Tech Stacks: The invisible tech backbone driving Singapore’s Smart Nation success
Just as we need homes to live in, digital and tech properties need real estate too. After all, digital applications need stable environments to function reliably. Without such a foundation, even the most cutting-edge software wouldn’t be able to perform smoothly.
Creating a viable space for these services is essential in Singapore’s Smart Nation journey, where 99% of all government transactions are completed online. Recognising this early on, Singapore developed the Government on Commercial Cloud (GCC) – a robust, secure environment where our essential public services live and thrive. This is the foundation of the Singapore Government Tech Stack (SGTS), a robust ecosystem that supports the design, development, and deployment of digital services seamlessly.
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A safe and standardised foundation
While cloud computing isn’t new, the GCC is a step above the typical commercial cloud. Designed to meet a digital government’s stringent security and operational needs, the GCC is like the “land” where all the government’s digital flats, or applications, are built.
When constructing physical buildings, the land is first prepped, and infrastructure such as electricity and plumbing is put in place. The GCC does the same for developers—it provides a stable base for them to work on, freeing them from repeatedly setting up core infrastructure and worrying about compliance with government standards and security gaps.
This analogy extends beyond just foundational work. Once the “land” is ready, developers can focus on the “interior design”: customising applications and services to meet specific needs. One example is GatherSG, a case management tech stack that optimises inter-agency collaboration. It enables developers to skip foundational tasks like sourcing infrastructure and instead focus on the user experience, which sped up deployment.
Today, more than 80% of eligible Government systems have been migrated to the GCC, with plans for all eligible systems to transition over time. This centralised cloud foundation brings consistency, cost savings, and reduced setup times for new applications. For example, when COVID-19 hit, and urgent digital solutions were needed to track and respond to the crisis, the GCC enabled developers to deploy updates swiftly.
Urban planning for efficient use of resources
Just as Singapore’s urban planning balances utility and beauty, the SGTS’s digital neighbourhood ensures different “blocks” or systems come together harmoniously. This coordinated planning is crucial because, in digital ecosystems, multiple agencies often need to use certain tools and technologies. Without a common platform, each agency would develop its own infrastructure, leading to redundancies.
Tech stacks help solve this issue by standardising core technologies. Within the SGTS, tools like SHIP-HATS for source code management, C-Stack for containerisation, and APEX for API management act as essential digital infrastructure. Instead of agencies building their own tools, they tap into these shared resources, saving time and reducing costs. The result? Much faster deployment of digital services. For instance, Singpass's MyInfo’s launch time was cut from a year to just four months, thanks to SGTS.
Fostering collaboration and innovation
Having a common platform also enables seamless knowledge sharing through inner sourcing. Similar to open source but within the government, inner sourcing allows developers across agencies to share code, templates, and best practices. This collaborative model reduces duplication of efforts and accelerates development timelines.
Inner sourcing also applies to design through the Singapore Government Design System (SGDS), which provides shared design components that agencies can use, ensuring that government applications have a consistent and user-friendly interface. Designers can contribute to SGDS, creating a feedback loop of continual improvement.
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Evolving with the future
As technology evolves, so does the stack. One of the upcoming focus areas is integrating artificial intelligence (AI) to boost developer productivity. AI-powered coding assistants and automation tools are being explored to optimise the software development process further. The goal isn’t to replace developers but to augment their capabilities, allowing smaller teams to achieve more.
Another area of focus is system resilience. It is crucial to ensure digital services remain available and responding quickly on the rare occasion when systems are down. SGTS’s future enhancements will address these needs so that public confidence in public digital services stays strong.
The invisible backbone of Singapore’s digital success
Just as Singapore’s well-planned neighbourhoods contribute to its liveability, the SGTS underpins our digital excellence. Invisible to most, it’s the hidden engine that powers everything from CPF services to career support and upskilling resources. By centralising infrastructure and fostering collaboration, the SGTS ensures Singapore stays ahead in its Smart Nation journey.
