Full stack web development refers to the process of developing both the front end as well as the back end of any website or web application. The task of full-stack web development is usually carried out by full-stack developers who are people with the requisite skills to achieve this task.
A full-stack developer is a developer or engineer who can build both the front end and the back end of a website. The front end (the parts of a website a user sees and interacts with) and the back end (the behind-the-scenes data storage and processing) require different skill sets. A full-stack developer is associated with the creation of an application from its start to finish. He designs the front end and the back end of an application while ensuring its efficiency, reliability, and other crucial features.
Develop and maintain web services and interfaces
Contribute to front-end and back-end development processes
Build new product features or APIs
Perform tests, troubleshoot software, and fix bugs
Collaborate with other departments on projects and sprints
Working with CSS, HTML, and JavaScript, along with CSS preprocessors, to craft client-facing platforms
Managing databases and servers
Coding for functionality across multiple languages and platforms
Communicating with specialized developers and the graphic design team to deliver the best possible product
Keeping up with emerging technology that may serve the business’ needs
Prototyping minimal viable products for communication with company stakeholders
HTML/CSS
While HTML stands for Hypertext Markup Language, CSS stands for Cascading Style Sheets. HTML is used for adding web content, and CSS is a personalization tool for designing and styling a website. Both HTML and CSS determine the look and feel of a website, which ultimately plays a major role in attracting prospective customers.
JavaScript
When it comes to web and software development, JavaScript is a mandatory Full Stack Developer skill. The object-oriented scripting language is mostly used for adding behaviours using HTML. It is one of the most widely used languages for writing frontend and backend code for servers. Furthermore, JavaScript is the only programming language that can run natively in the browser and on the server side (Node.js).
Git and GitHub
Every developer, as well as aspiring developers, has heard of Git. It is an open-source “distributed version control system” that can handle all your development needs. It promises speed and efficiency for both small and large-scale projects. With Git, developers can seamlessly manage all the changes made to applications, codes, websites, documents, and other information associated with software/application development. Professional developers usually have a GitHub profile, which is compulsory if working in a team. As for Full Stack Developers, Git allows them to track every minor modification done to the application codebase.
Backend languages
While we’ve covered the two most critical frontend languages, HTML and CSS (along with JavaScript), the other pivotal part of an application or software is the backend. While backend development is a whole different game, there are plenty of programming languages to choose from. Doing a full-stack web development course will help you learn the required languages necessary to become a full-stack developer.
A Full Stack Developer must know at least a few of these languages for backend development:
PHP – One of the most popular choices for backend development, PHP is an open-source, cross-platform compatible language that can work seamlessly on Unix, macOS, and Windows.
Python – Python’s English-like syntax, smooth learning curve, and a vast assortment of libraries and frameworks are what make it extremely popular among developers and coders around the world.
Ruby – Ruby is a robust programming language. An active community of developers backs it, but it also boasts excellent documentation and dependencies, making it the ideal choice for backend development.
Java – Java is a multipurpose programming language. It can be used for web, desktop, and mobile application development. Plus, Java has a wide range of frameworks that further simplify the process of backend development.
Web architecture
Full-stack developers are the wizards of software development. They are equipped with multiple skills pertaining to both frontend and backend development.
Full Stack Developers need to know the nitty-gritty of web architecture. Since their primary responsibility is to develop complex software applications from scratch, they must know how to structure the code, categorize the files, structure the data in databases, and perform the necessary computational tasks. Read more on Web development project ideas.
HTTP and REST
Both HTTP and REST serve two unique purposes. HTTP is the protocol used for facilitating communication with the client, whereas REST is an interface between systems using the HTTP protocol to gather data or perform different operations (in various formats) on the data. So, REST acts like a translator between the front end and the back end.
Since HTTP and REST are necessary for Full Stack development, Full Stack Developers must master both.
Database storage
All web applications need a database where all the data will be stored. This is to ensure that developers can access the data later. Database storage calls for an experienced and skilled Full Stack Developer who knows relational databases and database storage inside-out. Full-stack developers must be adept in database management – they should be able to design, understand, and manipulate database queries. They must also know how to work with XML and JSON.
Basic design skills
As we’ve made it clear that a Full Stack Developer is concerned with frontend and backend, they must possess the fundamental design skills. The knowledge of front-end design is crucial to make a website look attractive and appealing. A website with a neat and user-friendly design always wins the hearts of the users.
Thus, Full Stack Developers must know the basic design principles, including UI & UX design, prototypes, scalability, etc.
NPM
NPM is the package manager explicitly designed for Node.js. It aids in the installation of different packages. It also offers relevant solutions for various dependencies. NPM allows developers to place modules optimally to help the node find them and manage the dependency conflicts accordingly. NPM is highly configurable, and thus, it can be used for many applications, including the development, publishing, discovery, and installation of node programs.
Frameworks
One of the top skills for a full-stack developer is knowledge of different frameworks. Full-stack developers should be aware of the different frameworks required to back up the front end of an application. The top frameworks that full-stack developers should know about include Angular, React, and Vue.js.
Knowledge About Operating Systems
Proficiency with different operating systems is an important full-stack developer skill set. Before beginning with the software development process, full-stack developers need to determine the platform where it will run. If your software runs locally, it will need a machine. Eventually, the machine will need an operating system to run.
Therefore, knowledge about operating systems is one of the key skills required for full-stack developers. A few things to know as the skills required for full stack developers are memory management, distribution file system, virtualization, inter-process communication, and more.
Version Control System
You should also have full-stack developer skills to understand version control systems. Full-stack developers should understand project management and manage to track the entire history to be proficient with version control systems.
A version control system includes details about a company’s workflow. Therefore, having knowledge about popular version control systems can help solve different operational challenges. While acquiring full-stack Java developer skills, it’s crucial to learn about different version control systems like GIT, GitHub, Apache Subversion, and GitLab.
Database Knowledge
Knowledge about different databases is one of the most important Java full-stack developer skills. Full-stack developers must have a proper understanding of where and how data will be stored. Being a full-stack developer means you will have to write queries to call data when required.
Therefore, full-stack developers should be able to design and manipulate database queries. You will be required to work with both relational and non-relational databases as a full-stack developer.
Monitoring Tools
Apps have the tendency to crash, particularly when developers are ready to push it live. That’s when the need for monitoring surfaces. Therefore, proficiency with monitoring tools is one of the most crucial full-stack developer skills.
Full-stack developers should be able to monitor application logs and server status. They should also know how to solve complexities in an app after it is live. The key monitoring tools that a full stack developer should be familiar with are as follows:
Monitor analytics: Helps with predicting and analyzing requirements or issues
Preventing crashes: Preventing crashes helps with solving complexities easily.
End-to-end monitoring: Useful for monitoring across the environment
Performance monitoring: Used to monitor logs, metrics, and more
Monitor InfraL: Useful for monitoring containers, servers, and more
Testing
Testing involves determining the success of any software. The primary aim of the testing process is to ensure that a software solution is free from deadlocks.
