How can you design and document your web application server-side architecture?

In my experience, choosing a stack for your application mainly depends on your knowledge as an individual contributor or your team's knowledge of a particular stack. However, depending on the application you have in mind some stacks might be more suited for the task than others.

Planning will help you gain an idea of what the program will be. It also allows you to keep on track of whats needed and done . The tech stack is important as it defines what will powering this application. It allows other developers to make APIs using other tech stacks to communicate with yours based on the documentation you provide

When selecting a stack, it is prudent to take into consideration the goals, available infrastructure, team responsibilities, the proposed timeline, and the allocated budget. Taking these factors into account will ensure a more suitable choice.

Defining your tech stack is 90% of the way to building your web based application. Research emerging technologies and understand if you can incorporate them into your project, if not stick with what y’a know. Understand what you want your application to do, how responsive it should be, how much data will be stored etc. Proper research can save you time and money when you know the tech stack to use to achieve your goals.

It's all about what fits your project best. Say you're diving into a full-stack JavaScript project - Node.js, Express, MongoDB, and GraphQL could be a killer combo. But if you're leaning more towards a data-heavy app, Python with Django, PostgreSQL, and some neat REST APIs might be more up your alley. The trick is to line up your stack with what you're trying to build. Do some digging, weigh up what each tech brings to the table, and see how they gel with what you've got in mind. It's a bit like picking a team - you want the right players for the game you're playing.

In my experience in Back-end developing we should use Clean-Code, SOLID and Design Patterns. I can write important ones: - According to clean-code standards we should not implement our code around our database. the core of our code should be our domain and our code should be domain driven. If we write our code around domain we can move it from one backend framework to another one and we will not limited to a specific framework. - By implementing our Back-end according to these standards we can change our database without need to modifying our application's core. - By implementing our Back-end according to these standards we will have a testable code. - implementing these standards will help other developers to extend our code

In designing server-side architecture, Postman is my go-to for outlining API specifics and testing. Notion or Gitbook are brilliant for documentation, ensuring clarity and team alignment. Application logic is your app's rulebook for handling requests, best mapped out with flowcharts or pseudocode. Data models, the backbone of data handling, benefit from ER diagrams or ORM frameworks for structured, efficient data management. This approach creates a cohesive blueprint, guiding your app's functionality and data strategies.

This is perfect, but also, when designing a server side application, it is very important to consider if the server side would be a monolithic or microservice architecture. This decision impacts scalability, maintenance, deployment strategies, and most importantly, the system resilience. It is important to choose and decide on the right architecture to ensure smoother long-term operation and adaptability.

If there are multiple resources working on the same project, it is important to do proper documentation. By utilizing generative IA tools, it is possible to automate the creation of documentation or generate it after the web service creation. However, there is a potential risk of overlooking the documentation task.

For the logic itself, think of it as the rulebook that guides how your app behaves and handles requests. Flowcharts or pseudocode can help visualize these processes. For data models, you're essentially mapping out how your app will store and juggle data. Tools like ER diagrams or ORM frameworks can be a big help here, letting you structure your data in a way that makes sense for your app's needs. In short, it's about creating a clear, functional blueprint that your app will follow.

After selecting your tech stack, ensure your server-side code is well-organized, modular, and thoroughly documented. This facilitates easier maintenance and collaboration. In my experience, paying special attention to designing a scalable and efficient database schema in the initial steps is very crucial. Emphasize proper indexing, and optimized queries, and employ Object-Relational Mapping (ORM) tools where applicable to enhance security and streamline database interactions. Also ensuring a flexible design that can adapt to future data requirements and application changes.

Selecting a reliable platform or service for deployment by considering factors like scalability, performance, and security is very crucial. In my experience, utilizing cloud services (AWS, Azure, GCP, Vercel), containers (Docker, K8s), and CI/CD pipelines can automate and streamline deployments. Monitoring deployments is important for maintaining the health and performance of web applications.