● Stack matrix
What 'stack' means in plain language
Stack = the tools that build, host and run your site. Wrong stack = expensive maintenance. Right stack = cheap and fast.
2026 default: simple site → Astro + Cloudflare Pages + Markdown. Apps with login → Next.js 15+ on Vercel. Shop → Shopify. GSC mandatory for Google; TikTok optional for visibility.
● 2026 defaults
Stack philosophy — when each tool wins
S-01
Simple site
Astro 5 + Cloudflare Pages + Markdown. Plumber, lawyer, cafe.
S-02
App with login
Next.js 15+ on Vercel. Tickets, SaaS, dashboards.
S-03
Shop
Shopify first. Custom cart only when revenue justifies dev cost.
S-04
TikTok vs GSC
GSC first — free Google traffic. TikTok when you can film real work weekly.
S-05
Yandex
Add Metrica + Webmaster if RU/UA/BY clients matter. Skip for PL-only Google.
● How to use stacks
Ready-made bundles and simple rules
Pick a bundle by project type, then check the rules before you buy tools or start coding.
B-01Astro + Cloudflare Pages + Markdown + GSC + Google Business Profile
Business site
You sell services, need contacts, and want fast SEO without app complexity.
First steps
- Write one clear offer and one action button.
- Build 5 to 7 pages: home, services, about, contacts, FAQ.
- Connect the domain, form, Search Console and map listing.
- Add reviews, opening hours and real photos.
Don't do
- Do not start with Next.js.
- Do not add a CMS if updates are rare.
B-02Astro or Next.js + Markdown + GSC + GA4 or Plausible
Content site
You publish articles, guides or knowledge base pages.
First steps
- Make a topic map with categories and pillar pages.
- Create one article template and linking rules.
- Add sitemap, metadata and author page.
- Refresh weak pages every month.
Don't do
- Do not auto-publish AI text without review.
- Do not make many near-duplicate articles.
B-03Shopify + GA4 + GSC + ads later
Store
You sell products, need shipping, and do not want to own checkout logic.
First steps
- Prepare product data, prices, photos and shipping rules.
- Set theme, collections, taxes and legal pages.
- Run a real test order and verify order emails.
- Only then connect feeds or ads.
Don't do
- Do not build a custom cart on day one.
- Do not launch ads before checkout works.
B-04Next.js + Vercel + Supabase + Stripe + email delivery
Events and tickets
You sell seats, tickets or limited access and need payment plus records.
First steps
- Define ticket tiers, capacity and refund rules first.
- Build checkout, webhook handling and ticket storage.
- Send QR tickets and email confirmations.
- Add a check-in view for the event team.
Don't do
- Do not use Astro for paid ticketing.
- Do not rely on manual bank transfers for scale.
B-05Next.js + Vercel + Supabase + Stripe + auth
SaaS
You need login, roles, subscriptions or dashboard state.
First steps
- Write one MVP workflow and one pricing model.
- Define users, roles, core tables and access rules.
- Connect billing, customer portal and webhook sync.
- Add onboarding, limits and support contact.
Don't do
- Do not start from a landing page only.
- Do not skip staging and billing tests.
B-06n8n + forms + CRM or email + logging
Automation
You need repeatable lead routing, notifications or data sync.
First steps
- Draw one flow on paper: trigger, action, owner.
- Add retries, logs and failure alerts.
- Test duplicate payloads and rate limits.
- Write a short runbook for handoff.
Don't do
- Do not automate before the form works.
- Do not run flows without logs.
● How to use stacks
Rules that save time
Pick a bundle by project type, then check the rules before you buy tools or start coding.
Rules that save time
- If the site has fewer than 10 pages and no login, start with Astro.
- Use Next.js when you need login, dashboards, payments or personalized state.
- Use Shopify when the main job is selling products, not building software.
- Add Google Search Console before any ad spend.
- Use one analytics tool first; add a second only when you know why.
- Add Yandex tools only if the audience actually uses Yandex.
- If a non-technical person must edit content daily, do not force Git on day one.
When to upgrade the stack
- Astro → Next.js: auth, dashboards, payments, user state or server actions appear.
- Markdown → CMS: content owners need a visual editor and publish often.
- Shopify → custom commerce: only when the business logic justifies dev cost.
- GA4 / Plausible → PostHog: you need event funnels, product metrics or session replay.
- No ads → ads: only after the page, form and tracking already work.
Before launch
- One owner can explain the site in one sentence.
- Domain, SSL, contact form and Search Console are live.
- Mobile version is checked on a real phone.
- 404, sitemap and robots are present.
- There is a real next step after the page visit.
