Full Stack Development: Comparing 4 Leading Tech Stacks and Their Pros and Cons

MEAN Stack

The MEAN stack for the client side uses Angular.JS, and for databases, it uses MongoDB. For middleware and back-end, respectively, it uses ExpressJS and Node.js. Businesses preferring to hire Angular JS developers for their web projects choose MEAN stack. It is a popular choice for building dynamic, real-time web applications.

Pros:

• All components of the MEAN stack use JavaScript, making it easier for developers to switch between different parts of the stack.

• MongoDB is a NoSQL database, making it a good fit for applications that require flexible data structures.

• AngularJS provides a robust framework for building dynamic user interfaces.

Cons:

• As a relatively new stack, fewer resources and documentation are available compared to more established stacks.
• The flexibility of MongoDB can lead to inconsistent data structures and difficulties with data management.

Use Cases:

• Social Networking Sites: The MEAN stack is frequently used across social media web apps because of its awesome real-time capabilities and no-holds-barred scalability. With the use of MongoDB, developers can easily manage user profiles and data structures, while ExpressJS and Node.js provide a scalable platform for handling large amounts of traffic.

• Real-Time Applications: With the use of AngularJS, developers can build dynamic user interfaces that update in real-time, while Node.js provides a scalable platform for handling real-time data.

• E-commerce Websites: The MEAN stack is also a good choice for building e-commerce websites that require real-time updates and scalability. With MongoDB, MEAN stack developers can easily manage product information and user data, while ExpressJS and Node.js provide a scalable platform for handling large amounts of traffic.

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LAMP Stack

The LAMP stack is one of the oldest and most established tech stacks for full-stack development. It includes Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP.

Pros:

• Linux is a stable and reliable operating system, making it a popular server choice.
• Apache is a robust web server that is highly customizable.

Cons:

• The LAMP stack is relatively heavy and can be slow to load.

• PHP is less powerful than other programming languages and can lead to performance issues with larger applications.

• MySQL has some limitations regarding scalability and handling large amounts of data.

• Content-based Websites: The LAMP stack is ideal for building content-based websites such as blogs or news sites. With Apache, developers can easily manage content and serve static files, while MySQL provides a powerful database for managing article information.

• Simple Web Applications: The LAMP stack is also well-suited for building simple web applications such as contact forms or small-scale e-commerce sites. With PHP, developers can easily create dynamic web pages, while MySQL provides a powerful database for managing application data.

• Business Websites: The LAMP stack is also a good choice for building websites requiring reliability and stability. With Apache, developers can easily manage content and serve static files, while MySQL provides a powerful database for managing customer information.

MERN Stack

MERN stack is the tech stack that uses other major JavaScript front-end technology called React.js. It uses MongoDB, ExpressJS, and Node.js for database, middleware, and back-end. 

Pros:

• MongoDB is widely known for its versatile use of different data structures that fit into various use cases.
• The MERN stack is relatively lightweight and fast.

Cons:

• As a relatively new stack, fewer resources and documentation are available compared to more established stacks.
• MongoDB is known for a higher learning curve compared to several other database technologies.

• Single-page Applications: Single-page apps (SPAs) needing quick and real-time updates are considered the most suitable tech stack. With MongoDB, developers can easily manage data structures, while ExpressJS and Node.js provide a scalable platform for handling large amounts of traffic. React is the ideal framework when you need to incorporate dynamic capabilities in a web app. 

• Mobile Applications: Since React’s component-based architecture suits mobile app development, it is preferred by many enterprises. With React Native, developers can create native mobile apps for both iOS and Android platforms, while MongoDB, ExpressJS, and Node.js provide a powerful back-end for handling data and user management.

• Streaming Applications: The MERN stack is also good for building streaming applications such as video or music streaming services. With MongoDB, developers can easily manage data structures, while ExpressJS and Node.js provide a scalable platform for handling large amounts of traffic. 

MEVN Stack 

The MEVN stack is similar to the MEAN stack but replaces AngularJS with Vue.js for front-end development. Vue.js is a progressive JavaScript framework known for its simplicity, flexibility, and performance.

Pros:

• The MEVN stack provides a scalable platform for building web applications. With MongoDB, ExpressJS, Vue.js, and Node.js, developers can build web applications that handle large amounts of traffic and data.
• Vue.js is known for its high performance and speed, making it a good choice for building complex web applications.

Cons:

• Vue.js may have a steeper learning curve compared to other front-end frameworks, which may be a challenge for developers who are new to the technology.
• Because Vue.js is relatively new, there may be limited resources available for troubleshooting and solving problems that developers may encounter.

• Real-Time Applications: Using MongoDB, ExpressJS, Vue.js, and Node.js, developers can easily manage real-time data and provide a scalable platform for handling large traffic.

• E-commerce Websites: The MEVN stack is a good choice for building e-commerce websites that require scalability and real-time updates. With the use of MongoDB, ExpressJS, Vue.js, and Node.js, developers can easily manage product information and user data.

• Social Networking Sites: The MEVN stack is also a good choice for building social networking sites that require real-time updates and scalability. With MongoDB, ExpressJS, Vue.js, and Node.js, developers can easily manage user profiles and data structures while providing a scalable platform for handling large traffic.