpc-server/src/models/person.model.ts b/packages/example-rpc-server/src/models/person.model.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..885bc16eda1f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/example-rpc-server/src/models/person.model.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+// Copyright IBM Corp. 2018. All Rights Reserved.
+// Node module: @loopback/example-rpc-server
+// This file is licensed under the MIT License.
+// License text available at https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+
+// Note that this can also be a class!
+export type Person = {
+  name?: string;
+  hobby?: string;
+};
diff --git a/packages/example-rpc-server/src/servers/index.ts b/packages/example-rpc-server/src/servers/index.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..a273af0a0ae6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/example-rpc-server/src/servers/index.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+// Copyright IBM Corp. 2018. All Rights Reserved.
+// Node module: @loopback/example-rpc-server
+// This file is licensed under the MIT License.
+// License text available at https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+
+export * from './rpc-router';
+export * from './rpc-server';
diff --git a/packages/example-rpc-server/src/servers/rpc-router.ts b/packages/example-rpc-server/src/servers/rpc-router.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..4340c4f17e0b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/example-rpc-server/src/servers/rpc-router.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+// Copyright IBM Corp. 2018. All Rights Reserved.
+// Node module: @loopback/example-rpc-server
+// This file is licensed under the MIT License.
+// License text available at https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+
+import {RPCServer} from './rpc-server';
+import * as express from 'express';
+import * as parser from 'body-parser';
+
+export function rpcRouter(server: RPCServer) {
+  const jsonParser = parser.json();
+  server.expressServer.post('*', jsonParser, async (request, response) => {
+    await routeHandler(server, request, response);
+  });
+}
+
+export async function routeHandler(
+  server: RPCServer,
+  request: express.Request,
+  response: express.Response,
+) {
+  const ctrl = request.body.controller;
+  const method = request.body.method;
+  const input = request.body.input;
+  let controller;
+  try {
+    controller = await server.get(`controllers.${ctrl}`);
+    if (!controller[method]) {
+      throw new Error(
+        `No method was found on controller "${ctrl}" with name "${method}".`,
+      );
+    }
+  } catch (err) {
+    sendErrResponse(response, err, 400);
+    return;
+  }
+  try {
+    response.send(await controller[method](input));
+  } catch (err) {
+    sendErrResponse(response, err, 500);
+  }
+}
+
+export type Controller = {
+  [method: string]: Function;
+};
+
+function sendErrResponse(
+  resp: express.Response,
+  // tslint:disable-next-line:no-any
+  send: any,
+  statusCode: number,
+) {
+  resp.statusCode = statusCode;
+  resp.send(send);
+}
diff --git a/packages/example-rpc-server/src/servers/rpc-server.ts b/packages/example-rpc-server/src/servers/rpc-server.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..5a6bfddcf878
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/example-rpc-server/src/servers/rpc-server.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+// Copyright IBM Corp. 2018. All Rights Reserved.
+// Node module: @loopback/example-rpc-server
+// This file is licensed under the MIT License.
+// License text available at https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+
+import {inject, Context} from '@loopback/context';
+import {Server, Application, CoreBindings} from '@loopback/core';
+import * as express from 'express';
+import * as http from 'http';
+import * as pEvent from 'p-event';
+import {rpcRouter} from '.';
+
+export class RPCServer extends Context implements Server {
+  _server: http.Server;
+  expressServer: express.Application;
+  constructor(
+    @inject(CoreBindings.APPLICATION_INSTANCE) public app?: Application,
+    @inject('rpcServer.config') public config?: RPCServerConfig,
+  ) {
+    super(app);
+    this.config = config || {};
+    this.expressServer = express();
+    rpcRouter(this);
+  }
+
+  async start(): Promise<void> {
+    this._server = this.expressServer.listen(
+      (this.config && this.config.port) || 3000,
+    );
+    return await pEvent(this._server, 'listening');
+  }
+  async stop(): Promise<void> {
+    this._server.close();
+    return await pEvent(this._server, 'close');
+  }
+}
+
+export type RPCServerConfig = {
+  port?: number;
+  // tslint:disable-next-line:no-any
+  [key: string]: any;
+};
diff --git a/packages/example-rpc-server/test/README.md b/packages/example-rpc-server/test/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..2243988ea7e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/example-rpc-server/test/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+# Tests
+
+Please place your tests in this folder.
+
diff --git a/packages/example-rpc-server/test/controllers/greet.controller.test.ts b/packages/example-rpc-server/test/controllers/greet.controller.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..6ccb50f00f03
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/example-rpc-server/test/controllers/greet.controller.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+// Copyright IBM Corp. 2018. All Rights Reserved.
+// Node module: @loopback/example-rpc-server
+// This file is licensed under the MIT License.
