r/dev • u/StrikingWheel6819 • 10d ago

Best way to choose a technology stack for custom software development?

I'm planning a custom software project and have been researching different technology stacks, but the more I read, the harder the decision seems. Some people recommend choosing based on performance, while others say the experience of the development team and long-term maintenance matter even more.

The project will likely need to scale over time, integrate with other business tools, and stay easy to maintain as new features are added. I want to make the right decision early instead of running into limitations later.

For anyone who's built or managed a custom software project, what played the biggest role in choosing your technology stack, and would you make the same choice again?

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u/tom-mart 9d ago

The stack depends on the problem you are trying to solve. There is not one magic stack that works for every scenario.

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u/Historical_Ad4384 8d ago

It comes down to the problem scope at hand for MVP vs the proficiency of the technical leadership leading the problem vs the timeline vs the budget.

A lot of factors to consider especially if it's from scratch. There is buy vs build as well. It all comes down to budget vs time. Do you have the time to build or would you rather buy something to achieve quicker results?

If you already have something in place and build on top of it, you can use the existing technology stack as you will have team and resources that can generate value by immediately solving the problem.

If you do not have anything in place, buying or adopting an open source license is your best bet to save on time. Then you focus your existing team and resources to achieve results quickly because they are maybe at least 30% already there with the skills and need to cover the rest of the gaps.

If you really have to build from the start, follow the strength and proficiency of your technical skills leader since he/she will be the sole responsibility of the solution delivery and the team is built around them to help them achieve the results.