How to Choose the Right Technology Stacks?

The choice of technologies and tools is crucial for shaping the user experience of any app. On the other hand, not all technologies comply with one another well. This is why a set of well-known technologies are grouped to cater to different facets of development. These compatible technologies called stacks remain at the very heart of developing a web or mobile app.

Do you want to know how to create an app from scratch with detailed steps? Well, one of the major steps is to know how to select the right technology stack for your app project. Here we are going to explain a few leading tech stacks and the rationale behind choosing them. Let’s start from the basics.

Defining a Technology Stack

A technology stack is a cluster of compatible technologies developers use to develop a web app, a mobile app, or a software solution. These tech stacks consist of various libraries, frameworks, programming languages, and third-party APIs.

Generally, a web development tech stack consists of three principal layers, such as the below-mentioned ones.

• Front-End: It refers to the client-side or the representation layer of any website or web app or the layer that users directly interact with. Some of the leading front-end development languages, frameworks, and libraries include JavaScript, ReactJS, Angular, VueJS, Apache Cordova, Django, etc.

• Back-End: It refers to the server-side or configuration layer of a web app dealing mainly with the server responses for the user interactions on the front-end. Some of the leading back-end languages, frameworks, and libraries include PHP, Python, NodeJS, ExpressJS, etc.

• Middleware: Middleware helps interactions between the front-end and the back-end. Some of the key frameworks and operating system platforms used for middleware include ExpressJS, Linux, Windows, Oracle Fusion, etc.

• Database: Finally, database technologies play a crucial role in storing, managing, and making data accessible for the users. Some of the leading database technologies include MySQL, MongoDB, PostgreSQL, NoSQL, etc.

What are the leading Technology Stacks?

Over the years, some technology stacks stood out in popularity because of their exceptional capabilities in developing high-performance and scalable apps. Let’s have a quick look at the leading tech stacks.

• LAMP: Linux operating system, Apache Cordova web server, MySQL database, and PHP server-side scripting language
• Python-Django: This tech stack has at its center the Python language coupled up with Django for front-end development. As per the Stack Overflow Survey 2021, this tech stack enjoyed 3rd place among the popular tech stacks.
• MEAN: It consists of MongoDB database, Express.js middleware, AngularJS front-end, and Node.js back-end. Since it uses JavaScript for both front-end and back-end, it enjoys great popularity as a completely JavaScript-based tech stack.
• MERN: It consists of MongoDB database, Express.js middleware, ReactJS front-end, and Node.js back-end. As per the same Stack Overflow Survey 2021 we mentioned earlier, React was the most popular front-end language, and MERN was consequently a leading tech stack.

Now that you have a fair idea about the various tech stacks and their pros and cons let’s explain the key criteria for choosing the tech stack for your web or app project.

Project Size and Complexity

Picking the right tech stack depends on the project size and complexity.

• Small or MVP Projects: When the project is a simple one or follows the MVP approach to start with basic features, easy to use CMS solutions or technologies like Python, Node.JS, etc. can be very useful.
• Mid-Sized Projects: Administrative NC governmental web projects, e-commerce stores, enterprise web solutions, etc. come under this category. These projects require matured and scalable technologies on every front, and any of the leading tech stacks will be a befitting choice.
• Complicated and Large Projects: large enterprise apps with multiple verticals, robust and feature-rich business process automation systems, social media networks, web-based marketplaces, video streaming platforms, etc. require a highly scalable tech stack involving multiple programming languages for both front-end and back-end.

Time for Development

Do you want to release your app quickly in the market, or do you want to give it enough time to take care of everything scrupulously? The urgency and aimed development time are crucial considerations for choosing a technology stack. For instance, some frameworks such as Ruby on Rails can speed up development by accessing several libraries with ease. When outsourcing mobile app development projects, you also need to consider the number of third-party integrations.

Scalability

Some technologies can accommodate many users and increase the volume of features and functions. On the other hand, there are technologies with limitations to accommodate increased user volume or number of functions. Both MERN and MEAN are primarily famous for their modularity and scalable technologies.

App Architecture

App architecture plays a key role in making an app more scalable and easier to maintain. Based on the architecture, you need to choose the befitting tech stack. For instance, for modular architecture, using MERN can be highly effective as React helps reuse code and components.

Development Budget

The choice of tech stack also depends tremendously on the development budget for the app project. One needs to plan the budget based on the minimum hours required for developing the features and functions, future app updates and maintenance requirements, and design complexity. Keeping these things and your budget constraints in mind, you need to choose the right tech stack.

If you want to keep your initial development cost lowe4 and go for incremental development approaches such as MVP, the component-based ReactJS can be a great front-end framework choice. On the other hand, whether the skills of your choice are available at a competitive rate is also a key consideration for choosing a tech stack.

App Security

Some app projects have a stringent focus on security, and hence they cannot leave any loophole or flaw to allow security shortcomings. This is why the choice of tech stack also depends on the app’s security needs. All the leading tech stacks we mentioned here are also the most efficient ones in terms of app security.

Wrapping Up

So, choosing a tech stack for your app project is not easy. It involves an array of considerations. Lastly, we must say that you should also choose a technology stack that your in-house team can handle. It would help if you looked at every condition, whether with the in-house team or with outsourcing.