Chat with Claude about technical choices - bodo61/CnF2 GitHub Wiki

I have some questions about setting up a software development project in general and som specefic one pertaining to how you can be of assistance. Is that OK? Edit

Absolutely, I'd be happy to help with both general software development project setup questions and specifics about how I can assist you. Feel free to ask whatever you'd like to know - whether it's about project structure, tooling, best practices, or how I can support your development workflow.

What would you like to start with?

First out: what would be the best and most established (as in used by the highest number of professionals)( way to keep track of everything in a development project including our chats? Edit

For comprehensive project tracking and documentation, the most established and widely-used approach combines several industry-standard tools:

Version Control & Code Management:

Git with platforms like GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket - This is essentially universal among professional developers for code versioning and collaboration.

Project Management & Issue Tracking:

Jira (most enterprise-focused, very established) GitHub Issues (if already using GitHub, seamlessly integrated) Linear (increasingly popular for its clean interface) Asana or Trello (simpler, more visual approaches)

Documentation:

Confluence (pairs with Jira, very common in enterprises) Notion (increasingly popular, great for mixed content) GitHub Wiki or GitLab Wiki (keeps docs close to code) Simple Markdown files in your repository (lightweight, version-controlled)

For Our Conversations Specifically: Since our chats don't persist between sessions, you'll want to save important information from our discussions. The most practical approaches:

Copy key insights into your project's documentation system Create issues/tickets in your tracker based on our discussions Maintain a development journal in Markdown files within your repo Use Notion or similar to create a "Claude Conversations" section where you paste relevant exchanges

The most professional and scalable combination would be Git + GitHub/GitLab + Jira/Linear + Confluence/Notion. For smaller projects or solo work, Git + GitHub + GitHub Issues + Markdown docs covers everything you need.

What type and scale of project are you working on? That would help me suggest the most appropriate combination.

Thanks. What is "repo"? Edit

A "repo" is short for repository - it's the central storage location where all your project's files, code, and version history are kept.

In the context of Git (the version control system), a repository contains:

All your project files and folders The complete history of every change made to those files Information about who made changes and when Branches for different versions or features Configuration files for the project

Think of it like a smart folder that not only holds your current project files, but also remembers every version of every file you've ever saved, plus notes about what changed and why.

Local vs Remote Repos:

Local repo: The copy on your computer where you do your work Remote repo: The copy stored online (like on GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket) that serves as the "official" version and allows team collaboration

When developers say "push to the repo" they mean uploading their changes to the remote repository. When they say "clone the repo" they mean downloading a complete copy to work on locally.

So when I mentioned "Markdown files within your repo," I meant documentation files stored alongside your code in the same repository, so everything stays together and version-controlled.

Does that clarify it?

Yes. Does "Markdown docs" refer to a specific app or to markdown files in general? Edit

"Markdown docs" refers to markdown files in general, not a specific app.

Markdown is a lightweight markup language - a way of formatting text using simple symbols like # for headers, * for bold, - for lists, etc. Files are typically saved with .md extension (like README.md or project-notes.md).

The beauty of markdown files is that they can be:

Created and edited in any text editor (VS Code, Sublime Text, Notepad++, even basic Notepad) Viewed nicely formatted on platforms like GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket Converted to HTML, PDFs, or other formats Version-controlled alongside your code Opened by virtually any developer on any system

Popular editors for markdown include:

VS Code (most common among developers, great markdown preview) Typora (dedicated markdown editor) Mark Text (another dedicated option) Obsidian or Notion (if you want more advanced features)

But you can literally write markdown in any text editor - the formatting is just simple text symbols. When I said "Markdown docs," I meant the practice of writing your documentation in markdown format and storing those .md files in your project repository, rather than using a separate documentation platform.

This keeps your docs close to your code and ensures they're version-controlled too.

I have Scrivener for writing. Can it be used to create markdown files? Edit

Yes, Scrivener can work with markdown, though it's not its primary focus. Here's how:

Scrivener's Markdown Capabilities:

You can compile/export your Scrivener projects to markdown format You can import existing markdown files into Scrivener Scrivener has a "MultiMarkdown" compile format specifically for this You can write using markdown syntax within Scrivener documents

However, there are some considerations:

Scrivener excels at long-form writing, research organization, and complex document structures For quick, simple documentation (like README files, API docs, or project notes), a lightweight text editor might be more efficient The strength of markdown for development is its simplicity and universal compatibility - Scrivener adds complexity that may not be needed

Practical approach:

Use Scrivener for substantial documentation projects (user manuals, detailed specs, research compilation) Use a simple text editor (VS Code, etc.) for quick markdown files like README.md, CHANGELOG.md, or daily development notes

Since you already have Scrivener and are comfortable with it, it could work well for creating comprehensive project documentation that you then export to markdown for your repository. The research and organizational features might actually be valuable for complex software documentation.

