Full Stack Developer Career Path

Full Stack Developers must have skill with both front end and back end technologies for creating websites, software, and applications that combine as full stack web development. A Full Stack Developer must be able to work on both the front end, or client-side, for smooth user interfacing as well as the back end, or server-side, with database access for web pages and apps. The front end of a website is what users see on their browsers and is built with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Back end web development focuses on power, functions, and database interaction for web properties within web browsers.

Skills required for working as a Full Stack Developer can qualify someone to work in several capacities in web development. While the duties of a Full Stack Developer focus on building websites, software, and mobile apps, the profession also involves collaborating with other Web Developers as well as recognizing the importance of the different responsibilities needed for completing a project. Collaboration involves cross-functions, which can help with expanding a web professional’s skill set.

What Is a Full Stack Developer?

Becoming a Full Stack Developer involves building websites and applications with knowledge of front end and back end procedures that require training in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Java. The front end of a website is what users see on web browsers. The back end emphasizes functions, including database and server access.

Full stack web development involves creating websites and smartphone apps from scratch. This requires using front end and back end technologies for both how user interface as well as how web properties operate.

Skills needed for becoming a Full Stack Developer can qualify someone to work as a Web Developer, Software Engineer, or Product Manager.

Read more about what a Full Stack Developer does. 

Career Paths

Anyone considering a career as a Full Stack Developer should be curious about what skills and experience will be needed for entering the profession. Full Stack Developers design and build websites, apps, and other computer related programs and software with knowledge for working in front end and back end technologies for completing web-based projects. Without exception, Full Stack Developers are expected to work as part of a team. Aside from Front End Developers and Back End Developers, Full Stack Developers typically work with Software Engineers, Web Designers, Projects Managers, and Product Managers in designing, developing, maintaining, and troubleshooting websites and web applications. Full Stack Developers can find work with major corporations, nonprofit organizations, small businesses, government agencies, and tech startups. Full Stack Developers can find full-time or part-time employment either working inside offices or remotely as company employees or independent contractors. 

Full Stack Developer

Full Stack Developers combine skills for working as Front End Developers and Back End Developers with responsibilities for building both the visible front end that users see on their computer and smartphone screen as well as the back end that operates websites and apps behind the curtain. While Front End Developers and Back End Developers typically collaborate with each other as well as with Web Designers and Project Managers, Full Stack Developers often work with Project Managers.

Full Stack Developers must have knowledge of coding on the front end with HTML and CSS along with programming languages like JavaScript, jQuery, Angular, and Vue.js, as well as back end technologies and frameworks like Node.js and Django. Working on the back end also requires experience in database management with database systems such as MySQL, MongoDB, and Oracle Database. 

Front End Developer

Front End Developers usually start out in entry-level positions. Many Front End Developers rise up to become Senior Developers or Lead Developers after a few years of working at the position. Other Front End Developer titles include Junior Front End Developer, Lead Developer, and Web Developer.

Training to become a Front End Developer can be gained through any number of learning options. Although there are several methods available for learning about front end web development, many people simply go with in-person or live online classes in web development available from a variety of local and online education providers. Skills for becoming a Front End Developer can also be gained through hands-on experience for working in technology related jobs.

Back End Developer

In contrast to Front End Developers, who are responsible for the user-side of creating websites and applications, Back End Developers focus on the server-side of web platforms by integrating operations elements with the front end. Back End Developers emphasize the functioning of websites and typically work with Front End Developers and other web professionals in making sure that websites and applications operate properly.

Back End Developers are usually the experts who are responsible for building and maintaining areas for how websites perform. While Front End Developers create what users see on their device screens, Back End Developers handle areas of data storage, security, and operation reliability with those websites. Back End Developers often perform as the “fix-it” expert in web development due to their responsibilities with how websites operate. With responsibilities for making sure that websites and software work the way they are supposed to, Back End Developers can find work with engineering firms, ecommerce sites, financial companies, and the healthcare industry in both the private and public sectors.

