It’s been years since I actually built something so I didn’t quite know which stack would be best for my needs. I want my app to be fast and scalable (which I will be doing using Docker and Kubernetes), but that was it.

So what do we do in 2023? Right, we ask ChatGPT. I had it ask me questions to help me choose and we landed on the MERN stack because:

• Modern (future-proof was one of my requirements. I don’t want to redesign this webapp if I can avoid it, please).
• Widely used (I’m going to need that dev community)
• Scalable
• Flexible
• Separate frontend and backend
• NoSQL database (for speed, scalability, ease of use)

Like the title suggests, I was choosing between MERN, MEAN and Full stack. So why didn’t I go with one of the other options? Like before, it’s 2023 and we’re not doing manual research anymore. So I asked ChatGPT to leave out my current level of knowledge of any language or framework (I don’t mind learning new things), and it still recommended the MERN stack for my project.

Here’s an overview of why (c+p from ChatGPT):

1. React’s Performance and User Experience: React is known for its efficient rendering and excellent user experience. It provides a fast and responsive frontend, which is important for a comparison website where users will interact with multiple models.
2. Large Developer Community: React has a massive developer community, which means you’ll have access to a plethora of resources, libraries, and tools to aid in your development and problem-solving.
3. Reusability and Component-Based Architecture: React’s component-based architecture promotes code reusability, making it easier to manage and extend your application as it grows.
4. Active Development: React is actively maintained by Facebook and has a track record of staying up-to-date with the latest web development trends.
5. Flexibility and Scalability: Node.js on the backend and React on the frontend provide a full JavaScript stack, simplifying your development and potentially allowing you to share code between the two layers. This can make your application more maintainable and scalable.
6. Smooth Learning Curve: While there might still be a learning curve, React is generally considered to have a more gradual learning curve compared to Angular.

While the MEAN stack (MongoDB, Express.js, Angular, Node.js) is also a solid choice, the MERN stack’s focus on React is particularly suitable for your requirements of speed, responsiveness, and scalability. It aligns well with your goal of building a fast and user-friendly webapp that can handle potential traffic growth.

So I’m going to stop doubting my decision to go with the MERN stack and get building! Besides, if it’s good enough for Facebook, Instagram, Netflix, WhatsApp, Airbnb, Dropbox, Uber, Tesla, Pinterest and Trello, who am I to say it’s not good enough for me?