2. DESIGN
Design is the phase in the software development lifecycle where the blueprint of the software is laid out. It involves making key decisions about the software's structure, user interface, data management, technology stack, and security considerations. Let’s explore the essential components.
Note: The following sections are interchangeable and can be approached either bottom-up or top-down based on your preferences.
"Periodic reminder that the tech stack you use to ship a product only matters to other devs. End-users only care that it's fast enough and does enough to let them get work done."
- Brian P. Hogan
The tech stack selection involves programming languages, frameworks, and tools that align with your project's requirements and the expertise of your development team. The choice of programming language and framework can significantly impact your project over the long term. Often, this choice is influenced by the preferences of the founder or initial CTO, and it may involve languages and frameworks that extend beyond their original scope. It's important to remember that while businesses prioritize solutions and client satisfaction, they are less concerned with the specific technologies used. Switching languages or frameworks later on can be costly, requiring retraining, rewriting code, and adjusting deployment processes.
What is a programming language?
A programming language is a formal system of communication used to write software. It consists of a set of syntax rules and commands that allow developers to create programs by defining data structures, algorithms, and logic that the computer can execute. Programming languages enable humans to instruct computers on performing specific tasks and solving problems by converting human ideas into machine-readable code.What is a framework?
A framework is a pre-built collection of tools, libraries, and best practices that provides a foundation for developing software applications. It simplifies the development process by offering a structured way to build and organize code, enforce consistent practices, and handle common tasks. Frameworks often include reusable components and guidelines that help developers efficiently create applications without having to start from scratch. They are designed to streamline development, reduce errors, and improve productivity by providing a solid, standardized structure.selecting your languages & frameworks
When selecting a programming language, consider several factors:
- Founder’s or CTO’s strengths. Opt for languages and technologies that align with the expertise and strengths of the founder or CTO to leverage their existing knowledge and avoid a steep learning curve.
- Maturity. Avoid languages that are less than two years old.
- Community. Evaluate the activity level of the language's community and available support resources.
- Education. Preference is often given to languages taught in universities.
- Job Market. Assess the availability of developers skilled in the language (research on LinkedIn).
Frameworks, which are built on top of languages to simplify repetitive tasks, can be more restrictive and may become obsolete if they fall out of favor. Ensure that you validate code legality and originality using tools that detect plagiarism or unauthorized use. For outdated languages or frameworks, consider transitioning to microservices for incremental updates, as replacing them entirely requires significant effort and resources.
selecting your cloud provider
Selecting the right cloud provider is a significant part of your tech stack choices. Consider factors like scalability, reliability, and cost when choosing a provider such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud.
Each provider offers various services that can help manage your environments effectively, from development through to production.
All three have startup programs and credits for you to get started:
popular languages, frameworks and tools
Here are a few examples of popular programming languages, frameworks and tools commonly used in software development, including those often employed in microservices architecture:| Languages | Popular Frameworks | Use Case |
| Java | Spring Boot, Micronaut | Enterprise-level applications, microservices, backend services. |
| Python | Django, Flask, FastAPI | Web development, APIs, data analysis, machine learning. |
| JavaScript/TypeScript | Node.js, Express.js, NestJS | Web applications, APIs, full-stack development, serverless functions. |
| Go (Golang) | Gin, Echo, Revel | High-performance services, microservices, cloud-native applications. |
| C# | ASP.NET Core, NancyFX | Web applications, enterprise solutions, Windows services. |
| Ruby | Ruby on Rails, Sinatra | Web applications, rapid prototyping, APIs. |
| Kotlin | Ktor, Spring Boot | Android development, backend services, microservices. |
| Languages | Popular Frameworks | Use Case |
| HTML (HyperText Markup Language) | None (HTML is a markup language and does not have frameworks per se, but often used with CSS frameworks like Bootstrap or Tailwind CSS for styling.) | Structuring and organizing content on web pages. |
| CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) | Bootstrap, Tailwind CSS, Foundation | Styling and designing the visual presentation of web pages, including layout, colors, and fonts. |
| JavaScript | React, Angular, Vue.js | Creating interactive and dynamic web applications, handling client-side scripting, and building single-page applications (SPAs). |
| TypeScript | Angular, React (often used with TypeScript), NestJS (though primarily for backend) | Building robust, scalable web applications with static type checking for JavaScript. |
| FRAMEWORK | USE CASE |
| Flutter | Cross-platform mobile apps, web apps, desktop apps. |
| React Native | Cross-platform mobile apps using JavaScript. |
| Swift (iOS) | Native iOS applications. |
| Kotlin (Android) | Native Android applications. |
| Xamarin | Cross-platform mobile apps with C#. |
| CLOUD | USE CASE |
| AWS (Amazon Web Services) | Vast range of services that support startups in rapidly scaling their applications. |
| Azure (Microsoft Azure) | Azure provides seamless integration with existing Microsoft products like Office 365 and Dynamics 365, making it ideal for enterprises. |
| Google Cloud Platform (GCP) | GCP excels in data analytics and machine learning capabilities, making it a go-to for businesses looking to harness big data. |
| TOOL | USE CASE |
| Docker | Containerization, microservices deployment. |
| Kubernetes | Container orchestration, managing containerized applications. |
| Terraform | Infrastructure as code, cloud provisioning. |
| AWS Lambda | Serverless computing, event-driven functions. |
| TECHNOLOGY | USE CASE |
| MySQL / PostgreSQL | Relational databases, structured data storage. |
| MongoDB | NoSQL databases, document-oriented storage. |
| Redis | In-memory data store, caching, real-time analytics. |
| Elasticsearch | Search engines, full-text search, log and event data analysis. |
setting up your development environment
For development, you need to set up your local machine or development server with all the tools and software required to build and test your application. Install all libraries, frameworks, and dependencies needed for the tech stack you've chosen. This includes front-end frameworks like React or Vue, back-end frameworks like Django or Express, and any necessary database management systems. The goal is to create an environment that lets you work on your software in a way that's similar to how it will run in the real world.
Ensure that all necessary software, IDEs (Integrated Development Environments), and tools like Visual Studio Code are installed on every developer’s machine.
You will also need to set up your cloud provider. After signing up, familiarize yourself with their management console, where you can configure key services like virtual machines, storage, and databases. You'll also need to set up networking, including virtual private clouds (VPCs) and security groups to manage access. It’s important to define roles and permissions for your team through Identity and Access Management (IAM) to ensure secure and controlled access.
Learn more about the Environment Setup in the Deployment section ↗.
In Summary:
- Evaluate potential programming languages, frameworks, and tools. Research and compare various technologies based on performance, scalability, and community support.
- Match tech stack options to project requirements and team expertise. Align the chosen technologies with your project’s goals and the skills of your development team.
- Conduct a proof-of-concept with selected tech stack components. Test the key components of your chosen tech stack in a small-scale implementation to validate their suitability.
- Finalize tech stack selection and document the decision. Confirm your tech stack choice and document the rationale for future reference and team alignment.