Have you used Scrivener's compile features before, or would you be starting fresh with its markdown capabilities?

Thanks. How does your coding ability compare to that of what is available within Git? Edit

I think there might be some confusion here - Git itself doesn't have coding abilities. Git is a version control system - a tool for tracking changes to files and coordinating work among developers. It's like a sophisticated filing system that remembers every version of your files.

What Git does:

Tracks changes to your code files Manages different versions (branches) of your project Merges changes from multiple developers Stores the complete history of your project Synchronizes code between local and remote repositories

What I do as Claude:

Write code in various programming languages Debug and troubleshoot existing code Explain coding concepts and best practices Review code and suggest improvements Help with architecture and design decisions Assist with documentation

We complement each other:

Git handles the management of your code (versioning, collaboration, history) I help with the creation and improvement of the code itself

You might be thinking of GitHub Copilot or similar AI coding assistants that are integrated into development environments? Those are AI tools (like me) that help write code, but they work alongside Git for version control.

The typical workflow would be: work with me to write/improve code → save it to files → use Git to track and manage those files.

Does that clarify the distinction?

Yes. Is there a meaningful way to compare written by you and code written by GitHub Copilot? Edit

Yes, there are meaningful comparisons to make, though they serve somewhat different roles in the development process:

GitHub Copilot:

Inline coding assistant - suggests code as you type in your editor Context-aware - sees the file you're working in and suggests the next few lines Speed-focused - helps you code faster by autocompleting common patterns Seamless workflow - integrated directly into VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, etc. Good for: routine code, boilerplate, common patterns, continuing existing code

My coding approach:

Conversational problem-solving - we discuss requirements, architecture, trade-offs Complete solutions - can write entire functions, classes, or small applications Explanation and teaching - I explain the "why" behind code decisions Broader context - can help with project structure, best practices, debugging complex issues Good for: learning, complex problem-solving, code review, architectural decisions

Quality comparison: Both can produce high-quality code, but the nature is different:

Copilot excels at syntactically correct, contextually appropriate suggestions I can provide more thoughtful, explained solutions with reasoning

Practical workflow: Many developers use both - they might discuss a complex problem with me to understand the approach, then use Copilot to speed up the actual implementation. Or use me for code review and architectural guidance while Copilot handles the routine typing.

The code quality from both can be excellent, but I offer more explanation and broader problem-solving context, while Copilot offers faster, more integrated coding assistance.

Excellent. Thanks. Edit

You're welcome! Feel free to ask if you have more questions about setting up your development project or how I can help with any specific coding challenges. Good luck with your project!

If I wish to build a web app which uses an SQL database and make that app available to other people at a fee, can you provide a high level step by step approach to how I should go about doing it? Edit

Here's a high-level roadmap for building and monetizing a web app with SQL database:

Phase 1: Planning & Design

Define your product - What problem does it solve? Who's your target audience? Choose your tech stack - Frontend (React, Vue, Angular), Backend (Node.js, Python/Django, PHP, etc.), Database (PostgreSQL, MySQL) Design the database schema - Plan your tables, relationships, and data structure Create wireframes/mockups - Plan the user interface and user experience

Phase 2: Development 5. Set up development environment - Local database, code editor, version control (Git) 6. Build the backend - API endpoints, database connections, business logic 7. Build the frontend - User interface, connect to backend APIs 8. Implement user authentication - Registration, login, password security 9. Add payment processing - Stripe, PayPal, or similar service 10. Test thoroughly - Unit tests, integration tests, user acceptance testing

Phase 3: Deployment & Business Setup 11. Choose hosting - Cloud providers like AWS, Google Cloud, Heroku, or DigitalOcean 12. Set up production database - Secure, backed-up SQL database in the cloud 13. Deploy your application - Web server, domain name, SSL certificate 14. Legal considerations - Terms of service, privacy policy, business registration 15. Set up analytics - Track usage, performance, user behavior

Phase 4: Launch & Growth 16. Beta testing - Limited release to gather feedback 17. Marketing strategy - How will people find your app? 18. Customer support system - Help desk, documentation, FAQs 19. Monitor and maintain - Bug fixes, feature updates, security patches

Would you like me to dive deeper into any of these phases, or do you have questions about specific technical choices?

