What is a True Full-stack Software Framework and How Will it Propel your Business This Year?

A full stack framework can be described as an all-in-one framework to build internet-accessible applications. Most often, full stack deals with business logic, running on a server, communicating with the client via standard web protocols. However, with existing full stack frameworks failing to evolve in the face of new technologies, we are now seeing the emergence of true full stack frameworks. With the arrival of the internet of things (IoT) and an explosion of internet connected devices, being ‘connected’ has a whole new meaning and requires software development methodologies that can do more than before. Now, with a hand in the worlds of manufacturing, warehousing, transportation, automation and more, the new world of connected devices need more than web integration – yes, they still need all that modern web integration entails – but with the added complexity of device configuration, control and remote management. And that’s what a true full stack framework offers: a seamless and cost-effective way to connect all the pieces between web, device, and machine.

“However, with existing full stack frameworks failing to evolve in the face of new technologies, we are now seeing the emergence of true full stack frameworks.”

Chip to Cloud

With the onset of ground-breaking industry trends such as the internet of things (IoT), software development is adapting to become proficient at processing application data and relaying it to smart hardware. Many new devices are being linked over the internet and information must be able to be interpreted by any connected device. For example, take the information handling required by a wearable smart watch, which tracks your steps, floors climbed, calories burned, and sleep quality. The device takes this information and wirelessly syncs with computers and smartphones in order to transmit your fitness data in user-readable chunks to monitor, track your progress, and communicate user-specific feedback. These new generation of solutions should be built on an “implement once – access anywhere” framework. Imagine the benefits of being able to build controls on one end, which could then be used on an entire set of IoT devices. Standard full stack frameworks currently support only classic internet technologies and simple data-to-cloud technologies. True full stack however, brings things a step further, allowing support for “chip-to-cloud” technologies. This means, it will enable you to create software that can seamlessly integrate with devices that rely on both device sensors and online databases. This evolution brings development potential a whole order of magnitude higher, allowing full integration of the device layer with the application layer. Naturally, if you have this kind of project ahead of you, placing both of these layers in the same development stream will save you money.

“True full stack however, brings things a step further, allowing support for “chip-to-cloud” technologies.”

Recursive MVC

Model view controller (or MVC) is a software development methodology that divides an application into three specialized and interconnected parts – the model, the view, and the controller. This is done to make distinct modules that separate internal representations of information from the ways the user interacts with the information. This arrangement brings with it the added efficiencies of easy code reuse and parallel development. Using MVC is the typical methodology to encapsulate data and process it while keeping it isolated from the business logic and presentation. Even so, using MVC is not without its own unique hurdles to overcome. In larger applications, difficulties exist, such as ascertaining the ideal location for positioning functionality, and knowing with how much detail to implement in the model portion. These and many other hurdles can be eliminated through the use of recursive MVC, which makes use of the server (typically serving a single view), to serve a complete set of client MVC objects to a web browser. This provides the browser with a model view and controller for user presentation and interaction. Database interactions are handled on the server as part of the server’s model. In most cases, a database model is then processed by the controller before being sent to the browser for use in the browsers model. Recursive MVC utilizes another MVC arrangement within the MVC view (i.e. M(MVC)C) and repeating this, nesting as many layers as is needed.

“Recursive MVC utilizes another MVC arrangement within the MVC view (i.e. M(MVC)C) and repeating this, nesting as many layers as is needed.”

Organic Scaling

“There are many ways to speed up your processing, but to do this effectively, you’ll have to leverage both frontend and backend methods.”

Server processing and requests take a significant amount of time as the number of users increase. If things get busy enough, this can eventually reach a level where all users will be affected by the increased server load. At this point scaling becomes a necessity, but you want your scaling to integrate smoothly, organically, and within your system. There are many ways to speed up your processing, but to do this effectively, you’ll have to leverage both frontend and backend methods. For instance, arranging frontend scaling to be handled by user devices, and backend scaling to be handled by emerging infrastructure methodologies such as containers. Utilizing scaling gives you significant improvements in performance, but when you scale, make sure you do so smartly. A good way to do this is to focus on organic scaling. Organic scaling involves scaling the application in the respective sections that need scaling, focusing effort only where it’s required. A true full stack framework offers this kind of strategic scaling across all devices and implementations while previous full stack frameworks do not.

