After building dozens of web applications for businesses of all sizes, I've learned that the best tech stack isn't necessarily the newest or most complex—it's the one that delivers exceptional results while keeping development efficient and maintainable.
My Philosophy:
Choose technologies that are proven, well-documented, and have strong community support. Avoid the bleeding edge unless there's a compelling business reason.
The Complete Stack
Next.js 14+ - React framework with App Router
TypeScript - Type safety and better DX
Tailwind CSS - Utility-first styling
shadcn/ui - Beautiful, accessible components
Supabase - PostgreSQL with real-time features
Prisma - Type-safe database client
Next.js API Routes - Serverless functions
Vercel - Deployment and hosting
OpenAI API - GPT integration
Vercel AI SDK - Streamlined AI development
Langchain - Complex AI workflows
Pinecone - Vector database for embeddings
GitHub - Version control and CI/CD
Stripe - Payment processing
Resend - Transactional emails
Upstash - Redis for caching
Why These Choices?
Next.js: The Foundation
Next.js has become my go-to framework because it solves so many problems out of the box. The App Router provides excellent developer experience with server components, streaming, and built-in optimizations.
Key Benefits:
- • Performance: Automatic code splitting, image optimization, and caching
- • SEO: Server-side rendering and static generation built-in
- • Developer Experience: Hot reloading, TypeScript support, and great tooling
- • Deployment: Seamless integration with Vercel
TypeScript: Non-Negotiable
I use TypeScript on every project, no exceptions. The upfront investment in type definitions pays dividends in reduced bugs, better refactoring, and improved developer confidence.
Real-World Impact:
On a recent e-commerce project, TypeScript caught 23 potential runtime errors during development that would have been customer-facing bugs. The time saved in debugging more than made up for the initial setup time.
Tailwind CSS: Rapid Styling
Tailwind CSS has revolutionized how I approach styling. The utility-first approach means faster development, smaller CSS bundles, and more consistent designs.
Supabase: The Backend Game-Changer
Supabase gives me the power of PostgreSQL with the convenience of a managed service. Real-time subscriptions, built-in authentication, and automatic API generation make it incredibly productive.
Why Not Firebase?
While Firebase is great, I prefer Supabase because:
- • SQL is more familiar and powerful than NoSQL for most use cases
- • Better data integrity with foreign keys and constraints
- • No vendor lock-in - it's just PostgreSQL
- • More predictable pricing model
AI Integration: Practical, Not Flashy
I integrate AI where it adds real value - content generation, data analysis, and workflow automation. The OpenAI API combined with Vercel's AI SDK makes implementation straightforward.
Recent AI Implementation:
Built a lead qualification system that uses GPT-4 to analyze incoming inquiries and automatically score them based on budget, timeline, and project fit. Saved the client 8+ hours per week of manual review.
The Development Workflow
Project Setup
Start with Next.js template, configure TypeScript, Tailwind, and ESLint
Database Design
Set up Supabase project, design schema, configure Row Level Security
Component Development
Build UI components with shadcn/ui as the foundation
Integration & Testing
Connect frontend to backend, add AI features, test thoroughly
Deploy & Monitor
Deploy to Vercel, set up monitoring, and iterate based on feedback
Performance Results
This stack consistently delivers excellent performance metrics:
Lighthouse Scores
Performance: 95-100
Accessibility: 95-100
Best Practices: 100
SEO: 100
Real-World Metrics
First Contentful Paint: <1.2s
Largest Contentful Paint: <2.5s
Time to Interactive: <3.8s
Cumulative Layout Shift: <0.1
When I Deviate from This Stack
While this is my default stack, I'm not dogmatic about it. Here are situations where I choose different tools:
Static Sites: For simple marketing sites, I might use Astro or even plain HTML/CSS
Complex Backend Logic: For heavy data processing, I'll add Node.js/Express or Python services
Enterprise Requirements: Sometimes client requirements dictate specific technologies
Mobile Apps: For native mobile, I'll use React Native or recommend native development
The Bottom Line
This stack works because it balances developer productivity with application performance. Every tool serves a specific purpose and integrates well with the others.
The key is not to chase the latest trends, but to choose proven technologies that help you deliver value to clients quickly and reliably.
Want to see this stack in action?
I use this exact stack for most of my client projects. Let's discuss how it could work for your next web application.