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SmartyDevs
Advisory · 04

Stack decisions you can defend.

Language, framework, database, cloud, vendor and tooling decisions chosen for your team and trajectory — written down, justified, defensible in front of engineers and a board.

§ 01The problem

The problem we solve

Stack decisions are made under deadline pressure, by whoever was loudest in the meeting, and live for years. We work the decision properly: trade-offs explicit, team capability factored in, cost modelled, alternative options documented. The output is a defensible, written decision your engineering team can execute and your board can interrogate.

§ 02Capabilities

What we evaluate

  • 01Language & framework selection
  • 02Database & data architecture choices
  • 03Cloud & infrastructure provider
  • 04Vendor and SaaS tooling selection
  • 05Build-vs-buy across the stack
  • 06Migration analysis: cost, risk, payback
  • 07Team capability and hireability of each option
  • 08Total cost of ownership over 3 — 5 years
  • 09Lock-in risk and exit cost
§ 03Deliverables

What you receive

  • Written decision document with trade-offs and rationale
  • Cost model across 3 — 5-year horizon
  • Migration plan if migration is recommended
  • Optional implementation kickoff with our team
§ 04Stack

Areas we cover

Language & framework
Database & storage
Cloud provider
Vendor & SaaS
Build-vs-buy
Migration analysis
§ 05Ideal for

Ideal for

  • Founders choosing the initial stack
  • Engineering leaders considering a migration
  • Boards questioning a stack choice
  • Companies post-merger with two stacks to reconcile
§ 06Process

How an engagement runs

  1. 01

    Constraints

    Team, budget, timeline, integrations, exit strategy. Written down before evaluation.

  2. 02

    Evaluate

    Each viable option scored against the constraints. Costs modelled honestly.

  3. 03

    Decide

    Written decision with rationale. The chosen option's downsides named explicitly.

  4. 04

    Plan

    Implementation or migration roadmap. Optional kickoff with our team.

§ 07Engagement

How to engage

01

Focused Stack Decision

1 — 2 weeks

Single decision (database, framework, cloud) with written rationale.

02

Full Stack Strategy

3 — 4 weeks

End-to-end review across the stack with prioritized decisions.

§ 08Common questions

Frequently asked.

01Will you recommend the boring choice?

Usually yes. The novelty in your product should be in the product, not the platform. We'll only recommend exotic technology when there's a defensible reason.

Have a problem worth solving well?

Tell us the outcome you want. We'll tell you what it takes — honestly, within a week, in writing.

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