// tools.md

# Developer Tools & Resources

This is the actual stack we use to build MVPs — not a sponsored directory.
// ui_layer

## Frontend

React framework with App Router, RSC, and edge rendering built in.

ReactFree

The UI library everything else is built on. No intro needed.

Utility-first CSS — faster than writing custom styles, consistent by default.

// api_layer

## Backend

NestJSFree

TypeScript-first Node.js framework with DI, modules, and guards out of the box.

Python async framework — our choice for ML-heavy backends and LLM pipelines.

// persistence_layer

## Database

Battle-tested relational DB. JSONB, full-text search, and strong ACID guarantees.

RedisFreemium

In-memory store for caching, session management, and BullMQ job queues.

SupabaseFreemium

Managed PostgreSQL + realtime + storage. Generous free tier for MVPs.

// identity_layer

## Auth

Email, OAuth, magic link, and phone OTP — integrated with Supabase DB.

Formerly NextAuth — lightweight auth for Next.js with 50+ OAuth providers.

ClerkFreemium

Drop-in auth with pre-built UI components. Fastest path to working auth.

// infra_layer

## Hosting

VercelFreemium

First-class Next.js hosting with instant previews and edge functions.

RailwayFreemium

Deploy NestJS, PostgreSQL, Redis with one config file. Great DX.

RenderFreemium

Heroku alternative with free tier, managed DBs, and background workers.

Cheapest reliable VPS for self-hosted backends — €4/mo for a usable instance.

// intelligence_layer

## AI / ML

Long-context reasoning, structured JSON output, and vision — strong choice for complex AI workflows and document analysis.

OpenAIPaid

GPT-4o and embeddings. Large ecosystem of integrations and tooling.

Orchestration layer for chaining LLM calls, agents, and retrieval pipelines.

// money_layer

## Payments

India-first payment gateway. UPI, cards, netbanking, and subscriptions.

StripePaid

International payments and Stripe Connect for marketplace split payouts.

Want to know which of these tools are right for your specific project?

[ Run the stack estimator → ]