Full stack, just a buzzword or something real?
Front and back-end development are interrelated and naturally share the same future.
When combined, they give birth to the elusive "full stack developer".
[Editor's Note: this article was originally published in June 2019, and has been updated for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness].
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But what is a Full Stack developer?
A simple way to describe a full stack developer is someone who feels comfortable with performing programming tasks in a back-end and front-end environment relying on different technologies.
That person is a developer who can work with databases and different technologies like
PHP, HTML, CSS, JavaScript and, well, all others.
Even convert Photoshop files into front-end code!
Normally, a full stack developer’s knowledge accumulates miles of experience in different projects and challenges. However, this knowledge may not be that deep, it may only cover the core skills within the stack layers you work with.
What is the origin of Full Stack?
In the 2000s, there were no differences between front-end and back-end. Web developers, or webmasters as they were then known back then, were limited to building sites and, without even realizing it, they already worked as full stack developers. At the beginning of 2010, API First and Single page apps began to gain popularity and web development was divided into 2 different groups. The 1st group worked with databases, servers and APIs, while the 2nd dealt with the entire visual aspect of things.
What are the development layers?
Sitepoint has a great picture that illustrates the different layers of software development.
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Simply put, a full stack developer can:
- Manage the server structure. That includes installation, maintenance, DNS, etc.
- Create server-side code.
- Create client-side code.
On top of this, they also have knowledge on topics such as the security of each layer, production of quality tests and are aware of all the automatic processes involved in development efforts, as well as how to expand them.
The future of Full Stack developer
A full stack developer is someone open-minded regarding new technologies. They have no issues “getting their hands dirty” in order to understand any application and how they can take it from concept to product. Some say that DevOps is responsible for a practice that promotes the collaboration and communication of the developers with other professionals involved in the product, which is behind the increase of full stack’s popularity, and the line between developers and administrators accountable for deployment has been getting thinner and thinner.
Is it worth it?
Wage-wise, everyone wants to know how much a full stack developer earns. The numbers swing depending on several factors. From experience to training, etc. At KWAN, we want to help you to answer this question, taking into consideration the professional reality. For this, we have created a Salary Calculator for different roles, not just for full stack developers, that you can check and enter data anonymously. Of course, when acquiring new skills and getting increasingly comfortable with the different technologies, you’ll boost your professional value in the market. If you want to become a full stack developer, then invest in knowing a little about the entire development process, from concept to product, and say yes to every technological challenge outside of your comfort zone.
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Since full stack is a field where opinions swing from one camp to the other, if you have something to add, drop us a comment, a tip or, why not, an emoji. 🤔