Embarking on the journey of building a digital project inevitably leads to encountering the enigmatic term “tech-stack.”
If you’re unfamiliar, fear not.
We’re here to provide a straightforward guide to help you grasp the concept and tailor your choices effectively.
Let’s begin by acknowledging the myriad ways to achieve the same goal.
When you ask, “What tech stack should I use?” be prepared for a flood of answers, everyone from your local Milkman to the supermarket cashier who just completed a Javascript course on Udemy has an opinion.
The abundance of answers and knowledge is both a blessing and a curse and reflects the diversity of options available.
Developers and engineers, in their quest for innovation, tend to favour the latest technologies.
They’re akin to adults with Lego bricks, eager to experiment and create.
However, this enthusiasm can sometimes lead to over-engineering, where simple solutions are overlooked in favour of complex ones where they get to play and experiment.
An example of which would be if you tell a developer you need something where you can input some numbers and do calculations which output the result – they will likely create a UI and a backend rather than suggesting you use a calculator or Excel
Defining Tech Stack
So, what exactly is a “tech stack”? Simply put, it’s a combination of programming languages, frameworks, libraries, and tools used to develop an application.
Think of it as assembling building blocks to construct your digital masterpiece.
The Anatomy of a Tech Stack: A tech stack comprises three main components:
- Frontend: This is the user-facing part of your application – what users see and interact with directly, including the UI/UX design.
- Backend: The behind-the-scenes engine that handles data processing, business logic, and server-side operations.
- Database: The repository where your application’s data resides, facilitating retrieval, updates, and manipulation.
At our digital agency, we encounter various tech stacks, but three stand out as the most requested:
- MERN: MongoDB, Express, React, and NodeJS
- MEAN: MongoDB, Express, Angular, and NodeJS
- LEMP/LAMP: Linux, Nginx/Apache, MySQL, and PHP
While these are popular choices, there are numerous alternatives and variations available, such as Golang and Ruby on Rails et al.
Choosing the Right Stack
When selecting a tech stack for your startup, there are many things which should be taken into consideration.
As we mentioned in our previous post of this series, it is vital to have an initial planning and discovery phase about what you want to build and achieve in the long term.
This should NOT be rushed and you need to really push yourself as the founder to do your part in this envision where you want this startup to go.
Factors to ponder include:
- Scalability: Can the tech stack accommodate your application’s growth?
- Performance: Will it deliver the speed and responsiveness your users expect?
- Developer Talent: Are skilled resources readily available?
- Community Support: Is there a robust community backing the chosen technologies?
- Cost: What are the associated expenses, including licensing and developer salaries?
The decision often boils down to budget and talent availability.
For frontend solutions or which serve the frontend to the end user, options like React, Angular, and PHP offer distinct advantages in terms of affordability, availability, and skill level.
In our experience, React emerges as a popular choice due to its widespread adoption and favourable developer market.
However, it’s essential to align your tech stack with your project requirements, There’s more than one way to bake a cake.
For instance, if a simple company website suffices, solutions like WordPress might be more cost-effective than building the same thing from scratch with something elaborate like React, but if you say that in a room full of React developers you will hear gasps of shock 🙂 Which again brings me back to the point I made earlier , everyone has their own opinion on this and the opinions are likely based on the individuals own perceived skill within that area
a React developer will never tell you to hire a Golang developer even if that is the best solution for the problem at hand.
Developers are highly opinionated and that is why it is super important to have an unbiased opinion within your leadership circle in order to advise on selecting the best tool for the job rather than allowing engineers to over engineer based on personal preferences.
Conclusion:
Choosing the right tech stack is a pivotal decision for any startup. While we specialise in technologies like JavaScript, Golang, and PHP, we acknowledge that each startup is unique, warranting a tailored approach.
Conduct thorough research, seek advice from diverse sources, and prioritise your business objectives.
Ready to embark on your tech journey? Our team is here to guide you.
Contact us today to explore how we can transform your vision into reality.
And remember, Writing the code is a means to an end, not the end itself – your success is the ultimate goal.
