Introduction
Becoming a full stack developer is becoming one of the most favored career paths in the tech industry. While front-end and back-end developers are also popular, a full stack developer widens their career prospects by increasing their expertise in both fields. In addition, landing a job as a full stack developer can make you privy to a lucrative package.
But it is necessary to begin the right way. This guide will tell you everything you must know about full stack development and where you can get the right resources to begin your journey. Read on from a full stack development tutorial to job descriptions and salary expectations to know more.
What Do You Mean By Full Stack Development?
Full stack development means knowing how to develop a software application from scratch. It is a combination of both front-end and back-end development. A full stack represents a software stack that is made up of code, patches, operating systems, databases, servers, and other software products. A combination of all of these products is necessary for an application to work smoothly.
Since the calculations for the running of the application are dependent on each other and these components work on top of each other, it is called a stack. And since a full stack developer is expected to be familiar with all the aspects. It is called a full stack. A full stack developer should know how to navigate the front and back ends.
The front end of any website is the end that users will visit and interact with. It should be visually appealing and also easy to use. Front-end developers work with HTML and CSS and create user-friendly interfaces. Back-end developers work with the user commands and direct them to the right destination. Back-end development focuses on answering the queries of the user. It helps the platform of the user and the system databases to interact to fetch the required information.
What Does A Full Stack Developer Do?
A full stack developer builds a web app from the beginning. They have a wide range of responsibilities unlike a back-end or a front-end engineer. After learning the basics of full stack development, it is also essential to know the roles and responsibilities of a full stack developer. The job description in full stack development covers the front-end and the back-end along with Application Programming interfaces or APIs.
Their skills are spread across the entire software stack, which is why they are called full stack developers. The primary roles and responsibilities of a full stack developer can be seen by comparing different job descriptions of top employers. Understanding the responsibilities would give you an idea of what the industry currently demands and how you can fill the gap. The basic responsibilities a full stack developer is expected to fulfill are as follows:
- Cross-platform optimization
- Debugging the code
- Working with databases and servers
- Communicating with the clients to know their exact requirements
- Creating a roadmap based on the project requirements of the clients
- Going through testing stages for providing unique and effective solutions
- Modification of codes using both software and hardware
Full stack developers know about many aspects of website development and hence are prized assets of any project. The problem-solving aptitude of a full stack developer can take you further in your career and create new opportunities for you. In addition, they work with code and are knowledgeable about programming languages so that they can be of help to both front-end and back-end developers.
They also have database management and design skills that can be helpful for the team. Additionally, if you are a good communicator, attaining roles that allow you to contact the client directly will be helpful. Acting as a liaison will help you understand the client requirements better and may help create better solutions.
The Full Stack Development Industry
If you are stepping into an industry, make sure to research the latest trends and analyze how welcoming the industry is to new blood. Presently, the trend for hiring full stack developers seems to be on the rise. There will be more than 800000 jobs available in the market by next year if the figure from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics is to be believed.
The reason for the popularity of full stack developers is that they simultaneously provide the expertise of both front-end and back-end developers. From an employer’s point of view, hiring a full stack developer can reduce operational costs and improve the development process. Because of the diversity of skills, there is no shortage of roles you can fill as a beginner. Later on, it is also possible to make a switch to a role you feel more comfortable in.
Full stack developers can also branch out to software engineering and broaden their career prospects and also their pay scales. While becoming a front-end developer will require you to be on your toes with recent developments in the field, full stack development allows you to control your learning curve.
How To Become A Full Stack Developer?
Becoming a full stack developer depends on your dedication since the industry is creating jobs in the field. When matched with soft skills, the technical skills can create numerous career opportunities for both a new and experienced full stack developer.
Master Technical Skills
Primarily for an engineer or developer, technical skills are a must. The beginning of technical expertise is a programming language. Python and JavaScript are extremely popular, but PHP also has a loyal base. It is also essential to know that front-end and back-end languages are different; hence, knowing at least one on both ends is handy.
The same goes for front-end and back-end frameworks. Frameworks are based on programming languages. You will be limited by your knowledge of programming languages when you choose a framework. Front-end frameworks include:
- Angular
- Vuejs
- jQuery
- React
Back-end frameworks include:
- Django
- .Net,
- Express.js
- Spring
- Rails
Next comes database management. While it is attached to back-end development, a front-end developer who wants to become a full stack developer would need to learn about it. Database management means dealing with storing, fetching, manipulating, and deleting data. MySQL, Oracle, and NoSQL are some of the most popularly used databases.
After learning about databases, you can move on to core development tech, which includes HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. DevOps and APIs are also essential as they are the modern approaches to development and are widely used in the industry. From user experience to database integrations, you will have to be familiar with all aspects leading up to deployment and optimization. In addition, basic design knowledge, cloud services, micro servers, and REST APIs are also worth branching out toward.
Add Some Soft Skills
Soft skills can help after you get fired to climb up the ladder. If you are a good leader, you can lead projects. Similarly, good communication skills will allow you to streamline solutions and keep the clients happy. Good analysis and problem-solving skills go a long way. Time management and an aptitude for learning will also help in the tech industry, which is very dynamic.
A basic understanding of how everything works will make your job easier. You will also have to be equally involved in testing and optimization, so make sure you are ready for new non-functional aspects of the job. Having expertise in both front-end and back-end would mean that you are needed on both sides. It would be better to hone your skills and sharpen your expertise so that all the new experience letters allow you to branch out.