● Stack matrix
What 'stack' means in plain language
Stack = the tools that build, host and run your site. Wrong stack = expensive maintenance. Right stack = cheap and fast.
| Tool | Category | In plain words | Use when | AI | Tech level | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astro | Site builder (code) | Fast static pages. Like a brochure site, but you own the code. | Plumber, lawyer, cafe — simple service sites | Excellent — simple file structure, AI rarely breaks builds | Beginner | Free |
| Next.js | Site builder (code) | Full app framework. For sites that behave like software. | Tickets, SaaS, dashboards, auth flows | Very good — huge docs corpus, but AI may over-engineer simple sites | Intermediate | Low |
| Cloudflare Pages | Where it lives online | Free hosting for static/Astro sites. Fast worldwide. | Default for simple business sites | — | Beginner | Free |
| Vercel | Where it lives online | Hosting made for Next.js. Preview links on every change. | Next.js apps, SaaS, ticketing | — | Intermediate | Low |
| Markdown files | How you edit text | Text files you edit in Cursor or GitHub. No admin panel needed. | Small sites, one editor, low maintenance | — | Beginner | Free |
| Shopify | Shop platform | Ready-made online shop. Products, cart, payments built in. | Selling physical or digital products without coding a cart | — | Beginner | Medium |
| Supabase | Storing data | Online database + login. Like a spreadsheet with superpowers. | Tickets, bookings, user accounts | — | Intermediate | Low |
| Streamlit | Site builder (code) | Quick internal dashboards in Python. Not for public marketing sites. | Internal reports, data tools for your team | — | Intermediate | Low |
| Stripe | Taking money | Card payments for custom apps. Needs developer setup. | SaaS subscriptions, custom ticket sales | — | Advanced | Low |
| n8n | Bots & scripts | Connect apps with visual workflows. Email → sheet → Telegram. | Form → CRM → notification chains | — | Intermediate | Low |
| Google Analytics 4 | Who visits & what they do | Free Google stats: visits, pages, where people come from. | Default free analytics when you need funnels and Google Ads link | — | Beginner | Free |
| Plausible | Who visits & what they do | Simple privacy-friendly stats. One script, clean dashboard. | Beginner who wants numbers without GA4 complexity | — | Beginner | Low |
| Umami | Who visits & what they do | Open-source analytics you can self-host. Like Plausible, DIY. | Privacy-first sites with someone who can host a small server | — | Intermediate | Free |
| Yandex Metrica | Who visits & what they do | Yandex version of analytics. Essential for RU/UA/BY audience. | Russian-language site or CIS clients | — | Beginner | Free |
| Microsoft Clarity | Who visits & what they do | Free heatmaps and session recordings. See where people rage-click. | Debugging confusing forms and layouts after launch | — | Beginner | Free |
| PostHog | Who visits & what they do | Analytics + feature flags + session replay for product apps. | SaaS and apps where you track user journeys | — | Intermediate | Low |
| Google Ads | Paid traffic | Pay Google to show your site when people search your service. | High-intent local search after site + GSC work | — | Beginner | Medium |
| Meta Ads | Paid traffic | Facebook and Instagram ads. Good for visual services and retargeting. | Salon, renovation, food — anything photogenic | — | Beginner | Medium |
| TikTok Ads | Paid traffic | Paid reach on TikTok. Only after organic TikTok shows traction. | Young audience, visual trades, viral-friendly offers | — | Beginner | Medium |
| Yandex Direct | Paid traffic | Yandex paid search. Google Ads equivalent for RU/UA/BY. | CIS market with Yandex search share | — | Beginner | Medium |
| TikTok Business | Social & local presence | Business account on TikTok with analytics and website link in bio. | Trades, food, beauty — show real work in 15–30 sec clips | — | Beginner | Free |
| Social & local presence | Photo portfolio + Stories + Reels. Reuse TikTok clips here. | Visual brands, local services, cross-post from TikTok | — | Beginner | Free | |
| Google Business Profile | Social & local presence | Your pin on Google Maps with phone, hours, reviews. Free leads. | Any local business with address or service area | — | Beginner | Free |
| Google Search Console | Search indexing tools | Free Google tool: is your site indexed, what queries bring clicks. | Every public site that should appear in Google | — | Beginner | Free |
| Bing Webmaster | Search indexing tools | Same idea as GSC but for Bing. Import from GSC in one click. | Extra search visibility with 10 minutes setup | — | Beginner | Free |
| Yandex Webmaster | Search indexing tools | Yandex indexing tool. GSC equivalent for Yandex search. | Russian/Cyrillic sites and CIS audience | — | Beginner | Free |
| Remix | Framework pick 2026 | Web framework focused on forms and fast data loading. App sites. | Form-heavy apps, dashboards with lots of server data | Good — smaller community than Next.js, AI may hallucinate APIs | Intermediate | Low |
| SvelteKit | Framework pick 2026 | Fast, lightweight sites and apps. Less boilerplate than React stacks. | Performance-sensitive apps when team knows Svelte | Moderate — growing AI support, fewer Stack Overflow answers | Intermediate | Low |
| Nuxt | Framework pick 2026 | Vue-based framework. Strong for content sites and EU agencies. | Vue team, multilingual content, marketing sites | Good for Vue users — AI knows Vue 3 well, Nuxt 4 less than Next | Intermediate | Low |