The software development industry is going through a shift where businesses are looking for all-rounders instead of specialists. Because hiring such technological staff reduces capital expenditure and overhead and increases profitability. That is not all! Versatile software or website developers can also lead a development project well and ensure it goes according to the client’s needs. Are you a software developer working in the front-end or back-end and want to become a valuable professional in the industry? You may want to try your luck in the full stack developer’s role. Continue reading this article to find the necessary knowledge, training courses, and confidence to become a versatile web, mobile, or computer software developer.
What Is a Full Stack Developer? 👩💻
The term full stack developer comes from the full stack technology of computer software. Full stack tech means the entire depth and breadth of a computer program. Developers who can build functional software, mobile app, or website from the ground are full stack developers. To explain the concept in detail, a website or app contains the client and server sides. On the client end, you need to build the user interface (UI), user experience (UX), graphics, platform design, color-coded themes, content placement, call-to-action movements, etc. On the server side, you need to develop solutions to serve data from a database to the client-side app, collect data from the client app, manage the database, push client app updates, troubleshoot live apps, and so on. According to the functionalities, the tech stack also changes from client-side development to server-side development. For example, front-end development will need HTML, CSS, JavaScript, JSON, XML, Angular, React templates, GraphQL, etc. On the other hand, back-end development deals with PHP, ASP, C++, C#, Java, Python, Node.js, Express.js, REST, MongoDB, Azure, AWS, GCP, etc. A software developer who knows all the above tools is popularly known as a full stack developer in the software industry.
How to Become a Full-Stack Developer? 👩🏫
When deciding to become a full stack developer, you need to review your existing experience. Things will be comparatively easier if you are already a back-end or front-end developer. You must identify the gaps in your learning and gather knowledge on those topics. Also, make sure you have the necessary soft skills before stepping into the path to join this profession. Interested people can get themselves enrolled in various certification programs. For professionals, self-paced courses will be highly beneficial. However, for people with no coding experience, the path to becoming a full stack developer could be challenging.
Full Stack Vs. Front-End Vs. Back-End Developers
Different levels of developers mainly differ in their roles in a software development project. You will find more on this below:
Front-End Developers
People involved in this profession have to take care of the user interface and UX of an app or website. They need to develop the interface, navigation, most importantly, the visuals using HTML, CSS3, and JS. This web development position requires the most aesthetic sense. A front-end developer may possess designing and development skills or just development skills. In the latter case, the front-end developer needs to team up with a designer to shape a tool interface’s graphics, themes, color, etc. Front-end developers often work independently and deliver the project deliverables to the next developer in the pipeline. Usually, they do not deal with project stakeholders or clients. And most importantly, front-end developers can not independently develop a fully functional software or website.
Back-End Developers
Contrarily, the responsibilities of back-end developers include dealing with the database and server. They need to know languages like PHP, Python, and Ruby to develop the back frame that makes the front-end development possible. Back-end developers also need to know database systems like SQL, MySQL, etc., to create server-side databases that the app or website will use. Like the front-end developers, back-end developers also work on their part of the development project and hand off work to the next developer. They barely deal with clients and stakeholders. Not to mention, they need help from different development teams to build a functional application or website.
Full Stack Developers
Finally, full stack development combines front and back-end web and app development skills. They are responsible for ensuring that the whole development process goes smoothly. Besides the languages important for front-end and back-end development, they need to know machine learning, MYSQL, and more. Apart from the technical knowledge of the entire software production cycle, a full stack developer must learn how to deal with project clients or stakeholders. The project manager will always assign a full stack developer to present reports since they understand the entire pipeline. In small projects, one or two full stack developers can develop the entire software without needing vital technical help from front-end or back-end engineers. However, they might need help from the content creation team, graphics designers, etc.
Skills Needed to Become a Full-Stack Developer 👩🔬
#1. Frameworks
To become a successful full stack developer, a clear knowledge of the commonly used frameworks, including React, Angular, and Vue.js, is a must.
#2. HTML & CSS
HTML and CSS are two fundamental elements of front-end development. A solid foundation is mandatory for those who want to become full stack developer.
#3. JavaScript
Since JavaScript is the most popular programming language for front-end and back-end development, anyone who wants to be in this profession should know this.
#4. Database Management Systems
The tasks of a full-stack developer include using DBMS like MySQL, SQL SERVER and PostgreSQL, Oracle Database, and MongoDB. Hence, an in-depth understanding of these databases is mandatory.
#5. Version Control
A full stack developer should know how to manage project files with version control systems like Git, Github, and Subversion.
#6. Web Hosting Platforms
Since product deployment on the cloud needs web hosting platforms, they must know about AWS, MS Azure, Google cloud platform, and Heroku.
#7. Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills
When seen from a business perspective, the ability to analyze the situation and solve problems is a plus point for this profession.
#8. Testing
Since testing is an essential part of software development, full stack developers should know how to test a tool for debugging.
#9. API
Modern-day development needs the use of APIs. Full stack developers should know how to use and integrate APIs in their apps and websites.
