Infrastructure & Requirements
Hosting
| Component | Provider | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| Frontend | Vercel | Free |
| Backend API | Render | Free |
| Database | Render (PostgreSQL) | Free |
Software requirements
- Node.js (LTS) runtime for the backend
- PostgreSQL for the database
- Modern evergreen browser for the frontend (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari)
Hardware requirements
The platform was deliberately scoped to run on free-tier cloud infrastructure rather than dedicated hardware — the same economic feasibility reasoning described in Methodology. Client-side hardware requirements are minimal: any device capable of running a modern browser at 320px width or above can use the platform, consistent with the responsive design targets.
Scaling headroom
The architecture was designed to absorb roughly a 300% increase in concurrent users without a structural redesign, per the non-functional requirements. What would need to change first, in practice, is the hosting tier: free-tier Render instances are the current ceiling, not the application code.
Related pages
- Deployment Guide for the deployment procedure itself.
- Hosting Requirements & Guidelines for on-premise and cloud hosting specifications beyond the current free tier.
- Roadmap for planned infrastructure changes, including a move off free-tier hosting.