Navigating Tech Stack Choices: Why Do I Keep Switching and What’s the Best Path Forward?
Many developers face the challenge of choosing and sticking with the right technology stack for their projects. If you’ve found yourself repeatedly switching gears, you’re not alone. Here’s a reflection on the common struggles developers encounter when refining their toolkits, especially in the context of building SaaS applications.
The Familiar Comfort of Established Frameworks
For quite some time, I’ve been working with a combination of Angular and Java (Spring Boot), utilizing Amazon Cognito for authentication. This stack provides a solid foundation, though it can sometimes feel cumbersome—heavy on boilerplate, which often slows down progress. It’s familiar territory, but often feels like progress is slow, and setting up basic features can be time-consuming.
Experimentation with New Technologies
In an effort to improve development speed and leverage modern features, I recently experimented with building a project using SolidJS together with Django and SuperTokens. While I appreciated the quick component creation and flexibility, the unfamiliarity of this environment made me cautious. I felt overwhelmed by how much freedom it offered, which increased the risk of making mistakes or losing track of best practices.
The Return to Comfort
Ultimately, I’ve reverted to my original stack—Angular, Java, and Amazon Cognito—for my SaaS project. Although this means working within a more heavy-handed framework, it provides a sense of stability and familiarity that’s crucial when aiming for consistent progress.
Challenges of Rapid Development and Rapid Tech Changes
One of my biggest frustrations is the pace at which technology evolves. I see others launching SaaS products in less than a month, while I spend significantly longer refining my platform. Additionally, the frequent updates—Angular’s regular major version releases and the ever-changing APIs of Amazon Cognito—add complexity, making it difficult to maintain a steady workflow.
The Desire for Simplicity
My goal is to implement straightforward, manageable authentication flows. Perhaps I need to revisit or stick to a specific Angular version to reduce friction. I still hold an affinity for Java, appreciating its stability and robustness, which aligns with my desire for reliability.
Final Thoughts
If you find yourself caught in a cycle of switching stacks, remember: consistency and simplicity often lead to faster, more reliable development. Finding the right balance between innovation and familiarity is key. Focus on selecting tools that meet your project’s needs without overwhelming your workflow, and don’t be discouraged by the ever-e
