I'm working on a private recipe web application as a gift for my girlfriend and need some advice on the tech stack. The app will focus on being mobile-friendly and I've got some UI mockups ready in Figma. I want to build a robust stack before I start coding it out.
Here are the core features I want to include, either now or in the future:
- User login and authentication
- Protected access, so no public recipes
- Central storage accessible from anywhere
- Manual recipe addition
- Import recipes from sites like Chefkoch
- Recipe search by title
- Filtering recipes by cooking time and available ingredients
- Ability to edit recipes
- Adjust portion sizes
- Add personal notes
- Optionally, include recipe images
I'm aiming for clean authentication and security, easy hosting with low operational needs, and a nice user interface that's easy to maintain in the long run. Although I have a bit of experience with Python from past projects, I want to approach this one more formally instead of just vibing it out. Any recommendations on suitable tech stacks, insights from your own experiences, or common pitfalls to avoid, especially regarding authentication and data modeling would be incredibly helpful. Thanks in advance!
3 Answers
If you want a solid foundation, consider using Linux, Apache, MySQL or SQLite, and PHP. But be cautious with trendy JavaScript frameworks; they can lead you down a complicated path based on current trends rather than solid fundamentals!
Why not try learning GraphQL? PostGraphile can generate a GraphQL API based on your database schema, which is great for your needs. Pair it with React on the frontend for a responsive app. Alternatively, check out Supabase for a good backend, allowing you to focus solely on a beautiful frontend. If your content isn't dynamic, using a static site generator like Jekyll or Hugo could simplify things, and it can be hosted for free on GitHub Pages or Netlify!
Thanks for the heads-up! I'll look into it. Starting with the login in React sounds like a good plan for me.
PostGraphile sounds interesting! I’ll definitely check it out.
You mentioned wanting a 'future-proof' stack, but honestly, for a basic app like this, you could use just about any tech from the last 20 years! A simple HTML front end with a Python backend is a straightforward route if you're looking for a low learning curve. If you prefer a modern approach, sprinkle in some React and deploy using services like Railway or Render.
😀 Thanks for the tip! I’ll keep that in mind!