The Stack
Open-source first
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Open-Source First
The vibe-coding stack is opinionated by necessity. When you are directing an AI agent, you need libraries that are well-documented, widely used, and predictable. Obscure frameworks and bleeding-edge tools create ambiguity that AI handles poorly.
The Recommended Stack
Server
- Express.js — The most documented Node.js framework. AI agents know it inside out. Every middleware you need exists. Use it.
- EJS for server-rendered pages. Simple, no build step, great SEO. Or Next.js if you need React with SSR.
Persistence
- Replit Object Storage — For files, images, JSON blobs. Survives deploys. No filesystem writes needed.
- PostgreSQL — For relational data. Available as a built-in on Replit.
- JSON in Object Storage — For simple key-value data. Use appendToArray, never overwrite sacred data.
Images
- Sharp — Image processing. Resize, convert to WebP, optimize. Runs server-side, no external service needed.
- Pipeline: Upload → Sharp (400w/800w/1200w WebP at 82% quality) → Object Storage → Serve via /img/:hash?w=400|800|1200
- Resend — Simple, reliable transactional email. Great API, great developer experience.
What to Never Touch
Avoid These
- Google Analytics — Bloated, privacy-hostile, slows your site. Roll your own analytics or use Plausible.
- Cloudinary — Unnecessary when you have Sharp + Object Storage. One more dependency, one more bill.
- Calendly embeds — Heavy iframes that slow pages. Build your own scheduling or link out.
- Local filesystem writes — They do not survive deploys on cloud platforms. Use Object Storage.
The API Layer
This is the part most guides miss. Your vibe-coded site is not just a frontend. It is a node in an ecosystem. The API layer is what makes your data portable, your features composable, and your product valuable beyond its UI.
Every vibe-coded product should expose at least basic API endpoints for the data it creates. This is covered in depth in Module 6: Building in Ecosystems.
Start Building
Replit includes Object Storage, PostgreSQL, one-click deploys, and the AI agent that implements your queue items. Start building free on Replit.
Use the Stack Picker tool to get a personalized stack recommendation based on your project type and experience level.
My Notes
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