Is Full Stack Development Right For Me?

Before committing to becoming a Full Stack Developer, it’s important to make sure it’s the right career path for you. There are several factors you’ll want to consider, like required level of knowledge, work schedule, whether you prefer to work in person or virtually, and if there are opportunities available in the cities you prefer. You’ll also want to consider With high demand and equally high salaries, studying full stack development is a good idea for any person, but this article will help you make sure it’s best for you. 

What is a Full Stack Developer?

A full-stack developer helps build and maintain both the front end and the back-end of a website. They must be skilled in a variety of areas: programming, database management, user experience, project management, and client communication. They are also skilled in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, NodeJS, ExpressJS, Django, and PHP. Equally, full-stack developers understand various database management systems (DBMS) like MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, and more. 

Software developers require slightly different skills, tools, and software knowledge for frontend and backend development. Full stack development combines both disciplines—meaning teams can build applications from start to finish in an integrated and cohesive manner. This makes Full Stack Developers particularly valuable in the field of web development, allowing for higher earnings and greater long-term job stability. 

Why Become a Full Stack Developer?

Becoming a Full Stack Developer has many benefits. To become a full stack developer, you must skilled with back-end coding and database technologies, including programming languages, Ruby, Python, NodeJS, and PHP, web servers, such as Apache, and database management systems like MySQL, JSON, MongoDB, and SQL. You should also be good at front end engineering, using programming languages and frameworks such as CSS, JavaScript, HTML5, AJAX, AngularJS, and JQuery, and understand the dynamics of User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX).This diversity in your expertise will make you adaptable and open up more job opportunities. 

Additionally, a career in full stack development can provide stability, scalable growth, and an above average salary. There are currently an estimated 216,700 Web Developers and Digital Designers (the category that Full Stack Developers typically fall into) in the United States, and that number is projected to grow rather quickly, thanks to the position’s high demand. In fact, employment of Web Developers and Digital Designers is projected to grow 16% between 2022 and 2032, substantially faster than the average for all other occupations. 

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Web Developers boast a median pay of $80,730, with Virginia seeing an average salary of $98,000. Your title can make all the difference regarding salary, with Forbes and several other online sources reporting that Back End Developers can often earn more than Front End, and Full Stack Developers generally earn more than all other alternatives. From career opportunities to growth to pay, learning full stack development is a worthwhile endeavor for any motivated professional. 

Love of Coding

There are three basic programs for front end development: HTML (Hypertext Markup Language), CSS (Cascading Style Sheet), and JavaScript. Back end development has more programs that you can use, like PHP, Java, Ruby, C#, and Python. Being familiar with these programming languages will be essential to your success in web development. For back-end, you’ll need to be comfortable with Ruby, Java, and Python to write server-side logic, as well as databases, storage technologies, and API technologies so applications and systems communicate with each other. Full-stack in all encompassing, so there are many tools and programming languages you’ll need to master, all of which will take time and dedication to do so. 

Analytical Thinking

Analytical thinking is a key skill for full stack developers, who often need to solve complex problems and for testing and debugging. Testing is the process of finding bugs and errors, while debugging is correcting or removing the found bugs and errors. Knowing how to test and debug will help you get back on track when software or programs fail to perform as designed. Analytical thinking will be crucial to the success of any websites, programs, or systems you create.

Staying Up to Date

Technology, programming, and the digital world are always evolving. As time progresses, some programming languages may become obsolete while others become front-runners in development work. A good Full Stack Developer is always learning and updating their skills, ensuring they’re as up to date as possible on industry standards. Ongoing education is key; being passionate about programming and computer science will help you stay motivated so you can be your company’s go-to expert on today’s best practices for full stack development. 

UX/UI Design

UX Designers are responsible for project architecture tasks like creating and evaluating user journeys based on data and insights. They also produce design deliverables to illustrate user experiences. UI Designers often focus more on web development's visual and interactive elements. They gather and evaluate user requirements in collaboration with UX Designers, product managers, and engineers, and design graphic user interface components like page navigation buttons and search fields. UX and UI work together to create the best user experience possible, so a basic understanding of UX and UI will be extremely helpful in web development.

