Choosing the Right Tech Stack for Your Web Application
"What tech stack should we use?" is one of the first questions that comes up when planning a custom web application. The short answer: it depends on what you're building and how you'll maintain it long-term.
What Is a Tech Stack?
A tech stack is the combination of technologies used to build a web application:
- Frontend - What users see and interact with (React, Vue, Svelte)
- Backend - Server logic and databases (Node.js, Python, Supabase)
- Infrastructure - Where it's hosted and how it scales (Netlify, Vercel, AWS)
Different stacks excel at different things. The key is matching technology to your specific needs, not chasing trends.
The Stack I Use (And Why)
For most client projects, I build with:
Frontend: React or Astro
- React for interactive applications (dashboards, calculators, complex UIs)
- Astro for content-heavy sites that need speed (marketing sites, blogs)
Backend: Supabase
- PostgreSQL database with built-in authentication
- Real-time features when needed
- Built-in file storage
- Generous free tier, scales affordably
Hosting: Netlify or Vercel
- Simple deployment from Git
- Automatic SSL certificates
- Global CDN for fast loading
- Serverless functions when needed
This stack delivers fast, secure, maintainable applications without enterprise complexity or cost.
When to Choose Different Tools
You might want Next.js instead of React if:
- SEO is critical and you need server-side rendering
- You're building a large application with many pages
- You want built-in API routes
You might want a traditional backend (Node/Python) if:
- You need complex server-side processing
- You're integrating with legacy systems
- You have specific compliance requirements
You might want WordPress/headless CMS if:
- Non-technical staff need to update content frequently
- You're running a content-heavy publication
- You need extensive plugin ecosystems
What Actually Matters
The best tech stack is the one that:
- Solves your specific problem - Don't use React if a static site works fine
- You can maintain - Cutting-edge isn't better if no one can fix it when something breaks
- Performs well - Fast loading matters more than fancy features
- Fits your budget - Some stacks are expensive to host and maintain
- Scales with your business - Can it handle 10x traffic without a rewrite?
Red Flags to Avoid
Beware of developers who:
- Push the same stack for every project regardless of needs
- Use brand-new frameworks on production projects (let others debug it first)
- Choose technology based on their resume instead of your requirements
- Can't explain why they're recommending specific tools
The Real Question
The tech stack conversation shouldn't start with "What's popular?" It should start with:
- What does this application need to do?
- Who will maintain it?
- What's the expected traffic?
- What's the budget?
- What integrations are required?
Once you answer those questions, the right stack becomes obvious.
Need help choosing the right technology for your project? [Schedule a consultation] and we'll figure out what actually makes sense for your business.