How to Become a Full-Stack Web Developer

Becoming a full-stack web developer is a hefty initiative. With so many different types of web developers, it’s also difficult to decide which path to choose. Frontend, backend, and full-stack all have different meanings and attract a varied audience. A full-stack web developer is a highly specialized role that usually involves years working in a variety of roles to understand both frontend and backend in their entirety. QuickStart’s web developer Bootcamp explains the differences between all three in greater detail in self-paced courses. Start your Bootcamp journey with us today! Find more info on web development training at the bottom of this page. If you are curious about how to become a full-stack web developer, use this blog to help you decide if this path is meant for you.

What Is Full-Stack Web Development?

Full-stack web development is a mixture of frontend and backend web development. To understand full-stack, you’ll first learn both and become an expert in frontend and backend web development.

Frontend involves the user interface or what the customer or client views when clicking on a website. For example, clicking a subscribe button and the aesthetic appeal of the site both involve frontend web development. The front-end developer understands CSS, JavaScript, and HTML to make sure the layout for the site is visually appealing and simple to use.

However, backend web development involves what you can’t see, or what’s in the background of the site, such as cybersecurity, network scalability, and server configuration. Backend web developers receive information from users using the frontend and then find out what is meaningful and what should be improved. Common scripting languages include Python, Ruby, and PHP.

A full-stack web developer is an expert that understands both frontend and backend, so it becomes a highly specialized role that bridges the gap between these two developers and helps both understand what is important and how to communicate with each other to complete the project/product. In this regard, a full-stack web developer is a valuable and respected individual that knows how a website or app should appear, how to make it seamless, and how to understand the incoming data. The full-stack web developer doesn’t know everything, but they’ll have an overall understanding on both ends.

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Requirements, Responsibilities, and Skills

The responsibilities of a typical full-stack developer are as follows:

• Create and ensure website security is well-designed
• Develop frontend architecture and backend website applications
• Work with project managers and development teams to solve software issues
• Collaborate with analysts and data scientists to improve software
• Test, troubleshoot, and correct software issues to improve efficiency
• Meet consumer/client’s needs and their technical requirements
• Oversee the project/product from beginning to end
• Work with web designers to improve user interface on mobile and website(s)
• Write APIs
• Develop and manage databases for optimum functionality

The requirements to become a full-stack developer are as follows:

• Degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering or similar (some full-stack developers lack a degree yet have open source work and a great portfolio instead of a degree) (over 60% hold a degree)
• Proficient in frontend languages such as JavaScript, HTML, and CSS
• Familiar with JavaScript frameworks like React, Angular JS, and Amber
• Excellent communication skills
• Adaptability and attention to detail
• Understanding of server-side languages: Python, Ruby, Java, PHP, and .NET
• Proficient with database technology: MySQL and Oracle
• Great problem-solving skills
• Excellent organizational and project management skills

The requirements will vary based on what each company wants in a full-stack web developer, yet the above requirements and responsibilities will help you gain a strong base before moving up to apply for a job as a full-stack developer.

According to Stack Overflow’s 2019 survey involving over 90,000 developers, about 85% of developers have taught themselves how to code in a language. This provides some relief that getting an expensive degree isn’t always necessary, yet many of the developers in the survey have been coding since they were a teenager. But that number of coding as a teenager could mean simple HTML that many people learn in high school or sometimes even earlier.

Regardless, 45% have a bachelor’s degree and 22% earned a master’s degree. This is consistent with what is found on job listings, as most employer’s ask for a degree, and some employers don’t specify whether they’re asking the candidate to have a master’s or bachelor’s, caring more for experience and knowledge on front and backend languages, among skills listed below. Also, 60.1% said they took an online course in programming or software development to educate themselves. Full-stack web development also is a somewhat new profession, so the average age of a full-stack web developer is less than 35 years.

JavaScript remains the most popular language used by web developers, at 67%. HTML/CSS, SQL, Python, and Java come after as other popular languages, which are spoken about in detail below.

The above requirements involve skills such as HTML and Python, but most websites think of these two, requirements and skills, as synonymous. Let’s filter them out by labeling them as soft and hard skills to explain why each skill is necessary.

Hard Skills:

• JavaScript: This common language is rising in popularity. Many companies ask that job candidates understand JavaScript. It’s used by developers to create interactivity and animation. Out of a poll involving 26,000 developers, over 50% stated they used JavaScript in their job as a web developer.
• HTML/CSS: HTML is used to create a website or application while CSS is used to improve the appearance and structure of it. These are pertinent to becoming a full-stack web developer.
• Database management: Understanding databases are integral for a full-stack web developer, as building and understanding how they work is a necessity. Every site and app require databases, and it’s up to the full-stack developer to make sure the database is performing correctly.
• Git: Git tracks your changes in source code. This is helpful when working on a team and you need to make changes to a code.

