The 10 Most Important Skills of a Full Stack Developer

Over the years, JavaScript has taken over the world of technology as a highly developed programming language. A large section of the developers all over the world are already JavaScript patrons and with the availability of full stack development services, this number is only increasing. Presently, there exist innumerable libraries and frameworks that are based on JavaScript. Since JS is very easy to learn, it works extremely well when combined with other languages also. It can be used to create a variety of applications. 

Ever since Node.JS got introduced, it has become a trending language for backend programming. A large number of top brands and heavy traffic attracting websites like Yahoo!, Netflix, LinkedIn, Microsoft, and eBay have been built using Node.JS as their platform of choice. Node.JS has surpassed its contemporaries and in no time become the most preferred programming language. It is mostly used for developing real-time applications that include live chat and live streaming applications.

The most important feature necessary in such applications is synchronization of client-side and server-side. Since both sides are comfortably written in JavaScript when developing such applications, the synchronization process is hassle-free, faster, and much better.

Full Stack Development Services

Creating a full-fledged software product using simply a single technology is next to impossible. This is why technology stacks are made use of. Technology stacks, in simple terms, are a combination of programming languages which include their underlying frameworks, databases, libraries, templates, and all of the tools.

To put things in perspective, one must understand that each software product is created by combining the client-side and server-side codes. In most cases, a different language is used for creating either layer. A full stack development company can build an entire application which covers both front as well as backend and all the aspects in between. This is made possible by specialists present in the full stack development companywho possess a wide range of skills. The versatility in their skills set is their unique offering which attracts the biggest companies in the world to hire them for their holistic projects. 

Understanding Full Stack JavaScript

JavaScript has been from the very start regarded as the universal development language which can be used across every software layer. When JavaScript is applied for both front end as well as backend programming, it is known as JavaScript full stack. 

The most important technology components of the JavaScript full stack include the following:

• Front End

A vast choice of frameworks is available for JavaScript front end. Angular JS, one of the most popular ones, was introduced in 2010. It has since then been a very important development tool. As newer frameworks got introduced with passage of time, the popularity of Angular JS did not suffer. However, some of the best new frameworks and libraries that came close to dethroning it included React, Vue.JS, Knockout.JS, Backbone.JS, etc. These frameworks are gaining popularity with each passing day and are being heavily used for all kinds of applications. Their use has at times been limited by project specifics. 

• Back End

The server-side JavaScript programming makes use of Node.JS and Express web framework. There are a series of additional tools like Meteor, Sails.JS, etc. that are being invariably preferred by developers.

MEAN and MERN Stacks – The Most Popular Technology Stacks Inside JavaScript Family

1. MEAN Stack

MEAN Stack can be regarded as an open-source tech bundle which is comprised of the frameworks MongoDB, Express, Angular, and Node.JS. MEAN Stack web development is used by some of the tech industry leaders like Accenture, Google, PayPal, etc. 

MEAN Stack is composed of the following components:

MongoDB 

MongoDB is a NoSQL database that uses JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) format to store data. It is an open-source, document-based database which has been designed keeping both scalability of app as well as developer agility in mind.This database is widely used for developing modern apps.

Express.JS

Express.JS is a backend web application framework that is backed by Node.JS. It provides tools which help manage the workflow between the client side and the data model. It is a minimal and extremely flexible Node.JS web application framework well known for the wide and robust set of features that assist in web and mobile applications development. It has further assisted in JavaScript’s flight to greatness and helped escalate the language to newer heights. 

AngularJS

AngularJS is one of the most widely used front end framework that is used to create dynamic interfaces. The main feature that distinguishes it from the rest is its ability to interact with any web application without having to reload the page. This feature helps reduce the bandwidth and website performance.

Node.JS

Node.JS is known as an event-driven I/O server side JavaScript environment. It is a single-threaded event loop which is comfortably based on Google’s open-source high-performance JavaScript engine – V8. It has an event-driven architecture which comes in handy when developing real-time applications. Node.JS is not only fast, but also extremely lightweight yet powerful. It is highly efficient and the number 1 choice for building data-intensive, futuristic, real-time apps. 

2. MERN Stack

MERN Stack is very similar to MEAN Stack with only one exception – in case of MERN stack development, Angular.JS is replaced with React. React.JS has been steadily growing in popularity over the last few years. It is a highly effective front-end open-source library which is mostly used for building dynamic UI. It was launched by Facebook and is currently powering the apps for some of the biggest technology giants like Tesla, Instagram, Skype, etc.

Since the difference between MEAN and MERN Stack development is solely related to the replacement of Angular with React, the pros and cons of choosing one stack over the other are dependent on that too. 

React is easy to use for the developers, promises great performance, and is quite flexible. Angular, on the other hand, is a complete framework that can be used independently. 

Top 10 Skills of a Full Stack Developer

1. Software Design and Architecture

Software design and architecture can be regarded as the top priority for any software development process. The full stack developer must be able to see the big picture and find solutions that are practical and feasible. The developer must have complete knowledge of the stack and know where to implement what in order to solve a problem. 

2. DevOps Tools Basics

A skilled full stack developer must have working knowledge of DevOps. He should be familiar with continuous integration as well as continuous deployment – which are the most basic requirements when employing full-stack development.

3. Database and Web Storage

Every web application that is developed requires a database where important data of the app is stored.An expert full stack developer has complete knowledge of rational databases, NoSQL databases, and can even manage memory storage. He must have working knowledge of JSON and XML.

4. Knowledge of Version Control System

An able full stack developer can create as well as manipulate database queries that can arise any time. The version control system is used to not only track, but even change the control to code. In other words, it allows developers to keep a track of all the changes that are made to the codebase. 

5. Knowledge of HTML and CSS

HTML and CSS are rightly called the building blocks of any web application. It is essential for the developer to have good command over both these programming languages. This can assist the developer in creating an attractive as well as engaging front-end for users. 

6. Backend Languages

While front-end languages are essential, backend languages are equally important as well. The backend of any application goes a long way in determining its performance, and therefore, predicting its success. Backend development is very different from front end development and a full stack developer must have knowledge of at least a few backend languages. These include: PHP, Python, Ruby, and Java.

7. NPM

NPM is the package manager which has been exclusively designed for Node.JS. it plays a significant role in the installation of different packages. Additionally, it offers very critical and relevant solutions for various dependencies. NPM can be easily configured, and therefore, can be used for many different types of applications. 

8. HTTP and REST

Full stack developers must master both HTML as well as REST. This is because these two serve very unique purposes and cannot be interchanged in roles. HTTP allows communication with the client through the app, whereas REST helps gather data during any communication with the client. REST can be regarded as a translator between the front-end and the back-end of any application.

9. Security

The internet is a tricky place where data theft is not uncommon. Therefore, it is essential to include security measures in each layer of any application. The full stack developer must possess a fair amount of knowledge about security and the various techniques that can be employed to guarantee better outcome. 

10. Soft Skills

Apart from technical skills, soft skills are absolutely vital for a full stack developer.These include time management, attention to detail, team work, discipline, and an appetite for criticism. These soft skills go a long way in ensuring that the developer will be able to churn out desired results.

Companies big and small are opting for full stack development services for their websites and apps – and this speaks volumes about the utility of these technology stacks. Having all parts of the web application development written in a single language (that too something as universal as JavaScript) is great. It is a big boost for the individual teams working on different aspects of the app or website as they improve their communication and team work. There is no gap between front-end and back-end engineers in this case as compared to when the teams are working separately using different technologies.