Choosing the Right Backend Solution for a College Event Website: A Comparative Review

Introduction

Planning a college fest website involves careful consideration of backend technologies to ensure smooth user experience and reliable performance. Recently, I faced this challenge firsthand while developing a portal for our annual college event, expecting approximately 2,000 participants. Having previously used MongoDB for last year’s site, I found myself torn between two popular options: an all-in-one backend platform versus a more customizable architecture. Here’s a detailed overview of my thought process, hoping it helps others facing similar decisions.

Option 1: Supabase—An Integrated Backend Package

Advantages

• Quick Deployment: With built-in authentication via Google and other providers, setting up user login is straightforward and rapid.

• Managed Database: Features a relational Postgres database with automatic API generation and real-time capabilities, if needed.

• Generous Free Tier: Supports up to 50,000 users per month, 500MB database storage, 5GB outbound bandwidth, and 1GB media allowance—all suitable for small to medium events.

• Minimal Maintenance: Offers a comprehensive backend solution that minimizes server management, allowing focus on front-end design and user interface.

Considerations

While Supabase simplifies backend development, its free bandwidth cap might become limiting during unexpected traffic spikes. Nonetheless, its ease of use makes it attractive for quick deployment and minimal infrastructure headaches.

Option 2: MongoDB Atlas + Render + Hono—A Flexible DIY Approach

Advantages

• Proven Reliability: Last year’s experience with this stack was smooth and trouble-free.

• Higher Bandwidth Limit: Up to 40GB outbound bandwidth per month, reducing worries about reaching usage caps.

• Data Flexibility: NoSQL structure allows nesting data, which simplifies complex data models like game configurations.

• Custom API Logic: Using Hono, a lightweight server framework, I can craft tailored API endpoints, permissions, and integrations, hosted on Render.

Considerations

This setup requires manual configuration, including managing service keep-alive to prevent cold starts, setting up authentication workflows, and ongoing maintenance. While offering greater control, it demands more effort upfront.

My Dilemma

While Supabase provides a quick, all-in-one solution ideal for rapid development and small-scale projects, I worry about bandwidth limitations if traffic surges unexpectedly. Conversely, MongoDB Hybrid Stack offers more bandwidth and flexibility, but involves additional setup complexity and ongoing operational tasks.

Key Data Storage Plans

For this project, I intend to store user information—