The world of software development is vast, and it’s easy to get lost in the sea of technical terms and countless technology options. When it comes to beginning a new software project, one of the first decisions you have to make is what technology stack you want to use.
But what are technology stacks, also known as software development stacks? What are they used for? How do you choose the right one for your software product?
Don’t worry, you aren’t the only one who’s asking these questions. We’ve been there too! Let us use our background and expertise to walk you through all you need to know about technology stacks, and we’ll even give you a short list of our top 6 tech stack recommendations.
What Is a Technology Stack?
A technology stack is the set or group of tools, programming languages, libraries, frameworks, and other technologies that are used on a project. They work together to build and eventually run a software product or solution, such as websites, mobile applications, or web applications.
When you think of a technology stack, think of building a home. Before you can ever begin construction, you have to make sure you have the right materials, appropriate tools, and qualified workers.
Individually, each of those components don’t hold much value. What is a plank of wood worth if it can never be touched by a saw or a hammer? What can a drill help build if there is no one to properly use it?
When you put them together, however, you get a home that is worth immensely more than the individual components on their own.
A technology stack works the same way. Individually, the pieces of a technology stack aren’t much help to a developer. But when you put the pieces together, they can create software development solutions that are valuable to the developers and their clients or users.
There are two main elements needed to create a full technology stack: frontend (client, user-side) and backend (server-side). Let’s take a look at how these two elements differ from each other.
Frontend Stack
The frontend portion of a technology stack refers to anything the user sees and interacts with, which is why it’s often called the client-side or user-side of an application. When building the frontend, developers must focus on making the user interfaces straightforward, easy to use, engaging, and attractive.
Without effective and engaging frontend design, it would be nearly impossible to convince users to return to software products repeatedly.
When developing interactive user interfaces, two main elements of a frontend software stack are used:
- HTML (Hypertext Markup Language): Used for the structuring and placement of webpage content. It is responsible for positioning and alignment of the components you see on a screen.
- CSS (Cascading Style Sheet): Used for the overall style and representation of content on web pages or applications. It can control font styles and sizes, layout, color, and more.
When considering what technology stack is right for you, don’t overlook what your frontend needs and wants are for your project. Choosing the right one is essential to a positive user experience.
Backend Stack
Unlike frontend technologies, a backend software stack works on the portions of an application that the user cannot see. As a result, it’s often referred to as the server-side framework. The backend is the engine behind any application; it tells the frontend what to do and makes sure the application runs smoothly.
The backend is made up of four elements:
- Programming Languages: Used to create code that can link an application to a database.
- Frameworks: Provide support for applications based on a single programming language.
- Servers: Used for infrastructure management and managing requests from your application. For example, when a user clicks a button on the application, the server will manage that request and make sure the proper action is carried out.
- Databases: Used to store data for your application in a digital space.
Together, these elements can ensure your application continues to function seamlessly and smoothly.
Choosing the Right Tech Stack for Your Company
There are many different software development stacks, but they’re not all built the same. Choosing the right one for your team or your project can be difficult, especially because the success of your web development product depends greatly on the tech stacks you choose. Your choice affects:
- The functionality of your software now and in the future
- The scalability of your software
- The objective of your business or project
- The storage option for your project, whether it be local or on the cloud
- The capability of your server systems
At the end of the day, your technology stack choice will come down to two main factors: personal preference and project requirements. When considering which stack is best for you and your team, ask yourself questions like the following:
- What technology tools are my team most familiar with?
- If there is more than one viable option, which option can my team work with fastest and most comfortably?
- Does my project have any niche or unique needs?
- How powerful does my application need to be and what tech stacks can handle that level of power?
- How do I anticipate my software product might need to evolve in the future?
By answering these and other similar questions, you can choose the technology stack that is best for your web development project.
Need help picking the right tech stack for your company? We can help.
Best Software Development Stacks
Now that you know the basics about software development stacks, let’s take a look at 6 of the best and most popular tech stacks available for web development today. Keep in mind that this is not a comprehensive list, and technologies are constantly changing and evolving.
LAMP
Possibly the most popular technology stack currently available is LAMP, which uses Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP.
- Linux: Operating System
- Apache: Web Server
- MySQL: Relational Database Management
- PHP: Programming Language
It’s used for many of the web applications you see and use every day. Everything you need to use the LAMP stack is free, and it runs efficiently on all operating systems, making it a popular option for web development of any kind. When building a website using LAMP, the only real cost to you or your team is the server host.
If you’re looking for a cost-effective, popular software development stack, LAMP may be the best option for you.
ASP.NET
If you’re looking for web development options comparable to LAMP, take a look at ASP.NET. It’s another one of the most popular technology stacks and is associated with tools and technologies created by Microsoft.
In embracing open source technologies, this tech stack has gained popularity in recent years. Web development applications that are built using the ASP.NET tech stack often use:
- IIS: Microsoft Web Server
- SQL Server: Microsoft’s Relational Database Management
- Microsoft Azure: Cloud Computing Service
The frontend of ASP.NET products will vary depending on how old or new the project is. Some ASP.NET projects use a classic ASP, or if they’re newer or more modern, the tech stack may use Razor or Angular.
MEAN
MEAN is another well-known technology stack. It’s similar to the LAMP stack, but it uses different technologies. MEAN tech stack is an integrated JavaScript tech stack, which means one of its biggest benefits is the ability to use a single language, JavaScript, and open source, free technologies, such as:
- Mongo: Database
- Express: Server-side (backend) Framework
- Angular: Client-side (frontend) Framework
- Node.js: JavaScript runtime
All the components speak JSON (JavaScript Object Notations) for free module library access and data transmission. MEAN is a great option for building highly efficient web pages and interactive applications quickly.
MERN
MERN is essentially the same as MEAN, but instead of using Angular, the MERN stack uses React. As a result, the tech stack includes:
- Mongo: Database
- Express: Server-side (backend) Framework
- React: Client-side (frontend) Framework
- Node.js: JavaScript runtime
This software development stack uses React integration and has the ability to use codes on browsers and servers simultaneously and in real time.
It offers a powerful library, and it’s a great full-stack option with technologies for frontend and backend work. Plus, React is flexible and known for its performance when used to develop interactive user interfaces.
MEVN
MEVN is another variation of the MEAN stack, using Vue as the frontend framework instead of Angular. Its list of technologies includes:
- Mongo: Database
- Express: Server-side (backend) Framework
- Vue: Client-side (frontend) Framework
- Node.js: JavaScript runtime
Vue incorporates features from both Angular and React, making it a more popular web development option in recent years.
Ruby on Rails
While not the most popular web development option on our list, Ruby on Rails is still a common choice among developers. Ruby on Rails is a programming environment that uses its own dynamic programming language, Ruby.
This technology stack can be a favorable option if a developer is looking to simplify their development process. It requires less knowledge to write a server-side web app with the Ruby programming language than it would with other tech stacks. You can also use default structures for database management and web pages.
Find the Best Technology Stack for Your Project
Still have no idea what technology will help you reach your business goals? We can help!
At Geneca, we have a team of full-stack developers that have worked with a wide range of technology stacks.
Whether the stacks are time-tested classics or cutting-edge technology options, we understand what it takes to choose the right tech stack for every software development project.
If you’re ready to partner with a team that can help you make the right choice for your project, reach out to Geneca today to begin discussing what tech stack may be right for you.