Popular Tech Stack Options for Startups
Choosing the right tech stack is crucial for any business venturing into the digital world.
There are many different options to choose from, each with its benefits and drawbacks. Choosing the right tech stack depends on project needs, scalability, team expertise, and budget. Consider factors like performance, security, community support, and future maintenance.
In this section, we'll discuss a few popular tech stacks for your startup.
MEAN Stack
The MEAN stack simplifies the coding of web applications for both front-end and back-end developers. There is uniformity in language.
The technologies used in the MEAN stack are Node.js for server-side apps, AngularJS for front-end development, Express.js for back-end development, and MongoDB for databases.
Advantages of MEAN
- The MEAN stack uses open-source technology.
- Thus, it is a cost-effective tech stack option for entrepreneurs, and developers can have free access. It is excellent for real-time applications and has a web app presentation layer that enables live updates and demos.
- It works with every major operating system.
Disadvantages of MEAN
- There is a severe learning curve for AngularJS.
- The MEAN stack has high maintenance expenses because each component needs to be updated often.
- It is not ideal for large-scale applications with intricate workflows because of the increased risk of data loss.
- Additionally, it is not suitable for a back-end with a lot of computation.
MERN Stack
A modified version of the MEAN stack, the MERN stack uses React instead of Angular JS.
With React's strong toolkit, programmers can develop code that works simultaneously on servers and browsers.
Advantages of MERN
They have the same advantages because of similar variations of the MEAN stack. However, the learning curve is less steep, and React offers more flexibility.
Disadvantages of MERN
The dynamic type in React may cause runtime issues that could reduce performance.
LAMP Stack
It is among the first stacks to gain significant interest using only open-source software components.
LAMP's primary components are the Apache HTTP Server, MySQL, Linux, and the PHP programming language. It can be used with Python or Perl and is the most common stack model worldwide.
Advantages of LAMP Stack
LAMP is a good fit for online forums, interactive maps, social networking sites, and web directories. The stack's real-time data processing capabilities for complicated data structures are advantageous to these applications.
LAMP technologies are dependable and stable since numerous problems have been identified and resolved.
The elements of the LAMP stack are easy to configure and maintain. Beginners and seasoned developers will find it easier to maintain solutions and faster development cycles.
Variations of LAMP:
- LAPP (Linux/Apache/PostgreSQL/PHP)
- XAMPP (Linux, Mac OS X, Windows/Apache/MySQL/PHP, Perl)
- WAMP (Windows/Apache/MySQL/PHP)
- MAMP (Mac OS X/Apache/MySQL/PHP)
Disadvantages of LAMP stack:
Although LAMP components are cross-platform, the stack is often connected to Linux. Projects striving for native compatibility across various operating systems may view this as a constraint.
Compared to non-relational databases, MySQL is less effective at managing unstructured data. Under extreme workloads, the Apache HTTP server may encounter performance problems that cause delayed response times.
The development process is intricate. It might get complicated and disrupted when coding is done on the client side using JavaScript and on the server side in Python and PHP.
Serverless Architecture
Being serverless does not exclude the need for servers. Rather, it abstracts away server management, freeing developers to write code exclusively for specialized purposes.
The term "serverless" in serverless architecture refers to the individual or business creating the application without any worry about those servers. Cloud service companies like AWS, Microsoft Azure, etc. are in charge of these servers.
Benefits of Serverless Architecture
Serverless architecture is a great choice in certain situations because it is simple and affordable. A server does not have to be operational all the time.
Rather, you only use resources while your functions are in use. This lowers the money you spend on server hardware and software management and saves you time. Similarly, you only pay for the functions that use serverless architecture (pay-as-you-go model).
Scalability is one of the main advantages of serverless architecture. Serverless functions automatically scale up when there are more requests and scale down when requests drop, ensuring efficient resource use and maintaining performance without manual intervention.
The cloud provider handles the operational issues of running servers (patching, securing, or updating the underlying hardware and software).
This adaptability is the key to a competitive business's ability to respond quickly to changes in the market or client feedback.
Draw Backs
A function that has been inactive for a long will take longer to start up and may respond more slowly. For applications where prompt response is essential, this can be a major problem.
