Back-End Developer Jobs in Lagos, Nigeria

Who is a back-end developer?

A backend developer is a web programmer who specialises in developing the server side of web applications. They are the experts who build and maintain the mechanisms that process data and perform actions on websites. A backend developer's job entails focusing on website architecture, scripting, and writing code that communicates between the website’s database and the user's browser. The backend of a web application is responsible for handling data storage, processing, and retrieval. This is achieved through programming languages and frameworks such as Python, Ruby, Node.js, and Django, among others. The backend developer works to ensure that this server side of the application functions efficiently, securely, and reliably.

Backend developers work on the components of a web application that are not visible to the end user but are essential to its functioning. They are responsible for building and managing the database, developing APIs that enable communication between the server and the client side of the application, managing server configuration, and ensuring that the web application functions correctly. Additionally, backend developers must ensure that the application is secure from attacks, such as SQL injections, and that it can handle high volumes of traffic. A skilled backend developer must have knowledge of both programming languages and server administration, as well as strong problem-solving skills to handle the complex issues that arise in web development.

What does a back-end developer do?

The responsibilities of a backend developer are:

• Designing and implementing scalable and robust server-side architectures: Back-end developers are responsible for creating the structure and logic of the server side of web applications. This involves designing and implementing scalable, efficient, and reliable architectures that can handle large amounts of traffic and data.

• Developing server-side code: Back-end developers are responsible for writing server-side code using programming languages such as Python, Ruby, Java, or PHP. They may also use frameworks such as Node.js, Django, Flask, or Laravel to streamline development and improve code quality.

• Developing and maintaining databases: Back-end developers must be familiar with databases such as MySQL, PostgreSQL, or MongoDB, and must be able to design and maintain databases that are efficient, reliable, and secure.

• Integrating front-end and back-end functionality: Back-end developers work closely with front-end developers to ensure that the server side of web applications works seamlessly with the client side. This involves integrating back-end functionality such as APIs, databases, and authentication systems with front-end interfaces such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

• Writing and maintaining API documentation: Back-end developers are responsible for documenting the APIs they create, including writing clear and concise documentation that makes it easy for other developers to understand and use their code.

• Testing and debugging code: Back-end developers must be proficient in testing and debugging their code to ensure that it works as expected and is free of errors and vulnerabilities.

• Ensuring security and data privacy: Back-end developers must be knowledgeable about security and data privacy best practices and must be able to implement secure authentication systems, encryption, and other measures to protect user data.

• Keeping up-to-date with new technologies: Back-end developers must stay informed about new technologies, frameworks, and programming languages and be able to incorporate them into their work as needed.

What skills do you need to be a backend developer?

• Programming languages: A back-end developer needs to be well-versed in back-end programming languages such as Python, Java, and PHP. These make the website function when used alongside databases, frameworks, and servers. Python is one of the most popular programming languages because it is compatible with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, and works well for writing clear and logical code. Basic knowledge of front-end languages HTML, CSS, and JavaScript is a bonus.

• Frameworks: Frameworks are the libraries of back-end programming languages that help to build the server configuration. They tend to be linked with programming languages, so anyone familiar with Python will also know Flask, Django, or any other Python-based framework.

• Databases and servers: A backend developer must understand how to stack and recover data from databases, as back-end programming controls access to this information, including storage and recovery. MongoDB and MySQL are popular database programs. The database stores and organizes the client’s data so that it can be easily arranged and recovered, just like you might use cloud storage for photos. 

• Application Program Interface (API): An API is a series of definitions and rules for developing application software. In addition to internet browser websites, companies often want a mobile app for iOS or Android. Knowledge of application-building languages like JavaScript will expand a backend developer’s job opportunities. 

• Accessibility and security clearance: Backend developers should develop knowledge of network protocols and web security. Knowing how to secure databases and servers will be critical to their success as a back-end developer.

Backend Development Tools 

Programming languages:

• Python

• PHP

• JavaScript

• Ruby

• Java

• C#

Frameworks:

• Laravel

• Django

• Spring

• Ruby on Rails

• Meteor

• Node.js

Databases:

• MongoDB

• MySQL

• Oracle

Servers:

• Apache

• NGINX

• Lighttpd

• Microsoft IIS