What Skills Should Full Stack Developers Have?
The Full Stack Developer should be well versed in front end and back end technologies as the generalist on any development team. They’ll need to thoroughly understand how an application is built from end-to-end. They should know the basic front end web languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript as well as back end technologies like server configuration, databases, SQL, and Python. Each workplace will have its own process but understanding scrum, whiteboarding, the software development lifecycle, and soft skills like teamwork will be helpful. On a high level, the Full Stack Developer should also understand user interface and user experience as well.
Because each employer will use their own specific tech stack the Full Stack Developer should be ready to learn new languages and technologies for each new position. The “tech stack” is a specific combination of languages and technologies that an organization or individual uses to build an application. A Full Stack Developer should be proficient in at least one front end focused language and one back end focused language but most recruiters will expect more. Many Full Stack Developers learn their third and fourth languages on the job. Each employer will expect you to become proficient in their tech stack whether you were proficient in it when they hired you or not.
Frameworks like NodeJS, a bridge between the back end and front end in JavaScript, and Django, an open-source web app base written in Python, are commonly use and Full Stack Developers should be well-versed in at least these two frameworks. Staying up-to-date with relevant technologies like popular frameworks will be necessary throughout the entire career of any Developer but especially Full Stack Developers.
Full Stack Developers should have a deep understanding of Object-Oriented programming because they’ll be using this concept to organize and structure their code. Languages like Ruby on Rails, JavaScript, Java, and C# are all object-oriented languages that are commonly used by Full Stack Developers. Git and version control practices are also essential habits.
Learn the Skills You Need to Become a Full Stack Developer
-
Coding
Coding is another way to say computer programming. It is how humans "instruct" computers through the process of designing and building a functioning computer program. Computer and web programs are built using coding languages like C, Python, PHP, HTML, JavaScript, and more. Coding can be used to create desktop, mobile, or web applications.
-
Python
Python is an interpreted, object-oriented, high-level programming language with dynamic semantics. It is used to write scripts, automations, algorithms, manipulate data, and create frameworks. Python prioritizes simplicity, easy to learn syntax, readability, and versatility.
-
SQL
SQL stands for Structured Query Language. It is a computer language used to store, manipulate, and retrieve data which is stored in a relational database.
-
Web Development
Web development is the practice of building, creating, and maintaining websites. Web development uses coding languages to build a website for the internet.
-
JavaScript
JavaScript is an object-oriented computer programming language. It is mostly used for interactive effects and user experience enhancements within web browsers. JavaScript also has frameworks which allow Developers to quickly find and execute small chunks of prewritten JavaScript in a standard, predictable way.
-
React
React is an open-source JavaScript library that is maintained by Facebook for building user interfaces. React is often used as a base in the development of single-page or mobile applications, social media style applications, and other web platforms.
-
Ruby
Ruby is a dynamic, interpreted, high-level, open-source programming language which emphasizes simplicity and productivity. The syntax is designed to be natural to read and easy to write. It is used to build web applications. The development framework, Ruby on Rails, is the most popular implementation of Ruby.
-
Git
Git is a distributed version control system that is standard in software and web development. Git allows multiple developers to work on the same project at once or a single developer to keep track of changes. It also creates a simple environment to conduct A/B testing. Git is designed to optimize speed, data integrity, as well as distributed and non-linear workflows.
-
PHP & MySQL
PHP is a free, open-source, and server-side scripting language for web development. MySQL is a relational database management system (RDBMS) that uses Structure Query Language (SQL).
-
Node.js
Node.js is a runtime environment based on Chrome’s JavaScript engine, which allows you to run JavaScript on the back-end of a website (on the web server). Initially, JavaScript only ran in a web browser (the front-end of a website, also called client-side JavaScript). With the popularity of JavaScript, developers wanted to use it on the back-end, instead of learning another language such as PHP, Ruby on Rails, etc. Node.js enables developers to do just that, making JavaScript a full-stack language.
-
Developer Tools
Developer tools are tools typically created by developers to do tasks like debug code, edit code more efficiently, test code, test interface, and more efficiently build websites and applications.
-
Dev Bootcamp
-
Software Engineering