It is no secret that the tech industry has been blowing up and seeing a colossal amount of growth in the past few years. We have moved on from using a single programming language to a plethora of tools and frameworks. With the increasing complexity of web and mobile applications, we see a breed of full-stack developers sprouting within the industry. Full-stack development has been making a lot of noise in recent years. Several tech-driven research papers suggest that full-stack development seems to be on every techie’s radar.
Fancy a career in full-stack development? But wondering whether the industry is thriving or going extinct? This article delves deeper into the current status of full-stack development and what’s in store for its future.
Table of Contents
What is full-stack development?
How full stack development has evolved
Skills required by a full-stack developer
The future scope of full-stack developers
Let’s start by answering the obvious…
Full-stack development refers to developing both frontend (client) and backend (server-side) portions of web applications. Full-stack developers can design complete web applications and websites and work on the front end, back end, database, and debugging of web applications or websites. The full-stack represents a ‘complete’ stack that includes everything you require to build modern-day web applications.
A full-stack developer takes ownership of the entire design and implementation of the process suitable for developing a web or mobile application.
Full-stack development as a concept has been around for a long time. In the early 80s, software applications were written from scratch and managed by a single person, so full-stack developers were just called ‘developers.’
The term full-stack developer was coined in the late 2000s when web applications required people who could handle both client-side programming and server-side programming. When people with such expertise entered the market, they were termed, full-stack developers. Along with them, several tools and technologies that simplified the integration of frontend and backend programming had started to emerge, which facilitated the growth of full-stack developers.
According to the Stack Overflow 2016 Developer Survey, full-stack developers are among the highest-paid and most sought-after professionals today. Forward-thinking tech companies need full-stack developers for several reasons, including working with multiple technologies, which means they can handle more aspects of a project than an average programmer. Their in-depth knowledge of different technologies and several stacks equips them to handle all the specific requirements of the project.
However, a full-stack developer is paid handsomely because of their unique skills and abilities. According to talent.com, the average full stack developer salary in the USA is $110,004 per annum and goes up to $145,000 per year for experts.
A full-stack developer is a multifaceted role. So, to excel in this role, you need more than just a formal degree. A full-stack developer boasts a variety of skills and extensive knowledge of various programming languages. Here is a list of the most crucial, non-negotiable skills you’ll need to outshine in this role.
- Design skills – Full-stackers should have a basic knowledge of designing to make the frontend frameworks more appealing and interactive to make them user-centric.
- HTML/CSS – A full-stack developer must know how to work with these fundamental tools as they help enhance the interaction and visuals of the web application for the users.
- JavaScript – JavaScript integrates with HTML and CSS and adapts with browsers, making the work of a full-stacker more straightforward. A full-stack developer should be aware of all the capabilities of JavaScript.
- Backend technologies and frameworks – An extensive knowledge of NodeJS, ExpressJS, Python C# language, PHP, Perl, and Ruby is a must since full-stack developers will regularly work with these languages at the backend.
- Version control – Version control systems help manage the project files and keep track of the entire history of the user’s work. Git and GitHub are the most popular platforms, and a knowledge of both will help full-stack developers work efficiently.
- Web hosting platforms – These platforms help full-stackers deploy their product on a cloud service so they can access it from the World Wide Web. Popular platforms include Amazon web services, Google cloud platform, Microsoft Azure.
- Soft skills – A full-stack developer has to manage several roles simultaneously. To be efficient in their position, they must possess specific soft skills like –
- Effective communication
- Multi-tasking
- Time management
- Creativity
- Analytical skills
- Strategic planning
- Problem-solving
- Leadership skills
The future for full-stackers seems promising. There is a steady growth in demand for this role as they know every layer of the development process. Full-stack developers can develop applications single-handedly, reducing the number of different functions in the development process. This saves a lot of time and money, which is a boon for startups and small-scale companies and makes full-stackers an invaluable asset to any tech-driven organization. With rapid advances in the software industry and a demand for fast-paced technology, full-stack development is here to stay.