Navigating the Constant Tug of War in Technology Choices: A Developer’s Reflection
As web developers, many of us find ourselves caught in an ongoing quest to identify the optimal technology stack. The pursuit often involves trial, error, and a constant search for efficiency and stability. Recently, I’ve been grappling with my own dependency on specific frameworks and services, and I wanted to share some insights into this ongoing journey.
The Comfort Zone: Angular, Java, and Amazon Cognito
For quite some time, my primary stack has consisted of Angular for frontend development, Java with Spring Boot for backend services, and Amazon Cognito for authentication. This setup, while somewhat boilerplate-heavy, provided a familiar environment where I could make steady progress. Despite its predictability, I often feel that development with these tools can be sluggish, as establishing even basic functionalities sometimes takes longer than desired.
Experimenting Beyond the Norm: SolidJS and Django
Seeking fresh perspectives, I recently experimented with SolidJS, a modern frontend framework, paired with Django and SuperTokens for authentication. At first, I was excited by how rapidly I could create components and iterate, appreciating the flexibility and minimalism they offered. However, this newfound freedom also introduced concerns — I felt overwhelmed by the possibilities and worried about potential pitfalls, which dampened my enthusiasm.
A Return to Familiar Ground
Ultimately, I reverted to my prior stack: Angular, Java, and Amazon Cognito. The familiarity provides a sense of stability, and I can continue building my SaaS product without constantly reinventing the wheel. Yet, the challenge persists: watching others launch SaaS applications in less than a month can be discouraging. It feels as though my development process is dragging, compounded by frequent updates in frameworks and services that disrupt my workflow.
The Core Dilemma: Simple & Stable or Flexible & Risky?
My ideal setup would involve simple, manageable authentication flows that don’t require constant tinkering. Perhaps sticking with a stable version of Angular or a different approach altogether might be the answer. Interestingly, I still enjoy working with Java, which adds to the complexity of my decision-making process.
Final Thoughts
To fellow developers facing similar struggles: it’s important to recognize that technology choices are deeply personal and contextual. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Sometimes, returning to trusted tools offers clarity and progress, even if it feels less exciting. Patience and consistency often outweigh the allure of constantly chasing the latest trends
