Creating a Modern Mountain Tracking App: A Beginner’s Journey

As a budding web developer venturing into new projects, I’m excited to share my latest side endeavor focused on enhancing the way enthusiasts track their mountain climbs. With several years of experience primarily in low-code and no-code platforms like Squarespace and Webflow, I have a solid foundation in HTML and CSS, along with some basic JavaScript for custom plugins. However, I’ve reached a point where I feel my growth has plateaued, and I’m eager to push my skills further through a project that genuinely interests me.

The Inspiration: Scotland’s Munros

Living in Scotland, I’ve always been passionate about hill-walking. The local tradition of “Munro Bagging” involves climbing all the 282 mountains over 3,000 feet. While there are several websites dedicated to tracking progress, such as munromap.co.uk and munrobagger.scot, they tend to feel outdated and lack modern features. I believe there’s room for a sleek, comprehensive platform tailored for today’s users.

My Vision for the Project

I aim to develop a contemporary, single-page application that offers an engaging user experience. My goal is to include features that are missing from current solutions, particularly social functionalities that enable users to compare their mountain lists and plan trips collaboratively. Visuals matter, and I want this platform to be both intuitive and visually appealing.

Tech Stack and Implementation Strategy

After researching viable options, I’ve outlined a plan that aligns with my learning goals and project needs:

• Frontend: Next.js paired with Tailwind CSS to ensure fast, responsive development with good SEO support through server-side rendering.
• Mapping: Mapbox GL to provide detailed, interactive maps of each Munro, enhancing navigation and discovery.
• Backend & Authentication: Supabase – an open-source Firebase alternative that handles backend APIs, user authentication, and data storage seamlessly.
• Hosting & Deployment: Vercel, known for seamless Next.js deployment, offers scalability and performance.

Seeking Feedback and Advice

At this stage, I’d love to hear from more experienced developers or anyone who’s undertaken similar projects. Is this tech stack suitable for a project of this scope? Are there better tools or architectures I should consider? Additionally, any tips on managing a project like this or avoiding common pitfalls would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for taking the time to read through my plan. Looking forward to any insights or suggestions you might have!