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Build Smarter. Ship Faster.

Code Boost is a resource hub for developers, freelancers, and builders who want to actually ship — not just read about it. We cover workflow automation, cloud hosting, AI coding tools, Docker, frontend dev, and the marketing tech that ties it all together. Spinning up your first DigitalOcean droplet? Wiring up n8n automations? Trying to figure out which AI coding tool is actually worth paying for? — You’re in the right place. Pick a topic below and dig in.

Latest & Notable

Here’s what’s fresh. These are the most recent guides we’ve published — the stuff we’re actively thinking about and building with right now.

n8n & Workflow Automation

If you’re still manually copying data between apps or paying $200/month for Zapier, it’s time to look at n8n. It’s an open-source workflow automation tool that lets you self-host for free — or use their cloud if you don’t want to manage servers. We’ve gone deep on n8n because it’s genuinely one of the best tools out there for developers and small teams who want serious automation without the serious price tag. These guides cover everything from pricing breakdowns to head-to-head comparisons with every major competitor, plus hands-on tutorials for self-hosting and building AI agents.

AI Coding & Vibe Coding

AI coding tools went from novelty to necessity faster than anyone expected. Cursor, Claude Code, Windsurf, GitHub Copilot — they’re all competing for your workflow, and they’re all genuinely different. We’ve tested them all on real projects (not toy demos) and written up honest comparisons so you can pick the right one without wasting a week experimenting. We also cover the broader “vibe coding” movement — using AI to stay in flow state and ship faster. If you’ve been curious but skeptical, start with the complete guide.

Bolt.new & No-Code Dev

Bolt.new is one of the wildest tools to come out of the AI coding wave. You describe what you want in plain English, and it builds you a working app — frontend, backend, deployable. It’s not perfect for everything, but for prototyping, MVPs, and getting something live fast, it’s hard to beat. We’ve covered how it works under the hood, how to add Stripe payments, how to build mobile apps with it, and where it fits compared to traditional hosting. If you’re a solo builder or freelancer, Bolt is worth understanding.

Docker

Docker is one of those tools that feels intimidating until it clicks — then you wonder how you ever deployed without it. Containers give you reproducible environments, clean dependency isolation, and the ability to ship the same thing everywhere. We’ve put together guides that go from zero (what even is a Dockerfile?) to production-ready setups with Docker Compose. If you’re self-hosting anything — n8n, a Node app, a database — Docker is the foundation you want to build on.

DigitalOcean

DigitalOcean is our go-to recommendation for developers who want real cloud infrastructure without the AWS learning curve. Droplets are simple, the pricing is transparent, and you can have a production server running in under 10 minutes. We use it for self-hosting n8n, running Docker containers, and deploying apps. These guides walk you through everything from creating your first droplet to setting up Nginx, SSL, PostgreSQL, and custom domains. If AWS feels like overkill for your project, DigitalOcean probably isn’t.

Hosting Comparisons

Choosing where to host your project is one of those decisions that sounds simple until you’re three tabs deep comparing pricing pages. Heroku, AWS, Render, Netlify, Vercel, DigitalOcean, Vultr — they all have sweet spots and deal-breakers. We’ve written honest, side-by-side comparisons so you can stop overthinking and just pick the right platform for your use case. Whether you need a free tier for a side project or enterprise-grade infrastructure, there’s a guide here for you.

CRM & HighLevel

HighLevel has been quietly eating the lunch of every major CRM for agencies and small businesses. It bundles what used to take 5-6 different subscriptions — CRM, email marketing, funnels, booking, reputation management — into one platform. But it’s not the right fit for everyone. We’ve compared it head-to-head against HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive, Zoho, ClickFunnels, and more so you can figure out if it actually makes sense for your business or if you’re better off with something else. We also cover Pipedrive integrations for teams already locked into that ecosystem.

Attribution & MarTech

Attribution is the unsexy backbone of any paid media operation that actually works. If you can’t track what’s converting, you’re just guessing with your ad spend. We dig into the tools and strategies that connect the dots — from the Hyros API and Meta’s Conversions API to the broader question of how profitable SaaS products get built in the first place. If you’re running ads, building funnels, or scaling a product, this section is where the money insights live.

React & Frontend Dev

React is still the dominant frontend framework, and for good reason — the ecosystem is massive, the job market is strong, and once you get the mental model, building UIs becomes genuinely enjoyable. Our React guides are aimed at developers who want to learn by building real things, not reading theory. You’ll find hands-on tutorials for forms, routing, data fetching, local storage, and complete project builds like a todo list and memory game. If you’re just getting started with React or want to sharpen your fundamentals, start here.

CSS & SCSS

CSS is deceptively deep. Most developers learn enough to get by, then hit a wall when they need responsive layouts, animations, or anything beyond basic styling. SCSS makes it more manageable by adding variables, nesting, and mixins — basically turning CSS into something that scales. Our guides cover the full range: from beginner-friendly introductions to flexbox, media queries, and CSS units, all the way to setup tutorials for SCSS and deeper dives into performance and security considerations you probably haven’t thought about.

Security

Security is the thing every developer knows they should care about but usually doesn’t until something breaks. We get it. These guides are designed to make security practical, not paranoid. You’ll learn about real vulnerabilities in Python, JavaScript, and CSS — not theoretical stuff, but actual attack vectors you might encounter in production. We also cover API proxies (because CORS errors are a security feature, not a bug) and VPN recommendations for developers who work on public networks or need to test region-locked features.

Dev Tooling & Setup

Half the battle in web development is just getting your tools configured properly. Prettier, Webpack, Parcel, SSH keys — this is the stuff that eats an afternoon if you don’t have a clear guide to follow. We’ve been there, so we wrote the guides we wish existed. You’ll also find some Gatsby and Netlify CMS content here from the earlier days of the site. They’re still solid references if you’re working with those tools.

Hardware, Gear & Misc

The right hardware makes a bigger difference than most developers want to admit. A good laptop and keyboard won’t make you a better coder, but they’ll make the 8+ hours a day you spend coding a lot more comfortable. We’ve also gone down some rabbit holes here — render farms, iMac RAM upgrades, ElevenLabs pricing — basically anything that crosses the intersection of tech, building, and spending money wisely. If you’re curious about the tools behind the tools, browse around.