Choosing a technology stack: a plain guide for business owners
Abdul Wahed Nur · · 1 min read
In short: Start from the work, not the tool. Each choice should come with a reason and a downside.
A technology stack is the set of tools a system is built with. Good choices are boring and well matched to the job.
Start from the work, not the tool
- What must never go wrong? Money, stock, permissions. These need a strict database and server-side checks.
- Who uses it and how often? Staff all day need fast, clear screens. Visitors need fast pages that search engines can read.
- What happens when you grow? A pile of workarounds is expensive later.
My usual choices and why
When I would choose differently
- Only a simple website: a ready-made platform.
- A team that only knows JavaScript: a Node backend may suit them better.
- A tiny internal tool: a spreadsheet plus a small script may be enough.
What a good developer will do
Explain the choice in your language, name the downsides, and tell you when a cheaper option fits. If you only hear praise for a tool, ask about its weaknesses.