Our world is increasingly going digital. Our daily lives are flooded with applications and websites. If you come to think of it, there is a high probability that nearly everything in your life is a software product.
From the morning alarm, the apps like Facebook and Instagram that you used to stay in touch with your friends and family, to YouTube, on which you probably spend hours watching videos- everything is a web application. So, who makes these apps? Who works behind the scenes to make sure you see new pictures or news on your Facebook and Instagram feed each time you hit refresh?
In this article, we will delve into understanding the role of full-stack developers, who they are, what they do, the skills required to become one, the roles and responsibilities of this job, etc.
What are Full-Stack Developers?
The websites and applications that we use so frequently in our daily lives are created and maintained by web developers.
Based on their role in the whole process of web development, web developers are classified into:
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Front-end developers
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Back-end developers
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Full-stack developers
Before jumping on to full-stack developers, let's first understand what front-end and back-end developers do. A website has many elements – the appearance, the layout, the server-side technology, etc.
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Front-end developers take care of a website's overall user experience and visual aspects.
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Back-end developers maintain the technology required to keep the website running.
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Full-stack development combines both front-end and back-end development.
Full-stack developers are experts in both the front-end and back-end process of web development. Since it involves both ends' knowledge and expertise, full-stack developers' role is more complex than other developers.
What do Full-Stack Developers do?
Full-stack developers can build websites and web applications on their own. They are proficient in programming languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, used on the front-end of web development. They are also adept at languages like Ruby and Python used in back-end web development.
Since full-stack developers can single-handedly do both front-end and back-end developers, they save time and costs for a company.
How to Become a Full-Stack Developer
Full-stack developers are highly demanded in the field of web development. Small businesses often employ them to take care of the whole process of website development.
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The first step towards having a career as a full-stack developer is to educate yourself. Learn the necessary programming languages and other technical skills.
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You can either follow the traditional route of getting a college degree in computer science or a related discipline or by following other paths like self-learning or online training courses.
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Familiarize yourself with all the popular technologies but attain mastery in one of them.
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After getting a degree or certification, and attaining mastery in technical skills, gain practical exposure. This will help you put apply your learned knowledge and skills. Working on projects will help you properly understand web application architecture and hone your coding abilities.
Take up additional projects and assignments in areas that fall outside your expertise. Employers appreciate such initiatives.
Skills Required to Become a Full-Stack Developer
Any profession requires you to have specific technical skills or hard skills, along with a particular set of soft skills. The same goes for the skills needed to become a full-stack developer.
Here Are Some Top Technical Full-Stack Developer Skills:
Front-End languages
1. HTML/CSS
Both HTML and CSS are popular front-end languages. HTML stands for Hypertext Markup Language. The text, colourful images, headings, and paragraphs you see when you visit a website are formatted using HTML.
On the other hand, CSS or Cascading Style Sheets is used to change and style the text, including the font type, text size, spacing between paragraphs, etc. Its purpose is to make the web content appear more pleasing and user-friendly.
2. JavaScript
If you are looking forward to becoming a full-stack developer, learning JavaScript will be compulsory for you.
JavaScript is an object-oriented, client-side programming language. It's mainly used to add behaviours to HTML, increasing the quality of user interaction with the app. As a full-stack developer, you will also be required to be well-versed in JavaScript features, like React and Angular. JavaScript helps full-stack developers in creating responsive web pages. As a full-stack developer, you must also know how to use DOM and JSON.
3. Git and GitHub
Git is an open-source version control system. Git can efficiently manage all the changes you make to the websites, codes, documents, etc. As a full-stack developer, Git will allow you to track all the modifications done to the application database. Being well-versed in Git will allow you to do your job better and collaborate with your teammates.
4. SQL
SQL is short for Structured Query Language, and its primary use is in database management. It is a domain-specific language that is built for two central purposes. The first is to handle and manipulate data stored in a Relational Database Management System (RDBMS). The second is for stream processing in RDBMS.
Back-End Languages
1. PHP – PHP is a highly compatible back-end programming language that can work well across all platforms from Unix to Windows.
2. Python – Python is an easy-to-learn programming language with a syntax closely resembling English.
3. Java – Java has many purposes. It's used for the development of mobile apps, desktop apps, and the web.
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HTTP and REST- As a full-stack developer, you must master both HTTP and REST. Both HTTP and REST have different functions. HTTP is a communication protocol used to facilitate all forms of interaction and communication with the client. On the other hand, REST is a protocol used to gather data between systems using the HTTP protocol.
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Database storage- All the data of web applications is stored in a database. Storing this data is essential as it allows web developers to access it later. As a full-stack developer, you need to be adept at knowing the nitty-gritty of database storage and relational databases. You must also be well-versed in database management, including designing, understanding, and manipulating database queries.
