What is Full Stack Development
Full-stack development alludes to both the front end, also
known as the client-side and the back end, otherwise known as the server-side
of a web application. It encompasses designing
the whole gamut of a web application as well as the website itself. The work
involved in full-stack development covers the nitty-gritty of the front end,
back end and database development as
well as the debugging of web applications as well as websites.
Full-stack development requires the full mastery of not only
HTML and CSS,[1]
but also the ability to leverage jQuery, JavaScript, Vue or Angular to program
a browser and use Python, PHP, ASP and Node to program a server. That apart, it
requires the ability to program a database as well, leveraging MongoDB, SQL or
SQLite.
|
Client
Software Comprising the Front end |
Server
Software Comprising the Back end |
|
CSS |
C++ |
|
Bootstrap |
ASP |
|
HTML |
PHP |
|
JavaScript |
C# |
|
W3.CSS |
Python |
|
HTML Dom |
Java |
|
JSON |
Node.js |
|
XML |
Ruby |
|
Angular |
Express.js |
|
JQuery |
GO |
|
React |
SQL |
|
Redux |
REST |
|
Ember.js |
MongoDB |
|
Backbone.js |
Firebase.com |
|
Storybook |
Less |
|
Grunt |
Saas |
|
Gulp |
PaaS (Azure and Heroku) |
|
Meteor.js |
|
|
Graph.QL |
|
Why Go For Full Stack Development
There are some inherent advantages in going in for
full-stack development. Let's look at what these might be-
- A one-stop-shop
solution for all of one's development requirements.
- Exposure to the
entire slew of development techniques.
- Rapid development
of prototypes.
- The ability to
cater to the requirements of the entire team.
- Economical cost of
project.
- Faster
communication within the team.
- Flexibility in
switching from front end to back end based upon the current requirement.
- A better handle on
emerging technologies.
Full-stack developers are adept at taking on projects that
require them to delve into databases, create user-facing websites and work in
conjunction with clients with regard to the planning of projects. Most clients
these days prefer developers who are very well versed in the intricacies
pertaining to all the parts of a site, enabling them to deploy just the right
tool for the job, notwithstanding whether these can be considered front end or back
end.
Skills Required to Become a Full Stack Developer
There is a definite set of skill required to become a full
stack developer. Let’s get to know what these are[2]:
- Front
End Technology Skills
For one to be considered a bona fide full stack developer,
it is critically important to be skilled and experienced in essential front end
technologies like CSS3, JavaScript and HTML5, as well as deep knowledge of
third party libraries like Angular, LESS,
jQuery and React.js.
- Knowledge
of Development Languages
A full-stack developer needs to be skilled in a server-side
programming language like Python, Java, .Net, Ruby, etc.
- Knowledge
of Database Management Software and Caching Technologies
A full-stack developer needs to be aware of the different
types of DBMS technologies. These include MongoDB, MySQL, Oracle and SQL
Server. They also need to know about caching mechanisms like Memcached, Redis
and Varnish.
- Server
Knowledge
A full-stack developer needs to be skilled in the use of
Apache or nginx servers. Exposure to Linux is of great help in being able to
administer servers.
- Stellar
Basic Designing Ability
Any successful full stack developer necessarily has to have
great designing ability. Besides, they should be well versed in the basic
prototype, as well as UI and UX design.
6. Knowledge of VCX or Version Control Systems
Full-stack developers would do well to get a handle on
Version Control Systems, so as to be able to be in the know of any changes made
in the codebase. The distributed version
control system Git, for example, empowers them to gain an understanding of the
latest codes, as well as the ability to update parts of the code. It also
enables them to change other developers’ code in an unobtrusive manner.
7. Ability to Work with API
Knowledge about application programming interface or API is
a must for full-stack developers. Good examples of this are the ability to
create and consume REST and SOAP services.
Apart from the above, a full stack developer would be well
served, if they could possess the ability to write quality unit tests and have
a firm grasp of the automated process behind the building and testing of a
document, as well as implementing it at scale.
Besides, an appreciation of security concerns for each of the layers
with regard to their specific vulnerabilities is very important. Finally, it is
also important for full-stack developers to be knowledgeable about algorithms
and data structures.
