Date of publication:
25 Mar. 25Selecting a Technology Stack for Website Development: What Entrepreneurs Need to Consider
Imagine you are building a house. You can choose the cheapest materials and hire student interns who promise to do everything quickly. But will such a building withstand the first storm? And what if you want to add another floor? The same applies to the choice of technology stack for your website.
Choosing the technology for development is a decision that affects everything: from the loading speed of the site to its security, scalability options, and even the cost of maintenance. And if you make the wrong choice at the outset, it can cost you dearly later on.
For example, the well-known company Airbnb once used a monolithic stack, which worked great in the early years but eventually began to limit the service’s capabilities. The solution? They switched to a microservices architecture, spending millions that could have been avoided with the right planning.
So, how do you choose the right stack so you don’t regret your decision in a year or two? Is it worth chasing trendy technologies, or is it better to choose something proven? In this article, we’ll figure out what’s important for entrepreneurs to consider before investing in website creation.
Why Choosing a Tech Stack Is Critically Important
Imagine you are opening a restaurant. You rent a cozy space, create a stylish interior, hire a chef, launch advertising… But here’s the catch: your kitchen is so small that the staff cannot work simultaneously, and the oven is designed for only two pizzas. During peak hours, customers wait for their orders for an hour and a half, leave negative reviews, and the business starts to crumble.
Websites operate on the same principle. If you choose a tech stack that doesn’t meet your needs, problems are inevitable. The site may freeze, fail to handle the load, or have limited functionality. And worst of all, changing something at later stages will be difficult, lengthy, and expensive.
When the Wrong Choice Costs Millions
There are companies that have already stepped on these rakes:
- Twitter (now X). At the start, they used Ruby on Rails — a great framework for quick launch. But when users became too many, the site began to “crash” under the load. They had to gradually switch to more productive technologies, which cost the company millions of dollars and a lot of nerves.
- Airbnb. Initially, the entire platform was a monolith. This worked well until the startup grew into a global company. When they needed to quickly deploy new features and improve performance, they had to rebuild the entire architecture. Costs? Enormous.
- Amazon. They also started with a monolithic structure, but unlike many others, they realized in time that they needed microservices. This decision allowed Amazon to scale painlessly and become the giant we know today.
Conclusion: if you are currently choosing technologies for your site, think not only about today’s needs but also about what your business will look like in 2-3 years. Changing the foundation when the house is already built is costly and painful.
What is included in a website’s tech stack
Let’s take a moment and lay out all the details. To choose the right stack, you need to understand what it consists of. It’s like a Lego set: before building a castle, it’s worth knowing what pieces you have in the box.
Front-end — the client’s first impression
Front-end is literally the ‘face’ of the website. It is here that a person decides within seconds whether to stay or to leave forever. The main players here are React, Angular, and Vue:
- React is the same ‘favorite’ used by Netflix. Why did they choose it? It’s simple: React provides high loading speed and flexibility in development. As a result, Netflix can quickly add new features, and their users see less of the annoying loading ‘spinner’ on screen.
- Angular and Vue are also not lagging behind. Angular is perfect if you plan to create complex enterprise solutions (like Google Ads), while Vue is the golden mean, offering comfort and speed for startups and small businesses.
Back-end — the foundation of your site
If the frontend is the beautiful facade, then the backend is the foundation and all the communications inside the building. How strong it is determines how long the site will ‘survive’ and whether it will withstand the first influx of visitors.
The main languages here are Python, PHP, and Node.js. PHP is an old friend of Ukrainian business (almost all WordPress sites use PHP). It’s still a great fit for small websites, blogs, and landing pages. Node.js is the speed star. Python is about stability and scaling. It is used by Instagram because it needs to grow constantly and without ‘pain’.
CMS or development from scratch
If you have no special requests and time and budget are limited — CMS will be your magic wand. WordPress or Shopify allows you to launch a site in a few weeks with minimal cost.
But if you plan to build something more serious, it’s worth considering development from scratch. Rozetka is a prime example of how a custom solution allowed them to handle millions of loads on ‘Black Fridays’ without crashes or failures. As their experience shows, sometimes it’s better to build the house yourself than to live in a typical apartment.
So, choosing a tech stack should be based on business needs. Therefore, in the next section, we’ll discuss which criteria are important for you to consider.
Criteria for Choosing Technologies for Business
Choosing technologies for a website is like choosing a space for a business. If you need a small showroom, a ready-to-rent office will suffice. If you’re opening a restaurant, you’ll have to invest in equipment. And if you have an ambitious project for years ahead, it’s better to consider scaling from the start. The same goes for websites: you can choose a simple ready-made solution or invest in your own system.
