How to choose a tech stack for your project?

The world of software development is evolving at breakneck speed, with hundreds of programming languages, thousands of frameworks, and libraries to choose from. With this rapidly changing landscape, how can you make the right choice and avoid potential issues down the road?

To help you navigate the complex world of tech stacks, we've put together a comprehensive guide to ensure you make informed decisions.

Before embarking on the development of any application, a meticulous analysis of technical requirements should take place. Based on this analysis, the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) or technical team makes decisions about which technologies to use.

Here are the fundamental principles our team considers at the initial stages when determining the technical stack for any project:

1. Industry and Expected Workload

Different programming languages are tailored to specific tasks. For instance, Python is frequently used for developing AI algorithms, Java is popular in the fintech sector due to its capabilities, and PHP and Node.js are considered lighter and faster languages for basic web services. Before choosing a programming language, it's essential to analyze your project to determine the solution that best suits your needs.

2. Technology Popularity and Community Support

Some frameworks and programming languages become outdated over time, making it challenging to support new devices or find a skilled team. On the other hand, some very new frameworks may look appealing but lack the resources for optimal technology support and problem-solving. Therefore, it's advisable to choose a technology that is modern, has a strong developer community (making it easier to find a replacement team if needed), and offers an extensive range of modern solutions and libraries.

For example, we use React for web application development. React is one of the most popular web frameworks globally, with thousands of developers, and it has proven its reliability and advantages over more than a decade.

3. Cost of Technology

Technology costs can vary significantly. The cost often depends on the complexity of mastering the programming language or framework, the complexity of the applications it's used for, and the number of programmers worldwide using it. For example, hiring a PHP web developer for simple websites is generally more cost-effective than hiring a Java developer working on high-performance banking systems. However, the choice should always align with your industry and your application's requirements.

Moreover, if a technology is used by only a handful of developers, that should be a red flag. You might struggle to find a team that can work on your project.

4. Possible Constraints and Technical Requirements

Let's consider the case of mobile app development, where you can choose between native technologies, game development frameworks like Unity, or cross-platform frameworks like React Native, Expo, and Flutter. Cross-platform frameworks are suitable for most applications, but for apps requiring extensive customization and direct access to device resources, they might not be the best choice. It's a crucial point to consider.

5. Third-Party Libraries

Different languages come with both open-source and paid libraries and packages. To avoid potential issues with intellectual property rights or continuous payments, it's essential to discuss with your technical team the extent to which you need to rely on a library. Certain libraries also have security issues, and an experienced developer can identify them and avoid using problematic libraries.

6. The Need for Ready-Made Solutions

There's no sense in building an admin panel from scratch for a simple website where you only want to upload blog posts. In such cases, it's better to opt for a ready-made solution that's faster and more cost-effective. For instance, we use Strapi as an admin panel for applications where clients only need to manage content. It's efficient, cost-effective, and saves time. However, you should also consider the popularity of a ready-made solution and whether it was created by an outsourced company or not, as specific solutions might be hard to work with for other developers.

In conclusion, adhering to these guidelines should help you make the right technology choices. While it may sound challenging, experienced technical engineers can effortlessly make the right choices and recommend the most optimal solutions for your project.

If you find yourself in the position of selecting a tech stack and need assistance, you can take advantage of our free technical consultation. We'll analyze your case and recommend the most efficient solution.

We hope this guide will empower you to make well-informed decisions in the ever-evolving landscape of software development.