In computing, a solution stack, also called software stack and tech stack is a set of software subsystems or components needed to create a complete platform such that no additional software is needed to support applications.
For example, to develop a web application, the architect defines the stack as the target operating system, web server, database, and programming language. Another version of a software stack is operating system, middleware, database, and applications.
Some components/subsystems of an overall system are chosen together often enough that the particular set is referred to by a name representing the whole, rather than by naming the parts. Typically, the name is an acronym representing the individual components.
The term “solution stack” has, historically, occasionally included hardware components as part of a final product, mixing both the hardware and software in layers of support.
A full-stack developer is expected to be able to work in all the layers of the application (front-end and back-end). A full-stack developer can be defined as a Programmer or an engineer who works with both the front and back end development of a website, web application or desktop application.
JavaScript stacks
A JavaScript stack is a collection of technologies that use JavaScript as a primary programming language across the entire software development process, typically combining front-end and back-end tools to build full-scale web applications. With the rise of Node.js, JavaScript can now be executed server-side, allowing developers to use a single language for both client and server development. This unification simplifies the development workflow, improves code reuse, and enhances productivity by enabling consistent logic and tooling across the application. JavaScript stacks are often favored for their speed, scalability, and access to a vast ecosystem of libraries and frameworks available through platforms like npm. The increasing popularity of these stacks reflects a broader shift toward full-stack JavaScript development in modern web engineering.
[Tilkov, Stefan, and Steve Vinoski. "Node.js: Using JavaScript to Build High-Performance Network Programs." IEEE Internet Computing, vol. 14, no. 6, 2010, pp. 80–83. DOI: 10.1109/MIC.2010.145][Pimentel, Jon. Full-Stack React Projects. Packt Publishing, 2018.]
OS-level stacks
- MongoDB (database)
- Linux (operating system)
- Varnish (software) (frontend cache)
- Node.js (JavaScript runtime)
- WISAV/WIPAV
- Windows Server (operating system)
- Internet Information Services (web server)
- Microsoft SQL Server/PostgreSQL (database)
- ASP.NET (backend web framework)
- Vue.js (frontend web framework)
OS-agnostic web stacks
- GRANDstack
- GraphQL (data query and manipulation language)
- React (web application presentation)
- Apollo (Data Graph Platform)
- Neo4j (database management systems)
- JAMstack
- JavaScript (programming language)
- (Application programming interfaces)
- Markup language (content)
- MEAN
- MongoDB (database)
- Express.js (application controller layer)
- AngularJS/Angular (web application presentation)
- Node.js (JavaScript runtime)
- MongoDB (database)
- Express.js (application controller layer)
- React.js (web application presentation)
- Node.js (JavaScript runtime)
- MongoDB (database)
- Express.js (application controller layer)
- Vue.js (web application presentation)
- Node.js (JavaScript runtime)
- PERN
- PostgreSQL (database)
- Express.js (application controller layer)
- React (JavaScript library) (web application presentation)
- Node.js (JavaScript runtime)
- T-REx
- TerminusDB (scalable graph database)
- React (JavaScript web framework)
- Express.js (framework for Node.js)
Specific framework stacks
Java-Spring stack
The Java-
Spring Framework stack is a robust and enterprise-grade technology stack built around the Java programming language and the Spring ecosystem. At its core is the Spring Framework, which provides a comprehensive programming and configuration model for modern Java applications. This stack often includes Spring Boot, a project that simplifies Spring application setup with convention-over-configuration, embedded servers, and production-ready defaults. Additional components such as Spring MVC, Spring Data, and Spring Security are commonly used for building web applications, accessing databases, and implementing authentication and authorization. The Java-Spring stack is frequently paired with relational databases like MySQL or PostgreSQL and typically deployed using servlet containers like Apache Tomcat or platforms such as Spring Cloud for microservices architecture. Known for its scalability, modularity, and long-term stability, the Java-Spring stack is widely adopted in enterprise environments, particularly in finance, telecommunications, and large-scale SaaS platforms.
[Walls, Craig. Spring in Action. Manning Publications, 2022.]
Python-Django stack
The Python-Django stack utilizes Python as the primary programming language and Django as the web framework. Django is designed to encourage clean, pragmatic design and follows the
DRY (Don't Repeat Yourself) principle. It includes a wide array of built-in features, such as user authentication, an admin interface, form handling, and a powerful ORM. These built-in tools make Django especially effective for content-driven or database-heavy web applications. The stack often pairs Django with PostgreSQL or SQLite as a database and runs on web servers like Gunicorn behind Nginx. Because of Python's readability and Django's comprehensive documentation, this stack is widely used in educational platforms, scientific applications, and content management systems.
