All Tools

Website Tech Stack Guide — What Each Tool Does

A plain-English guide to the technologies behind modern websites. React, Next.js, Tailwind, CMS options — what they are and when you need them.

Frontend Frameworks

  • React: The most popular JavaScript library for building user interfaces. Flexible, huge ecosystem, works for everything from small sites to large apps.

  • Next.js: Built on top of React. Adds server-side rendering, static site generation, and routing. Best for: SEO-critical websites, ecommerce, content sites.

  • Angular: A full framework (not just a library). More opinionated, steeper learning curve. Best for: Enterprise apps, large teams, complex dashboards.

Styling

  • Tailwind CSS: Utility-first CSS framework. You write classes directly in HTML. Fast to build, easy to maintain, produces small CSS files.

  • Plain CSS / Sass: Traditional approach. More control, more files. Good for: Simple sites, experienced CSS developers.

CMS Options

  • Sanity: Headless CMS with a customizable studio. Content is served via API. Best for: Custom websites where editors need flexibility.

  • Strapi: Open-source headless CMS. Self-hosted, full control. Best for: Budget-conscious projects, data privacy requirements.

  • WordPress: The classic. Huge plugin ecosystem, familiar to many editors. Best for: Content-heavy sites, blogs, non-technical teams.

Hosting

  • Vercel: Best for Next.js. Free tier available, global CDN, automatic deployments from GitHub.

  • Netlify: Similar to Vercel. Great for static sites and Jamstack.

  • AWS: Most powerful, most complex. Best for: Enterprise requirements, custom infrastructure.