+// License text available at https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+
+import 'mocha';
+import {GreetController} from '../../src/controllers';
+import {expect} from '@loopback/testlab';
+
+describe('greet.controller', () => {
+  const controller = new GreetController();
+  describe('basicHello', () => {
+    it('returns greetings for the world without valid input', () => {
+      expect(controller.basicHello({})).to.equal('Hello, World!');
+    });
+
+    it('returns greetings for a name', () => {
+      const input = {
+        name: 'Aaron',
+      };
+      const expected = `Hello, ${input.name}!`;
+      expect(controller.basicHello(input)).to.equal(expected);
+    });
+  });
+  describe('hobbyHello', () => {
+    it('returns greetings for a name', () => {
+      const input = {
+        name: 'Aaron',
+      };
+      expect(controller.hobbyHello(input)).to.match(
+        /Hello, Aaron!(.*)underwater basket weaving/,
+      );
+    });
+
+    it('returns greetings for a name and hobby', () => {
+      const input = {
+        name: 'Aaron',
+        hobby: 'sportsball',
+      };
+      expect(controller.hobbyHello(input)).to.match(
+        /Hello, Aaron!(.*)sportsball/,
+      );
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/example-rpc-server/test/servers/rpc-router.test.ts b/packages/example-rpc-server/test/servers/rpc-router.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..402839f89c51
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/example-rpc-server/test/servers/rpc-router.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+// Copyright IBM Corp. 2018. All Rights Reserved.
+// Node module: @loopback/example-rpc-server
+// This file is licensed under the MIT License.
+// License text available at https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+
+import 'mocha';
+import * as express from 'express';
+import {RPCServer, routeHandler} from '../../src/servers';
+import {expect, sinon} from '@loopback/testlab';
+
+describe('rpcRouter', () => {
+  describe('routeHandler', () => {
+    // tslint:disable-next-line:no-any
+    let server: any;
+    let request: express.Request;
+    let response: express.Response;
+    let responseStub: sinon.SinonStub;
+    beforeEach(testSetup);
+    it('routes correctly when controller and method exist', async () => {
+      await routeHandler(server, request, response);
+      sinon.assert.called(responseStub);
+      expect(responseStub.firstCall.args[0]).to.match(/Hello, Janet!/);
+    });
+
+    it('throws 400 when controller does not exist', async () => {
+      const getStub = server.get as sinon.SinonStub;
+      getStub.rejects(new Error('Does not exist!'));
+      await routeHandler(server, request, response);
+      expect(response.statusCode).to.equal(400);
+      sinon.assert.called(responseStub);
+      expect(responseStub.firstCall.args[0]).to.match(/Does not exist!/);
+    });
+
+    it('throws 400 when method does not exist', async () => {
+      request = getRequest({
+        body: {
+          controller: 'FakeController',
+          method: 'notReal',
+          input: {
+            name: 'Sad',
+          },
+        },
+      });
+      await routeHandler(server, request, response);
+      expect(response.statusCode).to.equal(400);
+      sinon.assert.called(responseStub);
+      expect(responseStub.firstCall.args[0]).to.match(
+        /No method was found on controller/,
+      );
+    });
+
+    it('throws 500 on unhandled error', async () => {
+      server.get.resolves(
+        new class extends FakeController {
+          // tslint:disable-next-line:no-any
+          getFoo(input: any): string {
+            throw new Error('>:(');
+          }
+        }(),
+      );
+      await routeHandler(server, request, response);
+      expect(response.statusCode).to.equal(500);
+      sinon.assert.called(responseStub);
+      expect(responseStub.firstCall.args[0].message).to.match('>:(');
+    });
+    function testSetup() {
+      server = getServer();
+      request = getRequest();
+      response = getResponse();
+      responseStub = response.send as sinon.SinonStub;
+    }
+  });
+
+  function getServer() {
+    const server = sinon.createStubInstance(RPCServer);
+    server.get.resolves(FakeController);
+    return server;
+  }
+  function getRequest(req?: Partial<express.Request>) {
+    return Object.assign(
+      <express.Request>{
+        body: {
+          controller: 'FakeController',
+          method: 'getFoo',
+          input: {
+            name: 'Janet',
+          },
+        },
+      },
+      req,
+    );
+  }
+
+  function getResponse(res?: Partial<express.Response>) {
+    const resp = <express.Response>{};
+    resp.send = sinon.stub();
+    return resp;
+  }
+
+  class FakeController {
+    // tslint:disable-next-line:no-any
+    getFoo(input: any) {
+      return `Hello, ${input.name}!`;
+    }
+  }
+});
diff --git a/packages/example-rpc-server/tsconfig.json b/packages/example-rpc-server/tsconfig.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..d0c8f649ba31
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/example-rpc-server/tsconfig.json
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+{
+  "$schema": "http://json.schemastore.org/tsconfig",
+    "extends": "./node_modules/@loopback/build/config/tsconfig.common.json",
+    "include": [
+    "src",
+    "test"
+  ],
+  "exclude": [
+    "node_modules/**",
+    "packages/*/node_modules/**",
+    "**/*.d.ts"
+  ]
+}