ASTACKRA TECHNOLOGY RADAR

Choose technology for the operating problem.

Our technology decisions start with workflow, users, data, performance, security, integrations and ownership. This radar shows the layers we work across and the principles that guide tool selection.

Explore the stack ↗Architecture Library

EXPERIENCE LAYER

Custom web

Purpose-built responsive interfaces where performance, conversion and product behavior matter.

WordPress

Custom-coded WordPress experiences for editable marketing, publishing, SEO/GEO and integrated business sites.

Mobile apps

Cross-platform mobile experiences where camera, notifications, account state and field usage matter.

APPLICATION & API LAYER

Node / TypeScript

Business APIs, integrations, workflows and application services.

Python / FastAPI

AI services, computer vision, processing pipelines and specialized backend workloads.

REST & webhooks

Reliable integration between systems and event-driven workflows.

Server-side functions

Focused processing, secure API calls and backend automation close to the product.

DATA & STATE LAYER

Relational data

Users, roles, workflow state, transactions, audit history and structured records.

Application ORM

Typed data access patterns such as Prisma when they fit the product architecture.

Retrieval / knowledge

Chunking, embeddings, vector retrieval and source-aware knowledge access where RAG is appropriate.

AI LAYER

LLM workflows

Summarization, classification, extraction, drafting, reasoning and structured output.

RAG systems

Ground AI in approved company knowledge and operational context.

Document intelligence

Read, classify, extract, validate and route PDFs, forms, email and uploads.

Computer vision

Surface detection, image understanding, masks and visual workflows.

Generative imaging

Controlled image transformation where scene preservation and user intent must be constrained.

Agent orchestration

Permissioned tools, bounded action loops, evidence, escalation and auditability.

Human review

Review gates, exception queues and explicit responsibility for high-impact work.

Provider flexibility

Architecture should avoid unnecessary model lock-in when the workflow benefits from provider choice.

INFRASTRUCTURE & DELIVERY

Vercel-style deployment

Fast web deployment, previews and environment separation for suitable front-end applications.

Secure environment variables

Secrets and API keys stay server-side and outside public browser code.

Caching & CDN

Use caching intentionally for public content and expensive repeatable responses.

Observability

Errors, latency, model usage, failures and operational exceptions need visibility after launch.

INTEGRATION SURFACE

Email

Inbound parsing, routing, drafts, notifications and thread context.

CRM

Customers, opportunities, tasks, activities and ownership.

Google / Microsoft workspace

Documents, calendars, email and collaboration where authorized integrations exist.

Payments & commerce

Checkout, invoices, order state and commercial workflows when the product requires them.

Storage

Documents, media, generated assets and versioned evidence.

External APIs

Verification, logistics, data providers, specialist services and partner systems.

Messaging

Internal chat, mentions, notifications, summaries and action context.

Legacy systems

Custom adapters and staged migration where a full replacement is not sensible.

DECISION RULES

Prefer boring foundations

Use proven databases, auth and state patterns so innovation stays focused on the differentiating layer.

Prototype uncertainty

Use experimentation for the uncertain AI or UX behavior, not for basic engineering that already has known patterns.

Keep data ownership clear

Know where truth lives before adding automation and AI around it.

Do not expose secrets

Browser convenience is never a reason to expose private API credentials.

Design for replacement

Providers and models change. Keep interfaces modular where the economics justify flexibility.

Optimize after observing

Measure actual latency, usage and cost before premature optimization.

Need the stack chosen around your operation?

Use the Project Planner or Architecture Library. The right technology should be an outcome of the system design.

Start technical discovery ↗Architecture Library