Building a Modern Munro Tracking App: A Beginner’s Journey

As an aspiring developer venturing into new projects, I’m excited to share my latest side project idea and seek some guidance from the community. Having spent the past few years working with various web development tools—including low-code platforms like Squarespace and Webflow—I have a solid grasp of HTML and CSS, along with some experience with JavaScript through creating custom plugins. However, I feel my skills have plateaued, and I’m eager to challenge myself by building something meaningful and personally motivating.

Project Inspiration: Scottish Munro Hiking Tracking

For those unfamiliar, “Munros” are Scottish peaks exceeding 3,000 feet in elevation. Enthusiasts often aim to “bag” all 282 Munros, tracking their progress and sharing experiences. Existing websites like munromap.co.uk and munrobagger.scot serve this community but tend to feel somewhat outdated and basic in their design and functionality.

My goal is to develop a sleek, modern, single-page application that elevates the user experience, featuring enhanced functionalities—including social elements that enable users to compare lists with friends and plan hiking trips collaboratively.

Technology Stack & Approach

Here’s the outline of my current plan:

• Frontend: Next.js combined with Tailwind CSS for a fast, responsive, and SEO-friendly experience, especially for individual Munro info pages.
• Mapping: MapboxGL for detailed, interactive maps highlighting Munro locations.
• Backend, Authentication, and Database: Supabase, offering a unified platform for user management and data storage.
• Hosting & Deployment: Vercel, providing seamless deployment capabilities for Next.js applications.

Seeking Feedback: Am I on the Right Track?

This project represents a significant leap in complexity compared to my previous work, and I recognize I have much to learn. My primary question is: Am I headed in the right direction with this technology stack? Are there better alternatives I should consider? Additionally, any advice on best practices for integrating these tools or avoiding common pitfalls would be immensely helpful.

Your insights and suggestions would mean a lot as I embark on this journey. Thanks in advance for your support!