Technology stack for your website: A complete guide for the best choice

These technology stacks are what breathe life into software products.

Investing in different elements of your technology stack is an important step in becoming a successful software company. Because the tech stack gives product teams the equipment they need to build and maintain the product, it continues to meet customer requirements.

1/ Why is choosing a technology stack important?

Choosing the best technology for your website is one of the most important decisions when creating a digital product. Every technology you choose contributes to the quality of your web app. A tech stack that isn't right for your project can negatively impact your ability to deliver value to your customers. Before we get into why it is important to choose a technology stack for your project, let’s find out what a technology stack is.

• What is a technology stack, exactly? A technology stack is a collection of the technologies that a company uses to build and run an application or project. A technology stack, sometimes called a solution stack, typically consists of programming languages, frameworks, databases, front-end tools, back-end tools, and applications connected via APIs.

Technology choices have immediate and long-term effects on how users experience your app.

• Its speed and power
• Infrastructure and server system capacity
• Product scalability (and thus business scalability)
• User Data Security and Confidentiality
• Cost of making the product
• Project schedule and time to market

Re-evaluating his tech stack during development or after launch is not as simple as a small iteration with a few tweaks here and there.

If you discover that your technology choices are wrong, it can result in costly and time-consuming fixes. To avoid this, here are the main factors to consider when choosing the web stack for your website.

2/ Purpose of the app:

Choosing the technology for your app is one of the first decisions you need to make, but remember that product development doesn't start with the solution; it will begin with the problem you want to solve.

What does your product need to offer the customer to solve their problem? What is the purpose of the app? Which features and capabilities can best provide this value, subject to these requirements? Technology should ultimately come from the best product ideas for users.

It is really important to identify the industry you are trying to enter, as competitors can serve as benchmarks on both the business and technology fronts.

The list is not exhaustive, but some of the most popular web and mobile apps today fall into these categories:

• Fintech (e.g. mobile wallets, banking, investments, crypto)
• Retail and eCommerce (e.g. online shopping, marketplaces, virtual try-on)
• Healthcare (e.g. telemedicine, mental health, medical records)
• Education (e.g. languages, university courses, student management)
• Utility (e.g. calculators, weather, reminders)
• Information, media, and entertainment (e.g. news, tourism guides, video streaming)
• Social media
• Games
• Messaging and communication

Another important business decision you have to make is what kind of apps are best for your product idea. Mobile, web, or desktop app (or a combination of these)? This business decision branches into various technical decisions that need to be made next. For example, mobile and desktop applications require different frameworks, which limits your solution choices.

If your app requires a machine-learning element, consider Python as your tech stack. Python has an extensive set of machine learning-specific libraries and frameworks that can simplify complex algorithms and reduce development time. Examples of these frameworks are Pytorch, Tensorflow, and Azure ML.

3/ Size and complexity of the app:

Your technology stack also depends on the size and complexity of your app. More complex weight loss app stacks can differ from simple ones. And not just the additional features; we also have to think about the amount of effort and resources required to build them.

To be clear, each function can be as easy or as complex as the company desires. For example, a user's dashboard can be as simple as displaying a few data points or as complex as an enterprise-class control panel. As you plan your app, consider how complex you want each feature to be.

Larger projects pay more attention to performance, scalability, maintainability, and the possibility of introducing new features. Inevitably, you should consider cloud solutions such as AWS and Azure, which are known for providing the right infrastructure for large and complex applications.

Additionally, it is important to recognize the dynamic nature of product development. Even if you settle on one particular path, validation, user testing, and iteration can lead you down another path. For example, if you're working towards a prototype or MVP, you may use a micro-framework that doesn't reflect your end-product needs.

4/ Security requirements:

No technology guarantees complete protection against data breaches, malicious attacks, and other kinds of security and privacy risks. However, that is no excuse to be critical of technology and practices that do everything possible to protect users and their data.

When choosing a framework, choose one that offers regular updates and additional support. For example, React and Ruby on Rails typically release new versions every few months. Additionally, the technology stack determines the setup of security tools that the development and security teams apply to their projects.

5/ Budget and resource constraints:

Companies spend the most money on the people who make up their development teams. That said, budget and resource constraints also influence the technology you choose for your tech stack. Frameworks and languages ​​that are easy to learn and known for rapid development are the most cost-effective.

Python, Java, and Javascript are the three most popular programming languages based on Github. Choosing these languages ​​will usually help you stay within your budget. If you develop your app in a language that is not as popular as Elixir or Pascal, expect a higher cost due to the lack of specialists in these languages.

6/ Popular tech stacks for website development:

While companies can certainly tailor their technology stacks to suit their needs, some bundles or combinations are popular with developers. The following technology stacks have broad pools of experts who not only master the individual technologies but also know how to work together within these stacks.

When choosing a technology for your project, don’t be guided by its low price, popularity, or novelty. Choosing the best technology stack for your website is a delicate process with many factors to consider. There are already many proven options and combinations to consider, but planning thoroughly up front is key. This helps your team use resources more efficiently and keep project schedules on track.