One of the most consequential decisions in any software project is the tech stack — the combination of programming languages, frameworks, databases, and infrastructure you build on. Get it right and development is fast, scaling is smooth, and maintenance is manageable. Get it wrong and you\'re fighting the tools every step of the way.
The principles we use
- Boring is good — Use proven, well-supported technologies. Cutting-edge is great for experimentation, not for business-critical software.
- Full-stack JavaScript is usually the right choice — Next.js on the frontend, Node.js or similar on the backend, PostgreSQL for the database. This stack has a massive ecosystem, great developer tooling, and scales well.
- SQL databases for most things — PostgreSQL handles most use cases exceptionally well. Reach for NoSQL only when you have a specific reason.
- Cloud infrastructure from day one — Even if you\'re starting small, design for cloud deployment. VPS hosting on Vultr, Hetzner, or AWS is flexible and affordable.
Our standard stack
For most of the business software we build: Next.js (React) for frontend, PostgreSQL for database, Redis for caching and sessions, Docker for containerization, Cloudflare for CDN and security, Stripe for payments.
When to deviate
Python makes sense for data-heavy applications and AI/ML integration. PHP is a legitimate choice for content-heavy sites. Go or Rust for high-performance services. But for the vast majority of business software — the JavaScript stack wins on speed of development and available talent.
If you\'re planning a software project and want a second opinion on the stack, let\'s talk.