BASE 60: High-Fidelity Hardware Foundry

The Challenge: E-Commerce Lacks Physics

Buying high-end PC hardware is an engineering task, yet most retailers treat a $2,000 GPU the same way they treat a t-shirt: static white images, generic lists, and zero context.

The disconnect creates anxiety: "Will this GPU fit in this case?" "Is this RAM compatible with my motherboard?" "Do I have enough wattage?"

I built BASE 60 to solve this by replacing the "Storefront" with a "Foundry." It bridges the gap between high-precision CAD software and the fluidity of the modern web.

System Architecture

The platform operates on a "Server-Container, Client-Island" architecture to balance heavy 3D rendering with SEO performance.

Core Stack Decisions

• Framework: Next.js 15 (App Router) for aggressive server-side rendering of product registries and SEO metadata.
• 3D Engine: React Three Fiber (R3F) coupled with GSAP for high-performance, timeline-based animation sequences (e.g., "Exploded View").
• State Management: Zustand was chosen over Redux or Context for the 3D Builder because it allows for transient state updates (60fps camera movements) without triggering React re-renders in the main DOM.
• Data Layer: PostgreSQL accessed via Prisma ORM, ensuring atomic transactions for critical inventory operations.

Key Modules

1. The Crucible Architect (3D Configurator)

The crown jewel of the platform. Instead of a list, users build their machine in a physically simulated environment.

• Asset Pipeline: Uses Draco-compressed GLB models loaded dynamically based on the active manifest.
• Kinetic Assembly: When a user selects a part, it doesn't just appear. It flies in from a specific vector, scales up using a spring physics curve, and "snaps" into the correct socket (e.g., CPU into Motherboard).
• Exploded View Protocol: A togglable mode that uses vector mathematics to separate components along their relative axes ($X$ for Motherboard, $Z$ for GPU) to allow inspection of internal parts.

2. The Logic Resolver Engine

Building a PC requires strict compatibility rules. I engineered a resolveCompatibility engine that runs in real-time as the user modifies their build. It is decoupled from the UI, acting as a pure logic layer.

It validates complex physical and electrical constraints:

1. Geometric Clearance: Checks GPU length vs. Chassis maximum clearance.
2. Thermal Height: Checks Air Cooler height vs. Chassis width.
3. Socket Handshake: Validates CPU socket (LGA1700/AM5) against Motherboard.
4. Energy Grid: Calculates total TDP + overhead and warns if it exceeds PSU capacity (80% efficiency rule).

typescript
// Example: Geometric Clearance Logicif (  GPU?.compatibility?.type === "GPU" &&  CHASSIS?.compatibility?.type === "CASE") {  if (GPU.compatibility.length > CHASSIS.compatibility.maxGpuLength) {    alerts.push({      code: "PHYSICAL_OVERFLOW",      message: `GPU Length (${GPU.compatibility.length}mm) exceeds Chassis clearance.`,      severity: "CRITICAL",    });  }}

3. The Overseer Dashboard (Admin)

The backend interface abandons the "CMS" look for a "Command Center" aesthetic.

• Registry Management: Uses TanStack Table logic for high-density data grids, managing stock allocations and SKU tracking.
• Visual Ingest Terminal: A custom Drag-and-Drop zone that handles local blob previews for instant feedback while asynchronously uploading assets to the cloud (UploadThing).
• Telemetry: Real-time visualization of sales velocity and stock saturation using customized Recharts with a "Cuneiform" industrial styling.

4. Atomic Transaction Protocol

Processing an order in a high-demand environment requires strict data integrity. The checkout flow utilizes a Two-Stage Authorization:

1. Logistics Sync: User data is validated, and a PaymentIntent is generated server-side.
2. Capital Transfer: Stripe processes the payment.
3. Atomic Commit: A Prisma Transaction ensures that the Order is created, Stock is decremented, and the Cart is wiped simultaneously. If any step fails, the entire operation rolls back to prevent "Ghost Orders."

typescript
// Atomic Handshakeawait prisma.$transaction(async (tx) => {  // 1. Create Order  const order = await tx.order.create({ ...data, status: "PAID" });  // 2. Decrement Physical Inventory  for (const item of order.items) {    await tx.product.update({      where: { id: item.productId },      data: { stock: { decrement: item.quantity } },    });  }});

Core Capabilities

BASE 60 was engineered to reject the standard "Catalogue" model of e-commerce. Every feature is designed to simulate a high-tech industrial workstation.

1. The Crucible Architect (3D Configurator)

A real-time WebGL environment where users assemble hardware in 3D space.

• GSAP Animation: Components don't just appear; they "deploy" with spring-physics trajectories.
• Exploded View Protocol: Users can toggle a schematic view that separates components along their relative axes to inspect internal clearances.
• Holographic Fallbacks: Missing 3D assets are gracefully handled by procedurally generated wireframe "Blueprints," maintaining immersion without breaking the app.

2. The Logic Resolver Engine

A decoupled compatibility layer that validates the "Hardware Handshake" in real-time.

• Physical Constraints: Calculates GPU length vs. Chassis clearance and CPU Cooler height vs. Case width.
• Electrical Grid: Validates PSU wattage against the total TDP of selected modules (+20% safety overhead).
• Architecture Sync: Prevents socket mismatches (LGA1700 vs AM5) and memory generation conflicts (DDR4 vs DDR5).

3. The Overseer Dashboard

A high-density "Command Center" for administrators, replacing standard CMS tables with tactical data grids.

• Live Telemetry: Visualizes sales velocity and inventory saturation using "Oscilloscope-style" charts (Recharts).
• Visual Ingest Terminal: A drag-and-drop asset manager that handles local blob previews for instant feedback before syncing with cloud storage.
• Atomic Inventory Control: Stock levels are adjusted within the same database transaction as the payment, preventing "overselling" race conditions.

4. Cinematic Immersion

• Audio-Visual Feedback: UI elements feature "Kinetic Beams" and "Scanline" animations to simulate physical interactions.
• Responsive Telemetry: The interface adapts from a "3D Spatial" view on desktop to a "Schematic List" view on mobile, ensuring the "Foundry" feel remains intact across devices.

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Target Audience

BASE 60 is not for the casual laptop buyer. It is built for the "Vanguard"—the top 1% of hardware enthusiasts.

1. The System Architects: Professional PC builders who need to verify physical clearances (e.g., Will this 360mm radiator fit with this E-ATX motherboard?) before purchasing. The Logic Resolver acts as their safety net.

2. The Visual Purists: Users who care as much about the aesthetic of their build as the performance. The Crucible Architect allows them to see the color and form-factor synergy of their components before spending capital.

3. The Performance Hunters: Data-driven buyers who rely on "Telemetry." By displaying specs like "VRM Phases," "TDP," and "Memory Timings" as primary data points (rather than hidden details), the platform speaks their language.

Conclusion

BASE 60 demonstrates that e-commerce doesn't have to be static. By leveraging WebGL and strict type safety, we created a platform where the user feels less like a shopper and more like an architect.