You know how it is: an entrepreneur starts choosing technologies based on the principle of ‘I saw it with a neighbor and it seems to work.’ And this, friends, is the first step towards failure. So now we’ll figure out how to choose the right technologies specifically for your project, and not copy someone else’s ‘recipes for success.’
The first thing you need to honestly tell yourself: how much money am I ready to spend. Budget always determines the choice. It’s like in an electronics store: if you have $500, the choice is a mid-range smartphone. Want a new iPhone? You’ll have to pay significantly more.
The next important point is the type of project and scaling strategy. A showcase site is better launched on a simple and fast WordPress, while a complex marketplace already requires more powerful solutions.
And finally, consider the experience of the team. If your programmers haven’t worked with Node.js and you suddenly want to “chase the trend,” be prepared for a bunch of problems and unnecessary expenses. Believe me, we’ve seen such stories, and it was painful.
Let’s summarize with a short checklist. Before choosing technologies, always ask yourself:
- What budget do I have right now?
- How quickly and how extensively do I want to grow?
- Can my team handle this?
This small analysis will save you from many mistakes. Ready to find out what else is worth considering?
Choosing technologies is not just about “what’s trendy,” but about speed, scalability, and costs. At 6weeks, we know how to pick a solution that will work long-term:
- Fast WordPress sites for launch in a few weeks
- Flexible frontend solutions on React or Vue
- Robust backend on PHP for complex logic
Leave your request, and we’ll help you make the choice — without unnecessary technical jargon but with results.
Frontend: what your clients will see
Frontend is the interface, design, and ease of navigation. People do not tolerate slow websites, especially on mobile. If your site takes more than three seconds to load, half of the visitors will close the tab.
Popular options:
- Template solutions on WordPress, Shopify — suitable for simple websites, blogs, and small stores. They can be set up quickly, but customization is limited, and there are performance issues with high traffic.
- React, Vue, Angular — if the site needs to be fast, interactive, and handle large loads. React is well-suited for SaaS services, Vue for startups, and Angular for complex corporate solutions.
- Native HTML + CSS + JavaScript — suitable for sites that do not need complex functionality but require high speed and lightness.
If you need to quickly launch a landing page or blog, ready-made templates on WordPress or WebFlow are a good option. But if you are planning a complex service, it is better to invest in powerful technologies.
Backend: what works “under the hood”
Frontend is the facade of your business, and the backend is all the processes that ensure its operation. The correct architecture determines how quickly orders are processed, how secure payments are, and how easy it is to scale the service.
Main options:
- PHP (WordPress, OpenCart, Laravel) — works well for standard websites, blogs, and online stores. The downside is outdated approaches in some solutions.
- Node.js — suitable for fast services, chatbots, and interactive platforms. Used in highly loaded projects.
- Python (Django, Flask) — ideal for analytics, automation, big data. Used by companies like Instagram.
- No-code solutions (Bubble, Webflow, Wix) — suitable for startups and test projects. Do not require coding but are limited in customization capabilities.
If a business needs a simple website, PHP or even ready-made platforms will suffice. But if you plan to scale, it’s better to choose flexible technologies like Node.js or Python.
Database: where all your data is stored
A website without a database is like a store without a warehouse. You can operate, but you won’t get far. The choice depends on the type of business.
Let’s consider popular solutions:
- SQL (MySQL, PostgreSQL, MariaDB) — well-suited for standard projects: stores, CRM systems, websites with a clear data structure.
- NoSQL (MongoDB, Firebase, CouchDB) — ideal for social networks, mobile applications, services with a large amount of unstructured data.
If you are creating an online store, SQL is the best choice. But if you are dealing with complex data, as Facebook or Instagram do, it’s worth considering NoSQL.
Hosting and servers: what impacts speed and security
Even the best site with perfect code can run slowly if it’s hosted on a poor server. It’s like buying a cool sports car and driving it on rough roads — there’s potential, but little benefit. The choice of hosting affects speed, security, and how easily your site can handle loads.
Let’s consider the main options for hosting a site:
- Shared hosting — it’s like a dormitory: cheap, but resources have to be shared with neighbors. If a neighboring site starts “eating” all the server’s power, your resource may slow down. Suitable for blogs, portfolios, and small business sites.
- VPS (virtual server) — this is more like a separate apartment. You have more freedom and can customize the system to your needs. Ideal for growing businesses and online stores.
- Cloud services (AWS, Google Cloud, Azure) — this is a flexible option for large-scale projects. You pay only for the resources used and can quickly scale up if traffic spikes.
- No-code platforms (Wix, Webflow, Weblium, WordPress.com) — a quick solution for those who need a website without programming. However, such platforms have limited customization options and SEO challenges.
Website Security: What You Can’t Ignore
Imagine you’ve opened a shop but forgot to put locks on the doors. What would happen? That’s right — sooner or later, someone will come in and take everything that’s poorly secured. This is how website security works: if ignored, problems will eventually arise.