Web Developer

Work as a Web Developer is similar to working as a Full Stack Developer since the latter position is a category of the former. Therefore, while the role of a Web Developer is more comprehensive with creating websites and applications, the professions involve many of the same responsibilities. Whereas Full Stack Developers work on both the front end and back end for building web properties, Web Developers handle various areas such as developing content, accessibility, user interface as well as concentrating on the user experience among several obligations.

As with Full Stack Developers, the skills and experience needed for becoming a Web Developer can be gained through an associate or bachelor’s degree in computing, independent training from a variety of online education providers through courses, workshops, bootcamps, and certificate programs, or with experience from working in coding and web development.

Software Engineer

Becoming a Software Engineer requires extensive knowledge of user experience (UX) design, operating systems, and programming languages for developing software. Software Engineers create different types of software, including games and operating systems. After analyzing a client’s request, Software Engineers design, develop, and test software to meet that client’s guidelines. Responsibilities for work as a Software Engineer can be divided into two distinct categories: Application Engineers and System Engineers.

Like Front End Developers, Software Engineers work on tight deadlines as part of a team that usually includes User Interface (UI) Designers, UX Designers, Project Managers, and Web Developers. Software Engineers typically work on projects from the start to the completion and provide technical expertise throughout the process.

Cloud Developer

While not directly related, experience from working as a Full Stack Developer can offer many of the skills needed to become a Cloud Developers or Cloud Engineer, whose job is to design, manage, and maintain cloud infrastructure, which usually calls for a person who has a background in web design and web development with an emphasis on web services related to the cloud. Cloud Developers will need to have experience in web development, software development, and programming languages. 

How to Decide Which Career is Right for You

Becoming a Full Stack Developer involves building websites, software, and smartphone apps from knowledge of front end and back end technologies that include skills with HTML, JavaScript, and Python. Due to its inherent versatility, full stack web development can lead down several career paths that focus on helping with user interface or database access with websites, applications, and software. These skills allow Full Stack Developers to find work with major corporations, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and small businesses that are looking for people who can create dynamic, user-friendly websites and other web properties. Work as a Full Stack Developer includes having an aptitude with time management, communication, and business.

A Full Stack Developer must have skills with various programming languages like JavaScript, Python, Git, and Agile for working on both the user-side and server-side for building web properties. Front End Developers have to know JavaScript libraries and frameworks such as React, Angular, and Vue.js for developing user interface while Back End Developers work with Python, Node.js, Java, and Ruby to ensure functionality and data access in web development.

Full Stack Developer duties include updating websites to make sure that those sites fit current standards as well as conform to a client or company’s design guidelines. By nature, working as a Full Stack Developer is a collaborative occupation that helps in developing a varied skill set over time that can allow for changing directions to pursue other career opportunities in web development. Working as a Full Stack Developer requires responsibilities in different areas of web development and computer technology by fostering a cross-pollination of skills that can lead to options for shifting to other careers. 

Learn the Skills to Become a Full Stack Developer at Noble Desktop

Prospective web professionals have several options for learning the skills necessary for becoming Full Stack Developers through in-person or live online courses, bootcamps, and certificate programs. Noble Desktop, for example, offers several live online Web Development courses that will teach you skills in full stack web development that includes learning front end and back end procedures from lessons on HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, and Python.

If you are considering a career in web development, you can enroll in the Full Stack Web Development Certificate program to learn how to code websites from scratch for building mobile apps, websites, and software through training from hands-on projects. Through this program, you will learn coding and programming languages as well as front end and back end technologies for working in several areas related to full stack web development.

If you are looking to focus more on front end web development, Noble Desktop provides information with Learn Front End Web Development, which can help guide you through options for learning about the skills needed for the profession, including free resources and career advice.

Similarly, Noble Desktop offers information for gaining skills related to the back end of web development through Learn Back End Web Development that has advice for working on the server-side of building websites through training in Python and JavaScript frameworks.