Full Stack Development Checklist

Created by Cheli

Step-by-step guide to building a full-stack web application from planning to deployment.

26 Items

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Published May 14, 2026

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Checklist Items (26)

Planning

Define the foundation of the project before writing code.

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Define project scope and requirements

List functional and non-functional requirements, user stories, and acceptance criteria.

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Choose technology stack

Select frontend (React/Vue/Angular), backend (Node.js/Django/Spring), and database that fit the project needs.

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Create wireframes and UI mockups

Use tools like Figma or Sketch to design low-fidelity wireframes, then refine to high-fidelity mockups.

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Set up project repository and branching strategy

Initialize a Git repo, define main/dev branches, and adopt GitFlow or trunk-based development.

Frontend Development

Build the client-side interface and user interactions.

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Set up project scaffolding

Initialize the frontend project using Create React App, Vite, or Next.js with TypeScript support.

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Implement global state management

Choose Redux Toolkit, Zustand, or React Query to manage shared state across components.

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Design reusable component library

Create atomic components (buttons, inputs, modals) with props for flexibility and consistency.

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Integrate CSS framework or utility-first styling

Apply Tailwind CSS, Bootstrap, or styled-components for rapid UI styling.

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Implement routing and navigation

Configure client-side routes with React Router v6 or Next.js file-system routing.

Backend Development

Develop server-side logic, APIs, and security.

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Initialize server project

Set up a new Node.js/Express, Django, or Spring Boot project with proper folder structure.

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Set up RESTful API design and versioning

Define resource endpoints, HTTP methods, and version URLs (e.g., /api/v1/users).

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Implement authentication and authorization

Add JWT-based login, refresh tokens, and role-based access control middleware.

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Connect to database via ORM/ODM

Configure Sequelize (SQL) or Mongoose (MongoDB) to map models and handle queries.

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Write unit and integration tests for API endpoints

Use Jest, Supertest, or JUnit to test controllers, services, and error handling.

Database Design

Plan data storage, schema, and performance considerations.

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Model data entities and relationships

Draw ER diagrams to identify tables, collections, fields, and relationships.

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Choose database type and provider

Decide between SQL (PostgreSQL, MySQL) or NoSQL (MongoDB, DynamoDB) based on data shape.

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Create migration scripts and seed data

Use migration tools (Flyway, Liquibase, Sequelize CLI) to version schema and populate test data.

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Configure connection pooling and backup strategies

Set pool sizes, timeout settings, and schedule automated backups to object storage.

DevOps & Infrastructure

Automate build, deployment, and environment management.

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Containerize application with Docker

Write Dockerfiles for frontend and backend, then build and test images locally.

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Set up CI/CD pipeline

Configure GitHub Actions to run tests, build images, and deploy to staging on push.

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Configure environment variables and secrets management

Use dotenv for local dev and platform secret stores (AWS Secrets Manager, GitHub Secrets) for prod.

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Deploy to cloud platform

Deploy containers to AWS ECS, Azure App Service, or Google Cloud Run with load balancing.

Testing & Deployment

Validate quality and release the application safely.

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Perform end-to-end testing

Write Cypress or Playwright scripts to simulate user flows across the full stack.

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Conduct performance testing

Run Lighthouse audits and k6 load tests to measure page speed and API throughput.

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Implement monitoring and logging

Set up centralized logging (ELK) and metrics (Prometheus + Grafana) for observability.

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Execute blue-green or canary release strategy

Shift traffic gradually to new version using feature flags or service mesh to reduce risk.

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