Choosing the Right Tech Stack: The Key to Successful App Development

Arguably, the single most important choice developers make when creating an application isn't which architecture to use, which features to build, or which code to write. It's the tech stack they opt to use.

After all, the tech stack that you choose influences virtually every other major decision that takes place during the software development process. Choosing a tech stack that is a poor fit for the type of app you're building could lead to a failed project or product, even if your development process is otherwise perfect.

With that reality in mind, here's a guide to selecting a tech stack during software development. We explain why getting this decision right is so important, then outline the key factors to consider when evaluating tech stack options.

What Is a Tech Stack?

A tech stack is the complete set of components required to build and run an application.

The types of items that exist within a tech stack can vary depending on which type of application you're building. But as an example, a typical tech stack for a standard web application would include the following:

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When you put all of these pieces together — or stack them on top of each other, so to speak — you have all the tools required to develop and operate a web application.

Why Choosing the Right Tech Stack Is So Important

Choosing the right tech stack is critical because the tech stack you opt to use will shape virtually every aspect of your development project.

It determines which programming language you can use, as well as which modules, libraries, and other pre-built components you can take advantage of to speed development. It has implications for security, since some tech stacks are easier to secure than others. It influences the application performance and operating cost because it plays an important role in determining how many resources the application will consume. And so on.

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Plus, it's often very challenging to migrate to a different tech stack once development is underway. Doing so typically requires making major changes to your code — so you can't simply decide that the tech stack you originally chose isn't working out and easily migrate to a new one.

For these reasons, making the right tech stack choice at the outset is vital. It's not a decision to be taken lightly. Nor should you default into using one tech stack just because it's popular, or because it's the one your company has used in the past.

How to Select a Tech Stack

So, how do you choose the right tech stack?

That's a complex question, of course. There is no one-size-fits-all tech stack. The best stack for a given project will depend on the unique requirements of that project.

But there are some core considerations that every development team should weigh when evaluating tech stack options. Here's a rundown of the most important.

What are your development team's skills?

If your development team includes engineers who are skilled in particular technologies, choosing a tech stack that includes them makes sense — provided, of course, that the components also meet other goals and that you're not deciding to use a particular tech stack simply because it's what your developers already know. Sometimes, learning a new stack is well worth the effort.

What are your IT team's skills?

Since your IT operations team will need to support your application on an ongoing basis, you'll want to consider which tech stack they are most capable of working with, too. Make sure they're on board with whichever databases, operating systems, and other production environment components you'll be asking them to manage.

Where will the application run?

Knowing where you intend to host your application is essential for selecting the right tech stack.

If you're using a cloud platform or platform as a service (PaaS) that only provides certain types of hosting options, you'll need to ensure your tech stack is compatible with them. For instance, you may only be able to use certain web servers or operating systems.

What is your operating budget?

Because the tech stack you select influences how many resources the application consumes — and, by extension, what it costs to run — consider the budget you have for operating the app. If you're working with a lean budget, you may want to opt for a lightweight tech stack.

For instance, you might opt to use a programming language like C, which typically delivers better overall performance, rather than Python, which is easier to use in many respects but which just doesn't perform at the same level.

How long will your app be in operation?

If you plan to run your app for many years without making major changes to it, you'll want to select a tech stack that consists of tried-and-true components that are likely to remain actively supported for decades to come. Avoid a trendy tech stack that might be deemed obsolete in five years' time, leading to major maintenance challenges.

Do you have special compliance or security requirements?

Building a secure application is important in any context. But if you face special compliance requirements — for example, if you're building a finance or healthcare app, which are subject to special compliance mandates in many places — you may need to guarantee an extra level of security.

To that end, make sure the tech stack you choose offers whichever level of security controls you need to meet your compliance requirements. A tech stack alone won't guarantee that your app is compliant, but choosing the right tech stack makes it easier for you to build a compliant app.

Conclusion: The Tech Stack Is Everything

To be sure, building a successful application requires hard and careful work no matter which tech stack you choose. You'll need to write great code, test your code carefully and ensure a smooth deployment process no matter which technologies you're using. But picking the right tech stack makes these tasks easier — and gets you started on the right foot.