10 Useful Facts About Full Stack Development
To those unfamiliar with Full-Stack Development, the title might confuse people. After all, isn't there supposed to be a clear (but fine) line between front and back-end developers? For developers purely focused on either the client or server side, this mindset is typical. But full-stack developers demonstrate otherwise. Capable of performing roles on both the front and back-end, full-stack developers are arguably some of the tech industry's most-wanted professionals.
1. What Makes A Full-Stack Developer Different Than Front-End Development and Back-End Development?
Most developers are either used to working in front-end or back-end development to make sure that codes for an app or site work together. Think of front-end developers as the actors you see on set, while the back-end developers are producers behind the scenes. While the front-end developers are coding using HTML, CSS, and Javascript, the back-end developers are working with languages such as Python, Ruby, PHP, and many more. Different languages, different projects, different goals. It's easy to see why the thought of full stack developers tackling both front and back-end tasks confuses some!
2. What Full-Stack Developers Exactly Do
We know that a full-stack developer is one who can perform both front-end and back-end development. In other words, they know every layer of design of a system. What does this look like? Well, it's quite literally someone whose skillset and knowledge combines that of both client-side and server-side developers. This means that full-stack developers know how to build with JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. In addition, they also know languages such as Python, Ruby, PHP, and more. Subsequently, full stack developers are able to develop complex applications. This is because they are familiar with all architectures of a web application. By comparison, either front or back end developers are experts in their own stack, and are possibly familiar with the other side of web development, but not proficient. It might seem like a lot to know, but for developers who can do both ends of web development, it's easy to switch between the front and back end when working on projects. This versatility appeals to many hiring managers (especially startups or smaller companies) who need highly skilled and capable developers.
3. You Can Become A Full-Stack Developer With Your Current Skill Sets
If you’re looking to advance in your career, there are numerous programs that can assist in your transition to full-stack development. Moving into full-stack development doesn't have to be daunting. Current back-end developers looking to transition to full-stack development may want to master JavaScript, for example. 70% of respondents in Full Stack Academy’s 2018 Developer Survey reported that JavaScript is the language they use and has been ranked the most popular language among developers for the 6th year in a row. On the other side, front-end developers may want to expand their skill sets by learning Python, as it’s the most user-friendly programming language and is known for its versatility. This diagram shows the most common technologies you would need for various roles:
Multidots
4. There is Huge Demand for Full-Stack Developers
It's no surprise that full-stack developers are in high demand. As already mentioned, they're the gold standard of developers to many hiring managers because they offer the expertise and talents of two developers, for the salary of one. (Granted, full stack developers aren't a bargain: they're paid competitively). There are many full-stack developers out there, they often become a needle in a haystack to find when hiring managers are shuffling through applications. Companies scour through applications to find top talent in web development. There are plenty of web developers, but true full stack developers are harder to find. Companies scour through applications to find top talent and you will easily stand out if you know full-stack development. This is because companies are looking for employees who bring versatility and promise greater efficiency. They want someone who can multitask and save their company money by investing in someone who can perform both web development jobs! At Elevano, we've realized this. That's why we aim to help companies find the perfect developer to get the job done.
5. The Salary For Full-Stack Developers Is High and Will Most Likely Increase
As a result of the high demand for full-stack developers, average salaries are increasing too. Indeed lists the average annual salary of a full stack-developer at an impressive $113,545. Remember, this average is not indicative of experience level or expertise, so it’s very likely that the most qualified full stack developers will earn more. In addition, this number will very likely grow as web development is key in almost all companies. If you’re looking to grow within your field, Elevano can help inform your transition to full-stack development!
6. There’s a Debate on the Efficiency of Full-Stack Development
Surprisingly enough, there is a heated debate on Full-Stack Development. It's like the argument on whether you should know a lot about one thing, or a little about everything. While many agree that mastering the skill of being able to work both front-end and back-end shows that full-stack developers can make a prototype design quickly due to their wide range of techniques. It is believed that they may also be more engaged while working on the project as they’re in control of full stackability. On the other hand, some argue that full-stack developers may have multiple skills, but not as in-depth as either front or back end developers alone.
7. Full-Stack Developers Stand Out to Startups
As technology is clearly the future, so are the growth of startups. Startups are great to work for as employees tend to be valued at a higher level, receive equity, and have more room for growth as the company grows. The race to join the next promising startup is intense. To get to the finish line, startups are increasingly looking for full stack developers.
"Designers make products look beautiful, where full stack designers solve the whole problem.” - Kyle Wong, CEO of Pixlee
Wong also expressed that having a full-stack developer from the beginning of Pixlee helped in assisting not just the building of the system itself, but also the overall aspect of the company.
Ran Segall, the co- founder at The nuSchool
8. There is a Difference Between a Full-Stack Developer and Full-Stack Engineer
It is important to note that there is a difference between a full-stack developer and a full-stack engineer. The full-stack engineer has the skill set of full-stack developers and also has experience with project management. This involves configuring, managing, and maintaining computer networks and systems. They are also essentially the voice of the product and work with multiple teams throughout the company.
9. The Need for Full-Stack Developers Are Projected to Steadily Increase
As mentioned before, companies are continuously seeking full-stack engineers and developers as a whole. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of developers is projected to rise up to 24 percent by 2024. As this is a higher than average projection, it is definitely worth a developer to invest in the time to further expand their skill sets. With Evan Data Groups’ projection of there being 27.7 million developers by the 2023, competition is bound to rise as well.
10. Full-Stack Developers Are Finding They’re Passionate About Both Ends
Many full-stack developers may have strictly studied writing code in college or how to create flashy animations that front-end developers thrive in. However, many developers are learning that they enjoy both as they practice both sides. Mike, a full-stack developer at Vitamin T, first studied engineering but quickly learned he wanted to master both sides of development. After studying C, C++, and Java, he wanted more as he quickly realized that “getting the pretty colors and getting flashy things to come together nicely (and quickly) is more appealing to me than doing the back end stuff….And now I’m oscillating madly between the two”. Like Mike, it’s never too late to learn the other side as you may learn that you are passionate about both!