tech-stack-steering

name	tech-stack-steering
description	Technology stack constraints and approved libraries. Auto-loaded when Droid is making technology choices, adding dependencies, or proposing architectural changes. Defines what frameworks, libraries, and patterns are allowed.
user-invocable	false

Technology Stack Steering

You MUST consult these constraints before:

• Adding any new dependency
• Proposing a library swap
• Choosing an implementation approach
• Suggesting an architecture change

Approved Stack

Layer	Technology	Version	Notes
Frontend	React	18+	TypeScript strict mode
Styling	Tailwind CSS	3.x	No other CSS-in-JS
State	Zustand or React Context	latest	No Redux
Routing	React Router	6+	File-based routes
Backend	Express	4.x	or Fastify 4.x
ORM	Prisma	5.x	PostgreSQL only
Auth	NextAuth / custom JWT	-	See auth patterns below
Testing	Vitest + Playwright	latest	See testing section
Build	Vite	5.x	-

Dependency Approval Process

Before suggesting ANY new dependency:

1. Check if the functionality exists in the approved stack above
2. Check if native JS/TS can handle it
3. If a new dep is truly needed, state: what it does, why existing tools can't, its bundle size impact, and maintenance status
4. Wait for explicit user approval before adding

Patterns to Follow

• API calls: centralized fetch wrapper in src/lib/api.ts
• Form handling: controlled components with custom validation hooks
• Error handling: Error boundaries + centralized error reporting
• Env vars: typed config via src/config.ts, never accessed directly

Anti-Patterns (Never Do)

• Inline styles (use Tailwind classes)
• Direct DOM manipulation
• Barrel exports (index.ts re-exporting everything)
• Circular dependencies between modules
• Storing derived state