Choose The Right Tech Stack
As mentioned above, a stack is a combination of different components that work in tandem to make an application work smoothly. It constitutes frameworks, languages, tools, and platforms that a developer can choose at their discretion. Here are some of the most popularly used stacks by full stack developers:
MEAN stack
The name means an acronym. It has four components:
- MongoDB
- Express.js
- Angular
- Node.js
This stack is wholly based on JavaScript and has gained worldwide popularity. Developers use it for its scalability and because it has community support. In addition, this stack can help create visually striking applications.
MERN Stack
MEAN, and MERN stacks are virtually similar, with one key difference. In the MERN stack, Angular is substituted for React. React is used for developing single-page applications that are fast and visually appealing. React is a front-end library and is very popular.
Java Stack
Java has been around for twenty years and is still very popular among developers. For full stack developers, the Java stack is a reliable choice. It allows developers to work with APIs, Spring, CSS, HTML, JS, and Hibernate. Because of its versatility and multiple use cases, it is a good and powerful option.
LAMP Stack
Much like MEAN, LAMP is also an acronym. It stands for :
- Linux- Operating system
- Apache- Server
- MySQL- Database
- PHP- Programming language
MySQL and Oracle are two of the most popular databases. And since a full-stack developer should be familiar with database management like a back-end developer, they would have to work with either one of them. While LAMP has been used extensively to build powerful applications, it also has room for experimentation. Many developers substitute the Linux OS with Windows and Mac for more favorable results.
Python Full Stack
If you are well-versed in Python and want to use it to your advantage, Python full stack is a favorable choice. Machine learning and data science apps are the primary use cases with faster outputs and easy scalability. The Python full stack consists of the components like MySQL databases, Python programming language, Django framework, and Apache server.
Where To Learn Full Stack Development?
There is no shortage of resources that can get you started on the path to full stack development. There are degree courses and boot camps for organized learning. There are also numerous tutorials available that allow you to learn full stack web development online via books and videos.
But to get started, you need to understand where you stand as a learner. You can be an amateur coder who might need less time than a beginner but would still need considerable hard work as compared to an experienced professional. On the other hand, getting to know the basics of web architecture can be tricky if you under or overestimate your abilities. Choose your learning pathway in accordance with your experience.
Your learning method should also be in correspondence with your end goals. For example, you might need appropriate qualifications if you want to work a job. However, working as a freelancer provides some level of flexibility in the qualification aspect. If you want to develop apps for your own ideas, your pathway may be different, and you might not need any formal degree at all. Knowing your experience level will decide how you can approach the subject and how you can apply it later when you step into the industry as a professional.
How Much Does A Full Stack Developer Earn?
The salary of a full stack developer will vary from location to location and will also depend on your experience in the industry. While remote working is now a possibility, there is also the possibility of relocation if you want to work with an employer who is not based in your country. So while the job descriptions may be similar, geography still decides how much you are taking home by the end of the day. Here are some of the average annual salaries for full stack development professionals across the globe as per Glassdoor:
US: 86,000 USD
Canada: 60,000 USD
India: 9,000 USD
Australia: 69,000 USD
UK: 63,000 USD
Germany: 66,000 USD
While there are significant differences in these figures, one should also consider country-specific features. For example, the cost of living and the perks for a salaried individual also vary from country to country. Additionally, it is easy to make the switch from one employer to another because the web development industry as a whole is following similar trends. And since the employers demand expertise to fill similar gaps, you can widen your career horizons by exploring outside of your country as well.
The Takeaway
While taking up the role of a full stack developer is full of promise, there are certain things a full stack developer should know. They should be familiar with the industry trends and how to step into the job market so that they can negotiate a good wage. The salary expectations of a full stack developer would vary based on location and experience. Additionally, one should be ready with the necessary skills in their arsenal that can be both soft and technical.
Being open to learning new things and increasing your experience on the job can make you ready for a switch later on to a more specialized field. Make sure that you step into the job market with a portfolio and some experience under your belt. It can be projects you worked on independently on freelance gigs. Make sure that you offer employers what they ask for, along with a unique selling point that gives you an edge over the other candidates. If you want an edge over the competition in the web development field, let Pesto help.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How Much Time Does It Take To Learn Full Stack Web Development?
Depending on your existing expertise, it might take as little as three months to get started as a full stack developer. On the other hand, a beginner might need a degree course or a longer timeline to get started if they are learning by themselves. Self-study may get you ready in about six months. However, depending on your experience and learning curve, it can also take up to a year.
How Much Is The Salary For A Full Stack Developer In India?
In India, the average salary of a full stack developer is about 555000 INR per year, as per Glassdoor. However, it can vary depending on location, employer, and experience.
How To Learn Full Stack Development?
Learning full stack development would require a study plan that can be executed through a course or by learning independently. Many professionals favor boot camps to develop their skills when they want to branch out to a different field. Degree courses would be foundation learning perfect for beginners. Online tutorials and books can also help greatly.
Can A Front-End Developer Or A Back-End Developer Become A Full Stack Developer?
Yes, a front-end or a back-end developer can become a full-stack developer. A front-end developer would have to learn about back-end technologies and vice versa. While the learning curve would not be as steep as that of a beginner, it would still require a dedicated study pl
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