Building a React/Next.js app in 2026? This is the stack I’d start with. For most modern SaaS and ...Building a React/Next.js app in 2026? This is the stack I’d start with. For most modern SaaS and ...
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Seemab Ahmed
• Sep 22
Building a React/Next.js app in 2026? This is the stack I’d start with.
For most modern SaaS and web applications, I don’t think you need a huge stack.
My baseline would be:
Frontend: → Next.js + React → TypeScript → Tailwind CSS → shadcn/ui
State & Data : → TanStack Query for server state → Zustand or Redux Toolkit when client state actually needs it
Backend : → Next.js API routes / Node.js → PostgreSQL → Prisma or Drizzle
Validation & Forms : → Zod → React Hook Form
Auth : → Better Auth / Auth.js → Or the authentication provider that fits the product
Testing : → Vitest → Playwright
Deployment : → Vercel for the frontend/app → Managed PostgreSQL → GitHub Actions when CI/CD needs more control
The important part isn't using every tool.
It’s understanding why each tool exists and when you don't need it.
For example, I wouldn't add Redux just because the application uses React.
I wouldn't add React Query if the data flow is simple.
And I wouldn't introduce a separate backend service unless the product actually benefits from having one.
A good tech stack isn't the one with the most technologies. It's the one that keeps the product easy to build, maintain, and scale.
What would you add or remove from this stack?
#React #NextJS #TypeScript #SaaS #WebDevelopment #FrontendDevelopment #NodeJS #PostgreSQL #SoftwareEngineering
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