Please elaborate on what "Frontend" and "Backend" are. Edit

Great question! Let me break down these fundamental concepts:

Frontend (Client-Side): The frontend is everything users see and interact with directly - the visual interface of your web app.

What it includes:

The web pages users see in their browser Buttons, forms, menus, images, text Interactive elements (clicking, typing, scrolling) Visual design, colors, layout, animations

Technologies:

HTML - Structure of web pages CSS - Styling and visual appearance JavaScript - Interactive behavior Frameworks like React, Vue, or Angular - Make complex interfaces easier to build

Example: When you use Facebook, the news feed you scroll through, the "Like" button you click, the comment box you type in - that's all frontend.

Backend (Server-Side): The backend is the "behind the scenes" part that users never see directly - it handles data, logic, and communication.

What it handles:

Database operations (storing, retrieving, updating data) User authentication (login/logout, permissions) Business logic (calculating prices, processing orders) API endpoints (how frontend communicates with backend) Security, file storage, email sending

Technologies:

Server languages like Python, Node.js, PHP, Java Databases like PostgreSQL, MySQL Frameworks like Django, Express, Laravel

Example: When you click "Like" on Facebook (frontend), the backend receives that action, updates the database to record your like, calculates the new like count, and sends the updated number back to display on your screen.

How they work together: Frontend makes requests → Backend processes them → Backend sends responses → Frontend displays results to user.

Does this help clarify the distinction?

Yes. What products would you suggest for what you call the "tech stack" that would be the easiest to learn while also being (I want both) established and known by a majority of professionals. Edit

For the easiest-to-learn yet professional tech stack, I'd recommend:

Frontend:

HTML/CSS/JavaScript (fundamentals - unavoidable but not too difficult) React - Most popular framework, huge community, excellent learning resources, industry standard

Backend:

Node.js with Express - Uses JavaScript (same language as frontend), very beginner-friendly, extremely popular Alternative: Python with Django - Python is often considered the easiest programming language to learn, Django is well-established

Database:

PostgreSQL - Industry standard, excellent documentation, free, handles everything from small to massive applications

Why this combination works well for beginners:

JavaScript Everywhere (Node.js + React):

Learn one language for both frontend and backend Massive community and job market Tons of tutorials, courses, and Stack Overflow answers JSON data format works naturally between frontend/backend

Python Alternative Benefits:

Python syntax is very readable and beginner-friendly Django follows "convention over configuration" - less decision-making for beginners Great for rapid development

Most Professional Recognition:

React: Used by Facebook, Netflix, Airbnb, most major companies Node.js: Used by Netflix, LinkedIn, Uber PostgreSQL: Used by Apple, Spotify, Instagram Python/Django: Used by Instagram, Pinterest, Mozilla

My recommendation: Start with React + Node.js + PostgreSQL. The JavaScript-everywhere approach reduces the learning curve since you're not juggling multiple programming languages initially.

Would you like specific learning resources for any of these technologies?

Thank you. Is there a good and easy to use tool for designing the database schema? Edit

Yes, there are several excellent tools for database schema design. Here are the most popular and beginner-friendly options:

Free/Easy Options:

dbdiagram.io - Web-based, very intuitive drag-and-drop interface, great for beginners draw.io (now diagrams.net) - Free, web-based, has database diagram templates MySQL Workbench - Free, professional tool (works for PostgreSQL too despite the name) pgAdmin - Free, specifically for PostgreSQL, includes schema design tools

Premium but Popular:

Lucidchart - Web-based, excellent templates, very user-friendly ERDPlus - Simple, educational-focused, good for learning Vertabelo - Web-based, specifically designed for database modeling

My Recommendation for Beginners: dbdiagram.io - It's free, runs in your browser, has a clean interface, and lets you:

Draw tables visually by dragging and dropping Define relationships between tables easily Generate actual SQL code from your design Share designs with others Export to various formats

Why it's great:

No software to install Very intuitive - you can start designing immediately Shows you the SQL code it would generate Good for learning database concepts visually

Alternative approach: Many developers also just sketch schemas on paper or use simple text files first, then move to a visual tool once the basic structure is clear.

