It started on a Train...

Travelling back from an unexpected Weatherpoons vsit I thought about creating a web site to track and review visits, with AI I had a prototype before we got off the train, but it took longer to get it built.

So, what started as a casual thought turned into a technical project that let me stretch my skills and build something useful and fun?

Choosing the Stack: Keep It Lightweight

I wanted the project to be fast, simple, and scalable — no heavy servers or complicated maintenance.
After a bit of planning, I decided on:

• Bolt.new (A No Code AI to enable me to build a web app)

• Supabase (for hosting, authentication, and real-time database)

• Minimalist Frontend (simple CSS, no bloated templates)

The goal was to build quickly but keep the code clean and extendable and just to learn how to do it.

Why I Chose Bolt for Spoons Insider

For my Wetherspoon review project, Bolt offered the perfect balance:

• Simple enough that I could get moving quickly.

• Flexible enough that I could define custom fields like pub name, ratings, and special features.

• Lightweight so the site stays fast even without a big backend server setup.

Paired with Supabase for database and authentication, and Netlify for one click deployment Bolt allowed me to focus on building a clean, working tool, not wrestling with complicated systems.

Integrating Supabase for Backend Functionality

Once I had the front end set up using Bolt, I turned my attention to the backend. Supabase provides an excellent alternative to traditional databases, offering real-time capabilities and easy setup. With its PostgreSQL database, I could easily manage my data in a structured manner.

Integrating Supabase with Bolt was jaw droppingly straightforward. I followed the provided guides and established a connection between the two tools. This allowed me to pull data dynamically from my database into my website interface. I was particularly impressed by how quickly I could prototype and implement features such as user authentication and data storage. I was worried I would never get it deployed - but its one click into Netlify! Madness.

Lessons Learned and Future Directions

The process of building a website with Bolt and Supabase has been incredibly rewarding. I learned about the importance of structured development, the benefits of modular frameworks, and how powerful real-time databases can be. As I continue to work on my website, I plan to explore more advanced features offered by both Bolt and Supabase to enhance user experience further.

I encourage anyone interested in web development to consider using Bolt and Supabase as their primary tools. They provide a robust platform for both beginners and experienced developers. My experience has proven that with the right tools, anyone can create a functional and visually appealing website in no time.

Final Thoughts

Spoons Insider started as a casual side project, but it became a means to learn of web development, cloud hosting, lightweight UX, and problem-solving — all things I'm passionate about.

If you’re curious, working on your own fun, niche projects is one of the best ways to learn by doing and build a portfolio without even realising it.

🍻 Cheers to the next round of ideas!