Soft Skills:

• Excellent communication skills: The full-stack web developer bridges the gap between front and backend web development. They’ll understand both and in turn connect the two to create a refined product.
• Great attention to detail: Many things can go wrong along the way, so it’s common for a full-stack web developer, just like many developers, to pay close attention to detail.
• Creative and analytical: These are grouped, much like the role of a full-stack developer, since it involves both the aesthetic nature of a site and the backend data that makes sense of all the data received. A developer understands both aspects, which is unique, as many jobs usually are heavily weighted towards either being analytical or creative.

Scope of Web Development in 2020 and Beyond

A full-stack web developer is a highly desirable job that boasts an average salary of about $73,760 per year. The highest 10% of web developers earn about $142,000, yet this involves those who have worked in the field for decades. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the “web developer” role is expected to grow 8% from 2019-2029. But this takes into account the impact of the Coronavirus. Before the Coronavirus took a toll on the world economy, the growth rate was 13%. As of 2020, the average growth rate for all jobs is at a low 4%; in this regard, the “web developer” is growing twice as fast as the average for all jobs. If or when the Coronavirus slows down, the job outlook will increase back to the teens.

Demand for web developers is driven by the constant and increasing need for developers in e-commerce and mobile device applications. Individuals with knowledge of multiple programming languages will have the best chances of becoming a full-stack web developer. Since the job requires a highly skilled individual, the chances of getting hired are high for those with the right mindset, skills, experience, and initiative.

The increasing popularity of mobile devices has also increased the demand for full-stack web developers. The world is constantly making use of paid and free apps. For example, the Google Play Store has 2.8 million apps available, and the Apple App Store has 2.2 million apps you can download right now. With over 2.7 billion smartphone users, it’s easy to see why web development remains a popular profession.

More than 74%, according to over 61,000 web developers, were very or slightly satisfied with their job. Developers tend to consistently rank among the most satisfied out of all jobs. And, since web development at both the front and backend remain essential to many fields, there will be increased demand as more and more companies adapt to using advanced technological tools, such as mobile apps that make digital banking fast and easy. Full-stack web developers are important, so the popularity of the profession will stay intact.

Languages Used by Full-Stack Web Developers

You might feel overwhelmed at a full-stack web developer’s amount of responsibility. Each job will ask for specific things, yet one of the most important aspects to keep in mind involves understanding programming languages. The most popular languages are important to understand, and basic knowledge of various other ones are good as well. Don’t worry about mastering so many things at once. If you do that, you might get anxious and get confused about where to start. Let’s go through common languages full-stack web developers use:

1. JavaScript: JavaScript was founded in 1995 and is one of the core technologies of the web, making it one of the oldest and most wildly used languages. A quick search on Indeed and other job-hosting sites shows that companies almost always look for candidates that understand JavaScript in depth. In a poll, over 54% of 26,000 developers stated they used JavaScript. This is no surprise. It has grown in popularity over the past five years. It’s a useful front-end language.
2. SQL: Structured Query Language helps deal with structured data. SQL appeared in 1974 but became popular in the late 1980s. It has become a standard and is useful for database management.
3. Java: Java, although similar in some ways to JavaScript, is sometimes confused with JavaScript. It’s an object-oriented programming language popularly used to design web applications.
4. C#: Another popular programming language is C#, which Microsoft developed. It’s a core language used by beginners and experts to develop web apps.
5. PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor is another widely used language. It’s a scripting language that’s simple for a beginner to learn. As a backend language, it’s necessary to understand the basics of PHP, Python, or something similar.

Other Popular Languages and Frameworks

It’s also important to note that the most popular languages aren’t the most financially rewarding. For example, Objective-C and Node.js ended up being the two most lucrative languages, bringing in more than $96,000 in compensation for specializing in them. Objective-C is used to program iPhone Apps. More niche languages garner higher pay that is close to six figures, yet these are beyond the confines of this blog. These niche languages include Clojure ($139k), F# ($124k), Scala ($143k) and Go ($136k).

However, C#, SQL, and Java all provide $90,000+ in compensation for developers. This is important to note, as these three languages listed above are both popular and well-rewarded financially. Staying abreast of the most common languages helps you not fall behind, yet, in the beginning, learning the basics is necessary. The best part about this is that you can learn programming from your laptop or computer. You can be self-taught, by taking courses and certifications, and this will help you learn the above languages in a relatively short amount of time.

Some other frameworks include Django, Angular, React, and ExpressJS; and these are a mix of frontend and backend languages. However, some languages are easier to learn and use than others. Django is flexible and secure, and over 12,000 projects have used Django, making it one of the most popular languages. It can build almost any type of project, and it’s based on Python (listed above as a requirement to become a full-stack web developer).