Full Stack Developer Responsibilities
A full-stack developer has a slew of responsibilities on his or her shoulder. These include designing user interactions for websites as well as developing servers and databases that promote website functionality and coding. They also expected to code for mobile platforms. Let us take a detailed look at what all their j
- Front
End Website Architecture Development-
Front end applications need to have a dependable
architecture that is easy to maintain and is easy to scale up and down. An
ideal way of doing that would be to create a modular and domain-driven one.
- Web
Page User Interaction Designing
User interaction design is more than just the interaction
between the user and the application or design. It may very well be about
multiple users connecting through that device. It is all about how a product
works than the way that it appears.
- Back
End Website Application Development
This is literally the skill that is behind the power of the
web. Yet, back end development happens unobtrusively enabling users to go about
the business of browsing myriad sites unmindful of the skills and effort
required to make that possible.
- Server
and Database Creation From the Functionality Viewpoint
Full-stack developers should be
able to plan the structure as well as create a new project in this regard. They
should possess the ability to prepare the web interface, as well as the
communication between the application and the database. They should be able to
run the completed application, as well as manage the troubleshooting.[3]
- Cross-Platform
Optimization for Mobiles
In the mobile-first era, it is a no brainer that
cross-platform optimization for mobiles is a skill that a full stack developer
most certainly has to possess. One should have the ability to make a
mobile-optimized site look equally great on an iPhone, Android, Symbian and
Blackberry mobiles.
- Making
Applications Responsive
Full-stack developers are expected to be on the ball when it
comes to ensuring that applications don't exhibit any manner of sluggishness
with regard to user responsiveness. This should be regardless of whether
resources or service available to the users is at par or below it.
- Working
in Tandem With Graphic Designers
A full-stack developer would do well to work in tandem with
a graphic designer in order to create a site that is brilliant both in terms of
its functionality and aesthetics.
- A
to Z Project Implementation
A full-stack developer is expected to be involved in a
project right from the stage of initiation to its completion. Needless to say, this requires excellent
organizational skills, as well as an eye for the last detail.
- Designing
and Development of APIs
Considering the fact that an API is a critically important
piece of technology, on account of it being a platform that empowers diverse
software or applications to communicate with one another, it is critical that a
full stack developer be able to design and develop them very well.
- Catering
to Technical and Consumer Needs
These are really the fundamental responsibilities of a full
stack developer. They are absolutely expected to cater to both the technical
and consumer needs with equal facility. That is the reason, why they are so
highly prized.
- Keeping
Oneself Updated About Developments in Web Application and Programming
Languages
Considering the high rate of obsolescence in the technology
sector, a full-stack developer has to stay in the know about the latest
developments in the realm of webs applications and programming. This will
ensure that the sites they develop are both contemporary and optimized to
deliver.
Most Popular Tech Stacks Full Stack Developers Can Choose From
Let us first understand what stack really stands for. It is
a term used to describe a set of programming languages or software products.[4] Full-stack
developers these days are expected to be past masters at managing all manner of
issues across myriad streams of software development. That is the reason why
there is such a large demand for full-stack developers possessing the wherewithal
capable of web and app designing from the start to the finish, without
disrupting any process.
The reason that full-stack developers are the flavour of the
times is the fact that they are able to perform a large number of important
development function that they can efficiently perform. Let's examine the most
sought after stacks that are popular with full-stack developers.
1. MEAN Stack
This comprises MongoDB, Express.js, Angular and Node.js. It
is the preferred stack among full stack developers engaged in mobile and
responsive web apps. MongoDB is deployed by the back end for storing data in
the shape of JavaScript Object Notation documents. Express JS on the other hand is the back end
web application mounted on Node.js.
Angular enables the front-end web app framework that runs
the JavaScript code in the user’s browser empowering an application UI to
assume a dynamic form. Node.js enables a JavaScript runtime environment that
allows one to implement an application back end in JavaScript.
This stack is popular not only because it melds four great
enabling technologies, but also because it covers the entire gamut of full web
development cycle ranging from the client-side front end development to the
server-side back end with the help of JavaScript.
- MERN
Stack
Another very popular stack with full-stack developers, this
one consists of MongoDB, Express, React, and Node.js open source components. These
together provide the entire framework of support required by developers to
carry out their functions. Quite similar to the MEAN stack, its noticeable
difference is that it uses Angular to create front end web applications,
whereas this one uses React.
