The tech stack I'm using for my SaaS projects

For this 12-in-12 challenge, choosing the right tech stack has been crucial for balancing development speed with scalability. Here's what I've settled on:

Frontend: Next.js + Tailwind CSS

Next.js gives me the perfect balance of React's component model with server-side rendering capabilities. Paired with Tailwind CSS, I can rapidly build responsive interfaces without getting bogged down in custom CSS. The productivity boost is significant.

Backend: Node.js with Express

Using JavaScript throughout the stack simplifies context switching. Express gives me the flexibility I need without excessive boilerplate. For more complex projects, I've added TypeScript for type safety.

Database: PostgreSQL + Prisma

PostgreSQL offers the reliability I need, while Prisma's ORM makes database operations more intuitive and type-safe. The migration system also saves me considerable time when evolving schemas.

Authentication: Supabase Auth

Implementing secure authentication from scratch for each project would be prohibitively time-consuming. Supabase provides a robust solution that I can implement in hours rather than days.

Deployment: Vercel + Railway

Vercel handles my frontend deployments with automatic previews for each PR, while Railway manages backend services. This combination gives me a nearly seamless CI/CD pipeline with minimal configuration.

Monitoring: Sentry + Simple Analytics

Catching errors early is crucial when moving quickly. Sentry alerts me to issues in real-time, while Simple Analytics gives me the user insights I need without the complexity of Google Analytics.

This stack might evolve as the challenge progresses, but so far it's providing the right balance of development speed and production reliability. The key is standardizing as much as possible across projects - each new application gets easier to build as I refine my workflow!