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STACK & CAPABILITIES

How we combine Drupal, PHP, JS, Python, Go, and DevOps in real projects.

ColibriCode is opinionated on stack choices—but flexible in how we assemble them. We like a predictable toolbox, then adapt it to your product, your team, and your constraints.

We're based in Denver, Colorado, working mostly in US hours and collaborating with teams across North America and Europe.

TOOLBOX AT A GLANCE

CMS & Content
Drupal (headless & coupled)
Backend
Symfony · Laravel · PHP
Frontends
React · Next.js
Services
Python · Go workers
DevOps
Containers · CI/CD · Observability
Hosting
Cloud-native, with your provider

The exact mix depends on your context: existing stack, in-house skills, and what your users actually need.

CAPABILITY PILLARS

Each language and framework has a clear job.

We avoid "everything everywhere". Each piece of the stack has a reason to exist, and a clear place in your long-term architecture.

Drupal

Content & experience layer

Drupal 9/10/11 · Custom modules · Headless/decoupled

  • Own your content model: structured content types, taxonomies, workflows.
  • Expose content to multiple channels via JSON:API or GraphQL.
  • Use Drupal as a stable editorial surface while frontends evolve.

Symfony & Laravel

Business backends & APIs

Symfony · Laravel · REST · GraphQL

  • Model your core business logic outside of the CMS.
  • Expose public and private APIs for web, mobile, and partners.
  • Implement complex authorization, billing, and workflows cleanly.

React & Next.js

Frontends and product surfaces

Next.js · React · Tailwind · Component libraries

  • Build fast, SEO-friendly marketing and app surfaces.
  • Create reusable design systems and dashboard components.
  • Use SSR/ISR where it matters, SPA where it’s cheaper to maintain.

Python

Glue, data, and automation

FastAPI / modern frameworks · Workers · ETL

  • Build APIs for AI/ML features, analytics, or integrations.
  • Write background jobs for reporting, syncs, and cleanups.
  • Connect to external services and normalize data into your stack.

Go

High-throughput services & workers

Go services · Event-driven pipelines · Workers

  • Handle noisy workloads: queues, streams, and high-volume APIs.
  • Isolate performance-critical paths from the rest of the system.
  • Keep services small, testable, and observable from day one.

DevOps & Cloud

The rails everything runs on

Containers · CI/CD · Observability · Security

  • Ship small, frequent changes with confidence.
  • Instrument services with logs, metrics, and traces.
  • Harden production with sensible defaults and guardrails.

HOW IT FITS TOGETHER

Common architecture patterns we use in the wild.

Most projects fall into a few repeatable shapes. We tweak the pattern to your reality instead of reinventing the wheel every time.

Pattern 01

Content-led platforms (Drupal + Next.js + PHP APIs)

When content, SEO, and editorial workflows matter as much as product features.

TYPICAL STACK

  • Drupal as the source of truth for content and navigation.
  • Next.js frontend for marketing pages, landing pages, and apps.
  • Symfony/Laravel for business logic that doesn’t belong in the CMS.

WHAT YOU GET

  • Editors can move fast without touching React code.
  • Frontends stay clean, fast, and easy to redesign.
  • Integrations (payments, CRMs, etc.) live in PHP APIs, not hacked into templates.

Pattern 02

Product & SaaS (Laravel/Symfony + React + Go workers)

When you have real users, real accounts, and a roadmap measured in years.

TYPICAL STACK

  • Laravel/Symfony as the main product backend and API surface.
  • React/Next.js for authenticated dashboards and admin tools.
  • Go workers to process heavy or time-sensitive workloads off the main request path.

WHAT YOU GET

  • Core product logic stays readable and testable.
  • User experience stays responsive even under load.
  • Background jobs handle billing, notifications, and imports without blocking users.

Pattern 03

Data & analytics (Python + Go + Next.js dashboards)

When reporting, metrics, or data products are central to your value.

TYPICAL STACK

  • Python services and workers for ETL, enrichment, and data quality checks.
  • Go microservices for high-volume events, queues, or streaming.
  • Next.js dashboards for interactive charts and self-serve analytics.

WHAT YOU GET

  • Reports that used to take hours can be generated in minutes or seconds.
  • Data pipelines are observable and recoverable, not a black box.
  • Teams get trustworthy metrics without manual spreadsheet gymnastics.

DEVOPS & DELIVERY

The rails beneath Drupal, PHP, Python, and Go.

A good stack isn't just languages. It's how you deploy, observe, and evolve them without breaking your users' day.

Environment & deployment strategy

  • Clear environments (dev, staging, production) mapped to branches.
  • Repeatable deployments via pipelines, not manual SSH sessions.
  • Feature flags and phased rollouts for riskier changes.

Observability & reliability

  • Centralized logs for Drupal, PHP, Python, and Go services.
  • Metrics and dashboards for latency, error rates, and capacity.
  • Meaningful alerts that wake humans only when it matters.

Security & compliance basics

  • Secrets management instead of config files full of keys.
  • Least-privilege access for databases and third-party APIs.
  • Dependency updates and vulnerability scanning baked into the process.

Developer experience

  • Local environments that feel like production, not toy setups.
  • Fast feedback loops via tests and linting in CI.
  • Documentation that explains how to run, debug, and extend the system.

IS THIS STACK FOR YOU?

When our stack is a strong fit—and when it isn't.

We'd rather be honest than generic. Our toolbox shines in certain situations and we'll tell you if your project falls outside of that.

GREAT FIT

When you'll likely be happy with Drupal + PHP + JS + Python + Go.

  • You have a growing product or platform, not a throwaway prototype.
  • You want to own your content, code, and infrastructure long-term.
  • You care about reliability, observability, and clear ownership.
  • You prefer a stack that your internal team can learn and extend.

PROBABLY NOT IDEAL

When we're happy to recommend someone else.

  • You need purely native mobile with deep platform-specific features and no shared backend.
  • You want a no-code/low-code prototype with minimal engineering involved.
  • You're locked into a very different stack and not ready to adapt it.
  • You're looking for the cheapest possible build, not senior craftsmanship.

TALK ABOUT YOUR STACK

Want a second opinion on your current architecture?

Send over a short description of your current stack—Drupal, PHP, Python, Go, something else—and where it hurts. We'll tell you what we'd keep, what we'd simplify, and where we think our team could help.

Email us your stackGo to contact page

No pressure, no long sales cycle. If we're not the right fit, we'll say so and, if we can, point you in a better direction.