What Are Tech Stacks? Choosing the Right One for Development

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned digital veteran, deciding the right technology stack — aka tech stack — is crucial to app development success.

A fleeting moment of brilliance...I have an idea for an app. But what’s next?

Once you’ve decided on a web app vs a mobile app, it’s time to determine your tech stack. Let’s start with the basics:

What is a tech stack?

Creating a revolutionary app requires a mix of hardware and software tools combined with a clear value proposition. 

Each crucial element overlaps the other, providing everything needed to develop and maintain an efficacious app.

Client-side (or front-end) technologies

This provides everything needed to power the application's user experience; put another way, every interaction a user has with an app comes via the client side.

For example, if we consider a car, the front-end would be all the buttons, knobs, and switches a user interacts with. If the user wants to turn on the air conditioner, they don’t need to understand how the electrical subsystem of the car works; they just know that twisting a knob turns on the A/C. In the same way, the front-end normalizes complex systems into discrete, simple user interactions.

Common client-side technologies include:

• Markup languages (HTML, XML, XHTML)
• Stylesheets (internal, external, and inline CSS)
• Specific programming languages (JavaScript, Xamarin)
• UI frameworks built upon a programming language (ReactJS, AngularJS, both built on JavaScript)

Server-side (or back-end) technologies

This ties the user interaction with subsystems that perform logic, talk to databases, coordinate with web services, and more.

Staying with the car analogy, the back-end might be the car’s onboard computer: its electrical subsystem, its hydraulic subsystem, etc. All of these make the car “go”.

Common server-side technologies include:

• Specific programming languages (C#, Java, PHP, Python)
• Various application frameworks built upon a programming language (Node.js built upon JavaScript, .NET built upon C#, Django built upon Python)
• Databases (Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL)
• Cloud infrastructures and services (AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud) 

Common tech stacks

While technology stacks are an ever-changing landscape, the most common technology stacks are LAMP, MEAN, and MERN. Let’s break it down.

LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP)

LAMP is widely considered one of the most reliable and accessible technology stacks. Built to run on a Linux operating system, the stack focuses on Apache as the primary web server (i.e., the means by which users access the application), MySQL as the database provider, and PHP (plus complementary frameworks, like Laravel) as the back-end technology.

LAMP doesn’t enforce a particular front-end technology; developers can choose the one that best suits their needs. Components that make up a LAMP stack are almost always supported by hosting providers and ensure stability and ease of use for developers.

While LAMP is one of the older and more reliable stacks, its shortcomings, like difficulty to scale and not being well-suited for single-page apps, tend to steer web and app developers to a different solution.

MEAN (Mongo, Express, AngularJS, Node.js)

One of the newer (yet powerful) kids on the block, MEAN combines a modern framework with distinct capabilities that work in concert with each other throughout the stack, proving to be a cutting-edge solution for many developers.

MEAN uses MongoDB as the primary database provider, AngularJS as the front-end technology, and a combination of Node.js and Express.js as the back-end technology.

MEAN provides the best of both worlds by enabling ease of use while allowing developers to scale from a minimum viable product to enterprise technology with ease.

MERN

MERN is one of the most commonly used technology stacks for building high-quality applications. Although very similar to MEAN, The main distinction between the two lies in the use of React instead of Angular.

React is like a bucket of LEGO pieces. It provides unlimited freedom but requires some ingenuity to use correctly. Angular is more akin to a predefined LEGO set. It is very straightforward and defined but limits the developer’s freedom.

Both are built on JavaScript (or TypeScript), and it’s usually the case that when you find someone good at one, they’re decent at the other. That said, the community is very passionate about their particular side.

Tech stacks in practice

Ever wonder what technology stacks power your favorite brands? Let’s take a look at what industry leaders are using for their stacks.

Uber tech stack 

Reddit tech stack

• Server: NGINX
• Databases: PostgreSQL, Redis
• Server-side framework: Node.js
• Programming languages: JavaScript, Python

Choosing the right tech stack for your app development

While most experienced developers have preferred technology stacks, it can seem daunting for any non-technical entrepreneur. The best way to navigate the world of tech stacks is to find a resource or subject-matter expert to guide your path. While some subject-matter experts are biased in their decision-making, consulting an expert can be the best money spent and save you from future headaches. If resources are scarce, start with these simple steps:

Discover your users’ needs

As with any entrepreneurial endeavor, put the end-user first. The user’s activity is a guiding factor in choosing the right tech stack. For example, if a large percentage of your users utilize a mobile device to engage with your app, selecting a stack that is “mobile-first” could be the most effective choice. If your users are “mobile-only,” your tech stack could vary greatly from other types of applications.

TIP: Familiarize yourself with the six different types of mobile apps to make sure your app is a step above the rest in your category.

Define your development needs

Understanding the needs of application is the key to choosing the right tech stack. The size, scope, and complexity of your app may change the direction of your tech stack. 

• Small projects like minimum viable products (MVPs) or one-page apps can be perfect for well-defined and community-supported stacks like Python-Django or Node.js-React. Adding complexity after the fact may affect your decision, so keep scale front-of-mind during the development process.
• Medium projects like online e-commerce stores and mid-market software applications require a bit more complex tech stacks with multiple layers of programming languages and frameworks. Much like with smaller projects, keeping scalability at the forefront of your decision-making process is key.
• Large projects like complex marketplaces or social applications likely require a more scaled tech stack to maintain application integrity and performance. These larger-scale tech stacks usually employ multiple layers of programming languages and frameworks while being built to perform under high-volume circumstances.

Determine your resources

It’s important to understand your resource limitations when choosing a tech stack for your app development. An amazing tech stack means nothing without the proper developers to use it. Most frameworks, development tools, and databases are open-source, meaning they are free to use and widely available. Most open-source entities allow for unrestricted use and provide the developer with a large canvas to paint on. Most application costs come directly from servers and hosting obligations. These should also be considered when choosing your technology stack.

Finding the right developer for your project scope is another factor to consider when choosing your tech stack. For example, some developers specialize in front-end or back-end development only. Finding a full-stack developer that can do both could be the right solution but has a direct correlation to resource allocation.

Also, consider the “source” of any developer you hire. Developers with traditional Computer Science degrees are often expensive hires but come with a wide variety of skills and experience that will properly support your application, new or mature. Developers who come from coding boot camps are given deep dives into the most common, most used tech stacks in the industry but may not carry the same level of expertise required to scale an application to enterprise levels. 

Start your stack

Now that you’ve discovered the world of tech stacks, you are one step closer to building your app and taking the market by storm. In everything digital, keep the user first and deliver an experience that delights. 

Discover the benefits of rapid application development and its potential to elevate your performance.