Title: Seeking Guidance for a Mountainous WordPress Project: Modernizing Munro Tracking
Are you a budding developer looking to take your skills to the next level? Recently, I embarked on a new side project inspired by my passion for hill walking in Scotland, and I’d love to share my journey and gather feedback from the community.
Background and Motivation
With several years of experience in web development, primarily working with low-code and no-code platforms such as Squarespace and Webflow, I’ve become comfortable with basic HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. I’ve created custom plugins and customized sites, but lately, I’ve felt my growth slowing. To challenge myself further, I decided to develop a personal project that aligns with my interests—an improved, feature-rich platform for Munro enthusiasts.
The Inspiration
For those unfamiliar, ‘Munro Bagging’ is a popular activity in Scotland where hikers aim to climb all 282 peaks over 3,000 feet. Although there are existing websites like munromap.co.uk and munrobagger.scot designed to help enthusiasts track their progress, many of these sites feel outdated and lack modern features. My goal is to create a sleek, user-friendly single-page application with enhanced capabilities, including social features that allow friends to compare progress and plan collective adventures.
My Technical Approach
I’ve done some preliminary research and outlined a tech stack for this project:
- Frontend: Next.js combined with Tailwind CSS, to build a fast, SEO-friendly, and responsive interface that can also optimize individual Munro pages.
- Mapping: MapboxGL for interactive, customizable maps to visualize Munro locations and routes.
- Backend & Authentication: Supabase, providing a scalable backend with authentication, database management, and real-time features.
- Hosting & Deployment: Vercel, ensuring smooth deployment and effortless updates.
Seeking Feedback
Given that this shift involves a significant leap from my current experience, I’d appreciate insights from seasoned developers and WordPress experts alike. Is this tech stack suitable for a project of this scope? Would you recommend alternative approaches or tools? More generally, if you have ideas on structuring such a site—especially with a focus on performance, user engagement, or ease of maintenance—I’d be grateful.
Your advice and suggestions are invaluable as I venture into this exciting challenge. Thanks in advance for your support!