Like
the MEAN stack, the MERN stack too encompasses the full range of the web
development cycle including client-side front end development and the
server-side back end development using JavaScript.
- MEVIN Stack
This is
another version of MEAN, where Angular is replaced with Vue.js as the front end
framework. The advantage that accrues from using Vue.js is the fact that it
combines the best features of React and Angular. Not only is it easy to master,
but it also performs exceedingly well, has a clean programming style and a
handful of great tools.
- LAMP
Again,
quite a popular stack with full-stack developers on account of its stellar
performance, malleability and open-source origins. It is the stack of choice
for many on account of its ability to enhance efficiency and reduce costs.[5]
Structurally
it is comprised of Linux as the basic layer of the stack and Apache an open-source
and free HTTP server that enables the movement of content between the server
and the users’ browsers. Other components include MySQL a relational database
management system and the programming languages like PHP, Pearl or Python.
Going beyond these open-source system one can use different combinations and
variations of the same stack which can run seamlessly on any operating system.
When to Hire a Full Stack Developer?
In
today's fraught times where most businesses run lean operations and seek to
test and validate ideas by creating a bare-bones but viable product, a full
stack developer is definitely the one to turn to. They possess both the ability
and the wherewithal to turn an idea or a feature into a viable and functional
prototype.
We are in the middle of a technological revolution that has made the world of business a hyper-efficient and extremely competitive place where the best value at the best prices is the name of the game. In a scenario like this, you could say that full-stack developers are a prized community who are valued for the skills they bring to the table.
The Bottom Line
The
role of a developer is key in the world of technology and this is truer today
than ever before. A developer needs to update his or her skills regularly to be
able to keep pace with the rapid technological changes that have become the
norm in today's times.
That is
the precise reason why a full stack developer is so important. With their ability to leverage their
knowledge of both the front end and the back end they are able to deal with the
technical issues pertaining to both the client as well as the server software
in use. They possess the wherewithal to work in a seamlessly coordinated matter
with other stakeholders and obtain optimal results.
In the
old paradigm development work used to be divided amongst specialist front end
and back end developers, testers, database engineers and so on who constituted
the various parts of the software development life cycle.[6]
But
with the emergence of multiple frameworks, tools as well as libraries it has
become possible for software developers to carry out turnkey application
development encompassing building, testing and deploying applications. The
number of organizations seeking the services of full stack developers to help
them in the implementation of agile projects by leveraging their skill-sets has
grown manifold.
Full-stack
developers are valued for their extreme flexibility of skills, with regard to
both front end and back end technologies. That apart, the fact that they
possess a vast amount of know-how and deep experience in an array of technologies
makes them the right candidates for entrusting the ownership of a project and
expecting total accountability for every aspect of the project.
A
full-stack developer goes beyond the development of the code and actually goes
ahead and provides it with a structure, besides coming up with the user
interface designs. Not just that, they actually go ahead and optimize as well
as maintain the existing systems.
Add to
that their immense problem-solving abilities, on account of their deep
knowledge about every development stage and a firm handle on technology to
efficiently zero in on any issues and providing and deploying optimal long term
solutions. With their extensive bouquet of skills cutting across domains, they
are able both hasten and improve project delivery. Any organization would be
happy to hire full-stack developers for their innate ability to resolve
problems pertaining to various aspects of web and app development. Full-stack
developers are hot property all right and they are likely to stay that way in
the time ahead.
..
.
[1]
https://www.w3schools.com/whatis/whatis_fullstack.asp
[2]
https://www.guru99.com/full-stack-developer.html
[3]
https://netbeans.org/kb/docs/web/mysql-webapp.html
[4]
https://medium.com/datadriveninvestor/most-popular-technology-stack-to-choose-from-full-stack-vs-mean-stack-vs-mern-stack-in-2019-d12c0a17439a
[5]
https://www.webdatarocks.com/blog/which-tech-stack-to-choose-for-your-project-in-2020/#:~:text=Undoubtedly%2C%20the%20MEAN%20stack%20is,are%20free%20and%20open%2Dsource.
[6]
http://agiliztech.com/2019/09/17/how-important-is-it-to-hire-a-full-stack-developer-5-best-reasons/
