RydeRush Next - Modern SaaS Rewrite

The original Django-based RydeRush served its purpose but lacked the interactive, app-like experience modern users expect. To compete in the SaaS market, the platform needed:

• Faster page loads and smoother interactions (no full page refreshes)
• Better SEO through server-side rendering
• Real-time features (live wait time updates, collaborative planning)
• Native mobile app potential with shared React components

Complete ground-up rebuild using modern web technologies:

Frontend Stack:

• Next.js 15 with App Router for server-side rendering and edge caching
• React 19 with TypeScript for type-safe component development
• Tailwind CSS with custom design system for rapid UI iteration
• GSAP for premium animations and micro-interactions

Backend Strategy:

• Django REST Framework API (gradual migration from monolith)
• PostgreSQL with optimized schema and indexing
• Redis for session management and API response caching
• WebSocket integration for real-time wait time updates

Deployment:

• Vercel for Next.js frontend (edge functions, global CDN)
• Linode for Django API backend
• Separation of concerns for independent scaling

New Features in Development:

• AI-powered itinerary suggestions based on family preferences and crowd data
• Social features (follow friends, share trip reports with photos)
• Advanced park analytics (crowd predictions, best times to visit specific attractions)
• React Native mobile app (code sharing with Next.js web app)

Technical Growth: Learning cutting-edge web development patterns including server components, edge rendering, and modern state management with React Server Components.