Which is the best technology for SaaS app development?

SaaS is one of the most popular cloud-based services. And naturally their a lot of technologies that can be used for SaaS web app development.

Now, the availability of so many options can be just as confusing as it is good. So, if you are someone who wants to develop a SaaS app but doesn’t know which technologies to use, you have come to the right place.

In this blog, we shall be discussing each and everything related to SaaS app development technologies. With this being said, let’s get right into it:

What Is a Tech Stack & why it is important in SaaS App Development?

A Tech Stack or a technology stack is an umbrella term covering all of the different technologies used to develop a software or app, SaaS app in this case. A tech stack is not only used in development but also used for mobile app maintenance work.

As such, it contains frameworks, languages, libraries, and so on. So, one can say that a tech stack forms the base of any application.

Moreover, there are various tech stacks available for you to use. Now, choosing one of these can be a hell of a task, especially when one is talking about SaaS App development. We shall be looking at the different technologies and tech stacks used for the same, but first, let’s see why the tech stack is important.

Importance of Tech Stack

It goes without saying tech stack is quite an important component in SaaS app development. But the question is why? Well, the answer is simple. The technologies used to develop software or app can affect it in many ways.

For instance, the tech stack affects the scalability, performance, features, speed, etc. of the SaaS app. If you can’t decide which tech stack to choose, a SaaS development company might be able to help you with it.

Nevertheless, it should be noted that choosing the right tech stack is more important than anything. For this is something that sticks with your product throughout its life. And even if you want to change the tech stack, it can be really expensive and time-consuming.

Moving on, the tech stack can be divided into two different parts. These are, namely: frontend development and back-end development. We shall be looking at both of these turns by turn:

SaaS Application Development: Front-end

Front-end developments deal with the parts of the SaaS application which are seen by the user. Not only seen, but this part also interacts with the audience in form of UI/UX. As such, three main components of front end development are:

HTML

HTML stands for Hypertext Markup Language. This is a technology that is used by mobile app developers to create the structure for the webpage or SaaS app. New versions of HTML come up from time to time, with the latest one being HTML 5.

CSS

CSS or Cascading Style Sheet is exactly what its name tells. This tech is used to “stylize” the HTML structure into a more conventional design. CSS is what gives the SaaS its look and feel from the color to the design.

JavaScript

JavaScript also known as JS, is a programming language. While JS is quite versatile, it is also quite prominently used in the Front-end development of SaaS apps. But what is it used for? JS makes the design of the website interactive. In other words, it is through JavaScript that developers allow users to engage with the app.

These are the three main technologies used in front-end development. One can say that the front-end of a SaaS is all about design and functionality. While these are the three widely used technologies, there are other options as well.

Moving on, since we are done with the front end, let’s look at the back-end development and technologies used there.

SaaS Application Development: Back-end

Unlike Front-end, the back end doesn’t deal with the look and feel of the app. Rather it deals with all the complex coding work and connecting things with each other. In technical terms, it deals with logic building, database creation, and integration, hosting servers, and so on.

Therefore, we have divided the back end into different sections which are easier to understand. Nevertheless, these are, as mentioned below:

 Programming languages

Business Login is very important and there are no two say about this. Now, to develop logic you need a programming language. Again, business logic is something that detects the whole performance of the SaaS application, therefore, it is important to back it with a good programing language.

Some of the popular choices for Programming languages in SaaS developers are, as mentioned below:

• JavaScript
• PHP
• Ruby
• Python
• Scala

These programming languages are prominently used in Logic building for SaaS applications. So, you can ask your SaaS product development company to use the most suitable one.

Server

The server despite being one of the most important components mainly revolves around allowing the user and the SaaS application to interact. As such, it deals with request handling, request processing, and then delivering the desired result to the user.

There are a lot of options in this component, these are, as mentioned below:

• Apache
• Nginx
• Amazon Web Services
• Microsoft Azure

The server is often finalized based on the functional needs as well as scalability.

Database

Since we are talking about a SaaS app, it goes without saying that, it is going to handle a lot of data traffic. Now, it needs a place to store the data and access it when needed. And this place is known as Database.

Some of the popular databases for SaaS application development are, as mentioned below:

Your SaaS application needs a database to store data and keep it organized.

• MySQL
• PostgreSQL
• MongoDB

Now, there are different types of Databases. So, you can choose between a relational one and a non-relational database based on your needs.

Software architecture

Now that we are done with all the basic components of the tech stack, it’s time to move to a little more advanced stuff. And here, we shall be discussing the software architecture of the same.

Speaking of software architecture, it can be divided into two parts. Namely:

• single-tenant architecture
• multi-tenant architecture

Choose the one based on your need. Since this is a little more complex stuff, the SaaS development services will help you finalize the one fitting your product.

Now that we are done with the basics of the tech stacks, let’s see how you choose one. So, in the next section we shall be discussing the things to consider while choosing a tech stack are:

Things to Look Out For When Choosing Tech Stack for SaaS App Development

Choosing a tech stack is a crucial task and one that should be done carefully. It is only with the right tech stack that you can get desired SaaS application.

Now, there are certain things that you need to keep in mind while doing so. These things are, as mentioned below:

1) Code maintainability

Code Maintainability is something that you should look out for. Now, the long-term maintainability of code depends on several factors and it can really affect the performance of the app in long term.

Now, what makes a code maintainable? Well, the answer is simple. The code should be easy to read and work with while not being too lengthy. Because if it’s not, the developers will be spending day and night trying to understand it, let alone work with it.

In addition, a code that is maintainable is also easier to debug making Software Development Maintenance work a lot easier. Therefore, this is something that you should look out for when choosing a tech stack for your SaaS app.

