A tech stack is a set of technologies used to build and run applications. It can include various front-end/back-end programming languages, frameworks, APIs, and databases.
It’s known as a stack because the technologies are “stacked” on top of each other, from front-end to back-end.
The technologies included may vary depending on the product, scale, and costs.
Tech stack examples
There’s no such thing as the best tech stack. Each one has pros and cons, depending on the type of application.
Some popular tech stacks include:
MERN Stack. An end-to-end JavaScript stack, ideal for cloud hosting due to its flexibility and scalability. It consists of: React, Node.js, Express.js, MongoDB.
MEAN Stack. Similar to the MEAN Stack, but Angular replaces React.
LAMP Stack. A classic, well-known stack known for its flexibility, cost efficiency, and performance. Consists of: Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP.
It's important to note that one technology can always be switched out for another, depending on the product or team. For example, React or Angular can be replaced with Vue.js.
The Refined stack
At Refined, we use a serverless tech stack to build products:
- Next.js, TypeScript, TailwindCSS - front-end development
- Supabase - database and user authentication
- Cloudflare R2/Supabase - file storage
- Vercel - hosting solution
This tech stack is modern and secure, and it allows us to build products that are fast and reliable.