Stack debates waste weeks. Defaults exist so you can spend energy on the product.
Recommended default
| Layer | Default | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Language | TypeScript | Shared types, safer refactors |
| UI | React | Ecosystem + hiring pool |
| API | Typed REST or tRPC/RPC | Clear contracts |
| Database | PostgreSQL | Relational truth for SaaS |
| Auth | Managed auth (Clerk/Auth.js/etc.) | Don’t build identity first |
| Billing | Stripe | Standard for SaaS |
| Hosting | Managed Node/edge + Postgres | Low ops early |
| Observability | Error tracking + logs + uptime | Failures must be visible |
Principles
- One database of record — Postgres first; add search/cache when measured need appears
- Managed auth — identity is not your differentiator
- Boring deployments — preview environments beat clever pipelines
- Feature flags — ship dark, enable carefully
- Backups from day one — non-negotiable
When to deviate
- Heavy realtime → consider dedicated realtime infrastructure
- Complex permissions → invest early in RBAC modeling
- EU-only data residency → choose region-locked providers deliberately
- Mobile-first product → API-first with shared contracts
// Keep tenancy in the data layer, not only the UI
type TenantScoped<T> = T & { organizationId: string };
Pros
- +TypeScript + Postgres covers most B2B SaaS domains
- +Managed auth/billing reduce time-to-learning
- +Clear defaults speed hiring and onboarding
Cons
- −Defaults can become dogma if never revisited
- −Managed services create vendor coupling
- −Early over-architecture still kills MVPs
FAQ
What tech stack should I use for a SaaS MVP?+
A pragmatic 2026 default is TypeScript end-to-end, a modern React meta-framework or SPA with a typed API, Postgres, managed auth, Stripe billing, and hosted observability — optimized for speed of iteration and operational clarity.
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