Stack Choices Without Hype

docs/arch/side-tool-offline-decision.md holds the draft framework for choosing between local-first and always-online architectures for your freelance client booking side tool. You’ve bounced between the two architecture options for three weeks, testing sync libraries and offline caching tools without landing on a clear choice. The core tension is simple: you use the tool frequently in locations with … Read more

src/tsconfig.migrate.json sits in your project root alongside your existing package.json and 12,000 lines of untyped JavaScript production code that has run without critical errors for 18 months. You know TypeScript catches common bugs, improves autocomplete, and makes cross-team collaboration easier, but you don’t want to break working code or force your entire team to learn … Read more

docs/backend-storage-comparison.md holds draft notes for your solo SaaS side project storage decision. You’re choosing between these two file-based storage options because you don’t want to manage a separate database server for your small, low-traffic app, and you want to keep your tech stack as simple as possible while still supporting your core features. Compare core … Read more

checklist/static-enough.md is empty. You created it 10 minutes ago after spending three hours researching full-stack frameworks for a hobby project idea that only requires you to publish 12 pages of public, unchanging content and a single contact form. You caught yourself overengineering before you wrote a single line of content, so you paused to build … Read more

docs/workflow-comparison.md holds your in-progress notes on solo full-stack learning patterns. You return to this file every time you start a new side project, to avoid falling into the same workflow traps that led you to abandon half-finished builds in the past. The comparison below is tailored specifically to solo learning, not cross-functional enterprise teams, so … Read more

app-decision-framework.md lives in your project’s docs/decisions directory. This file tracks your choice between building a mobile native app or a progressive web app as your first public launch, so you avoid scope creep and align your build with your target user needs. No assumptions are included that are not tied directly to your documented launch … Read more

docs/hosting-fit-calculator.md is a blank spreadsheet export converted to markdown for your side project hosting selection workflow. You built this sheet to eliminate the common mistake of overprovisioning hosting for hobby projects, where you pay $20 or more per month for resources you never use. It sorts all possible side project types into three core tiers, … Read more

docs/learning-project-framework-tax-assessment.md tracks tradeoffs for your upcoming personal recipe tracker learning project. Map the two implementation choices for your project You start by defining the two distinct paths you can take to build your learning project, aligned with your core goals of building working features quickly, retaining core web development skills, and finishing the project before … Read more