Full Stack Developer Salaries 💲
Another justification to become a full stack developer from the front or back end is the remuneration you can get from your employer. According to Indeed, the average annual salary of a versatile developer in the USA is $101,040. Now, if you can add some past job experiences (3 to 5 years) to your resume, you can get a handsome salary of up to $122,289/year. If you can get your hands on jobs in companies like Wells Fargo, eBay, Walmart, etc., you could earn more, get extra cash bonuses, the best in industry health benefits, retirement benefits, and so on. You can also run some high-paid side gigs from other clients to develop small apps, games, and websites. On the flip side, a front-end developer may earn up to $92,805 a year and a back-end developer $95,082 per year in the USA, according to Indeed.
Move to Full Stack Development: Mindset Shift
You need to acquire some soft skills if you are planning to brand yourself as a full stack developer from existing roles like back-end or front-end developer. These soft skills will prepare you mentally. Being a specialist developer, you might work independently and hand off your work to the next developer or project manager in the development pipeline. But a versatile software developer must interact with the entire development team, support team, business stakeholders, clients, and more. Hence, it is a must that you train yourself to become a master in the following skills:
Multi-taskingCommunicationsInquisitivenessTime managementWorking in a team and leading the teamPatient and willing to teachCreative mindLeading a projectAttention to detail
So far, you have gone through the fundamentals and essentials a full-stack developer must know before coming to this profession.
Learning Resources 📚
The Ultimate 2022 Full Stack Web Development Bootcamp: Udemy
Even if you do not know how to code, this Ultimate Full Stack Web Development Bootcamp by Udemy can help you become a full-stack web developer and land your dream job. This course is highly comprehensive and detailed. Therefore, it can turn a novice developer into a coding ninja seamlessly. In this course, participants learn to use the latest tools, technologies, and approaches of big names like Google, Instagram, and Apple. Here, you will learn to develop any app you want. Also, it teaches you back-end development using Django, Wagtail, Postgres, and Python, as well as front-end development using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. In addition, one can learn the best practices of a professional developer, which will be necessary if one wants to become a freelance web developer. The course length is 40 hours and includes 559 lectures, 21 articles, and 117 downloadable resources. Apart from the full lifetime access to the course material, the certificate and access on mobile and TV are other highlighted features of this certification.
Full Stack Web Development Bootcamp 2022: Udemy
This Full Stack Web Development-MERN STACK course helps you learn full-stack web development that involves Node.js, REACT, MongoDB, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and more. It teaches you modern technologies and frameworks needed to build websites and web applications in 2022. Moreover, you do not need any programming experience or computer-related courses to join this program. Besides teaching fundamental technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, it also covers advanced topics such as React, Node.js, and MongoDB. After completing this course, participants can develop websites to complete web apps. All in all, the goal of this program is to help you become an expert full-stack developer or start your own app development business. This hands-on course contains step-by-step instructions and live examples; hence, anyone can quickly grasp it. This course includes a massive 76 hours of on-demand video and 7 articles. Additionally, you get 150 downloadable resources and lifetime access to the course material. It not only includes some assignments to measure your learning but also offers a certificate after course completion.
IBM Full Stack Software Developer Professional Certificate: Coursera
The IBM Full Stack Software Developer: Coursera certification program is perfect for those looking to kickstart their career in app development. It lets you master full stack development with the help of hands-on projects related to HTML, Node.js, JavaScript, Python, Django, Containers, Microservices, etc. Here, IBM experts will teach you how to develop cloud-based apps by letting you practice with them. The program has both instructional content and hands-on exercises to hone your skills. Participants will also get guidance on the usages of tools and technologies used to build, deploy, test, run, and manage full-stack apps. Furthermore, after completing this course, you can deploy and scale applications using Containers, Kubernetes, and Serverless Functions. If one can invest around 3 hours per week for this course, it will take 14 months to complete. You do not need any prior experience to enroll in this course. Also, being a 100% Self-Paced course allows you to complete the certification at your own pace and time.
Full Stack Web Developer: Udacity
With this Udacity Nanodegree program, you can go one step ahead to become a full-stack web developer. It teaches you to develop powerful modern web applications essential for businesses to function daily. This program aims to equip you with the skills necessary for designing database-backed APIs and web apps. After completing this degree, you can design and develop databases for software applications, deploy database-backed web APIs, manage user authentication, and many more. Moreover, it will teach you to use Docker and Kubernetes for deploying Flask-based web apps to the cloud. This flexible learning program can be tailored according to your schedule. It also contains immersive content and real-life projects that prepare you for the skills the tech companies need. For this course, you need to have beginner-level experience in Python. You should also have experience using Github with version control and front-end website development with HTML, CSS, and JS.
Final Words 👩🎓
Now you know the challenges on your path to becoming a successful full stack developer. You can easily overcome the hurdles in your path by signing up for any of the above online learning resources. Apart from the technical and soft skills training, you must modify or revamp your development mindset to become a versatile software developer. By becoming a full stack developer, you increase your chances of climbing the ladder of success and winning some of the top technical positions in a software development company or startup because you possess the vision and experience to lead the development projects in the organization’s right direction. You may also be interested in Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET).
