Choosing a tech stack for your startup is one of the most critical early decisions you’ll make. It affects how fast you can iterate, who you can hire, what kind of performance you can expect, and how maintainable your code will be over time.
As someone who builds production backends with Ruby on Rails, Go, and Node.js, and frontends with Astro and Next.js, I’ve helped startups and teams find the right tools for their needs. Here’s what I consider:
💡 Start With the Product
Before diving into languages or frameworks, consider:
- What kind of product are you building?
- Will you need real-time features?
- Are SEO and static rendering priorities?
- Is developer velocity or performance more important early on?
These answers will shape your stack.
🧱 My Go-To Backend Choices
- Ruby on Rails – Ideal for fast MVPs and products that need a lot of features quickly. Rails gives you batteries-included conventions that help small teams ship quickly.
- Go (Golang) – Great for performance-critical services, APIs, and microservices. I often use it for event processing or systems with high concurrency needs.
- Node.js – Versatile and easy to hire for. I use it when JavaScript needs to be shared between client and server, or for real-time applications.
🌐 Frontend Matters Too
- Astro – I use Astro when performance, SEO, and simplicity matter most. It’s great for marketing sites, content-heavy apps, or static-first designs.
- Next.js – Excellent choice for interactive applications, hybrid rendering, or integrating with authentication and databases.
🚀 Scaling Considerations
No matter the stack, I help clients plan for growth:
- Containerization (Docker) and CI/CD
- API-first development with REST or GraphQL
- Database optimization and migrations
- Secure auth and permission systems
🧠 Final Thought
Choose what helps you move now, but don’t forget to plan for later. If you’re stuck or unsure, I’m happy to offer a quick consult and help align your stack to your strategy.