How to Become a Full Stack Software Developer in
Kenya – What you should know
Whether you are a newbie or experienced personnel in the
field of website development, you surely have heard about the full stack
development. So what is it all about and how can you become a full stack
developer?
Types of web developers
There are three major types of developers depending on the
part of the web development they work on.
- Front-end
developers –Those working on the look & feel and interactivity of
websites are considered as front-end developers. They are the
experts in writing HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
- Back-end
developers –Those working on the server-side of web applications are
termed as back-end developers. They are usually divulged into
website logic and functionality.
- Full
stack developers – Full stack developers are often the ones who
can efficiently work on both the ends of the website development.
Being a full stack developer is one of the most trending
topics among the developer. There are a lot of developers who are using ‘Full
Stack Developer’ as their job title, so it is like the ‘full stack’ topic is
already a new job trend. There have been various opinions about full
development. Many believe that full stack developer is a highly skilled
person who can efficiently work on any and all part of the web
development, while others believe that a full stack developer is nothing but a
title. The topic of full stack developer has turned into an argument about
being an all-rounder and expert in the IT industry, and a debate on sense and
extent of development skills. Full stack developers are challenging the
possibility of having an eating their own cake. And it is possible for them
because of their horizontal skill tree. Apart from it, some also consider them
“jack of all trades, but master of none”. So it is essential to walk through a
proper way of becoming a real full stack developer, rather than just being an
empty title.
Who is a full stack developer?
A full stack developer is the one who has mastery over
various skills and using those skills to complete a task on their own. In other
words, a full stack developer is able to handle all the parts and processes of
web development which include databases, servers, UI design, system
engineering, and clients. Depending on the scale and scope of any project and
the client’s requirements, a full stack developer can work on a mobile stack, a
web stack, or a native application stack. A ‘stack’ in the world of web
development is a collection of sub-modules which makes ‘full stack’ a
collection of technologies required to turn a project into reality. The
sub-modules and technologies when combined together to achieve the desired
results complete the full circle of full stack development. Now that we know
what full stack developer means, time to discuss its pros and cons.
Advantages of being a full stack developer:
- It
is easier for a full stack developer to design prototypes for a product
due to their mastery over a wide range of techniques.
- Since
they have command over different techniques, they can provide a wide view
and mindset with different angles.
- They
are able to provide valuable opinions towards products or designs as they
are more equipped with technologies than a front-end or back-end
developer.
- They
can be helpful to everyone on the team which can help reduce the time and
costs for communication and technology docking.
- Due
to the immense knowledge and experience of various technologies, many of
the full stack developers tend to become entrepreneurs or technical
advisors/partners for start-ups.
Disadvantages of being a full stack developer:
- Due
to the involvement of various technologies, it is often considered that a
full stack developer cannot be expert in one skill.
- People
who call themselves full stack developers are often the ones who know a
little about many skills but are no experts on anyone.
- It
often leads to a chaos of thoughts and solutions simply because a full
stack developer knows many skills, and they treat themselves more superior
than normal developers who are actually experts in what they do.
Still, want to be a full stack developer?
Then let’s know the requirements of being a full stack
developer.
A proficient full stack developer must have practical
knowledge and competence for all aspects involved in the process of web
development.
- Programming
Languages
As a full stack developer, you are supposed to be efficient
in multiple programming languages like Java, PHP, Python etc. Majority of
the business systems need to be coded in these languages so maybe not all are
required at the same time. However, learning the languages aren’t enough. You
also need to be efficient in structuring, designing, implementing, and testing
projects build on one or more languages.
- Frameworks
and Libraries
Learning to use frameworks and third-party libraries will
make you more efficient as a developer. There are different frameworks for
different languages that you can get yourself acquainted with. To give you an
idea, there are Java Spring, MyBatis, Express, and many others for JavaScript,
Django for Python, and ThinkPHP for PHP.
- Front-end
technology
In today’s times, the project and product development are
more focused on front-end technologies. The product’s success is not simply
dependent on the features, but also on the user experience. And that can be
accomplished by implementing the proper front-end technology. So it becomes
essential for a full stack developer to master the skills on HTML5, CSS, and
JavaScript and get hands-on experience on front-end frameworks or third-party
libraries such as JQuery, AngularJS, or React.
- Database
and Server Management
A database is a compulsion to any project to store data. As
a full stack developer, it is expected from you to have knowledge of at least
one or two databases and how to interact with them. The popular databases of
present times included MySQL, MongoDB, Oracle, Redis and SQLServer of which
MongoDB is the most widely used for the document-type database. For large scale
projects, MySQL and commercial version of Oracle is hugely recommended. Redis
can be used for caching which improves the system performance. Along with the
databases and how to manage them, you must also know server management. Server
management includes monitoring of the server, checking their status, uptime,
resolving any new or recurring issues, and other tasks and service that can
impact the performance of the server.
- Designing
Skills
It is often believed that design requirements are not
associated as a part of being a full stack developer, but it is. As a full
stack developer, having designing skills is equally important as having the
programming skills. You must be aware of the basic principles of designing in
order to design prototypes and UI-UX.
- Personality
Traits
There are some other self-requirements to become a full
stack developer, which include
- Zeal
to learn (Passion)
- Global
thinking
- Commitment
- Reliability
- Open
to suggestions
- Good
communication skills
- Time
management skills
- Creativity
and Curiosity
Conclusion
Being a full stack developer cannot be accomplished
overnight. It can take a lot of time, so you need to be patient enough, you
need to work with other developers and having a mentor would be very useful.
All you need is a strong technical foundation, strengthening your core skills,
be prepared for the challenges, keep learning and exploring, and keep your
skills and knowledge up to date as per the ongoing trend.