On the other hand, Angular is a front-end framework that is used by Google to design their products. It’s difficult to learn but fast, high in performance, and flexible to use for almost any project. Microsoft and PayPal also use Angular. React is also a front-end framework, but it’s simple and can be used for Android and iOS apps. Facebook and Instagram used React.

ExpressJS is the last popular framework to discuss, which is a simple open-source backend framework. Like the other miscellaneous frameworks, ExpressJS is popular among major corporations. Accenture, IBM, Uber, and other businesses use it for its fast speed and simple-to-use features. Since languages are a major aspect of full-stack web development, understanding the popular ones like JavaScript, Python, PHP and the others listed under the requirements above can help you stand out from the others vying for the same position.

Companies with Full-Stack Web Developers

The traditional route for many developers is working their way up from small to medium to large companies, though you may prefer to stay at a certain level. Start-ups are appealing to entrepreneurs wanting to create or co-create an app; this path is risky but sometimes provides high rewards. Take, for example, Facebook, Snapchat, Tiktok, and Instagram; these apps were once viewed as potential failures in their inception (far before their IPO), yet each one succeeded in the end. Even if the start-up is simply yourself designing small but useful apps, it can feel gratifying to look at your app in the Apple App Store and see thousands of downloads.

However, the traditional route is where even if you branch off and become a freelancer or create your own company, you’ll first gain the experience necessary to learn all the essentials in a real-world environment. Most stay on this path and are happy there. Job satisfaction for a full-stack web developer is in the top 36% of all jobs. Full-stack developers are respected and valuable assets to a company, so the role is important; you’ll feel like you’re doing something worthwhile, even if it’s designing an app that performs a simple task.

The following includes, in no particular order, companies that have and are hiring full-stack web developers:

1. IBM
2. SAP
3. Booz Allen Hamilton
4. Barclays
5. Mentor Graphics
6. Deloitte

It’s good to note that not all full-stack web developers work for technology companies, as that is now almost a cliché. Apart from IT, SaaS development and other software development sectors, the following sectors are what over 71,000 respondents to Stack Overflow stated they work in: financial and banking; web development or design; consulting; healthcare or social services; data and analytics; media, advertising, publishing or entertainment; retail or e-commerce; manufacturing, and many other fields. The popularity of this profession steadily increases, and many industries use full-stack web developers to help grow into new territory. This is especially helpful if you want to become a full-stack developer, since leaving one sector doesn’t make too much of a difference in terms of languages used. And this also makes the transition to a new sector simple.  

Top 5 Web Development Platforms to Use

These five web development platforms are widely used and useful in the workplace. Out of over 80,000 respondents to Stack Overflow’s 2019 survey, the following web development platforms were provided.

1. Linux: It’s no surprise that Linux, the open-source platform involving many operating systems, is popular among professional developers. About 53% use Linux.
2. Windows: Windows remains one of the most versatile web development platforms in use today. About 50% of web developers use Windows.
3. Docker: Docker is a rising web development platform that is used by 30% of the above respondents. Docker is partnered with AWS and Microsoft Azure, which helps make it more versatile. It specializes in Docker Containers that packages code to help it run correctly and quickly.
4. Android: Android remains popular among web developers creating well-designed apps that are attractive to their audiences.
5. AWS: Amazon Web Services provides many services, and one of the many services involves their web development platform. About 27% of web developers use AWS for their website and app creation needs.

Other popular web development platforms for all types of web development include MacOS, WordPress, Slack, Raspberry Pi, Google Cloud Platform, Microsoft Azure, and various other ones. About 22% used MacOS as a platform, and the rest were not as popular as the top five listed above. Each company will ask for different platform knowledge. However, the majority of full-stack web developers use Linux and/or Windows, so it’s important to be familiar with one or both of them. That doesn’t take long at all, and most reading this are already used to either one.

QuickStart Web Development Bootcamp

Based out of Austin, TX, QuickStart is one of the leading providers in IT skills training. QuickStart has over 30 years of experience in the eLearning industry and is accredited by Microsoft, Cisco, NetApp, CompTIA, and other certification providers. QuickStart specializes in self-paced online and instructor-led courses in various domains including application development, cloud computing, DevOps, information security, data science, and more.

Our is a highly sought-after bootcamp designed to help you gain skills, knowledge, real-world project experience, and certificates to help prepare you for a job as a web developer. A full-stack certification can help prove, as a prospective candidate, that you understand front and backend web development and took the initiative to earn a certification. Here is how the bootcamp works:

1. Pick a university to enroll in their bootcamp.
2. Attend self-paced courses, learn from experts in the field, work on real-world projects, and earn a full-stack certification from the university you chose.
3. Candidates receive career counseling support to help them get a job or promotion.

A full-stack web developer understands both front and backend development, and the above web development bootcamp is the perfect addition to your resume. About 80% secure jobs soon after graduating from a bootcamp such as the one QuickStart offers.

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