When you’re planning the development of a new product, you might already have an idea of the tech stack you need. In that case, you’re in luck. But even then, talking to an experienced software development team might – and probably will – bring you some helpful insights. Because choosing the right tech stack is not as straightforward as you might think. So let’s talk about it for a minute.
Things to consider when choosing the technology for your software project
Scalability
A critical skill a good development team has is being able to look ahead. To not only look at the piece of software you’re working on but also how it fits into a larger ecosystem, now and in the future.
And tech stack is important!
This requires both a good understanding of technology and business. Where do you want to go next? What will your customers need in the future? You need to anticipate these things now to be able to expand and scale your software for new requirements. By not doing it early enough, on the other hand, you’re risking having to rewrite your software at some point (which, of course, means extra time and money.)
Security
An important consideration you need to keep in mind while creating software systems – especially if you’re going to be dealing with sensitive data. But just in general, an experienced software development team should be able to advise on a tech stack that will make it possible to keep the highest security standards.
Time to market
Another factor you need to consider while choosing your tech stack is how long it will take to build your product and if ready-made components are available to build upon – and make the process shorter.
Of course, time should never trump the considerations of safety and scalability – because what you save now might actually mean more work (and cost) in the future.
Custom requirements
You know your business best – your business model as well as your ideal customer. So your individual requirements will be crucial for finding the tech stack you want to go with.
This is why it’s really beneficial to consult a development company first and look for all viable options – and only then choose a tech stack that’s optimal for your needs.
At DeSmart, we have the necessary experience to help you make the right choice
We’ll let you know the pros and cons, budget and timing implications, and outlooks for the future with the selected technology. Of course, the call will be yours, but we’ll make sure you’re making an informed decision.
Here’s what we typically work with:
And here’s a quick rundown of the considerations you might need to make when selecting any of these – though, of course, it’s a very high-level overview (otherwise, we’d have to turn it into a handbook!). We’ll be happy to expand on that and talk to you about your needs for a specific project, anytime.
JavaScript
A widely-used programming language used for anything from interactive websites to web applications and games.
We like it for: its speed, performance, and interoperability.
We don’t really like it for: the security issues it might pose and browser reliance, slightly prolonging the testing process.
PHP
A server-side scripting language widely used for anything from managing databases to building websites.
We like it for: its compatibility and the savings it can bring to the development process.
We don’t really like it for: security issues and its decreasing popularity, even though it’s still widely used.
React Native
Created by Facebook engineers, it’s used for cross-platform mobile app development for iOS and Android.
We like it for: how it can lower development costs and help release new app versions faster, plus its native UI and native-like performance.
We don’t really like it for: making testing a little more challenging and sometimes lower performance than native apps.
Python
One of the most popular and sought for programming languages, used in anything from the backend of web apps to the Internet of things to software testing or data visualization.
We like it for: the fact that it’s future-proof and incredibly flexible.
We don’t really like it for: its speed limitations and simplicity might sometimes turn into its drawback rather than an asset.
React
Also known as React.js, it’s an open-source frontend JavaScript library used for building user interfaces and UI components.
We like it for: its performance and SEO-friendliness, among other things.
We don’t really like it for: having to keep up with the constant changes, though that might also be seen as a good thing.
Flutter
Google’s alternative to React Native for creating natively compiled applications for mobile, web, and desktop from a single codebase.
We like it for: the speed, high app performance, easier testing, and easy cross-platform updates – all meaning faster time-to-market.
We don’t really like it for: the fact it’s still less mature than e.g., React Native.
TypeScript
A superset of the JavaScript language with a single open-source compiler, developed mainly by Microsoft and used both on the front- and backend.
We like it for: the predictability, cross-platform and cross-browser compatibility, and fast refactoring.
We don’t really like it for: having to write more code, which can potentially slow down the development process.
Node.js
A runtime environment based on Chrome’s V8 JavaScript engine is commonly used to develop real-time applications running across distributed devices.
We like it for: its speed, performance, and scalability.
We don’t really like it for: the performance bottlenecks and tool immaturity (though that’s obviously changing.)
GoLang
A robust system-level language developed as an alternative to C++ and Java, perfect for example for e-commerce sites.
We like it for: its speed and time-saving automation.
We don’t really like it for: not being the right fit for quick demos at the concept validation phase.
Laravel
A web framework primarily used for building custom web apps using PHP.
We like it for: the fact that it’s flexible and lightweight, and how it can handle large volumes of website traffic.
We don’t really like it for: sometimes problematic upgrades and considerably longer development times than with some other frameworks.
Docker
An open platform for developing, shipping, and running apps packaged into containers.
We like it for: its reliability and consistency.
We don’t really like it for: its performance problems in non-native environments.
GitLab
A web-based DevOps lifecycle tool with a Git repository manager providing wiki, issue-tracking, and continuous integration and deployment pipeline features.
We like it for: how it accelerates the development cycle while reducing costs and security risks.
We don’t really like it for: the interface that can sometimes be on the slower side.
Need to choose the right tech stack and got questions?
Obviously, we’re being very general here. But if you want to talk about a specific project and its requirements, let us help you decide on the best tech stack to reach your goals.
