Ask HN: How do I choose the right set of tools for web app development?

[zazibar]

I have an idea for a side project that is essentially a web app but I'm struggling to find the right tools for the job.

The number of frameworks/libraries for web app development is quite overwhelming and it's difficult to determine which one I should be using.

Should I go the "pure" route with React and its related libraries (Redux, etc.)? Should I use something that tries to provide everything out of the box like Ember or Vue? Ditch it all and just roll vanilla JS? I could go on but my point is that I honestly don't know which of these is right.

For context the web app I want to build is essentially a chat app at the core. I already know what I'll be building the backend with (Phoenix/Elixir) but the frontend remains a mystery for now.

Any insight on the issue would be appreciated.

[onion2k]

At the beginning of a project building something is far more important than building the right thing. If you wait until you've figured out the perfect framework to build with you'll have wasted a lot of time and you'll probably find you're wrong anyway as you discover things along the journey to Version 1.0.

Just build something.

[quaunaut]

Just as a bit of knowledge: The current Phoenix channels implementation should work alright with React, but you'll have to work it into what you're wanting to do.

In a few months, an Ember addon should be available that provides Phoenix support, built by Chris McCord himself!