If you wonder how to choose a tech stack among most popular tech stacks of 2022, then this article is for you. They key to creation of a performing application is to find a set of technologies that will provide the best return on investment in line with functional requirements. The perfect stack in 2022 doesn’t exist. It’s about your vision, and needs.
That’s why Code & Pepper created a short but very powerful technology stack to serve our clients. As we pointed out in the linked article, it’s deceptively short and very effective. It covers all the needs while leaving a room for flexibility.
When do you wonder about how to choose your tech stack?
One solution doesn’t fit all. Every business is unique, therefore it’s best to find the most versatile technology stack there is. There are, however, some common denominators. Situations, when you are in the market for tech solutions. They are:
- building a minimum viable product (MVP) efficiently and with further development in mind
- creating an app with the possibility of fast scaling
- the need for easy implementation of additional features
- easy migration from a project with legacy tech
- the need for easy integration with third-party software and technologies
Which of these factors are the most important ones? All of them but the last one definitely stands out. As we have pointed out time and time again on this blog, modern software development is now opened to cooperation with other than native solutions. It’s especially visible in the FinTech world, when API development and integration plays an increasingly important role. Financial products are rebranding themselves to be an all-rounded solution. FinTechs are actively reaching out to other companies outside of the industry to provide additional value for their customers. API development and seamless integration with external applications is an important reason to pick, especially in 2022, a tech stack that allows development without a headache.
The ingredients of a good tech stack
This is pretty straight forward. To choose a tech stack, you need to make sure is has these parts covered:
- tools for frontend development
- tools for backend development
- a set of programming languages
- frameworks
- a database
- an API for connecting to other applications
- an ability to link an application with a cloud
Today, when a majority of applications offer at least some form of boosting its functionalities with a cloud, additional options and security is a must. That’s why security in AWS and even more broadly, the cloud itself, has been a hot topic in the FinTech world. Companies just want to make sure they pick the best solution out there.
If you wonder how to choose the right tech stack, then the answer about cherry-picking the right cloud solution provider is as good as any.
What to consider when choosing the best tech stack of 2022?
You need to keep in mind that even the best technology out there can lose its value over time. Without the necessary support, even most popular tech stacks will not be able to serve the product’s needs. So, what is the best solution? Check if the technology stack of your choice is a part of a healthy ecosystem.
Does the technology gain traction on the market? Is it popular among companies that own applications? The more popular is the list of your technologies, the more experience the market has with them. Meaning, that the list of known bugs is there, the easier it is to find specialists that can support you, and it takes less time to integrate your app with another solution. The question of market majority is one of the most important.
Is the technology popular among developers and has their support? Strong development community around tech is a big determinant towards choosing. Developers support each other and share solutions to a known bugs. They also create additional, very often open-source tools around programming languages and frameworks. This contributes to market majority but also proves the necessity of choosing right. The more developers support the tech, the easier it gets to find them, all around the world.
Does the market offer additional tools for the tech (frameworks, libraries, etc.)? Developers are not the only ones responsible for the technology’s majority and progress. Heavy lifting lies on developer’s shoulders. That’s why you need to find technologies that are constantly supported and enhanced by their authors. A good example is Amazon Web Services (AWS), where the number of additional tools for literary everything (including specific needs for FinTech) is impressive.
Does the tech allow fast and scalable development? Development of the app is one thing, making it scalable is another. With the growing number of users, applications are struggling to keep up with demand. Tech stack is always required to have a safe buffer for the future. You can’t change a core technology in the middle of the game, when application is few years on the market and growth processes are at least few months down the road. Marketing is working, people are appreciating the product and the demand is there. Can your stack handle the traffic? Can you add additional features without bottlenecks?
Is it easy to port your product using this tech? Scalability means also one other thing: an easy way to translate the app to other devices and operating systems. Some clients want to make only a web application, for example. Few months into development they are convinced that a multiplatform is even better and they want to create an iOS and Android app as well. Leaving aside difficulties related to management and resource allocation, this approach is fairly common. It means you need the stack (and management skills provided by the vendor) handle this task.
Does the tech give you performance and security? Again, AWS is a good example. With cloud, business processes, automation and traffic handling can be optimized. Performance and security are guaranteed by the giant’s experience and resources dedicated to ever-increasing number of functionalities. As the part of the popular tech stack of 2022, AWS is a major player in delivering market results. In spades, since its’s the most popular cloud solution in the world, with over 30% market share.
Full-stack developers versus demands of tech stack
Back in a day, skilled developers could do a lot. They could engage in building both the frontend and backend solutions. Participating in both sides of the fence also gave them a unique perspective on the product. Today it’s rarely possible.
With growing project complexity, amount of effort required to keep up with market trends, new technologies, update to older technologies, and building applications on top of all that, it’s hard to be an all-rounded software developer. Yes, there are skilled specialists out there, both full-stacks and senior developers. Yet, the unasked question remains. Do I hire only full-stack developers for the creation of my app?
No. What you really need is a versatile team that understands challenges and can deliver quality increments. Full-stack developers are only a part of the equation. You also need senior developers, tech leads, designers, and product managers. They will be responsible for not only working within the tech stack but also to work it to its limits.
Summary
How to choose the right tech stack? Look at your product and business needs. Decide if you want a future-proof solution or something that is good enough. The second approach will get you there but it will require additional budget and resources to adjust for future’s market situation. It’s far better to foresee the future and build a tech stack that gives you a room to breathe. A popular form of getting it done is end-to-end development.
