Building a Modern Munro Tracking App: Guidance for Aspiring Developers

Embarking on a new side project can be both exciting and daunting, especially when aiming to elevate your skills and create something valuable for a niche community. If you’re a web developer looking to challenge yourself beyond basic website builders, developing a dedicated, feature-rich app can be a rewarding experience. Here’s a detailed overview to help you navigate this journey.

Understanding the Project Concept

Your passion for Scottish hillwalking and Munro bagging provides a fantastic foundation for this project. Munros—peaks over 3,000 feet—are a popular challenge among outdoor enthusiasts. Current websites that track progress, such as munromap.co.uk and munrobagger.scot, serve their purpose but often feel outdated and lack modern interactivity. Your goal is to develop a sleek, single-page application (SPA) that offers a premium user experience, including social features for comparing lists and planning trips.

Technology Stack Recommendations

Given your aspirations and desire to deepen your development expertise, here’s an overview of a suggested tech stack:

• Frontend: Next.js combined with Tailwind CSS. Next.js offers server-side rendering and static site generation, which support SEO—for example, indexing individual Munro pages effectively. Tailwind CSS will facilitate rapid styling with a modern, responsive design.

• Mapping: Mapbox GL JS provides dynamic, interactive maps ideal for displaying detailed hill data and routes. Its customization capabilities make it suitable for pinpointing individual Munros.

• Backend, Authentication, and Database: Supabase is an excellent choice—it’s a backend-as-a-service platform built on PostgreSQL, offering auth system, real-time database, and storage. It simplifies backend management, allowing you to focus on app features.

• Hosting & Deployment: Vercel seamlessly integrates with Next.js projects, enabling swift deployment and scalable hosting solutions.

Is This a Good Direction?

Your proposed approach aligns well with current development best practices, especially for creating performant, SEO-friendly applications. Transitioning from basic web development tools to a more advanced stack like Next.js and Mapbox will significantly boost your skill set.

Of course, as you step into unfamiliar territory, expect to encounter new concepts and challenges. Take this as an opportunity to learn aspects such as static generation, API integrations, and sophisticated map handling.

Additional Tips

• Start Small: Build core features first—displaying Munros, basic user lists—before adding social or advanced trip planning functionalities.

• **