6 Steps to Becoming a Full Stack Developer
Published: 2021-09-29 13:31:36

A full-stack developer is one of the most chased positions in the field of technology. The progress in this arena has brought opportunities for both web-based and in-class training centres, which is helping people become full-stack developers. Some of the centres support trainees to get plum-coding jobs for themselves as well.

Due to attractive pay scales and growth scopes of full-stack developers, they have become one of the most desirable professions in the IT industry. It is a kind of engineering practice that fits all types of web development.  

**What is full-stack development?**
All those processes involved in developing a software application; works in two ways, i.e. front-end development and back-end development.
Front-end development looks after the client’s end of application; a front-end developer ensures that the end product is visually presentable and easy to use. 

Back-end development takes care of the server-side of the application; a back-end developer is accountable for using a programming language to share information between the browser and the back-end databases.

Full-stack development means the development of both the front-end and the back-end of a web application or website. Full-stack means collecting multiple elements in a software application that functions together to make the application run efficiently. This process includes software products, patches, coding frameworks, servers, operating systems, database tools, etc. To make the user interaction, to do calculations, to power back-end functions smooth, these tools are on top of the other; a "full-stack".

**Full Stack Development Industry:** A United States Bureau of Labor Statistics study says that there will be approx 853,000 full stack developer jobs by 2024. Though there are enough developers available in the market, the IT industry is gradually moving towards full-stack developers for their holistic solutions.

A full-stack developer's growth is quite diverse and multi-directional than a front-end or back-end developer. As they play multiple roles in their team, they help their companies save money, reducing overall operational costs and developing speed. 

It is easy for full-stack developers to work in their way for senior roles. They can also switch to other careers if they feel so; they can be software engineers or principal software developers with good pay scales. Though a senior software developer looks after the operations and develops information systems, principal software developer tests, diagnoses and troubleshoots systems that help in solving problems. The average salary of a former in the U.S is $132,158, and the latter earns $157,688. 

**Why consider becoming a Full Stack Developer**   
Full-stack development is a complete development of a software application where the creative and practical sides come together. They look out for all the three layers of the development process - the database, presentation and logic. 

Here are few reasons why one should consider being a full stack developer -
1. Full-stack development is all about versatility - Full stack developers are multi-developers who give end-to-end solutions. IT companies applaud them for their versatility and expertise in all the areas of software development. This concludes that being a full-stack developer will help one master a lot of other skills. Knowledge of HTML, CSS, JavaScript and back-end languages (Python, PHP, and Ruby), database storage, HTTP, REST and NPM with soft skills are enough to become a desirable full stack developer. you might require [Python Books](https://learndunia.com/best-python-books/) to master Python. As the web application structure is an evolving space, full-stack developers have to learn new languages as per the time and market demand.

2. Scope of growth is multi-dimensional - IT companies do not look for specialized roles anymore. They have switched to training and selecting full-stack developers who are multitaskers and flexible to work. Their end-to-end solutions are globally appreciated. Most of the full stack developers begin their careers as front-end or back-end developers, but with years of experience, exposure, and learning, the expertise in all sides of web development. 

3. One of the highest-paid jobs - Full stack development is one of the highest-paid jobs in the world. As it has its impact on business and marketing, full-stack development is important for all sectors. It helps organizations to stand out in their businesses and increase their revenue. Though full-stack development is rewarding, it depends on many factors like core skills, additional skills(WordPress, databases, UI/UX basics, etc.), location of the organization, demographics, and experience.

A full-stack developer salary overview in the U.S -
1. Based on the study conducted, $113,462 is the annual average salary of full-stack developers.
2. As per ZipRecruiter, a full stack developer at the entry level earns $84,903 per year.
3. At the mid-level, the annual average is $97,500.
4. A senior full-stack developer earns an average of $116,504.


4. Equips for faster delivery of projects - This job profile demands effective communication with the team members to make the development processes easy. A full-stack developer learns to give output quickly; his/her skill-set comprises the most efficient tools which help him/her to work smartly and with a good pace.

5. Great responsibility comes with great productivity - Full stack developers work with both the client-side and the server-side of the application. This helps the developer to take control over the product and make a pathway for creativity and flexibility. They have the edge over other developers to see the larger picture and make their decisions faster. They are also self-sufficient and have good judgment skills. This liberty with their judgment skill increases their complete productivity.

**Who is a full-stack developer?** 
A programmer who knows how to code both the front-end and the back-end of a web application is known as a full-stack web developer.