Optimized Codebase Segmentation

In a true full-stack framework, as with any multi-stack application, it’s important not to fall into development disarray by allowing too much overlap between stacks. With the increase in the type and number of device interactions that true full stack frameworks are designed for, the potential exists for producing an inefficient tangle of interacting code groups. To mitigate this, your codebase should be kept as fully segmented as possible. You want to be able to keep your front-end developers from needing to mess with back-end code and your back-end developers from needing to mess with front-end code. You also don’t want your theme developers to have to mess with any scripting. A true full stack framework keeps your codebase optimized through a well-organized and segmented structure. This kind of approach will pay dividends over the lifespan of a project by enabling you to maintain peak efficiency with your codebase.

“A true full stack framework keeps your codebase optimized through a well-organized and segmented structure.”

High Cost Efficiency

“Just like a physical commodity that can be bought and sold, like grains or minerals, commodity languages are languages that are common enough to be available for purchase to the degree and extent needed.”

True full stack frameworks reliably achieve cost-efficiency by leveraging commodity languages like CSS, JavaScript, and PHP. Just like a physical commodity that can be bought and sold, like grains or minerals, commodity languages are languages that are common enough to be available for purchase to the degree and extent needed. Each of these languages are extremely common, powerful and easy to learn, so skilled labor is inexpensive. On the other hand, previous full stack frameworks relied on languages like Java, which, while common and extremely powerful, is very hard to learn, making skilled labor expensive and unfeasible for smaller projects. Ultimately, a true full stack framework will save you money, in the face of other options that are less scalable and less cost-efficient.

Future Proofing

When it comes to carrying your software forward, the future can be your friend or your enemy. While the competition is trying to deal with the mistake of having a newly upgraded database system that is advanced beyond the rest of their framework components, you’re preparing to implement a true full-stack framework that can get your business data and resource interactions working harmoniously and geared for the future. Technology moves fast – lacking awareness in the current software framework landscape will leave you at a disadvantage so don’t get left behind.

Even More Benefits

Here are a few more benefits and considerations of true full stack frameworks:

Full stack unit testing

Adequate unit testing is essential to the success of your product – without it you risk pushing out a semi-functional (or worse, buggy) product. Even testing can be taken to the next level, and that’s what full stack unit testing offers. It optimizes testing between stacks, at an appropriate scale, maximizing efficiency, while establishing testing processes that contribute to the future maintainability of your tests. Practically, you can’t do all your testing as full-scale integration tests, but you also can’t do your testing as only small unit tests either.

End-to-end seamless integration

“A true full stack framework offers a cohesive, unified product that is well organized, fast, and functions seamlessly, making it easier to work with than a framework with disjointed operation.”

When you’re tasked with connecting chip, cloud and device, you need a plan that covers your project from end to end. Without the blueprints for an appropriate full stack integration, you’re inviting clunky and bogged down operation. A true full stack framework offers a cohesive, unified product that is well organized, fast, and functions seamlessly, making it easier to work with than a framework with disjointed operation.

“Adequate unit testing is essential to the success of your product – without it you risk pushing out a semi-functional (or worse, buggy) product.”

Modularity

Nothing beats modularity for setting your code up for the future. Need to make a change? Just pick and pull the section and replace it with an updated component. Though a true full stack framework will provide you with a smoothly running whole, the individual internal pieces are functional blocks that offer the benefits of modular design, providing ease of visualization, updating, and troubleshooting.

Whereas full stack frameworks have been hard at work in the web industry for a long time, the evolution of the interconnected technology landscape means that true full stack frameworks are expanding beyond basic web contexts to include new areas that can drive your business forward for years to come. Will you survive to adapt and excel in this stage of industry evolution, or will you take a hit by keeping to the status quo?

The Zyris Framework provides companies with robust, cost-effective, future-proof software solutions in the new, massively connected landscape. Our framework utilizes the full stack to its maximum potential for all kinds of projects including yours. Let us show you how we can take your software to places you didn’t think were possible.

Are you ready to accelerate your business?

Let’s evaluate your strategy together.

The process of developing software for your business shouldn’t be complicated or managed by a team that shrouds the development inside a black box. This is a fantastic opportunity for your team to get involved in launching your business to the next level in today’s digital era! At Zyris, we’re here to help you accomplish just that. Send us your details and let’s strike up a conversation about how we can strap those rockets onto your little Red Wagon.

[/fusion_builder_column_inner][/fusion_builder_row_inner]