According to the dictionary, the word “stack” is defined as “a pile of things arranged one on top of another”, or “to arrange things in an ordered pile”. Based on that, we can define a developer stack as a set of different technologies and software stacked together to create another technology or app. The most in-demand tech stack changes according to the needs.
A tech stack is core to building web applications. When talking about this, developers refer to the technology and services they need to develop a specific app and make it work properly. This term is often used in software development, as well as for marketing services and sales services. Then, the various folks from the IT development world refer to all of this as a “stack” because it is so much easier to refer to the most in-demand tech stack, rather than mentioning it all one by one to people who may not be experts in the field.
There are many tech stacks available, but not all of them work in the same way, nor are they created equally. Choosing the right one from the most in-demand tech stack can be a challenge, and something essential for the efficiency of whatever is being created within a company.
A development stack itself is made up of elements that make up the back-end stack, and those of the front-end. Let’s explore this.
Front-end developers’ stacks
Front-end development is about designing and putting together everything that the user will interact with. The main goal is to make everything work together as smoothly as possible, so the user experience will be the absolute best it can be.
A front-end stack has three main elements:
HTML
HyperText Markup Language is a programming language used to create and display web pages.
CSS
CSS or Cascading Style Sheets is responsible for the formatting, styling, and layout of web pages.
This includes, for example, the typography used, as well as the colors on the different pages within a website.
JavaScript
It’s a crucial element for making interactive web pages.
Back-end developers’ stacks
Just as the front-end is responsible for delivering the best user experience when interacting with a web or an app, the back-end development refers to everything that remains on the server side.
In other words, how an app or web works from the inside. Not what users get to see, but what the server requires to make everything run smoothly and seamlessly.
The back-end tech stack consists of:
Framework
A developer requires the right framework to support everything that needs to be programmed.
Examples of this are Laravel and Ruby.
Servers
These powerful devices’ main objective is to store all the elements of a web page and show them to the users through the HTTP protocol.
Among the most widely used web servers are Apache and Microsoft’s Internet Information Server (IIS).
Databases
Databases are a crucial element in web development. They are responsible for organizing information in a simple way so that it can be consulted whenever needed.
Most apps require a SQL, NoSQL, or MongoDB database, for example.
Programming language
This set of digital commands is used to create apps. Languages can be high-level or low-level.
Among the most commonly used are JavaScript, Python, Ruby, and PHP.
Tech stacks trends for 2022 and the most in-demand
Choosing the right tech stack will ensure the competitiveness of the created application. It’s important to select one that is scalable and sustainable over time.
It’s always important to keep up to date with the latest trends because they are constantly changing. These are the 2022 trends for tech stacks:
LAMP
The LAMP stack has been in use for more than ten years but remains a trend because of its many benefits.
It’s open-source, straightforward, and reliable when it comes to developing an app. In addition, it works perfectly with dynamic pages, and it is flexible. Plus, it offers excellent performance.
LAMP stands for:
- Linux.
- Apache.
- MySQL.
- PHP (can be replaced by Python).
MEAN
MEAN is another well-known technology stack among developers. It features a single programming language and uses JSON for data transmission.
All the technologies involved in MEAN are open-source and free. This stack provides an ideal development for interactive, scalable apps and websites.
MEAN’s composition is:
- MongoDB (database).
- Express.js (framework).
- AngularJS.
- Node.js.
MERN
MERN is very similar to MEAN. The only difference is that MERN uses React instead of Angular.js.
That gives it the ability to run code both in the browser and on the server simultaneously. In addition, it works both for front-end and back-end development (i.e., full-stack development).
So, the composition of MERN is as follows:
- MongoDB.
- Express.js.
- React.
- Node.js.
Serverless stack
Seems odd, doesn’t it? Well, the fact is that the cloud infrastructure keeps booming. This is the best time to implement a serverless go.
Among the many benefits of using cloud services is how easy it is to scale an app. Some of the most popular cloud service providers include Google cloud and AWS Lambda.
To learn more about IT stack trends, or to get in touch with the most skilled professionals, feel free to contact us or follow us at our LinkedIn profile, or at WillDom.com.
