The Lunch Money Stack

A SaaS Solopreneur's Toolkit

tech

Node.js

JavaScript runtime environment used to power the back-end servers

Open source
tech

React

JavaScript library by Facebook used to build the front-end

Open source
tech

PostgreSQL

Advanced and enterprise-class relational database used to store Lunch Money data

Open source
tech

Redis

Robust in-memory data structure store used as a messaging system and queues

Open source
tech

Typescript

A programming language by Microsoft which improves on JavaScript

Open source
tech

SCSS

A must-have extension to CSS (seriously, don't use vanilla CSS)

Open source
tech

Jekyll

Static site generator powering the main marketing site

Open source
tech

Hugo

Static site generator powering the founder's personal blog

Open source
platforms

Heroku

Cloud platform used to deploy and manage Lunch Money's staging, beta and production servers

platforms

Netlify

Web developer platform for effortless deployments of the client-side

api

Plaid

API to importing transactions and balances for US and Canadian-based banks

api

Fixer.io

API for importing daily currency exchange rates

Bootstrapped
api

Twilio

Communications API for sending 2FA codes vis SMS

api

Postmark

Email API for sending transactional emails

Bootstrapped
utilities

Bull

Node.js library to implement, manage and interface with Redis queues

Open source
utilities

Mocha

Testing framework for Node.js

Open source
utilities

passport.js

Node.js middleware powering the authentication layer

Open source
utilities

svgo

A great little command line utility to minimize the size of svg files

Open source
service

Github

Version control for 3 different Lunch Money repositories

service

CircleCI

Continuous integration platform for automating building, testing and deployment

service

Sentry

Application monitoring and error tracking

Open source
service

Logentries

Live server log management, installed and managed via Heroku

service

Cloudflare

A robust CDN to protect against security threats

service

Stripe

Handler for all payments and subscriptions

service

EmailOctopus

Managing and sending campaigns for email marketing

Bootstrapped
service

Taskforce

A useful visual tool for monitoring redis queues

service

Google Domains

For registrating and managing all the domains!

app

Visual Studio Code

Code editor of choice (with a light theme, too!)

Open source
app

Postico

A GUI for navigating the PostgreSQL database

Bootstrapped
app

Postman

Quickly make HTTP requests and test APIs

app

Loom

Used for recording walkthrough videos

app

Slack

Powers the Lunch Money Slack community and also used as an alerting system for various parts of the app

app

ImageOptim

A great tool for optimizing images for the web

Open source
app

CopyClip

Free clipboard manager that saves your last X copied items

Bootstrapped
design

Semantic UI

UI component framework that, combined with my own custom CSS, power 80% of the visuals for Lunch Money

Open source
design

Chart.js

Simple yet flexible JavaScript charting library

Open source
design

Sketch

Used for all my illustrations, designs and mock-ups

design

ColorSlurp

A great, simple tool for grabbing hex codes for any pixel on my screen

Bootstrapped
design

CloudApp

Used to record GIFs for use in emails or marketing site

design

Stockio

A great resource for free SVGs and inspiration

productivity

Noteplan 3

Calendar-driven note taking and task tracking. Fits perfectly with how my brain works!

Bootstrapped
productivity

Daily

Insightful time tracking app that asks you every few minutes what you're working on

Bootstrapped
productivity

Harvest

General time tracking app so I know how many hours per day I'm working

Bootstrapped
productivity

1Password

An undeniably essential password management tool

productivity

Google Docs/Sheets

Web-based office suite for notes and spreadsheets

productivity

ClickUp

Customizable task management tool to keep track of all the feature requests!

productivity

Front App

Shared inbox where all communication and customer support is centralized

productivity

Forestry

Headless CMS that powers the founder's personal blog

business

Transferwise

Used to accept payments and store money in all different currencies

business

Google Forms

For quick and simple surveys

business

Email Meter

Insightful analytics into my email usage

Bootstrapped
business

ProfitKit

A great tool for Stripe subscription analytics

Bootstrapped
business

Google Analytics

For insights on how marketing campaigns are doing and how users are discovering Lunch Money

business

Ahrefs

SEO performance and monitoring for Lunch Money

Bootstrapped
business

Canny

Customer feedback management tool

Bootstrapped
business

Testimonial.to

Tool to quickly and easily collect video testimonials

Bootstrapped
hardware

Apple Macbook Pro 15"

2019 model in space gray donned with a Lunch Money sticker over the Apple logo

hardware

Nexstand Laptop Stand

Portable and ergonomic solution for propping up my laptop

hardware

Goldtouch Bluetooth Foldable Keyboard

Absolutely love this keyboard for portability and utility

hardware

Asus 24" Monitor

Wish I went 4K but this does the trick!

hardware

AverMedia Microphone

Affordable USB microphone for superior sound quality when recording videos or podcasts

hardware

ISM Bag

Stylish and functional backpack to store all my essentials when I'm on the go

Bootstrapped
fun

Minesweeper

Warm up (or distraction) for my brain. Get 3 months free of Lunch Money if you can beat my high score– 76s on expert!

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