Project Management 

As a Full Stack Developer, you’ll often be the lead on one or more projects at a time. Being adept at project management will be key to making sure your work is completed on time and to the correct specifications. You’ll be juggling a lot of balls at once, so risk management, project scope, project scheduling, effective leadership, and problem-solving are just a few of the skills you’ll need to be successful in project management. It’s also worth noting that collaboration and communication will be crucial to your success with project management. While you may not manage a team of developers, you will work with other teams and departments like marketing, UX/UI design, sales, customer service, or even senior leadership within your company. Effective communication and working well with others will help your projects run smoothly and encourage future collaboration on other exciting projects. 

Do I Need a Degree to Become a Full Stack Developer?

While not strictly required, most Full Stack Developers will have a degree in computer science, information technology, or something similar. Many job postings you see will list a bachelor’s degree as a general requirement but won’t specify the field of study, but most professionals you encounter will most likely have taken the traditional route and attended a four-year institution for a bachelor’s degree in something related to computer science and coding. 

If you don’t have this background, don’t fret. What matters most in the field of full stack development is being skilled. Full-stack development bootcamps and professional trainings are good options for those who want to enter the field without a traditional degree. These programs offer practical, hands-on experience with languages and frameworks. You can gain the skills needed, as well as develop a portfolio of work to prove those skills to potential employers. These programs also tend to offer networking opportunities, resume development, and interview prep, all of which can help you land your dream full stack development job without a four-year degree in computer science or programming. 

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

Noble Desktop offers several professional training courses that will properly prepare you for a career in full stack development. Held both live online or in-person at their office in New York City, Noble Desktop’s courses boast top-notch curriculum, industry-expert instructors, and additional career and support resources. Their certificate and bootcamp programs result in a certificate of completion that can be added to your LinkedIn profile and presented to potential employers during the interview process. Below are a few of the most relevant courses for those interested in becoming Full Stack Developers. 

Full Stack Web Development Certificate

This thorough certificate training teaches you how to program the visual appearance of a web application (the front end) and the infrastructure that allows it to function (the back end) to create complete web pages. Project-oriented, it will cover everything you need to know to code websites from scratch while building a portfolio of working web applications to showcase to potential employers.

This course takes 17 weeks for full-time students and ten months for part-time. This course includes 1:1 mentoring and one free retake, and financial assistance options (like installments and financing) are available for those in need. You’ll receive a certificate of completion at the end of this training that can be added to your resume, cover letter, or online portfolio. 

Software Engineering Certificate

This program is divided into front end development, React Development, and Django (Python) Development. You will learn HTML to mark up web pages and CSS for styling; the fundamentals of JavaScript and Git; and how to use Flexbox and Grid to layout, align, reorder, and adapt web page content to different size screens. You’ll then move on to the fundamental JavaScript programming concepts, including variables, data types, loops, and DOM. Plus, you’ll cover topics like React, a powerful JavaScript library for web development, and master Node.js, MongoDB, and Express.js to round out your JavaScript development skills.

By creating a portfolio of projects, preparing for common interview questions, and polishing your resume and LinkedIn profile, this course will have you ready to pursue a new job in software engineering in as little as 20 weeks (on a full-time schedule). One-on-one mentoring and a free one-year retake are included in the cost of this course. Payment plans and tuition assistance are available, and this training requires no previous experience, making it great for beginners.

Python Developer Bootcamp

This three-week course teaches Python for software development with Django, Django REST, and other developer tools like Git and SQL. You’ll start by learning the basics of Python including its lexical syntax, then move to more advanced topics like dictionaries, custom functions, and sorting algorithms. In week two, you'll learn object-oriented programming, how to work with APIs, and get an introduction to web databases using SQL. By creating projects that can be added to your portfolio, you’ll master URL dispatchers, querying models, and automating tasks with Django, as well as how to work with images, authentication, and use API endpoints with Django REST. 

It’s recommended that you are comfortable coding HTML and basic CSS. You should possess equivalent knowledge of Noble Desktop’s Web Development with HTML & CSS class, and mastery of another programming language is helpful, but not required. Payment plans and financing are available, in addition to extra perks like one-on-one mentoring, a free one-year retake, and a verified digital certificate are included with your purchase.