2) The learning curve

You want the learning curve of the tech stack to be as low as possible without compromising functionality and quality. Now, why is the learning curve important?

It is important because the easier the tech stack is to learn, the easier it will be to use for developers. On the flip side, the higher the learning curve is, the harder it is to work on.

Python is one example of a programming language with a smaller learning curve. The opposite of it is Java.

So, as simple as it gets, you want to choose a programming language that is easier to learn and work with. This will be highly beneficial for you in the short term and the long term. As the development time will decrease, the mobile app maintenance services will be a lot simpler too.

3) Community

Community is yet another important aspect to consider while choosing a tech stack for your SaaS application development.

Community refers to the total developers using the technology across the world, and their willingness to help others. Some of the programming languages and other technologies have really huge technologies.

This enables the developers to find solutions to their problems easily and also find readymade components for the development work. Usually, you would want to choose a tech stack with a large community.

4) Project Size

The different projects might have different tech stack requirements based on their size. We can look at it in three parts.

Firstly, the small projects. These projects usually need a single framework and that’s all. Less complexity means less effort and work.

The middle-size projects usually refer to interactive web applications like SaaS itself. This includes an interactive website like an E-commerce store or a survey website. Now, there are multiple layers and also APIs being used, meaning a lot of work for SaaS developers.

Lastly, large projects are highly functional and require the use of various technologies like frameworks, libraries, tools, toolkits, etc. In addition to this, the larger project also requires a high level of security, meaning there are a lot of things that need close attention.

Depending on which size of the project you are using, the tech stack recommendation will be different.

5) Scalability

If you are looking to grow, you need scalability. It is impossible to think about one, without the other. And Scalability as we know it highly depends on the tech stack used in the SaaS app development.

For that reason, it is important to choose a tech stack that allows the scalability of your cloud-based SaaS application. Thus, allowing you to integrate other components with the software whenever needed/

The tech stack should appease both the vertical and horizontal aspects of scalability. Now, JavaScript, ReactJS, etc. offer good scalability when paired with services like AWS. But at the end of the day, it depends on the specification of your project.

6) Time to Market

The term “time to market” refers to the time taken to deliver the app to the market. As such, the ready-made SaaS solutions are much cheaper and have a low time to market since there is no development involved.

On the other hand, if you are looking for custom mobile app development, it is going to take much longer. Moreover, the development work that starts from nothing takes the longest. Each of these choices has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Nevertheless, this remains one of the factors that you should look after when considering a tech stack for SaaS development.

7) Security

In the age of technology and information, privacy and security are some of the most valued things. Users don’t want to lose or share their data with someone they don’t trust. And they don’t want some to access it unethically either.

For that reason, it is important that you make sure, your SaaS product development services include good security for the app.

8) Maintenance Cost

If you want an app that is successful and continues to be so in the market, a good development process won’t cut it. You also need app maintenance services to back it.

And maintenance is going to cost you. For that reason, it is recommended that you choose a tech stack with low maintenance costs.

This will give you good results in the long run.

These are the things that you should consider when choosing a tech stack for your SaaS app development. Now that we are done with this, let’s look at some of the best and most widely used technologies for SaaS development.

Best Technologies for SaaS Application Development

Not all technologies are made equal. While there are a lot of good SaaS development technologies, there are some which are used more widely and prominently than others. Having a look at these services can help you decide which languages to choose for SaaS Application Development.

With this said, let’s get right into it:

1) Django

Django is one of the most popular frameworks used in SaaS development. This framework offers high process speed.

In addition to this, it also includes module management for the admin panel along with ORM later. Moreover, Django also comes with built-in CSRF and SQL injection projection which is some quite handy features.

And the best part about the Django framework is that it is based on Linux OS and Apache. Meaning it is quite compatible with SaaS development and maintenance.

2) Docker

Docker is a tool that allows Software as a service developers to create a lightweight and portable SaaS application. Now, this tool can be used on any platform and machine. Plus, it is also open source.

It can also be used as a modular virtual machine as each of the containers has minimum services which can perform independently.

Most of all, Docker is a tool that provides ease of development and deployment while also moving the SaaS software from one environment to another.

3) Symfony

Symfony is a PHP framework that is in high demand across the market. Backed by a huge community this open-source platform is constantly driving innovation.

When combined with laravel, this framework of PHP is highly adaptive to SaaS development. As it allows large web application development projects with ease. Moreover, this framework generates a code that is easy to write, read, edit, and maintain.

4) Angular

Angular or Angular.JS is one of the most popular JavaScript frameworks. Developed by none other than Google itself, this open-source platform is quite useful when it comes to SaaS development.

With Google’s continued support and large community, Angular has become a powerful tool that is also reliable.

While mostly used in SPA web application development, Angular is quite versatile much like its parent language JavaScript.

This is what makes AngularJS such a good option for SaaS application development Services.

5) MongoDB

Lastly, MongoDB is a database as suggested by its name. Highly document-oriented, this DB allows you to store data in form of documents rather than records like its other counterparts. Therefore, it removes the need for a schema.

These are just some of the advantages that come with MongoDB. All in all, this is one of the most widely used technologies used in SaaS development.

Conclusion

SaaS is being used everywhere. As such, they offer a big business opportunity. And when done right, they can help you make millions in the market. But for that, you need to choose the right tech stack. Everything about the technologies used to develop SaaS was discussed in this blog. So, all that is left to do is Hire on-demand developers and get to work.

Niketan Sharma

Niketan Sharma is the CTO of Nimble AppGenie, a prominent website and mobile app development company in the USA that is delivering excellence with a commitment to boosting business growth & maximizing customer satisfaction. He is a highly motivated individual who helps SMEs and startups grow in this dynamic market with the latest technology and innovation.