Your business or startup needs to exist digitally to remain competitive. Tech stacks are your IT department’s primary tools to lay the foundation and grow your digital systems. These tools can also measure the skills and competencies of your IT staff and prospects.
Choosing the right tech stack can significantly affect the development of the resulting software. Thus, it can drastically improve the efficiency of your company’s IT systems while giving your customers a smooth experience.
Read about the different, widely used tech stacks your IT team should know about below.
What is a Tech Stack?
A tech stack, also known as a software stack, is a set of technologies, tools, and frameworks used to build and run digital applications. It includes the software’s frontend and backend elements and other necessary components such as databases and libraries.
The technologies that make up a tech stack can vary widely, with some experts focusing on either frontend or backend applications. Full-stack developers can work on both frontend and backend software.
Tech Stack Components
As mentioned, a tech stack has two components. The frontend is the side of the software that clients or customers interface with, while the backend is what they don’t see but is necessary for the software’s operation.
Frontend Tech Stack
The frontend tech stack refers to everything on the client’s side of the service. It is mainly concerned with design, format, navigation, and how they create a good user experience. Frontend stacks have three main elements:
HTML (Hypertext Markup Language)
HTML is the standard markup language for creating web pages. Website creators use HTML to structure and format a webpage’s content and describe its layout and the appearance of the elements.
CSS (Cascading Style Sheets)
CSS is a stylesheet language that programmers use to describe the look and formatting of a document written in HTML. It controls font styles, sizes, colors, layout, and other design elements.
JavaScript
JavaScript is another programming language. Used by 98% of websites, it allows customers to interact with your website. For example, a link formatted in CSS is clickable thanks to JavaScript.
Backend Tech Stack
The backend tech stack refers to the tools that handle the building and running of the services that support the user-facing portion of the website or service, such as storing and managing data. Most backend tech stacks contain four major elements:
Database
A database is a system for storing and organizing data in a structured way so it can be accessed and queried quickly and efficiently. Examples include MySQL and MongoDB.
Web server
A server is a computer that runs software that listens for and responds to requests from other computers, such as web browsers. Some examples of web servers are Nginx, Apache, and Microsoft IIS.
Programming language
A programming language is a set of commands, symbols, and instructions a computer can execute to perform a task. PHP, Python, and JavaScript are a few examples.
Framework
This is a pre-built set of libraries written in one programming language that allows various applications. Examples include Laravel, Django, and Ruby on Rails.
Types of Tech Stacks
With the components of tech stacks in mind, here are the most used types of tech stacks and some companies that use them.
1. MEAN
MEAN stands for MongoDB, Express.js, Angular.js, and Node.js, the software and languages that make up this stack. All components of MEAN use only JavaScript, making it efficient. They are also free and open-source, so this type is viable for all websites and applications. UNIQLO uses MEAN for its website.
2. MERN
MERN is like MEAN but replaces Angular.js with React.js, which makes it easy to change and update the front end of the software. It’s useful for single-page applications. However, as React is not a framework like Angular.js, it has fewer functions. Dropbox uses a version of MERN.
3. MEVN
MEVN is a variant of MEAN that uses Vue.js instead of Angular.js, which offers excellent functionality and ease of use like React.js and a wide variety of tools like Angular.js. Among the MEAN variants, it provides the best of both worlds. Facebook uses a MEVN stack variation for its website.
4. LAMP
LAMP, or Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP, is one of the first open-source software stacks still widely used. LAMP is stable, simple, and powerful and is an excellent tool for developing new custom software. Amazon employs a LAMP stack with its Amazon Web Services.
5. Ruby on Rails
Ruby on Rails (RoR) uses its own programming language, Ruby, to provide a dynamic and simplified environment to develop your website or application. This feature makes RoR beneficial for any software product. Twitter uses RoR for its backend systems.
6. Flutter
Flutter uses the same interface for all platforms and Dart as its programming language, which easily interacts with all devices. These features allow companies employing Flutter to launch cross-platform applications using one codebase with ease and consistency. eBay uses Flutter for its mobile app.
Stack the Right Tools for Your Business
Tech stacks are vital for a business because they help determine the technology and tools used to build and run the company’s products and services. The right tech stack can improve efficiency, boost development, and enhance the user experience.
If you want to learn more about IT staff hiring and how to bring out the best in your IT team, contact us today! Manila Recruitment is a recruitment firm dedicated to pairing your business with the perfect candidates.
