How to choose the right tech stack for your software project

Unless you’re able to read the signs, choosing a path is not quite so obvious.

One of the biggest and most costly mistakes that can be made when building a software application is to accidentally build a product that doesn’t do what you need it to do - and not even realize you’ve made this mistake until thousands of dollars and months of time have been wasted. You absolutely do not want to fall down that hole. 

In some cases people inadvertently build the wrong product because they haven’t done proper market research, or because they haven’t adequately gathered user requirements. But another way you can wind up in this sticky situation is if you build your product using the wrong tools and technologies, only to discover that it can’t perform the way you need it to - for technical reasons.

Understanding which technologies are necessary to build an application that will perform the way you need it to is essential to building a high quality software product - a product that will do its intended job well and delight your customers.

What is a technology stack?

In short, a technology stack is the set of technologies used to build a software product. Certain technologies will be needed to build the front-end of the application, others will be required to build the back-end, and others still may be necessary to seamlessly integrate the two. The technologies you’ll need will also differ depending on whether you’re building a web application or a native mobile app.

Here are some examples of the types of technologies often required in a software tech stack:

• Front-end coding languages

  • Examples: HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript

• Back-end coding languages

  • Examples: Ruby, Python, Elixir, PHP

• Mobile app coding languages

  • Examples: Objective-C, Swift, Java, Kotlin

• Code libraries

  • Examples: jQuery, Rails, NumPy

• Collaboration and version control tools

  • Examples: Git, Github, SVN

• Programming frameworks

  • Examples: React Native, Bootstrap, Django, Angular

• Database systems and languages

  • Examples: PostgreSQL, MySQL, Redis

• User Interface design tools

  • Examples: Sketch, Axure, Adobe XD

• Web servers

  • Examples: Node.js, Apache, IIS

• Operating systems

  • Examples: OSX, Windows, UNIX, iOS, Android

What to consider when selecting your tech stack

A number of factors should be assessed when deciding which technologies will be best suited for your particular software project. Laying the right groundwork will provide the solid foundation you need to build a successful product. Here are some important things to consider:

1. Functional requirements

The features and functionality you’ll need your software application to provide will be a key driver of which technologies to choose. For example, a large, complex application typically requires a more sophisticated tech stack than a small, simple one. Performance and speed requirements should also be taken into account.

2. Security needs

How secure does your application need to be? Will you be processing payments, handling health, financial, or legal data, or working with any other sensitive information? Make sure you select a suite of technologies that are able to protect your data during all stages of transmission and storage to the extent that you require.

3. Existing tech infrastructure

Don’t forget to account for your existing infrastructure. Will you be adding to a pre-existing application? Do you have other software systems that will need to be integrated? What about hardware? Are you in the cloud? Carefully evaluate your current technological infrastructure to make sure there won’t be any unpleasant surprises later.

4. Development timeline

Some tools and technologies will be faster and easier to build with than others. Consider your desired project timeline, and try to keep things as simple as possible. Don’t use more technologies than you actually need - and don’t use more complex technologies than you actually need either. Also consider incorporating third-party integrations when possible to reduce the amount of code that must be built from scratch.

5. Costs

Some tech tools will come with a higher price tag than others. Depending on your needs, you might be able to use free open source technologies for much of your product development. Another significant factor to consider when it comes to costs is that you’ll need to find and pay skilled developers who know how to use your tech stack. Sticking with common, widely used options can help mitigate such expenses.

6. Ease of maintenance

In addition to evaluating how easy it will be to build your product with certain tools, it’s important to also consider how easy it will be to maintain it down the road. New developers may eventually work on your application. Are the technologies you’re choosing well documented with large support communities? Will you have an easy to navigate code base that a newcomer can understand? Will it be hard to find additional talent with the skills you need?

7. Scalability

Not all technologies scale equally well. If it’s your ultimate goal to significantly scale up the size of your user base, you’ll need the right technical foundation to support that growth. Aim to choose technologies that will be the right fit both today and in the future. But be sure to balance this goal with not making things more complex than they need to be.

Build your app with the right tech

Need an expert to help you identify the best technologies to use for your software project? Basecode’s experienced software specialists have the knowledge and skills to help you choose the right tech stack to build your application. Contact us to learn more about partnering with us on your project.