The Right Tech Stack for Developing Every Type of Software in 2025

C-level executives and decision-makers should know the various components of a tech stack and technologies for developing various software types. With this knowledge, you can pick the developers with expertise in relevant technologies for all your software needs. It also saves you from costly changes. 

What is a Tech Stack?

A tech stack is a package of technologies used to build and run application software. It includes everything from software tools to programming languages to frameworks. 

A typical software stack consists of two major components: the front end and the back end. Other layers include databases, APIs, and cloud services. Together, these layers provide everything needed to make software fully functional. 

Breaking Down the Key Components of a Tech Stack for Software Development

1. Frontend: The Client-Side Layer 

This layer is visible to users and acts like a window that helps them interact with the application. It’s responsible for the software's layout, design, and overall user experience (UX). 

Since it interacts directly with the end users, it is important to focus on the experience they will have. Today’s customers pick software or applications that are soothing to their eyes, appealing in design, simple in functionality, and accessible on every device. 

This is not just for users; having an interactive front is also good for businesses. It impacts revenue, customer retention, brand loyalty, conversions, market share, and ROI. 

Here are the common frontend technologies that serve the expectations of both the parties:

• HTML/CSS: These technologies are responsible for the structure and styling of software. They are known as the building blocks of software development.
• JavaScript adds interactivity to web pages. React.js, Angular, and Vue.js are popular frameworks that make web pages more dynamic and responsive.
• WebAssembly (WASM): Applications that demand high performance need WebAssembly to run compiled code directly in the browser, making it faster than traditional JavaScript.

2. Backend: The Server-Side Layer 

The backend layer runs the application; it is like a car engine. While users cannot see this layer, it is responsible for the logic, storing, processing, securing the data, and performing server-side computations. 

The backend is often called the heart of mobile and web development, and technologies that make this heart work are:

• Node.js: Highly suitable for real-time applications, Node.js is a JavaScript runtime for server-side scripting. 
• Python/Django: Python’s ease of use and Django’s support for low code make them a perfect combo for developing applications faster with clear designs.
• Ruby on Rails: Built on the Ruby language, this web application framework focuses on simplicity and convention over configuration. As a result, developers not only build applications faster but also deploy them quickly. 
• Java/Spring: Java is the most widely used programming language and a must-have for developing web applications. Along with Spring, Java’s enterprise edition helps in building scalable applications for enterprises. 

3. Database: The Third Layer

The frontend and backend layers are one of many requirements for software development. A database is mandatory because every application runs on data. You need a place to store and manage it-that’s what databases do. 

However, there are different types of databases for developing web apps, such as relational and non-relational. Each one stores data in different formats and is important for maintaining data integrity and security. 

Here’s a short brief on widely used databases: 

• Relational Databases (SQL): Structured data is stored and managed in tables and fetched using a structured query language. Examples are MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQLite. 
• Non-relational Databases (NoSQL): Unstructured data is stored and managed in different formats. They can expand based on the amount of data. Examples include MongoDB, Cassandra, and CouchDB. 

4. Cloud Infrastructure & Hosting

Traditional on-premise servers are no longer the must-have component of enterprise AI development. Scaling them is costly, plus they need additional security. Cloud platforms are a better alternative due to their ability to scale without significant investment and pay-as-you-go model. 

You can deploy, host, and manage your application from anywhere in the world without having a physical server. Their advanced security features are something that traditional servers lack. 

A few leaders in cloud computing are:

• Amazon Web Services (AWS): It offers a wide range of services, including computing power, database storage, and machine learning tools.
• Google Cloud Platform (GCP): Google Cloud is popular because of services like data analytics and machine learning.
• Microsoft Azure: This is good for businesses that use Microsoft products. It offers integrated solutions for cloud storage, computing, and networking.

5. APIs and Middleware

APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) are the medium through which different layers of an application communicate. Meanwhile, middleware is a bridge between the front end and the back end. It handles data requests and responses coming to and fro between these layers of software stacks. 

