Having an online presence is necessary for any business in the present era of technology. Web applications, particularly, customized web applications play a vital role in boosting a business in this globalized world. Just as a well-constructed house requires quality building material, similarly a good web application requires a good stack selection.
Every project is unique in its nature and scope and thus demands corresponding solutions. Making good decisions at the start might save one from later inefficacies. Selecting an appropriate technology stack ensures quality, meets customers’ demands, and saves capital thus giving a competitive advantage.
In this blog, we will look into the concept behind technology stack and what should be kept in mind while choosing a stack for customized web applications.
What Exactly is a Technology Stack?
Developing a web application requires multiple technologies for designing, developing, launching, and running a web application. While developing a customized web application, several layers are built upon one another with the use of programming languages, frameworks, web servers, libraries, hardware modules, third-party software, and databases. This set of tools and technologies is called a tech stack.
Every web application has two software components: Client Side [Front-End] and Server Side [Back-End]. Each web application is built in layers or stacks using the above tools and thus both components are interdependent. Let’s review both these components as under:
Front End Tech Stack:
Front-end or the client side refers to everything a user sees and interacts with on the screen while navigating a web application. A front end consists of clearly outlined internal structures and a user-friendly interface leading to an overall good user experience. Developers use various technologies for front-end tech stack development. A few of the commonly used ones are:
HTML - Instructs the browser on structuring the content on the web application using markup.
CSS - Provides style to HTML content by determining the fonts, size, colors, and other static elements of the front end.
JavaScript - A programming language that turns HTML components into dynamic objects by bringing interactive and animated elements to the front end.
Several technology frameworks are used for HTML and CSS including Bootstrap, Foundation, Bulma, UIkit and Susy etc. The most popular among these are Bootstrap and Foundation. Modern web applications use JavaScript with frameworks like Angular, ReactJS, and NextJS.
Back-end Tech Stack:
The back-end or server side of the customized web application consists of the entire logic behind the business of the product through a programming language. A web application can be coded in a variety of languages. Various frameworks are available for each programming language. The backend ensures all functions requested by the users on the front end perform smoothly. It’s the engine of the web application that controls the functionalities.
Following web development stack components are required in developing a web application:
Databases such as MySQL, PostgreSQL, and MongoDB.
Hosting service enabling internet access.
Programming languages such as Node.js, Ruby on Rails, and Java.
Web development frameworks such as Django, Express, Laravel, Ruby, etc.
Middleware
Middleware is a hidden translation layer that connects the backend and frontend sides of a web application.
Middleware is usually written in Java or C# Programming languages. It is very important for maintaining real-time actions. It includes application servers, web servers, content management systems, etc.
Choosing the right technology stack for web application development:
The following things must be kept in mind while choosing the right technology stack for customized web application development:
Personal Requirements
Using a technology stack depends upon the requirement of your project. Every project has unique attributes and some stacks are better for one purpose than others. Building a customized web application must be done by keeping track of the state of mind of the user so that they might have a user-friendly experience.
Scope of Project
The scope of your project is very important in evaluating the type of technology stack one will use. Small simple projects are quick to complete and do not demand some advanced technology. On the contrary big projects might use advanced stacks.
Time to Market
Depending upon the availability of time for launch, the use of the technology stack varies. For instance, if one needs to deliver a project as soon as possible, a minimally viable product will be a better option than advanced applications. Third-party integration for some functionalities can also save time and capital.
Scalability
The scalability of a project must be kept in mind while choosing the right technology stack. If one plans to scale his project in the future, the customized web application must have the capacity to scale sufficiently. It could either be horizontal scalability or vertical scalability.
Security
Security is another important factor to consider while choosing the right technology stack for web applications. Not all technology stacks are equally secure. One might require running safety tests for both front and backend stacks.
Cost Requirement
Some technology stacks are easy to work with and thus require less capital than the other more advanced technology stacks. Depending on the budget of the project, the tech stack might differ. Low-cost solutions might use simple technology stacks making them cost-friendly while advanced technologies can be expensive.
Technology and Team Expertise
To work on an advanced technology stack, the capacity requirement of the developers differs from some easy tech stacks. The expertise of the development team must be kept in mind while selecting the right technology stack for web application development. Choosing a big developer community might help select the right tech stack for your web application.
High Performance
High performance is the key goal in the development of the customized web application. A fast and efficient performing web application will boost the business. A tech stack must be chosen while keeping high desirability for performance in mind.
Analyze the Integration Capacity
The integration capacity of the technology stack must be kept in mind while selecting it. One must ask himself about what kind of tools and expansions might get into the business in the future and how each stack can integrate itself with those tools and technologies.
Bottom Line:
Every project has unique requirements and thus requires different technology stacks. There isn’t any right or wrong technology stack. The capacity of the project and the requirement of various stakeholders determine the technology stack best suited for one’s project. Feedback from all stakeholders and deep input from experienced developers will help choose the right technology stack for one’s web application development.