Serverless applications can be even more challenging to debug and monitor because they're not running continuously.
You often need specialized monitoring tools that understand the serverless framework.
Serverless functions are frequently linked to the services and infrastructure of the specific cloud provider.
So, switching your application to a different provider is only possible by requiring you to change or modify significant portions of your code.
With serverless, your application is spread across many different functions, making it harder to ensure consistent security practices.
Python-based Stacks (Django, Flask):
The Python stack is a collection of technologies built around the Python programming language for back-end development.
Python is renowned for its ease of reading and adaptability, with its extensive libraries, like Django and Flask, to expedite development.
Python might not be as efficient as other lower-level languages for CPU-intensive activities, but its asynchronous programming capabilities have improved with frameworks like asyncio.
Django Framework provides a high-level, full-stack development framework emphasizing rapid development and clean, pragmatic design.
Flask Microframework is lightweight and modular, offering developers flexibility while providing essential components for building web applications.
Flask offers versatility for smaller applications, while Django is better suited for larger projects with integrated features. Python's versatility allows developers to utilize it for various tasks, such as web development, machine learning, automation, and data analysis.
Python has an extensive and active community to support with various resources and third-party packages.
Disadvantages
Since it is an interpreted language, it can work slower than few other compiled languages.
It is not always the right choice for mobile development.
If handling concurrent tasks is crucial, ensure the team is familiar with Python's asynchronous programming capabilities.
Tech Stacks Used by Popular Companies
Depending on their unique requirements and the goods or services they provide, established companies frequently use a range of tech stacks. Technology stacks that changed over time have aided in the expansion and success of tech companies.
Netflix
- Backend: Java, Scala, Node.js
- Front-end: React, JavaScript
- Data Storage: Apache Cassandra, PostgreSQL, and other databases
- Infrastructure: Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- DevOps: Spinnaker, Ribbon, Eureka
- Backend :Hack (a variant of PHP), Python, C++
- Front-end: React, JavaScript
- Data Storage: MySQL, RocksDB, Cassandra
- Infrastructure: Facebook Open Compute Project (OCP)
- DevOps: HHVM, GraphQL
Amazon
- Backend :Java, Python, Ruby
- Front-end: React, JavaScript
- Data Storage: Amazon DynamoDB, Aurora, Redshift
- Infrastructure: Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- DevOps: AWS Elastic Beanstalk, AWS Lambda
- Backend: Scala, Ruby on Rails, Java
- Front-end: React, JavaScript
- Data Storage: Twitter Manhattan (in-house database), Redis
- Infrastructure: Mesos, Kubernetes
- DevOps: Apache Aurora, Finagle
Uber
- Backend: Python, Go, Node.js
- Front-end: React Native, JavaScript
- Data Storage: PostgreSQL, MySQL, Redis
- Infrastructure: Uber Cloud (based on AWS)
- DevOps: Kubernetes, M3, H3
Airbnb
- Backend Ruby on Rails, Java, Ruby
- Front-end: React, JavaScript
- Data Storage: MySQL, DynamoDB, Elasticsearch
- Infrastructure: Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- DevOps: Airflow, Superset
- Backend: Java, Node.js, Kafka
- Front-end: Angular, JavaScript
- Data Storage: Apache Kafka, Voldemort, LinkedIn's own NoSQL solutions
- Infrastructure: LinkedIn's data centers
- Backend Python, Java, C++
- Front-end: Angular, Polymer, JavaScript
- Data Storage: Bigtable, Spanner, BigQuery
- Infrastructure: Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
- DevOps: Borg, Kubernetes, Docker
- Backend Python, Java, C++
- Front-end: React, JavaScript
- Data Storage: MySQL, Redis, HBase
- Infrastructure: Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- DevOps: Kubernetes, Puppet
Wrap Up
Startups need to be flexible enough to swiftly change direction in response to market feedback. A widely used stack can slow the speed at which modifications or alternative technologies can be tested.
One startup may not benefit from the same stack that works well for another. Therefore, the best tech stack is the one that fits with the startup's vision, team competence, and long-term goals.
