Choosing the right technology stack can be challenging for any software firm’s founder, especially for someone who has no tech experience. One will have a hard time finding the right set of tools and frameworks to build software that can ensure the product’s best output. — application has different requirements. Therefore it is crucial to make the initial choice to ensure that the end product provides the best user experience. This article can help someone with a non-coding experience understand how a startup can pick the right tech stack.
What is the tech stack?
A tech stack is a combo of software development tools and frameworks. It is merely a collection of programming languages, frameworks, and tools used in web and mobile application development.
Front-end and back-end software systems are the two main components of a technology stack;
The front-end runs on the user’s client, a web browser in the web application, while the back-end runs on the server, which provides the computer with data or web pages. Although the back-end interacts with the database and creates web pages, the front-end uses JavaScript to provide interactive web pages.
The Front-end
Front-end development embodies all a user sees on-screen, a website, or a smartphone application. Three critical components of front-end tech stack are available:
AngularJS from Google and React.js from Facebook is the most common front-end web stacks that developers use.
AngularJS
Google’s AngularJS is an open-source MVC framework often used for single-page application development. It is an evolving framework that gives better approaches by changing the static HTML to dynamic HTML to develop web applications. Striking attributes such as dynamic binding, POJO model, MVC Architecture, and dependency injection wipes out the code requirement that was critical at first. With the recent developments in its new versions, AngularJS is increasing exponentially.
There are many explanations for using AngularJS; some of them are:
- Can effortlessly create Rich Internet Applications
- Open-source
- Unit-testable code
- Reusability of code
- Cross-browser
- Allows developers to develop front end apps employing JavaScript in a clean MVC approach.
- Facilitates data-binding in HTML
- Dependency Injection (DI)
ReactJS
Facebook’s own ReactJS is a JavaScript library that is powerful, versatile, and declarative to create user interfaces. It is a component-based, open-source front-end library which is responsible only for an application’s view layer. It uses a declarative framework and aims to be versatile and practical. React simplistic design views for all states in your application. When the data changes, it will update the correct feature. The declarative idea also makes the code more readable and debuggable. ReactJS is a warehouse of parts, and you do not like it anyway. The advantages encompass:
- Simple: ReactJS is easy to learn and to build a web or mobile app. React uses a syntax called JSX that allows developers to combine JavaScript with HTML, but this is not a requirement. Also, the developer can write JavaScript in the plain.
- Reusability: Enormous code reusability is supported in React. Most maximum of the code repetition can be eliminated through building components.
- Mobile Apps: React Native lets the developer create native cross-platform apps. React native can be easily picked by the developer. Many React website code can be used in Apps using proper data management tools (like redux).
- Testability: ReactJS apps are easy to test.
The Back-end
The back-end, also called the server-side, remains undetectable and does not open to clients. It gives the application a spine. The most universally acknowledged parts of the back-end include programming languages, such as Ruby and Python; libraries and systems, such as Ruby on Rails and Django; and a JavaScript runtime env, such as Node.js. Choosing the right back-end technology can be a daunting task, yet considering the following factors can simplify it:
1. Project size and complexity
Simple applications on tight deadlines, especially MVPs, require a distinct methodology compared to large projects with capacity heaps. In any case, if you figure you may need to upscale, then later pick an adaptable stack that will allow you to develop.
2. Kind of project
Data-intensive applications, booking frameworks, applications for person-to-person communication, streaming applications, CMS, IoT, FinTech applications, and straightforward MVPs will likely require various stacks.
3. The Expenditure
Bear in mind that several technologies are open-source also free for business use. Which is just one point on the endless rundown of the positive pointers open-source gives to developers and stakeholders alike. Others are licensed and payable. Similarly, rates for developers vary depending on the technology they mainly specialize in. Stacks considered to be a specialty can be expensive. Also, remember that the release does not mark the end of the application’s work-you need to look after it, update it, and possibly upscale it.
The Top Back-End Technologies Available
Expressing the contrasts between programming languages remains a staggeringly difficult task as all programming languages have their backers’ army, which will decline their chosen language analysis. Thus it is vital not only to understand the contrasts between programming languages but also to know what a wrong decision has on a project while choosing a back-end technology. The top-performing back-end languages are listed below, which will help you stay within the success circle.
1. PHP
PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor): an open-source back-end scripting language that developers use to create web applications and websites. It is a scripting language (cross-platform) that can develop applications that run seamlessly on all OS (Operating Systems). It is one of the fastest programming languages, and it facilitates the creation of fast loading websites. PHP also has a vast assortment of functional modules, and some of the modules available in PHP include, among others, graphics and PDF. One of PHP’s most significant advantages is that its simple syntax makes it very easy to learn and use. Anyone who knows the C language can quickly grasp PHP without any problems.
