Phase 4: Choosing Your Stack
Time: ~20 minutes | Goal: Decide which tools to use and why
What This Phase Is About
Every web application needs technology choices:
- What language to write in?
- What framework to use?
- Where to store data?
- How to handle users?
This phase teaches you how to think about these decisions, not just what to pick.
What You'll Learn
- Decision framework — How to evaluate options
- Frontend landscape — React, Vue, plain JavaScript
- Backend landscape — Firebase vs building your own
- TypeScript — Why types help beginners
- Our stack decision — What we'll use and why
The Key Insight
There's no "best" technology. There's only "best for this situation."
Different projects need different tools. We'll learn to evaluate tradeoffs.
Spoiler: Our Stack
We'll end up choosing:
- TypeScript — JavaScript with guardrails
- React — Most popular UI framework
- Firebase — Authentication and database without a server
But the process of deciding is as important as the decision.
By the End
You'll have:
- [ ] A framework for evaluating technology
- [ ] Understanding of why React + Firebase fits this project
- [ ] Your first ADR (Architecture Decision Record)
Steps
- Decision Framework
- Frontend Landscape
- Backend Landscape
- TypeScript Explained
- Our Stack Decision
- 📝 ADR Worksheet — Document your decision