Full-stack developer: What are the essential skills?

What is a Full-Stack Developer?

A full-stack developer is not a developer with only frontend or backend engineering capabilities. Fullstack engineering warrants skills in frontend and backend technologies and a deep understanding of web architecture. They are multitasking people who work on the frontend, backend, server, database, and application programming interface (API).

The primary responsibilities of a full-stack developer are:

• Obtain project requirements from clients and stakeholders
• Study project requirements and create solutions
• The design of relationships with users
• Creation of databases and servers
• Test for bugs in the code
• Change codes using hardware and software
• Using methodical testing processes for problem-solving
• Cross-platform optimization

What are the essential skills of a Full-Stack developer?

As we mentioned earlier, a Full Stack developer has a wide variety of skills. Here are the skills of a Full Stack developer that are not negotiable!

HTML / CSS

While HTML stands for Hypertext Markup Language, CSS stands for Cascading Style Sheets. HTML is used to add web content, and CSS is a customization tool for designing and styling a website. In addition, HTML and CSS determine the look and feel, which plays a significant role in attracting potential customers.

FullStack developers should work with HTML to define the structure of web pages using markup. They should also be proficient in CSS for the effective presentation of HTML elements. Full Stack developers must have in-depth knowledge of these two programming languages ​​to create an interactive, intuitive, and engaging interface for applications. 

Javascript

When it comes to web and software development, JavaScript is a required skill for FullStack developers. This object-oriented scripting language is primarily used to add behaviours using HTML. However, it is one of the most widely used languages ​​to write servers’ frontend and backend code. Additionally, JavaScript is the only programming language that can work natively in the browser and on the server ( Node.js ).

FullStack developers should have extensive knowledge of JavaScript and its concepts and features like React and Angular. One of the best things about JavaScript is its many valuable features, including functions, prototypes, high-order event delegation, and closure, which help build responsive web pages.

It is also mandatory for FullStack developers to update their knowledge of JavaScript as new frameworks, libraries, and tools are released. Also, Full-Stack developers should know how to use DOM and JSON.

Backend languages

The other essential 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.

A Full Stack developer should 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 syntax, smooth learning curve, and vast assortment of libraries and frameworks make it a prevalent language among developers and coders worldwide.

Ruby: Ruby is a robust programming language. An active community of developers backs it, but it also benefits from excellent documentation and dependencies, making it the perfect choice for backend development.

Java: Java is a universal programming language. It can be used for web, desktop, and mobile application development. Additionally, Java has a wide array of frameworks that further simplify the backend development process.

Web architecture

FullStack developers need to know every detail of web architecture. Although their primary responsibility is to develop complex software applications from scratch, they must know how to structure code, classify files, structure data in databases, and perform necessary computational tasks. Learn more about web development project ideas.

HTTP and REST

HTTP and REST both have unique purposes. HTTP is the protocol used to facilitate communication with the client. At the same time, REST is an interface between systems using the HTTP protocol to gather data or perform different operations (in various formats) on the data. REST, therefore, acts as a translator between the frontend and the backend.

Since HTTP and REST are required for FullStack development, Full-Stack developers must master both.

Database storage

All web applications need a database where all data will be stored. It’s to ensure that developers can access the data later. Database storage requires an experienced and knowledgeable FullStack developer who is familiar with relational databases and database storage. In addition, full-stack developers must be adept at managing databases – they must be able to design, understand, and manipulate database queries. They should also know how to work with XML and JSON.

What a Full Stack Developer Should Know About Database Storage and Management:

• Characteristics of relational / non-relational data
• Knowledge of NoSQL databases
• Knowledge of web storage
• Basic design skills

As we have made it clear that a Full Stack developer is concerned with the front and backend, they must have fundamental design skills. Knowledge of frontend design is crucial in making a website attractive and appealing. A neat and user-friendly website design always wins the hearts of users. 

So, FullStack developers should know basic design principles, including UI & UX design, prototypes, scalability, etc. 

Git and GitHub

Git is an open-source distributed version control system that can meet all development needs. It promises speed and efficiency for small and large-scale projects. With Git, developers can seamlessly manage all changes to apps, code, websites, documents, and other information associated with software/app development.

As for FullStack developers, Git allows them to track every minor change made to the app’s codebase. They should know all the basic Git commands and examples. Using Git enables FullStack developers to explore unique opportunities in security, productivity, and manageability. Knowledge of Git allows FullStack developers to better collaborate and cooperate with their fellow developers/programmers working on the same project.

NPM

NPM is the explicitly designed package manager for Node.js. It helps in the installation of different packages, and it also offers relevant solutions for various dependencies. NPM allows developers to optimally place modules to support the node find them and deal with dependency conflicts accordingly. NPM is highly configurable, so it can be used for many applications, including developing, publishing, discovering, and installing Node programs.