Would you like me to walk you through what a basic database schema might look like for a typical web app?

If I follow your recommendation to use PostgreSQL, does the recommendation of dbdiagram.io still hold? Edit

Yes, absolutely! dbdiagram.io works great with PostgreSQL and my recommendation still holds.

Why dbdiagram.io works well with PostgreSQL:

It supports PostgreSQL-specific features and data types Can generate PostgreSQL-compatible SQL code from your visual design Handles PostgreSQL naming conventions and syntax properly Supports PostgreSQL-specific constraints and relationships

What you can do:

Design your schema visually in dbdiagram.io Export the generated SQL code Run that SQL code directly in your PostgreSQL database to create the tables

PostgreSQL-specific alternatives (if you want options):

pgAdmin - The official PostgreSQL administration tool, includes schema design DBeaver - Free, universal database tool that works excellently with PostgreSQL PostgreSQL built-in tools - You can design schemas directly in pgAdmin's graphical interface

But dbdiagram.io remains my top recommendation because:

It's specifically good for the design phase - clean, focused interface Easy to iterate and make changes Great for sharing designs with others or getting feedback You're not locked into PostgreSQL if you ever need to switch databases

The workflow would be: Design in dbdiagram.io → Export SQL → Import into PostgreSQL.

So yes, stick with dbdiagram.io - it's an excellent choice for PostgreSQL projects!

Thanks. Can you now suggest tools for creating wireframes/mockups? Edit

Absolutely! Here are the best tools for wireframes and mockups, ranging from simple to advanced:

Best for Beginners (Free & Easy):

Figma - Web-based, free tier, industry standard, excellent tutorials draw.io/diagrams.net - Free, simple, good for basic wireframes Balsamiq - Specifically designed for wireframing, very intuitive (paid but has free trial)

Popular Professional Tools:

Adobe XD - Free tier available, professional-grade Sketch - Mac only, very popular among designers InVision - Good for prototyping and collaboration

Simple/Quick Options:

Whimsical - Clean, simple, great for quick mockups MockFlow - Web-based, wireframe-focused Pencil Project - Free, open-source, basic but functional

My Strong Recommendation: Figma

Why Figma is ideal:

Free for personal use Web-based - no software to install Industry standard - used by most professional designers Excellent learning resources - tons of YouTube tutorials Collaboration-friendly - easy to share and get feedback Scales with you - from simple wireframes to detailed mockups to prototypes

Figma lets you:

Start with simple box wireframes Progress to detailed, styled mockups Create interactive prototypes Share designs easily with others Use component libraries (pre-made UI elements)

Learning curve: Figma has more features than you'll initially need, but you can start simple and grow into it.

Alternative if you want something simpler: Balsamiq is specifically made for wireframing and has a very gentle learning curve, though it's paid.

Would you like some tips on how to approach your first wireframes, or shall we move on to another topic?

So it is dbdiagram.io and Figma? Edit

Yes, exactly! dbdiagram.io for database schema design and Figma for wireframes/mockups.

That gives you:

Database design: dbdiagram.io (free, web-based, PostgreSQL-compatible) UI design: Figma (free tier, web-based, industry standard)

Both are free, run in your browser (no software to install), and are used by professionals. This is a solid, beginner-friendly combination that will serve you well throughout your project.

You'll have all the visual planning tools you need before you start coding!

Great. How do these two tools relate to GitHub? Edit

Good question! Here's how dbdiagram.io and Figma relate to GitHub:

They're complementary but separate:

GitHub stores your actual code files dbdiagram.io and Figma help you plan and design before you code

Typical workflow:

Design your database in dbdiagram.io → Export the SQL schema Design your UI in Figma → Create visual mockups Start coding based on those designs Store your actual code files in GitHub

What goes in GitHub from these tools:

From dbdiagram.io: The exported SQL file (like schema.sql) that creates your database tables From Figma: Usually just links to your designs in project documentation, though you could export images

What stays external:

Your visual designs remain in Figma (shareable via links) Your database diagrams stay in dbdiagram.io (also shareable via links)

In practice: You might create a README.md file in your GitHub repository that includes:

Link to your Figma designs Link to your dbdiagram.io schema Screenshots or exported images from both

The relationship: GitHub is your code repository, while dbdiagram.io and Figma are your design/planning tools. The designs inform what you build, and the built code gets stored in GitHub.

Think of them as the blueprint (Figma/dbdiagram.io) and the actual house (code in GitHub).

