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SaaS Architecture Guide

From idea to production — architecture patterns, infrastructure decisions, and lessons learned from 80+ projects.

1. Architecture Design

How to think about system architecture, choose the right stack, and design for scale from day one.

2. Building the MVP

Going from napkin sketch to production. Real projects I've built.

  • → Homelab

    Open-source infrastructure-as-code framework for managing multi-server Docker-based services with automated deployment, monitoring, and backups. Self-host your own cloud with Traefik, Immich, Jellyfin, Vaultwarden, Home Assistant, and 20+ more services.

  • → Financy

    Open-source, self-hostable finance tracking for individuals, families, and small businesses. Features double-entry accounting, multi-currency support, real-time collaboration, and PWA capabilities.

  • → Air Quality Sensor

    DIY ESP32-based air quality monitoring system measuring PM1.0, PM2.5, PM10 particles, CO2, temperature, and humidity. Integrates with Home Assistant for smart home automation and real-time alerts.

  • → TodoApp — CalDAV Task Manager (PWA)

    My Android tasks live in Tasks.org. Tasks.org syncs them to CalDAV. Every desktop client I tried either pulled its own backend or fought Tasks.org for ownership of the data — I needed a thin UI on top of the same VTODO files. Built it on Deno + Hono + Preact Signals: a CQRS layer over a CalDAV adapter (one PROPFIND/PROPPATCH/PUT/DELETE interface that speaks both Radicale and Stalwart), AES-GCM at rest for server credentials, SQLite holding only user accounts and encryption keys — never for todos. Result: 5 calendars and 140+ todos on a single Hetzner box, deployed since June 2026, including a Radicale-to-Stalwart migration that moved zero VTODO data.

  • → caldav-mcp

    Native Deno Model Context Protocol server for CalDAV. Events + tasks, zero npm dependencies, single binary. Works with OpenCode, Claude Desktop, Cursor, and Open WebUI.

  • → Zond

    Internal health probe bridge for services behind SSO proxies. Probes HTTP endpoints through Authelia-secured gateways — built for Gatus and other monitoring tools that lack SSO support.

  • → Zero-to-Production SaaS MVP (catalog)

    Full SaaS MVP from idea to live deployment in 21 days.

3. CI/CD & DevOps

Automate your deployment pipeline and keep your infrastructure healthy.

4. Infrastructure & Cost Optimization

Run production services on a budget without sacrificing reliability.

5. AI Integration

Add LLM capabilities to your SaaS with production-grade architecture.

6. Production Patterns & Lessons

Real-world lessons from shipping 80+ projects.

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