Choosing the right APIs and middleware is important for frictionless and quick communication between internal and external sources, such as payment gateways. 

Different Types of Tech Stacks 

Although you can develop applications with any technology or language of your choice, it would be difficult this way. Therefore, it is better to use a dedicated tech stack for particular applications. Below are different stacks for web development. 

1. MERN Stack For Full-Stack Web Applications

MERN is good for developing dynamic websites or web applications. JavaScript’s consistency is the reason behind it. Java can be used for both front and back layers, simplifying the development process and making code sharing between these layers easier. 

What comes under this stack? 

• MongoDB: This non-relational database brings flexibility and scalability to your web application as it stores data in JSON-like format. 
• Express.js: It simplifies server-side coding and helps develop APIs faster due to its lightweight nature.
• React: This frontend library saves time when building responsive UI components as you can reuse the components. 
• Node.js: Used in backend development, Node.js allows you to use the same language on the client and server sides. It is good for web apps with real-time chat and live support features. 

Businesses that want quick development should use the MERN stack. 

2. LAMP Stack for Legacy Systems and Content-Driven Websites

LAMP is the oldest and most reliable in our list of different types of stacks; LAMP makes content management systems (CMS), e-commerce platforms, and other web applications easier to build. These applications have complex data; managing them requires a strong tech stack. 

LAMP has it all, from an operating system to a database. 

• Linux OS
• Apache Server
• MySQL Database
• PHP Language

The best part about LAMP is that you can choose different OSs, databases, or languages. For example, you can replace PHP with Perl or Python or swap LINUX with Windows. Whatever fits your development needs will work for the LAMP stack. 

3. Python/Django Stack for Data-Driven and AI Applications

AI applications are in demand. Every business and industry wants AI features in their mobile and web apps to attract more customers and compete with competitors. However, developing artificial intelligence solutions requires strong languages and frameworks to deploy, train, and fine-tune models. 

These apps are data-heavy, and thus, Python is best suited for them. It has simple and extensive libraries for machine learning and data science. On the other hand, Django makes those apps secure and scalable. 

Other technologies for developing AI applications are:

• ML frameworks: TensorFlow, PyTorch, and Scikit-learn
• Data processing libraries: Pandas, OpenCV, and NumPy
• Cloud platforms: AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud
• Visualization libraries: Matplotlib and Seaborn

4. MEAN Stack for Enterprise Web Applications

MEAN will always be the favorite among developers. It is the same as MERN; the only difference is that Angular replaces React here. With this small replacement, you can develop applications that run complex operations or handle any data. 

Another reason why enterprises usually prefer MEAN development is its compatibility with cloud platforms. This saves money on development, data storage, and resources. 

• MongoDB: A NoSQL database.
• Express.js: A backend framework.
• Angular: A frontend framework for building dynamic single-page applications.
• Node.js: A server-side JavaScript environment. 

5. Ruby on Rails Stack for Rapid Web Development

Software development is a lengthy process. It can take months to years to release a perfect piece of software. Those who need a quick solution should pick ROR. Ruby on Rails has built-in features to support faster development. It also has a developer-friendly template engine to handle routing and quickly connect to the database. 

PostgreSQL is the perfect database to pair with the ROR stack. For building MVPs, SaaS 

applications, and platforms that require quick updates can be built on this stack.

Conclusion

Choosing from the different web development stacks can be challenging initially. However, it is beneficial in every aspect, from saving development costs to scaling apps in the future. Custom software development companies commonly use the software stacks mentioned above. 

But instead relying only on those technologies, stay flexible in your choices because the role of technologies is changing with the dynamic needs of software development and customers. You may need to mix and match the technologies. 

If this sounds like too much work, consult Softude. We are IT consulting and software development experts. From picking the best tools to developing reliable software, we can help you in every case. 

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