Why we chose this

Server routes, hybrid rendering, and zero-config conventions let you focus on building features instead of wiring infrastructure.

Instead of

File-based routing, built-in data fetching, and first-class TypeScript support across the entire app.

Why we chose this

Unlike other UI libraries, shadcn gives you the actual code. No version conflicts, no override gymnastics, just clean, modifiable components.

Instead of

Traditional component libraries lock you into their API. shadcn puts you in full control.

Why we chose this

Hono is blazing fast with a tiny footprint. It runs on Node, Bun, Cloudflare Workers, and more. True portability.

Instead of

Express is battle-tested but slower. Fastify is fast but less portable across runtimes.

Why we chose this

Drizzle generates SQL you can read. No query builder abstraction leaking, just typed SQL with excellent migrations.

Instead of

Prisma has runtime overhead and generates opaque queries. Drizzle stays closer to SQL.

Why we chose this

Better Auth is framework-agnostic and TypeScript-first. Social logins, magic links, and 2FA work out of the box.

Instead of

NextAuth is tightly coupled to Next.js. Custom auth is complex and error-prone.

Why we chose this

Inngest handles retries, scheduling, and complex workflows with a simple function-based API. No infrastructure to manage.

Instead of

BullMQ requires Redis setup. Raw queues need manual retry logic and monitoring.

Why we chose this

Resend offers the best DX for email. React Email templates make designing emails enjoyable.

Instead of

Traditional email APIs lack modern tooling. Resend brings email into the React ecosystem.

Why we chose this

SES offers the lowest cost at scale with excellent deliverability. Perfect for transactional and bulk email.

Instead of

SendGrid and Mailgun are pricier at volume. Self-hosted email has deliverability challenges.

Why we chose this

Stripe's API is the gold standard. Hosted checkout, subscription management, and fraud protection built-in.

Instead of

PayPal has worse DX. Building payment infrastructure yourself is a compliance nightmare.

Why we chose this

Polar is designed for developers. Sponsorships, license keys, and usage-based billing with minimal setup.

Instead of

Stripe requires more setup for developer-specific use cases. Gumroad takes higher fees.

Why we chose this

The AI SDK abstracts provider differences. Stream responses, tool calling, and structured output work consistently across models.

Instead of

Direct API calls mean provider lock-in. The SDK provides a consistent interface regardless of LLM.

Why we chose this

OpenRouter gives you one endpoint for every major model and reroutes automatically when a provider goes down. Switch models with a string change.

Instead of

Integrating each provider yourself means separate keys, billing, and outage handling. OpenRouter is one key and one invoice.

Why we chose this

Vercel makes deployment trivial. Git push to deploy, preview URLs, and edge functions for optimal performance.

Instead of

Self-hosting requires DevOps knowledge. Other platforms lack Vercel's framework integrations.

Why we chose this

Railway handles databases, Redis, and services in one place. Simple pricing and excellent DX.

Instead of

AWS is complex. Heroku's free tier is gone. Railway offers the best balance of simplicity and power.

Why we chose this

Docker ensures your app runs the same everywhere. Essential for self-hosting and complex deployments.

Instead of

VMs are heavier. Serverless has cold start issues. Docker gives you portability with control.

Why we chose this

Coolify gives you Vercel-like DX on your own infrastructure. Full control without vendor lock-in.

Instead of

CapRover is less polished. Dokku lacks the UI. Coolify is the most complete self-hosted PaaS.