Eight-Point Checklist Reveals Why Most Web App Templates Fail in Production

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A software developer has published a practical checklist for evaluating web app templates before purchase, arguing that most templates deliver only surface-level features rather than production-ready infrastructure. The eight criteria cover areas including server-side authentication, database migrations, payment reconciliation, one-command deployment, environment validation, observability, a stable design system, and AI-tool configuration. Free templates typically score between two and four out of eight, while paid templates average five to six, with true production-ready options being rare. The author warns that gaps in these fundamentals only become apparent when a side project attempts to scale into a real product, often requiring costly rewrites. The checklist is intended to help developers make informed decisions before committing to a template, regardless of its price.

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