5 Tips For Building A Scalable Technology Stack
Read this article to know how you can make sure that your application stack is easily scalable along with the needs of your customers. Know the methodologies to follow, the framework to use, languages best suited and tools to use for building a scalable technology stack.
In the modern day, businesses rely on technology more than ever before. Many companies are using multiple pieces of technology. For example, companies or individuals that create mobile or web apps will have a technology stack full of different frameworks, languages, and tools. However, things like companies and web apps are prone to grow over time as they get more successful or reach more users/customers.
Because of this, the tech stack a company uses needs to be scalable. It needs to be able to change or pivot based on a number of different things. Unfortunately, building a scalable technology stack doesn't always come easy. Without any further ado, this article is going to take a look at a couple of tips to build a high quality, yet scalable, technology stack.
Focus On and Know Your Needs
There are a ton of shiny new pieces of technology that are very exciting, and you may be convinced to use them because everyone else is. While tempting, it might not be smart to throw all of your employees and resources into this new project. First, you must consider your needs and whether this new technology meets them.
Take time to decide where your stack can be improved and where it is good enough. Not every new solution that releases needs to be a part of your stack. If it isn't necessary, it shouldn't be added. Once you know the goals you are trying to achieve, you will have a better understanding about which components have a space in your stack, and which you should steer clear of.
Now, this doesn't mean to only stick with what you've been using, but just to be careful not to be tempted by every new component that releases. Constantly adding or updating your tech stack can be expensive and time-consuming, so be sure to only do so when it makes sense.
Test Everything
Of course, when updating your tech stack to be more scalable, you need to be sure to test. If adding one component messes up all of the others, you want to be aware of that. While many systems out there today are designed to work seamlessly with others, this isn't always the case. Without testing, you are rolling the dice on whether the change actually helps your tech stack, or hurts it.
For example, some components may require the changing of code in order to work successfully, and if you don't test, you might not have been aware of this fact. This could lead to errors or issues. Testing early and often can save you a lot of time, money and stress down the road. You owe it to yourself and your customers to perform tests whenever you make changes to your technology stack.Ensure That Data Connections are Solid
A great and scalable technology stack is all about connectivity. In order for your platform or application to be successful, all of your components must connect seamlessly. Not only that, but the data you utilize and hold should be unified. The easier your components can unify and share information or data, the better and more streamlined your application will be.
Having components that don't fit well together can lead to inefficiencies and errors that many customers simply won't stand for. With so many options out there, many customers will look elsewhere at the first signs of issues or confusion. Also, ensure that all the components used are able to stay on the same page during growth and expansion as well. If many can scale quickly, but one cannot, your entire stack will suffer as a result. Be Sure To Have a Way To Check Issues
While technology is great and helps nearly every person on the planet in some way, it isn't immune to issues. This is especially true when adding or changing something within your tech stack. You not only want to check for potential issues but also to ensure the component is working as expected. Unforeseen bugs and errors can create a lot of extra work for you, and can even lead to loss of customers.
One of the best ways to check issues without a ton of input on your end is to do it automatically. Using automatic log management and other tools will be able to alert you when any potential issues arise. Look online how to monitor IIS performance, as the internet is full of great resources and tools to help ensure your issues get dealt with. Educate Employees and Colleagues Successfully
While the technologies you use can help your company, it is truly your employees that make or break the company. As a result, you need to make sure your employees or coworkers are knowledgeable about the technology stack being used. Every time something new is used or added to your stack, you need to ensure employees are educated about it.
They need to know how it works, the benefits it provides, how it can improve scalability and more. You want your employees to be a part of these changes and be willing to learn about them. Without educated and passionate employees, it will be difficult to successfully and quickly implement changes to your tech stack.
In conclusion, we hope that this blog post has been able to help you learn to build a scalable technology stack.
