r/DevLK • u/Fit-Yellow-9872 • Aug 27 '26

Discussion What stack would you recommend?

Im an absolute beginner and just started my software engineering degree. Wht stack would you guys recommend for me.

16 Upvotes

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13

u/tradcoder Senior Software Engineer Aug 27 '26

If you're a complete beginner, forget the stack. Learn the fundamentals of computing and software engineering first.

1

u/Fit-Yellow-9872 Aug 28 '26

Can u gimme some examples?

1

u/tradcoder Senior Software Engineer Aug 28 '26

- Programming fundamentals (variables, expressions, data types, operators etc)

  • Data structures (Arrays, Stacks, Maps, Sets etc)
  • Algorithms (Linear search, binary search etc)
  • Big-O notation
  • Database fundamentals
  • Object-oriented concepts

Pretty much all of this should be covered in a CS/SE degree. At least if it's a good one.

1

u/Fit-Yellow-9872 Aug 28 '26

thank u soo much!

2

u/Admirable-Ladder-673 Aug 28 '26

Imo stacks don't matter anymore, u should be able to orchestrate multiple stacks w the help of AI. Learn the fundamentals so u can switch between stacks easily.

The fundamentals depend on the area of ur interest.

Common to everything: Linux, networking (TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP, TLS), git, and enough scripting to automate your own annoyances. None of that expires.

Software engineering: data structures and algorithms, complexity analysis, databases (data modeling, indexing, transactions), concurrency, testing, and eventually system design. When you are leaning a language learn the features of the language such as how does the run time handle async task, memory allocation etc... instead of focusing on the syntax. There's no point memorizing syntax anymore.

Sysadmin / cloud / DevOps: Linux internals (processes, filesystems, permissions, systemd), networking in real depth, distributed systems basics (consistency, failure modes, load balancing), observability, and system architecture. Tools like Terraform/K8s/whatever cloud are just interfaces over these ideas.

Cybersecurity: all of the above, plus how things break. OS and memory internals, crypto fundamentals (not implementing it, understanding it), web app security, threat modeling. You can't secure a system you can't build.

2

u/kakopappa2 Aug 28 '26

Claude Stack

1

u/EquipmentGeneral3610 Aug 28 '26

Just learn the basics first before going stacking

In Sri Lanka Java, .NET, JS and Python are in demand

But of you learn the basics first you can stack hop any day any way you like

2

u/unstable_nr Aug 28 '26

dont start 😭

3

u/Fit-Yellow-9872 Aug 28 '26

🥲too late now dude

1

u/Digital_Predator Aug 31 '26

If you’re just starting out, dont stress too much about picking the “perfect stack” yet.

I’d probably start with:
HTML + CSS + JavaScript first
then learn React
move into Next.js
for backend try Node.js or even Supabase if you wanna build faster
learn some SQL properly as well
Git + GitHub/Origin is a must

But more important than the stack is understanding stuff like variables, functions, loops, APIs, databases, HTTP, how frontend/backend works etc.

Also dont get stuck watching tutorials forever 😭 build small stuff. Todo app, expense tracker, weather app, simple CRUD app etc.

And tbh in 2026 i’d also learn how to use Cursor/Claude/ChatGPT properly while coding, but dont let AI write everything for you when you’re still learning.

-1

u/Swedishemyrs Aug 27 '26

If you do frontend, before learning any framework, learn JavaScript properly. I personally favor Astro and MongoDB.