Front-end- This is that part of a web application that a user sees and uses.
Back-end- This is part of a web application that works behind the scenes and executes commands given by the user. Commands can be -
1. Logical processes
2. Database related processes
3. Validation of users
4. Server configuration

A full-stack developer doesn't have to be an expert in every area. He/she should know all the technologies involved and understand the processes occurring in the complete application. 

Steps that would be required to become a full-stack developer:
**Step 1 -** Learning necessary programming languages - A full stack developer should know these languages- 
1. HTML/CSS - The whole of the web is built on these technologies. HTML is a tool that enables developers to give content to a website, and CSS is a designing tool that is used to change the way a web application looks. Both of them are important for a full-stack developer and are taught online as well as offline. 

2. JavaScript - This is something very important for a full stack developer as it can be used in the front-end and back-endes. Browsers are built based on it, and they can also be used as a server-side language. a few good [Java Script Books](https://learndunia.com/best-javascript-books/) would help your cause. 

3. Back-end technologies - Once the developer has become an expert in HTML/CSS, he/she should learn one language used for coding at the back-end process. The functions which work at the back-end of any web application are database operators, user validation, and logical operations. Courses that are available online usually teach back-end technology like PHP, Java, Python, or SQL. Not just learning would be enough, but one should attain proficiency in it.

**Step 2 -** Refine the knowledge - One should always refine their knowledge by updating themselves throughout and being aware of the skills they should acquire to meet demands. 

1. For a proper understanding of complex concepts, one must know the fundamentals. JavaScript and HTML/CSS are the basics of a web application. To understand any voice, one must be clear about these technologies. 

2. Keep testing your knowledge. Create test web pages and apply concepts that are learned in the course. JavaScript can be seen in 99 per cent of web applications, and a developer must be proficient with it.

3. Having a thorough knowledge of programming concepts can help one in improving their coding skills. Here are some theories to know before going ahead - 
1. Servers and their functioning  
2. Networks and their nuances
3. Web-hosting environments
4. Algorithms and their formulation 
5. Data structures(types, properties, and their use)
6. Programming technologies 
7. Databases and their management 

One must be able to bring together the different parts of the application and should be able to create a whole from those parts. And for this, one should understand how each of its parts works, its role in the bigger scheme of things, and how all of these parts are inter-connected to each other. 

**Step 3 -** Have a familiarity with all the technologies but expertise in one.
Most of the programmers fail as they try learning all the types of languages that are not required. They just need to be an expert in one and just have a familiarity with others. As one's experience grows, their ease with technologies will also improve. Instead of studying all the languages, a developer should choose a commonly demanded technology by the clients. This will help one compete in the market and give their best efforts. 

**Step 4 -** Attain a course.
Even an expert should keep updating themselves to be more relevant with the latest demands of the market. A full-stack developer needs to know all the changes happening and the technologies that are being used. To keep oneself updated, one must do online courses as per their interest. Some of the organizations which offer these technological courses online are - 
1. The Odin Project
2. Treehouse
3. Codecademy 

The motive is to learn theory and get practical exposure in a short period, so one must choose courses that offer -
1. Mentoring by knowledgeable coders
2. A flexible schedule that matches the developer's schedule
3. Projects as a part of the curriculum
4. Sessions for clarifying doubts.

**Step 5 -** Look for practical exposure. 
One of the important parts of the process is when one has sufficient knowledge and understanding of all the required technologies - HTML/CSS, JavaScript, and HTTP/REST. For this one should know -
1. A proper way to structure code
2. Ways to separate files
3. A space to host large media files
4. Correct data structures to use
5. Location of each computational task(client-side or server-side)

Theoretical knowledge can be acquired by studying online materials and understanding it's an application, and one should use it in a real web application. This would be great if one works in a team for better results. This will become an add-on in the developer's resume and help him/her fulfil the company's demands.
There will be companies that will ask for a degree in Computer Science for the job. Still, there will also be few who would overlook education qualifications if the candidate has the coding capabilities. 

**Step 6 -** Taking additional assignments. 
One must grab additional assignments in a company that works on different technologies, and it would help them develop to learn another language. This would help the developer add value to the organization and make a reputation in the eyes of senior officials.

**Responsibilities of a full stack developer:** 
1. Looking after the project requirements from clients and stakeholders.
2. Studying project requirements in detail and coming out with solutions.
3. Designing user relations.
4. Preparing databases and servers.
5. Testing bugs in the code
6. Changing codes using hardware and software.
7. Implementing methodical testing processes for solving problems.
8. Cross-platform optimization

**Conclusion:** The journey to becoming a full stack developer might seem full of hurdles but having work experience eases the process. One can work and keep updating themselves according to the market demands, hence proving to be a great developer for any organization. It's all about how he/she wants to go ahead with the processes and their work.