Should I start with a template or from scratch?
Quick Answer
Start with templates when learning and when speed matters. Build from scratch when you need specific customisation or want to deeply understand how things work.
Full Explanation
Both approaches have their place, and the right choice depends on your goals:
Start with templates when:
- You're learning and want to see how working apps are structured
- Speed to launch matters more than customisation
- Your idea fits a common pattern (SaaS, marketplace, portfolio)
- You want to focus on the business, not the building
Start from scratch when:
- You have a clear vision that doesn't fit templates
- You want to understand every piece of your app
- The template would require more modification than starting fresh
- You're building skills and want the learning experience
Practical recommendations:
For your first project: Use a template or AI-generated starting point. Understanding how others structure apps accelerates learning.
For rapid validation: Templates. Get something in front of users fast.
For your 'real' product: Consider starting from scratch or heavily customising a template. You'll understand your codebase better.
A middle ground that works well: Have AI generate a starting point ('build me a SaaS boilerplate with auth and billing'), then customise from there. You get speed without the constraints of a fixed template.
Templates aren't cheating-they're standing on the shoulders of giants. But understanding what's in them eventually matters.
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