Does that clarify how they work together?

Yes, thanks. Edit

You're welcome! You now have a solid foundation for your web app project - from the tech stack (React, Node.js, PostgreSQL) to the design tools (Figma, dbdiagram.io) to version control (GitHub).

Feel free to come back with questions as you start working on any part of this process. Good luck with your project!

Having looked at your suggestions my thinking is that I may start with draw.io to create a workflow, followed by dbdiagram.io för database design and then use Figma to design the actual application. Would that make sense or am I missing something? Edit

That makes perfect sense! You've actually identified a logical progression that many professionals follow:

Your workflow:

draw.io - Map out the overall workflow/process (user journey, business logic flow) dbdiagram.io - Design the database structure based on that workflow Figma - Design the actual user interface screens

Why this sequence works well:

Workflow first helps you understand what data you need and how it flows Database design follows naturally from understanding the data requirements UI design comes last because you know what functionality each screen needs

What you'll create:

draw.io: Flowcharts showing user paths, business processes, decision points dbdiagram.io: Tables, relationships, data structure Figma: Actual screens, buttons, forms, visual design

You're not missing anything - this is actually a more thorough approach than many people take. Starting with workflow mapping often prevents you from building features you don't actually need or forgetting important user scenarios.

Pro tip: Keep all three designs aligned as you work. Sometimes designing the UI will reveal workflow steps you missed, or workflow mapping will show you need additional database fields.

This is a solid, professional approach to planning your web app!

Great tip! Thanks. Edit

You're welcome! You've got a really thoughtful approach to this project. Having those three design phases will definitely save you time and headaches later when you're actually coding.

Happy to help whenever you're ready to dive into any of these phases or move on to the development side of things!

Should I be using the web version of draw.io to be able to collaborate or should I use the downloaded software? Edit

For your situation, I'd recommend the web version (diagrams.net) for several reasons:

Why web version is better for you:

Collaboration-ready - Easy to share links with others for feedback Consistent with your other tools - Figma and dbdiagram.io are also web-based No software management - Always up-to-date, works on any computer GitHub integration - You can save diagrams directly to GitHub repositories Cloud storage - Google Drive, OneDrive integration for backup

When desktop version might be better:

If you frequently work offline If you have very specific security requirements If you need maximum performance for very complex diagrams

Since you're building a web app for commercial use:

You'll likely want to share designs with potential users, advisors, or team members The web version makes this much easier Links are simpler than sending files back and forth

Best of both worlds: The web version can export files that the desktop version can open, so you're not locked in if you change your mind later.

My recommendation: Start with the web version at diagrams.net. It fits perfectly with your web-based tool ecosystem (GitHub, Figma, dbdiagram.io) and keeps collaboration options open.

You can always download specific diagrams as files for backup or offline reference.

What would be the prefered (by prodessionals and established software providers) way to offer a phone (iPhone or Android) companionfor a web app? Edit

The most established and professionally preferred approaches for mobile companions to web apps are:

Progressive Web App (PWA) - Most Popular Current Approach

Your web app becomes "app-like" on mobile browsers Users can "install" it to their home screen Works offline, sends push notifications, feels native Major advantage: One codebase for web and mobile Used by Twitter, Pinterest, Starbucks, many others

React Native - Very Popular for True Native Apps

Build real iOS and Android apps using React (since you're already learning React) Shares code between platforms while feeling truly native Used by Facebook, Instagram, Airbnb, Uber Eats Advantage: True native performance and features

Native Development - Traditional but Resource-Intensive

Separate iOS (Swift) and Android (Kotlin/Java) apps Maximum performance and platform-specific features Disadvantage: Requires learning multiple languages, maintaining separate codebases

Hybrid Frameworks

Flutter (Google), Ionic, Xamarin Less common for web app companions

Professional Recommendation Order:

Start with PWA - Easiest extension of your web app Upgrade to React Native if you need more native features Go fully native only if absolutely necessary

Why PWA first:

Minimal additional learning curve Uses your existing web technologies Much faster to market Lower development costs Still provides most mobile app benefits

Many successful companies start with PWA and only move to native apps when they have specific needs that PWA can't handle.

Would you like me to explain more about PWAs since they're often the best starting point?

Thank you. Edit

You're welcome! You've mapped out a really solid plan for your web app project. Feel free to reach out when you're ready to dive into any of these phases or if questions come up as you start building. Good luck with it! Add a custom footer Pages 2