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Design skills- Since full-stack developers are concerned with both front-end and back-end web development, it is essential that they have basic design skills. Front-end development is concerned with the visual elements of a website. When you visit a website, all the features that visually appealing fall under the front-end part of web development. You must know the fundamentals of design as a full-stack developer, like scalability, User Interface, UX design, etc.
Also Read: A Complete Guide to Java Training and Certification
Here are a few things related to database storage and database management that you must know as a full-stack developer:
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How to work with f XML and JSON.
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Have an apt understanding of NoSQL databases.
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Have an adept knowledge of web storage
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Knowledge of relational and non-relational data.
Tools Required to Become a Full-Stack Developer
1. Ruby on rails
This is server-side, open-source software that runs on Ruby. It has a Model-View-Controller (MVC) framework and includes all default options required to build database-backed web applications.
2. Django
This is a web framework written using Python. This also is an open-sourced framework that follows the model-template-view architectural pattern. It provides a speedy development of clean and helpful code and is used for server scripting.
3. NodeJS
This is a run-time environment in JavaScript built on Chrome's V8 JavaScript engine. You can create dynamic web pages with it for server-side operations. It dramatically reduces the number of codes that are required to be written for a process. Its architecture is event-drive.
4. MySQL
This is a Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) which uses SQL for operations. It is one of the most widely used databases.
MySQL is open-source and is available on all leading operating systems such as Windows, Linux, and Solaris. It stores data in tables, columns, and rows.
5. MongoDB
This database is meant for modern developers who want to circumvent SQL as it is document-based and does not require SQL. It can maintain high-security levels of data. MongoDB also comes in a Cloud version.
Soft skills
Soft skills required to become a full-stack developer include:
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Analytical skills
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Strategic planning
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Problem-solving skills
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Good time management skills
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Project management abilities
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Organizational abilities
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Good communication skills
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Collaboration and teamwork abilities
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Attention to detail
Roles and Responsibilities of a Full-Stack Developer
Here are some key responsibilities that you'll be handling as a full-stack developer:
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You'll be developing the front-end of websites and interactive user interfaces using front-end programming languages like HTML/CSS and JavaScript.
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You'll be responsible for designing the back-end part of websites and web applications.
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You'll ensure that the websites and web applications created are compatible across all platforms and operating systems like Windows and Linux.
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You'll be responsible for creating API, which performs the vital task of fetching data from the server.
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The websites and web applications that you make must be centred around the requirements of the consumers.
Considering the rapid pace at which websites and web applications are growing, full-stack developers' role has become indispensable. If you're looking forward to a career in this field, it's a safe bet. You can take up online certifications and courses to start your education in this field.
At Koenig Solutions, we provide a training course on full-stack development. I hope this article helped you understand what a full-stack developer does and the skills required to become one.
Full Stack Developer Salary
According to AmbitionBox, the average annual salary of a full-stack developer in India is Rs. 6 lakhs. The salary ranges between Rs. 2.1 lakh to 16.2 lakhs.
According to Indeed, the average annual salary of a full-stack developer in the US is $1,03,759. The pay ranges between $66,506 to $1,61,879. As your experience grows, so will your salary.
Experience Required to Become a Full-Stack Developer
There’s no timeline or experience required to become a full-stack developer. Having a university degree can certainly improve your chances of becoming one. You are more likely to get a job as a full-stack developer when you have proof of your education and a portfolio to show. However, many developers do not have university degrees and still do well.
What they have are skills and certifications. Certifications are a cost-efficient way of becoming a developer. You learn the most relevant skills in less time than a degree would take. You are passionate enough about coding that you are willing to learn both front-end and back-end development.
While you cannot become a full-stack developer overnight, you can escalate the speed with your dedication and hard work.
Personality Traits of a Full Stack Developer
Becoming a successful full-stack developer is just as much about personality traits as it is about your technical skills. Here are some personality traits essential for full-stack developers.
You are a problem-solver
You are someone who isn’t intimidated by the idea of problems. In fact, you like them. You enjoy learning why it exists and looking for solutions. You don’t settle on one solution and always look for ways to improve things.
You believe in the saying ‘learning never stops’
You can only be a part of the IT sector while learning continuously. As a full-stack developer, you will never stop learning. It could be a new programming language or a new tool. You have to learn and grow to stay relevant continuously.
You have impeccable organizational skills
Being organized is extremely important for you. You can manage multiple projects and follow different deadlines impeccably.
You are resourceful
Being resourceful is not only valuable for living a good life but also for your work. You are clever enough to find resources when you need them and are not scared of asking for them when necessary.
You work well in a team
You are well aware of the ‘alone we can do little; together we can do so much’ (Helen Keller) saying. You thrive in a team and work well with others.
You are excellent at communication
You have excellent communication skills. You can communicate your point effectively and concisely. Your field of work demands that you explain the most technical things to non-technical people.
Flexibility is your thing
You are not rigid. You can adjust to abrupt changes without letting them affect your work. You are aware that not all answers lie in the originally laid out plans. Sometimes, it is better to look outside them.
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