What Programming Language Should I Use To Build a SaaS Product?
TLDR; It doesn't matter
So you’re here to follow along and build your SaaS business with us. Great!
The only problem is you’ve googled and there are so many options with people arguing they are the right option.
Selecting the right programming language is a critical step for any solo founder embarking on a SaaS venture.
We need to make it clear, if you already know a language, that is the best one. Stick with what you know, BUT exploring other options can be beneficial if you're starting from scratch or seeking to expand your horizons.
The Golden Rule: Stick to What You Know
Just to repeat, stop overthinking it.
Leveraging your existing programming expertise can offer a significant head start in your SaaS venture. Familiarity with a language accelerates development and reduces the learning curve.
Exploring Popular Choices:
Ruby on Rails: Ideal for beginners, used by Shopify and Airbnb, known for its ease of use and rapid development capabilities.
Python: Preferred for its simplicity, used in diverse applications like Instagram and Spotify, boasts extensive libraries for integration.
Laravel (PHP Framework): Okay technically this is a framework and the lanauge is PHP, just go with it. Laravel offers stability and efficiency, and enhances development efficiency with its MVC architecture.
JavaScript/TypeScript: Essential for front-end development, with popular frameworks like Angular and React enhancing capabilities.
Additional Languages Worth Considering:
Go (Golang): Known for its simplicity and high performance, ideal for cloud-based and network-heavy SaaS solutions.
C# and .NET Framework: Robust choice for enterprise-level applications, versatile in handling a range of applications.
PHP: Beyond Laravel, offers frameworks like Symfony, a reliable choice for web-centric SaaS platforms.
Scala: Chosen for its functional programming aspects, ideal for complex and scalable systems.
Further Insights:
When picking the language you’re going to spend hours learning, you should take a look at more than just the language’s base features.
A few considerations you might look at are:
Community and Ecosystem: A strong community around a language can provide invaluable support and resources.
Long-term Trends and Future-proofing: Consider long-term technology trends to ensure the language remains relevant. Is the language being phased out, are more developers coming onboard etc.
Integration Capabilities: Opt for languages that integrate well with other tools and services for scalability and flexibility.
Cost Considerations: Factor in the availability and cost of skilled developers for each language. Are you going to eventually be hiring outside help?
Security Aspects: Prioritize security features, as they are crucial in SaaS applications.
Case Studies: Look for real-world examples to gain practical insights.
Personal Learning Curve: Consider your aptitude and interest in a particular language, as this can affect development success.
One Last Consideration:
We want to look at one last, important, consideration when looking to start a SaaS business as a solo founder - boilerplates.
We think jumping right into developing the features that you want to sell, and having the structure, payment system, security, governance, etc. all built already is a HUGE help.
There are a lot of popular and good options, too many to list, but finding a template that has the features you want can help sway which language you will write your program in.
Even
has their own (You should consider learning Kotlin and using it) Check it out here: https://ktsaas.io/Conclusion: The choice of programming language for your SaaS startup should align with your existing skills, the specific needs of your project, and the scalability of the platform. Consider the community support, cost, security, and long-term viability of the language to make an informed decision. Remember, leveraging your existing expertise is often the most efficient path to success.
@ASB and I have opted to be building in Laravel (PHP) as we both have experience with it, and laravel offers a number of packages that make building solo/with a small team a lot easier. We will go deeper into exactly what as we start releasing detailed Dev logs.
Until then, feel free to reach out with any questions.
Cheers,
Dingo