[Holovaty, Adrian, and Jacob Kaplan-Moss. The Django Book. Version 2.0.]
Ruby on Rails stack
The Ruby on Rails stack is built around the Ruby programming language and the Rails web framework. It emphasizes the principle of
convention over configuration, which allows developers to build applications quickly by reducing the need for boilerplate code and manual setup. Ruby on Rails comes with an integrated set of tools, such as an object-relational mapping (ORM) system, scaffolding for code generation, and a structured directory layout, making it well-suited for rapid application development. Its focus on simplicity and developer happiness has made it a popular choice among startups and small teams. The stack typically includes a PostgreSQL or MySQL database, a web server like Puma or Nginx, and deployment tools such as Capistrano or Heroku.
Other stacks
OS-level stacks
- BCHS
- OpenBSD (operating system)
- C (programming language)
- httpd (web server)
- SQLite (database)
- Ganeti
- Xen or KVM (hypervisor)
- Linux with LVM (mass-storage device management)
- Distributed Replicated Block Device (storage replication)
- Ganeti (virtual machine Cluster manager tool)
- Ganeti Web Manager (web interface)
- GLASS
- GemStone (database and application server)
- Linux (operating system)
- Apache (web server)
- GNU Smalltalk (programming language)
- Seaside (web framework)
- Linux (operating system)
- Apache (web server)
- MySQL or MariaDB (database management systems)
- Perl, PHP, or Python (scripting languages)
- Linux (operating system)
- Eucalyptus (free and open-source alternative to the Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud)
- AppScale (cloud computing-framework and free and open-source alternative to Google App Engine)
- Python (programming language)
- LEMP/LNMP
- Linux (operating system)
- Nginx (web server)
- MySQL or MariaDB (database management systems)
- Perl, PHP, or Python (scripting languages)
- LLMP
- Linux (operating system)
- Lighttpd (web server)
- MySQL or MariaDB (database management systems)
- Perl, PHP, or Python (scripting languages)
- LYME and LYCE
- Linux (operating system)
- Yaws (web server, written in Erlang)
- Mnesia or CouchDB (database, written in Erlang)
- Erlang (functional programming language)
- MAMP
- Mac OS X (operating system)
- Apache (web server)
- MySQL or MariaDB (database)
- PHP, Perl, or Python (programming languages)
- Linux (operating system)
- Apache (web server)
- PostgreSQL (database management systems)
- Perl, PHP, or Python (scripting languages)
- WAMP
- Windows (operating system)
- Apache (web server)
- MySQL or MariaDB (database)
- PHP, Perl, or Python (programming language)
- WIMP
- Windows (operating system)
- Internet Information Services (web server)
- MySQL or MariaDB (database)
- PHP, Perl, or Python (programming language)
- WINS
- Windows Server (operating system)
- Internet Information Services (web server)
- .NET (software framework)
- SQL Server (database)
- WISA
- Windows Server (operating system)
- Internet Information Services (web server)
- SQL Server (database)
- ASP.NET (web framework)
OS-agnostic web stacks
- Elasticsearch (search engine)
- Logstash (event and log management tool)
- Kibana (data visualization)
- MARQS
- Apache Mesos (node startup/shutdown)
- Akka (toolkit) (actor implementation)
- Riak (data store)
- Apache Kafka (messaging)
- Apache Spark (big data and MapReduce)
- NMP
- Nginx (web server)
- MySQL or MariaDB (database)
- PHP (programming language)
- OpenACS
- NaviServer (web server)
- OpenACS (web application framework)
- PostgreSQL or Oracle Database (database)
- Tcl (scripting language)
- PLONK
- Prometheus (metrics and time-series)
- Linkerd (service mesh)
- OpenFaaS (management and auto-scaling of compute)
- NATS Messaging (asynchronous message bus/queue)
- Kubernetes (declarative, extensible, scale-out, self-healing clustering)
- SMACK
- Apache Spark (big data and MapReduce)
- Apache Mesos (node startup/shutdown)
- Akka (toolkit) (Actor model implementation)
- Apache Cassandra (database)
- Apache Kafka (messaging)
- XAMPP
- cross-platform (operating system)
- Apache (web server)
- MariaDB or MySQL (database)
- PHP (programming language)
- Perl (programming language)
- XRX
- XML database (database such as BaseX, eXist, MarkLogic Server)
- XQuery (Query language)
- REST (client interface)
- XForms (client)
See also