2. Ruby
Ruby is the language used for programming accompanied by Rails. Ruby is to Rails just like PHP is to Zend, or like Python is to Django. The language’s sheer class and finesse attracts back-end developers to this language and make it a must-have in your tech stack. Ruby’s most exceptional feature is that it prioritizes conventions rather than configuration. It helps back-end developers because they no need to waste their valuable time setting up the files to start the development process. It comes pre-configured, saving considerable time and speeding up the process of development.
3. Java
It’s an object-oriented, platform-independent, general-purpose programming language designed to give negligible dependency on implementation. It’s the most preferred language among developers due to Java’s power, convenience, cross-stage capabilities, and highlights insecurity. y. Java Virtual Machine has a unique identifier that distinguishes and confirms the bytecode before running it. It has a Stack Designation Framework component. It follows LIFO (Last in First Out), which effectively puts the information away and recovers. Java is one of the programming languages supporting multithreading, a program’s ability to play multiple errors within a program simultaneously.
4. C# / Visual Basic
C # is a Java-based programming language with a platform-independent syntax similar to C++. It is an object-oriented language, and just like Java, it does not support multiple inheritances. It uses the significant advantage of the design of the .Net. Microsoft has built a pair of flexible business back-end solutions called Asp.Net and Core written in C# or Visual Basic.
5. JavaScript
Node.js is a JavaScript-written back-end solution that has been trending for several years. Writing in JavaScript gives it an edge over others because the front-end and back-end of a project can work in the same language with these developers. Besides, the scaling up of applications to handle large user bases has also been proven effective.
Factors to consider when picking the right tech stack
Ressource availability
The essential characterizing variables that will influence your organization’s tech stack is the convenience of the human resources that can work on your project. Ensure that your developers can work effectively with the tech stack you have chosen. Assume you are choosing a tech stack not based on a standard programming language. In such a case, a daunting task in itself can be the process of finding a developer who can work on the language.
Estimates
There is no doubt that budget is a deciding factor for your tech stack. If you choose a technology that does not have abundant market specialists, you might need to pay them extra. When working on your project, choosing a paid technology over open-source technology can be a concern. Build your budget, and plan your tech stack accordingly.
Phase
Your business’s tech stack requirements may change as your business scales up, or a new issue arises. So it is vital to understand what phase you are at and choose the stack accordingly. If you are a startup, you will look at open-source, easy-to-use technology, and easy human resource accessibility. Apart from that, if you are an established business, you might need enterprise-grade technology to deal with more complex problems.
Requirements
It is critical to concede the needs of your project while framing a tech stack for your company. You have to understand what your audience expects from you, and what their primary requirements are. If your project needs complex numerical analysis, you may want to go to Python. Still, if you are more interested in your project’s aesthetics and do not have to do much, you will need to work with some other technology.
Robustness
Every day new technologies are coming, and the old ones are perishing. Therefore, it is vital to choose a time-tested technology for your tech stack and has a big community that can lend a hand to help you get stuck.
The advantages of choosing the right stack
The technology used in your task can significantly impact how it works and how it works later. For example, some server frameworks are made for high-read activities but are less proficient in high-write traffic. Knowing if you are changing your application from local file storage to cloud file storage is essential. Equally, your tech stack can impact your item’s versatility. Some stacks are better at serving different activities. Since such a large number of different mixes are feasible for your tech stack, summing up is distressing (if not difficult).
- Once you have decided on the right tech stack, this will ease the entire documentation process. For the same reason, all future bugs and errors will be easier to rectify.
- Picking the right tech stack and working on it for a long time will build your team’s expertise to enhance your brand’s image/reputation.
- Choosing the right tech stack has an added benefit to you being able to work on multiple projects with the same team.
- Having the right tech stack minimizes mistakes and improves efficiency.
The drawbacks of opting the wrong stack
If you end up picking a wrong tech stack, it can be a big mistake for both your business and your customers:
- Choosing the wrong tech stack can lead to unnecessary and incompatible dependencies.
- It can lead to misunderstandings of the dry-schema and dry-validation
- Problems may occur with ROM.rb and Sequel (Database).
- A wrong tech stack could hamper your testing.
- If the technology you choose is not widely used, you might face difficulty hiring the right professionals. Your tech stack is potentially unsustainable or unscalable.
Wrapping Up
It is all up to you to make a choice that works best for your startup. After a thorough analysis of your requirements, business goals, and resources, you should choose the best technology stack. It might not always suit you what suits someone and vice versa. A technology stack’s choice is indeed very individual and differs from organization to organization. Holding a clear view of your requirements would ease the whole process of selecting the right tech stack for your business. Please discuss your team’s goals and needs and choose a tech stack that fits best your company and its business processes.