My Web Development Tech Stack in 2024

After building dozens of client websites, I've settled on a stack that balances developer experience, performance, and client maintainability.

Frontend Framework: Next.js

Next.js remains my go-to for several reasons:

• **App Router** for better layouts and loading states
• **Server Components** for improved performance
• **Built-in optimizations** for images, fonts, and scripts
• **Vercel deployment** that just works

Styling: Tailwind CSS

Tailwind has transformed how I write CSS:

• Consistent design tokens
• No context switching between files
• Easy responsive design
• Smaller production bundles

UI Components: shadcn/ui

Not a component library - a collection of copy-paste components:

• Full customization control
• No dependency lock-in
• Accessible by default
• Beautiful defaults

Animation: Framer Motion

For anything beyond CSS transitions:

• Declarative animation syntax
• Layout animations
• Gesture support
• Exit animations

Hosting: Vercel

The deployment experience is unmatched:

• Git push to deploy
• Automatic preview deployments
• Edge functions
• Analytics built-in

CMS: Varies by Project

• **Sanity** for complex content needs
• **Contentful** for enterprise clients
• **MDX** for developer blogs
• **Notion** for simple client updates

Forms: React Hook Form + Zod

Type-safe forms with great UX:

• Minimal re-renders
• Schema validation
• Error handling
• Easy integration

Why This Stack?

It's not about using the newest tools. It's about:

1. Performance: Fast sites convert better

2. Maintainability: Clients can make updates

3. Scalability: Sites grow with the business

4. Developer Experience: I can build faster and better