The Real Deal

If you're a beginner picking out your first tech stack or a junior dev thrown into the deep end, listen up. If you're a tech wizard, you can probably skip this.

In the tech universe, there's an eternal debate: should I go for the latest, hipster and blazingly fast tech or focus on leveling up your skills and team? It's not just a matter of the bucks you'll save or spend on infrastructure; it's about playing the long game wisely. Sure, the latest and greatest tech sounds sexy, but honestly, React/Angular with Node, Postgres, and perhaps a touch of Redis, is possibly all you need.

Tech Costs

Let's be real: high-end tech like the brand new JS framework, powerful databases and complex languages can make your project super fast and reliable. Plus, they're kinda fun to play with. But hold on, they're also pricey—not just in cash but in setup and maintenance time. Oh, and let's not forget, you'll pay more for specialized devs.

The Training Payoff

Contrastingly, investing in your team's growth is a win-win. Your interns and juniors today are your seniors tomorrow. Meanwhile, your more experienced devs can solve the big issues instead of drudging through the mundane. A well-managed team becomes a self-sustaining powerhouse.

The Case for Simplicity

Here's the deal: stick with easy-to-use languages like Python or JavaScript. Why?

1. Fast and Furious: You get stuff done, period.

2. No Rocket Science: The code is generally straightforward, meaning fewer bugs and quick fixes. Newbies catch on faster.

3. Budget-Friendly Training: Learning simpler languages is quicker and you'll find ample talent willing to dive in.

4. Community Support: These languages are backed by robust communities and abundant tools. No need to reinvent the wheel. Right, JS community?

Data Speaks

A sort and simple item: don't complicate your life. Look at the numbers. Don't aim for "perfection" and super-performant code without checking if it's beneficial. Metrics are your friends.

When to Go High-End

I'm not saying you should stay away from high-end tech. In fact, this article isn't meant to discourage anyone from diving into new languages or advanced tech. Personally, I gravitate towards these because they're more exciting and I'm after the challenging gigs. Keep the supply and demand model in mind; specialized skills often command higher rates. So go ahead, and dive into top-tier tech when it makes sense.

Companies like Discord thrive on specialized tech such as Rust and ScyllaDB. So, when should you consider it?

1. Speed Demons: If you absolutely must have a rocket-fast app, then, there is no reason to not use it.

2. Unique Needs: Got some extremely specific requirements? Then opt for specialized tech. If you can't stand garbage collection, go for C or Rust (and please, don't consider C++ Rust--).

3. Big Fish: If you're Google-level massive, you'll need to go big from the start.

The Bottom Line

Balancing tech and team development isn't one-size-fits-all. But more often than not, sticking to the basics and investing in your crew is the wisest move. It’s efficient, flexible, and sets you up for the long journey. But hey, if you've got a killer reason to go high-end, then go for it.

Working on a side project? Choose the technology you're passionate about and see yourself using in the future.