Decide on Technical Specs for blog

[jwpf100]

Intentions for the blog: To fulfil my current learning requirements (React, REST/CRUD, Databases) Provide Content Marketing opportunities for Essential Coaching

Options:

Static Site

• Fixed content
• Pros
  • Quick and Easy, faster load times
• Cons
  • I would have to make changes/add articles etc., global changes have to be made on each page

Dynamic Site

• Pros
  • Easier to update content/add content (Nikki can do it), more functionality e.g. search etc.
• Cons
  • Slower load, longer to create in the first instance

Full Stack With Database

• Create front end display, backend to handle CRUD requests and database to store articles
• Pros
  • Aligns with my learning goals, content managed by admin, scalable,
• Cons
  • Security risks (vs Static site), a lot of work, slower load times

Full Stack (I think that terminology is ok) With AJAX and .JSON

• Create front end display, AJAX and .JSON to store/retrieve articles
• Pros
  • More straightforward than database, I need to learn about AJAX, another technique to learn
• Cons
  • ...

External Platform

• Use external platform to manage everything including hosting e.g. Wordpress.com, Medium
• Pros
  • Easy, managed by user (Nikki), access to a wider audience (Medium)
• Cons
  • Security concerns, less control, extra costs for functionality, no control of audience (Medium), pay them for hosting, no custom domain

Open Source Solution

• Self host external platform eg. wordpress.org, ghost
• Pros
  • Easy, managed by user (Nikki), can host with existing site
• Cons
  • Self manage updates, responsible for security,

Serverless Solution

• TBC

[jwpf100]

Decision:

Short term I will make manual changes to the existing static blog as required. Behind the scenes I'm going to create the blog using the following:

(Gatsby - TBC)React, Node/Express, MongoDB.

Reasons:

• In line with current learning objectives
• Already using node/express with existing site
• Plenty of tutorials to follow using this stack
• Can support all of the functionality I'm looking to implement
• Depending on functionality required, Gatsby or something similar may be added to serve static pages to improve speed, SEO.

Additional

• I'll also create a personal blog using wordpress.org as I think it's important to understand how that works as well.
• Using serverless tech and AJAX will be added to my learning plan.