Successful app development for mobile or web-based platforms depends on several factors, the most critical of which is choosing the right tech stack. Unfortunately, picking the right set of tools and technologies for your project requires granular knowledge of software programming and architecture. If you’re from a non-tech background, this can become an impediment. This blog will help you understand a tech stack and how to choose the right one. 

What is a Technology Stack? 

A technology stack is a set of tools and technologies programmers use for mobile and web app development. It comprises programming languages, frameworks, libraries, patterns, UI/UX components, hardware modules, development tools, and different programming approaches. All these aspects come together to define what the development project will look like and the functions it will perform. 

Each software or application is built of multiple interdependent layers that communicate with each other. Each layer performs a different function and requires different tools to build. 

Primarily, all these different development tools, technologies, and frameworks are divided into three parts, each servicing a different software layer. The three parts are:

• Front-end – This is the client-side structure. 
• Back-end – This is the server-side structure. 
• Middleware – This is the translation layer that connects the front and back end. 

Each part of the stack offers a wide range of technologies, making it very confusing to pick the right tech stack. 
 

Before we get to choosing the stack, the first step is to understand the different layers of a stack and the functions they perform. 

Structure of a Technology Stack 

Frontend Development Technology stack 

The front end refers to all the elements that the users see on their screens and interact with. 

There are three major front-end coding languages:

• HTML Markup Language is used to display content on the browser. 
• CSS is used for the stylistic elements of the content, such as font and indentation. 
• JavaScript helps build all the interactive parts of the application. 

Apart from these languages, UI frameworks and libraries are also used in tandem. 

Backend Development Technology Stack

The back end refers to those parts of software that are not visible or accessible to the end user. It is used to manage data and ensure that the front-end functions as required. The major technologies that constitute the back end are:

• The operating system
• Web servers such as Nginx and Apache
• Programming languages such as C#, Java, and Python. 
• Frameworks such as Node.js, .NET, and Django. 
• Databases such as MySQL, Microsoft SQL Server, and Oracle. 
• Cloud computing services such as Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud. 

Middleware Technology Stack

The Middleware layer helps the two ends interact and communicate effectively. It includes application and web servers, content management systems, and other tools that enable smooth and frictionless interaction, enhancing software performance. 

Why is Choosing the Right Tech Stack for App Development Important? 

In the simplest terms, your tech stack will directly influence the kind of product you build and deliver. To build a quality product that fulfills all the documented business requirements while being affordable and efficient, you must choose a tech stack perfectly suited to your project goals and team expertise. 

New tools, languages, and frameworks are constantly being developed. But that also means that most new technologies are largely untested and underdeveloped. On the other hand, outdated and obsolete technologies will ruin your product, slow delivery, and add unnecessary weight to your bottom line. 

You must strike the right balance between the two ends of the spectrum, which requires a thorough understanding of your project scope, available resources and talent, and business limitations. 

We’ve listed nine tips for you to follow that will make it easier for you to make the right choice. 

How to Choose the Right Tech Stack for Web App Development? 

Gather information about the latest technologies 

The first step is to comprehensively understand all the technologies available to you to build your tech stack. You can either conduct extensive research on your own or hire an experienced external consultant to help you out. 

Conduct market and industry research 

Look at previously developed projects that are similar to yours. Document the tech stack and tools they used. Compare it to how effective their product is. This will give you a good idea of what your tech stack should look like. 

Define your project along with scope freeze, advancements, and scalability 

Now, conduct an in-depth analysis of your project requirements, business objectives, functions, and features. Freeze the project’s scope and then create an outline of what your tech stack will have to accomplish. 

• Does it require parallel processing? Or low latency? 
• What is the scale of the project? 
• Will basic technologies do? Or is a more advanced framework required to achieve the goals?
• How scalable do you need the product to be? 

Answering all these questions will allow you to shortlist the exact technologies you’ll need to build your stack. 

Choose your technology platform 

Technical requirements can differ from platform to platform. Mobile applications use a very different set of tools and languages than web applications. To zero in on a suitable platform, you’ll need to study your audience and see which platform they prefer using. 

Analyze your team’s experience and expertise 

Your team’s skill and talent pool should match your chosen tech stack. There’s no point in picking up a new language or tool when you don’t have the right expert in your team to work with it. If there’s a mismatch, your team will spend valuable hours learning the new technology instead of developing the product. 

Consider project maintenance and sustenance 

Your tech stack will play a crucial role in the patching and maintenance of your application once it is released. While picking your stack, ensure that the programming language is efficient, reusable, and simplistic. Remember to check for compatibility issues with your software architecture. A condensed architecture will make it easy to reuse and scale the software when necessary. 

Calculate the costs associated with the project and your chosen stack 

Your total investment in the project will include licensing fees, subscription fees, maintenance costs, employee remuneration, and employee training costs. Check if the investment is validated by the end product and will give a good ROI. 

Assess all necessary security measures 

Data security and privacy are of utmost importance in the current market scenario. Governments have tightened regulations and mandated massive fines in case of security lapses. Undertaking all the necessary security measures according to the industries and regulatory standards. 

Keep a tab on all relevant industry trends 

Lastly, your tech stack can be dynamic. As technology evolves and matures, you can update your preferences to increase efficiency, lower costs, and deliver a better product to your users. 

Examples of the Most Popular Tech Stacks

Even though you can choose each part of your tech stack individually, the market offers some robust ready-made stacks that can positively impact your timeline. 

.NET Stack

One of the most popular stacks, .NET comprises more than 60 frameworks, platforms, libraries, and SOA. It’s known for its fast runtime and shorter learning curve, making it the perfect match for projects with tight deadlines. It can be integrated with other open-source technologies enabling you to develop comprehensive and feature-rich applications. 

LAMP Stack

The LAMP Stack consists of PHP, Apache HTTP server, Linux OS, and MySQL database. PHP can be replaced with Python or Perl if needed. It’s best suited for dynamic web and mobile app development. 

MEAN Stack

The MEAN Stack is an open-source set specifically used by teams working with JavaScript. It uses the Angular framework, NoSQL’s native JSON database, and the Node.js JavaScript module library. It is highly modular and enables more efficient development of both client and server-side applications. 

MERN Stack

The MERN stack is similar to MEAN, except it utilizes the ReactJS framework for the front end and Node.js for the back end. It’s primarily used to build e-commerce websites and applications. 

MEVN Stack

The MEVN Stack is another branch of the MEAN Stack with one change – it replaces AngularJS with Vue.js, which gives it a more enhanced programming style and overall performance. 

How VLink Can Help You Pick the Right Tech Stack for Your Project? 

Your tech stack can make or break your project. Keeping those stakes in mind, it’s best advised to let experts handle its configuration. VLink’s custom software development and IT staff augmentation services can give you access to the right people with relevant skills who can help you make the right investments in future-proof scalable technologies for your stack. With our pre-vetted, fully managed IT staffing, you can scale up your team with our expert developers proficient in different technologies, including frontend, backend, and full-stack development. By combining the expertise of our dedicated developers, you can quickly execute your development strategy without burning a hole in your pocket.

Conclusion 

The goal of choosing the right tech stack is to facilitate product development, accelerate delivery, enhance quality, and reduce costs. You need to have clear visibility into your project’s exact requirements and scope, along with available resources. VLink’s dedicated developers can help you analyze, assess, choose, and execute your project’s best possible tech stack, putting you on the path to a successful software product launch.