Key security aspects:
- SSL certificate — the basic foundation. If your site doesn’t have a “lock” in the address bar, browsers and users won’t trust you.
- Protection against DDoS attacks — if hackers decide to “take down” your site, they can do it within minutes without special protection measures. Good hosting or Cloudflare can help avoid issues.
- Regular backups — if something goes wrong (e.g., an update fails or the site gets hacked), you can quickly restore it without data loss.
- Updating CMS and plugins — in WordPress, most hacks occur due to outdated plugins. Regular updates are mandatory.
Common mistakes entrepreneurs make when choosing technologies
Do you know the main mistake entrepreneurs make when choosing technologies? Relying on the principle “everyone has it, so I’ll take it too”. It’s like buying a new iPhone just to call your mom and read the news. It seems trendy, but why overpay for features you’ll never use? Let’s examine the top 3 mistakes most entrepreneurs make.
Mistake #1: “I Want What My Neighbor Has!”
This is a classic scenario: you see a trendy technology at a competitor and immediately decide it will bring success. But it’s like your neighbor bought a Tesla, and you live in a village with a single charging station 50 kilometers away. Beautiful, trendy, but expensive and inconvenient. Such a move once doomed the social network Friendster. They chose a tech stack that was completely unsuitable for scaling. The service simply “crashed” under user load and never recovered.
Mistake #2: “Do It How You Like!”
Programmers are a unique breed. I know because I’ve been among them for a long time. They often choose technologies they like instead of those that are best suited for your business. I have a friend who launched a small craft beer shop on the very complex Angular, because that’s what the developers wanted. As a result, he spent an extra 5 thousand dollars, and the site ran like a tractor: slowly, noisily, and with constant breakdowns.
Mistake #3: “Let’s Save Now and Redo Later!”
This is my ‘favorite’ story. Some people think you can build a house on matches and then strengthen the foundation afterward. But, friends, a cheap foundation guarantees that the house will collapse even before the repairs. The same goes for technologies. My colleague launched an online course on the cheapest platform. Everything was great until the first hundred users came. The site crashed right in the middle of an Instagram ad launch, and all the money went down the drain along with the reputation.
Friends, don’t repeat these mistakes. Choose technologies not by trend but by your real needs. Believe me, it’s better to spend a little more time analyzing now than to deal with the consequences of rash decisions later. The 6 Weeks team is happy to help you sort out your technology stack choices.
How to check if you have chosen the right stack
Well, we’ve covered the theory, now it’s time to move on to practice! I will give you a simple checklist to easily understand whether your technology stack will work like a Swiss watch or ‘freeze’ even before it starts.
So, how to know the choice is correct:
- Website loading speed. Remember Amazon and its legendary ‘100 milliseconds = minus 1% sales’. If the site opens faster than you can brew coffee — you’re on the right track.
- Ease of maintenance and changes. Try adding new functionality. If the developer says it’s easier for him to rewrite the whole site from scratch — it’s a warning sign. A good stack is flexible, not like an old grandmother’s TV that you’re afraid to touch.
- Scalability. The site must withstand a surge of users. Check how quickly you can scale your resources if tomorrow suddenly three times as many clients visit. No matter how much you dream of success, when it comes suddenly, it is always stressful for the technical side.
- Security. If your site does not turn into an ‘open door’ for hackers, then you have done everything right. Always pay attention to technologies that are easy to update and protect against breaches.
To make it easier for you, here’s a simple verification algorithm:
- Measure the speed using Google PageSpeed Insights.
- Ask developers to make a test change in the code. If it takes more than a day, that’s a problem.
- Run load tests (even through a free service, for instance, Loader.io).
- Check if there have been recent updates to your technologies. They should be updated regularly, like your favorite series on Netflix.
What to Do Next
Well, you already know almost everything about choosing a technology stack, and your site is not at risk of turning into a pumpkin after the first load. But remember: even the best tool, without the right hands, is just a heap of metal.
As an expert and someone who has survived more than one technological ‘apocalypse’, I recommend you sit down with your team right now and go through the checklist from this article. Conduct a small audit of what’s already in place today. This can save you a lot of nerves, time, and, believe me, money.
And one more thing. The best success stories are always real experiences. Share in the comments which technologies you’ve chosen and why. Perhaps your story will save someone from an expensive mistake. So, ready, set, go! It’s time to check your stack and take a step towards a successful online business. Because if not now, then when?
If you’re ready to move from choosing to action, the 6Weeks team can help turn your ideas into an effective web product — from quick template websites on WordPress to complex custom development using PHP, React, or Vue. We’ll select a technology stack tailored to your goals, budget, and growth prospects. Submit an application now — and within a few days we’ll propose an optimal solution for your business!
