Ask HN: Which stack will get my MVP API off the ground fastest?

#1

Post by fastbeef » Fri, Oct 18, 2019, 8:01 PM UTC

I have an idea for a service as a side business and need some kind of E-commerce API for it. The main feature is it’s going to produce one-off artifacts and none of the off-the-shelf solutions I’ve looked at really fit.

Basically I need a way to stand up an API with an /price/ endpoint and a /orders/ endpoint that run a bit of logic, put stuff in a database and trigger the payment processor flow. Easy-peasy except I have analysis paralysis over what to build it with and where to host it.

I’m comfortable with “classic” .net and dabbled in Node.js. I’d love to build it as an .Net Web API but the prospect of cloud hosting scares me (plus azure is freakin pricy).

Re: Ask HN: Which stack will get my MVP API off the ground fastest?

#2

Post by sharemywin » Fri, Oct 18, 2019, 8:05 PM UTC

I would start with a data model then you can use this if you want to convert to c#: http://json2csharp.com/

Re: Ask HN: Which stack will get my MVP API off the ground fastest?

#3

Post by sturza » Fri, Oct 18, 2019, 8:06 PM UTC

Check this out: https://www.notion.so/gug/Todo-cafe7661e92b4fc1aebb7bcb3c103... I think node.js and Flutter can get you your MVP in one week assuming you can clearly articulate your idea.

Re: Ask HN: Which stack will get my MVP API off the ground fastest?

#4

Post by wilson_4 » Fri, Oct 18, 2019, 8:07 PM UTC

Can’t really go wrong with python + Django (or flask if you want to stay minimal). Sounds like you’ll need auth, so Django should support that out of the box.

Both will integrate easily with Postgres, and for flask, take a look at the peewee ORM.

Re: Ask HN: Which stack will get my MVP API off the ground fastest?

#5

Post by sharemywin » Fri, Oct 18, 2019, 8:08 PM UTC

found this to convert json to sql creates:

http://pojo.sodhanalibrary.com/ConvertJsonToSQL

and your selects, updates etc

http://convertjson.com/json-to-sql.htm

Re: Ask HN: Which stack will get my MVP API off the ground fastest?

#6

Post by fastbeef » Fri, Oct 18, 2019, 8:09 PM UTC

wilson_4 wrote: post #4

Can’t really go wrong with python + Django (or flask if you want to stay minimal). Sounds like you’ll need auth, so Django should support that out of the box. Both will integrate easily with Postgres, and for flask, take a look at the peewee ORM.

What’s the easiest/best way to host python+flask?

Re: Ask HN: Which stack will get my MVP API off the ground fastest?

#7

Post by DmitryOlshansky » Fri, Oct 18, 2019, 8:13 PM UTC

Whichever you know best

Re: Ask HN: Which stack will get my MVP API off the ground fastest?

#8

Post by ng-user » Fri, Oct 18, 2019, 8:14 PM UTC

Stop wasting time debating and just use .NET, don't overthink things.

Re: Ask HN: Which stack will get my MVP API off the ground fastest?

#9

Post by wilson_4 » Fri, Oct 18, 2019, 8:16 PM UTC

fastbeef wrote: post #6

wilson_4 wrote: post #4

Can’t really go wrong with python + Django (or flask if you want to stay minimal). Sounds like you’ll need auth, so Django should support that out of the box. Both will integrate easily with Postgres, and for flask, take a look at the peewee ORM.

What’s the easiest/best way to host python+flask?

Easiest? Probably heroku after you get past the initial boilerplate - but can quickly become expensive.

Most cost efficient would be to Spin up a cheap droplet in digital ocean, install docker-compose with a Postgres service and python image. In the python image, just boot up a Django server on port 80. If you need https, youll need to add something in front of Django, like nginx to handle ssl termination.

App engine could also be a very quick and cheap way - you get ssl, and domain for free, but you do need to buy into their way of doing things, which has a bit of a learning curve .

Re: Ask HN: Which stack will get my MVP API off the ground fastest?

#10

Post by UglyToad » Fri, Oct 18, 2019, 8:20 PM UTC

I'm biased but I'd go with .NET if you actually want to get the thing built. Obviously use a new stack if you want to use it as a learning experience.

With .NET Core and Postgres you can get something stood up within a few days and host on a cheap Linode, Digital Ocean or another provider's box for $6 a month or so. That should last you scalability wise until you have enough money from it to do something else and gives you type safe, performant code.