CarVault - Car Tracking Website
About This Project
Purpose & Vision
This project serves as a personal hobby platform where I can track detailed information about my car (and hopefully future cars). I wanted to create a practical space to log projects, road trips, and general car-related activities that feels both functional and fun.
Learning Goals
I built this primarily to practice React concepts and learn how to apply them in a real-world scenario. Instead of creating a bunch of small, disconnected projects, I wanted to develop something that feels like an actual product I could use day-to-day.
Technology Stack
Next.js 14
Server-side rendering with App Router for optimal performance
TypeScript
Type safety and enhanced development experience
tRPC
End-to-end type safety without GraphQL complexity
Prisma + PostgreSQL
Type-safe database toolkit with robust queries
Clerk Auth
Secure authentication with pre-built components
Tailwind + shadcn/ui
Utility-first styling with reusable components
Technical Decisions
Backend Architecture
I'm using Supabase with PostgreSQL for the backend. Supabase provides real-time subscriptions and built-in authentication, while PostgreSQL offers a reliable database for storing car data, user information, and logs. For file uploads, I chose UploadThing as it integrates seamlessly with my stack and simplifies image handling for car photos and documentation.
Development Philosophy
This project helps me understand how different tools fit together in a full-stack application, while giving me a platform I can actually use for my car hobby. It's about learning by building something real rather than following tutorials.