Full stack developers are high in demand today, seeing their exceptional software development skills. Well-versed with frontend, backend, and databases of web applications, full stack developers are basically tech whiz when it comes to programming. Moreover, they also have expertise in user interfaces (UI), user experiences (UX), design structure, database architecture, and other logical processes.
Because of their extensive knowledge and top-class full stack developer skills required, there is a spike in their job opportunities in the tech industry today.
In this post, let us see the essential full-stack developer skills required in 2022:
What is a Full Stack Developer?
Web application development has two core components:
- Frontend refers to the client-side development including everything a user experiences, sees, and interacts with. These include user interfaces, UX, and visual functionalities.
- Backend is all about server-side development comprising all the elements that power a web application such as APIs, servers, databases, backend logic, frameworks, libraries, etc. Backend developers create and manage these backend elements.
By the same token, we can now understand that a ‘Full Stack’ developer is the one who can build, manage and enhance frontend as well as backend web development. Their skill set is broad, flexible, and knowledgeable enough to handle the ‘full stack’ of web applications, making them one of the most highly-valued professionals in the niche.
Essential Full Stack Developer Skills in 2022:
Front web developers and backend web developers require different skill sets. Hence, a full-stack developer is like a multi-talented professional who must know the best of both worlds. These include multiple programming languages, the LAMP stack, frameworks, database technologies, UX requirements, design elements, and so much more. To summarize, they must know all the steps of web development.
A full stack developer is able to interpret user requirements into the IT architecture and build new systems accordingly. However, full-stack developers don’t necessarily write the entire code and know all of the technologies that exist. They are only expected to know the client-side and server-side of web development to understand what’s happening at the frontend, backend, and within databases. Their job is to ensure seamless and error-free web development, testing, and deployment.
Let us understand the full stack developer roadmap in detail:
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HTML and CSS
HTML stands for Hypertext Markup Language. It is a standard language used for front-end technologies to inculcate visual elements and the format of text and images. Moreover, it also helps you manage the design structure including the body, pop-ups, heading, paragraphs, etc.
On the other hand, CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is a style sheet language that allows you to modify and style the HTML elements. It is one of the core technologies for web development, just like HTML and JavaScript.
A full-stack developer must know both these core tools for efficient front-end development. Both these languages will help you build, manage and enhance the visual and interactive elements of the web application to deliver pleasant UX.
2. JavaScript
JavaScript is a cornerstone of web development. It is a dynamic language that developers use to make frontend development intuitive and rich. However, JavaScript has a dynamic nature, hence can be used for frontend as well as backend development.
Key highlights of JavaScript include its ability to create intuitive web apps and pages through prototypes, functions, closure, higher-level event delegation, and more.
When entirely integrated with CSS, HTML, and core web browsers, JavaScript makes web development a breeze! Apart from this, other significant frameworks such as React, Angular, Express, React Native, Vue, MongoDB, Node.JS, etc. also make front-end development fast and efficient. Hence, full-stack developers must have knowledge about these concepts.
For consistent growth, full-stack developers are expected to know about all JavaScript capabilities and its newly added frameworks or libraries.
Lastly, one must also have in-depth knowledge of using JSON and DOM.
3. Git and GitHub
Git and GitHub are the most popular notions that probably every developer knows, right from newbies to pro ones.
Git is a popular distributed version control system that helps developers manage even the minute steps of the web development process. It is one of the best solutions for efficient progress tracking and error-solving.
GitHub is again a robust platform with which you can manage, review and work on multiple projects at the same time. It creates a ‘hub’ where you can seamlessly interact and create a network with other developers. GitHub leverages all the features of Git to make it a well-integrated platform for developers.
Full stack developers must be able to work with Git and GitHub so as to promote team collaboration and team management skills. Both these platforms make it efficient and easy to work on codes, hence it is crucial for developers to be familiar with both.
4. Backend Development Languages
Full stack developers work on backend (server-side) development as well. That is why they are expected to have a fundamental knowledge of standard programming languages used at the backend.
Some of the important languages that a full stack developer must know, are:
- Python: Python is one of the most widely used programming languages for backend development alongside Flask and Django Python-based frameworks. A rich set of features and easy-to-understand syntax are the highlights that make it perfect for multiple object-oriented, high-level structure programming.
- Java: Java is also an object-oriented, high-level, class-based programming language designed to reduce implementation dependencies to a great extent. It is used for web application development, along with desktop and mobile applications as well.
Therefore, it can be easily classed as a multi-purpose programming language that is a MUST to learn for developers.
- Ruby: Ruby is a high-level, interpreted, object-oriented programming language that promotes simplicity and programming productivity. It is designed for frontend as well as backend web development. Key highlights of Ruby include dynamic typing, support for multiple programming paradigms, robust nature, and high-level syntax. It makes programming a breeze, helping you write code that is easy to read. To aid the developers further, Ruby has built ‘Ruby on Rails’ or simply ‘Rails’. It is an open-source, Ruby-based full-stack framework that helps you build intuitive web applications on the backend as well as frontend.
- PHP: PHP is a widely-used general-purpose scripting language for server-side web development. It is a powerful tool that helps you build interactive and dynamic web applications and web pages. PHP is efficient, fast, and resilient, besides it embeds easily into HTML.
5. Web Architecture
Fundamental knowledge of web architecture is crucial to hone your full-stack developer skills. Adding to this, one must also be well-versed with UI elements, structural web elements, database servers, cloud storage, and other such architectural elements.
6. Database Management Systems
Pro full stack developers are expected to know how to work with Database Management Systems. These platforms are a perfect solution to help you manage all your databases from a unified console. Full stack developers must be familiar with systems like Microsoft Access, SQLite, MySQL, Oracle, and so on.
7. Design Basics
Full stack developers must have basic knowledge on how to make client-side development more pleasant, attractive, and intuitive altogether.
8. SOAP and REST
One of the key roles of a full-stack developer is to bridge the gap between systems to make them more efficient and productive through seamless data sharing. That’s when SOAP and REST come in!
Full stack developers must know how to work with APIs (Application Program Interfaces) or web services such as SOAP and REST.
9. Tech Stacks
New technologies keep on emerging in the industry and full-stack developers must catch up to be more proficient in their game.
Now when it comes to using a technology stack, each company may have a different approach and choice.
Full stack developers must know the popular stacks, all of their layers, and how they differ from each other in functionality. These include LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP), MEAN stack (MongoDB, Express, Angular, Node.js), MERN stack (MongoDB, Express, React, Node.js), Django stack, and more.
10. Soft skills
Full Stack developers have a broad and flexible role and responsibility to carry out. Apart from cognitive and technical skills, full-stack developers must be proficient in the following soft skills:
- Multi-tasking
- Collaboration and interaction
- Time management
- Creative thinking
- Team management
- Leadership
- Attention to detail
Conclusion
Given their wide spectrum of roles, technical knowledge, and skill set, full stack developers are heavily in demand today amongst enterprises worldwide. These multi-talented professionals help you execute smooth and efficient web development, right from the building phase to deployment with minimal errors.
Moreover, they also promote effective team collaboration and interaction to save time and boost productivity.
Also Read: Why ReactJS Has Gained The Spotlight Amongst Developers
