How an Open Source Framework Can Help Your Web Development

As a web developer, using a web framework can make your job infinitely easier. Tons of open source web frameworks are available for anyone to plug code into, and you can likely find multiple framework options for the specific programming language you are using. Web frameworks can be loosely divided into full stack and non-full stack frameworks. A full stack framework will manage all layers of the “full stack”: server, network and hosting, data modeling, business logic, action layer, user interface, user experience, etc. Here are the reasons that a web framework will help lighten your workload as a web developer.

Delegate to the Framework

The key function of a web framework is that it allows you to plug your code in without having to worry about low level details, like protocols, process/thread management, sockets, communications, infrastructure, etc. When you use the framework, you will simply write your code according to a set of specific conventions which will allow you to delegate those low level details to the framework.

Support and Customization

Web frameworks will usually support basic activities: interpreting requests, producing responses, storing data, etc. Many also give web developers some degree of customization for these activities, using components which provide abstractions for only certain things. This means that you can custom build a full stack framework from existing non-full stack ones, if required for your particular project.

How a Dev Shop Can Add Value to Your Startup

In our discussion of when to hire a devshop for a software development project, we stipulated that core business functions are better left to an in-house development team who will have more skin in the game compared to an outside consultancy. For any other function, however, it is quite acceptable to outsource the details of software development to a third party, if you have the means to do so and don’t know any programmers personally. And although dev shops have been criticized for “getting specs and sending code”, many dev shops are expanding their services and offer business and tech consulting. Here are a few ways that a good, experienced dev shop can add value to your startup business.

Dev Shop Experts Are Focused on Technology

While no one knows your business better than you do, dev shops make it their business to know the ins and outs of whatever technology they specialize in. If your business is having trouble getting your current tools to create what you need to create, dev shops have experience making that work.

Some Dev Shops Will Help Build Your Team

Good dev shops will work closely with your in-house team to make sure your startup gets what it needs. They will help your business use the technologies you have chosen to tackle your specific needs or problems. Extraordinary dev shops will also consult with you and help you build your own tech team, which is really invaluable and will reduce your dependence on outside agencies in the future.