Building a Modern Munro Tracking Platform: A Developer’s Journey

As an aspiring web developer eager to take on new challenges, I’m embarking on an exciting side project that combines my passion for hill-walking with my growing interest in coding. I’d like to share my journey and gather some insights from the community.

A Bit About My Background

Over the past few years, I’ve gained experience in web development primarily through no-code and low-code tools such as Squarespace and Webflow. I’m comfortable working with plain HTML and CSS, and I’ve experimented with basic JavaScript—mainly to create custom plugins. However, I feel my skills have plateaued, and I’m motivated to push my boundaries by developing something I truly care about.

The Inspiration Behind the Project

As a keen hill-walker from Scotland, I’m familiar with the tradition of ‘Munro Bagging.’ For those unfamiliar, Munros are Scottish peaks exceeding 3,000 feet, and many enthusiasts aim to climb them all—there are 282 in total. While several websites exist for tracking progress and providing hill information, they often feel outdated or lack a modern touch (examples include munromap.co.uk and munrobagger.scot).

My goal is to craft a sleek, single-page web app that elevates the user experience. I want it to feel premium and intuitive, with added social features that allow users to compare their progress with friends, plan trips, and share achievements.

Technology Stack and Development Approach

After researching the best tools for this project, I’ve outlined a plan to leverage modern web technologies:

• Frontend: Next.js paired with Tailwind CSS. I plan to optimize each Munro’s detail pages for SEO to enhance visibility and discoverability.

• Mapping: Mapbox GL will handle the interactive mapping features, enabling users to explore terrains and plot routes.

• Backend & Authentication: I’ll be using Supabase for user management, data storage, and authentication services, given its developer-friendly features.

• Hosting & Deployment: Vercel seems like the perfect choice for seamless deployment and scalable hosting, especially with Next.js integration.

Seeking Feedback

As this is a significant step up from my previous projects, I’d love to hear if I’m heading in the right direction. Are there better tools or approaches I should consider? Any tips on integrating these technologies smoothly or additional features that could add value? Your insights and advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance to everyone