A Comprehensive guide to full stack web development

A full stack web developer is a programmer with competency in both front-end and back-end technologies. Front-end is the part which is seen and used by the user. The back-end involves the processes, databases and other processes like user validation, that are required to run and process the instructions from the user.

What is a stack?
A stack is a collection of modules which are taken together to get a completed product. There are three layers or modules in every web development process.

Presentation layer: Navigation of the pages, changing the look of a website, setting fonts and colours, and user interaction like reading, viewing images or videos are achieved with the help of the presentation layer which is the front-end aspect of the stack.

Logic layer: The logic layer is the interface between the presentation layer and the database.  This layer is where the data or the user input is manipulated using algorithms and business logic. It is also responsible for the data to be stored in a database.

Database layer: This is where the data is stored. This layer includes Cache. The type of stack selected depends upon the database which is being used. The other components of the stack will be the ones most compatible with the selected database.

The codes written in multiple languages for these different layers all run concurrently making the website work. Learn Full stack web development via online courses and obtain certification on Full stack web development.

Types of Stacks
Web stacks are less transient than frameworks and libraries. Despite that, there are a lot of stacks, trendy ones, created by startups that are available in the market. Some of these have also proved to be reliable and consistent in terms of performance. Many companies also create their own stacks based on their specific requirement deprioritizing compatibility.

LAMP

Uses Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP. One of the oldest stacks in existence and is still being widely used. It is open source and easily customizable. The issue faced by the LAMP stack user is that it is difficult to learn and requires expertise in Linux and Apache. There are inconsistencies and compatibility issues.    

MEAN

MongoDB, Express, Angular.js, Node.js. This is an easy sell because technically requires only one language to be learnt, based entirely on JavaScript. This is one of the fastest and is easily scalable stack.

MERN

MongoDB, Express, React, Node.js.JavaScript Library. This is a variation of MEAN stack. The Angular.js is replaced with ReactJS which is easier to use.

How to become a full stack web developer?
Becoming a Full-stack web developer looks like a daunting task as one needs to specialize in more than one language. A true full stack developer is a Unicorn. That is why many full stack web development tools are available to make it easier. One cannot be perfect with all the languages used on both the server side as well as the client side with equal competency. So while it's alright to set the bar high, don't be disappointed if don't have expertise in all the different language that a programmer can/may use. Use the roadmap to full stack web development to plan out your learning.

You need to practise by completing projects like Full stack chatbots,single page web apps, and mobile apps which will give you a good portfolio.

Front-end technologies-

HTML- HyperText Markup Language is the building block of HTML pages. This is the language used for Webpages.
CSS - Cascading style sheet is used to describe the display of HTML elements. This can be stored as an external file and used as and when required. Multiple stylesheets can be used on one page.
JavaScript- This is the web programming language. Most popular and very easy to use.It is used to manipulate and validate data. This can be used to update CSS and HTML.
Back-end technologies-

Python- A programming language which is very accessible. It has one of the biggest ecosystems, has open source software, and heavy community involvement across various levels.
NodeJS-This is an open source server environment. It is platform independent and can run on various platforms like Windows, Linux, Unix, Mac OS X and others.
PHP-HyperText Preprocessor is an open source server scripting language. It is powerful and at the same time easy to learn. Popular programs like Facebook and Wordpress use  PHP.
Database-

MySQL-It is an RDBMS. It is known for being simple to use, flexibility, and fast processing.
SQLite- This is a RDBMS in a C library. This is NOT a client-server database. It has a high-reliability, fast SQL database engine and is the most widely used database.
PostGres-A free open source RDBMS designed to handle a wide range of workload with many concurrent users. It emphasizes on Extensibility and standard compliance.
MongoDB- It is NoSQL DB. It is a cross-platform document-oriented database program. Its prominent user include Uber, IBM and Cisco.
DevOps-

AWS- Amazon web services is a cloud services platform. It is secure and increases the ability to deliver applications and services at a very high speed. They are faster than companies using traditional software development.
Mobile App Dev-

Hybrid apps- Hybrid apps are developed using HTML, CSS and Javascript. Next, they are wrapped in native applications (like webview for android) using platforms like Cordova.
iOS/Android- Apps that are developed using the native language of the platform. The official language used on Android is Java. Swift is now considered native for iOS.
Additional skills to learn-

Servers

Networks

Design

CMS-Git

Data structure and algorithms

Analytical skills

Good turnaround time

Step1: Starts with learning the skills required for front-end and back-end development. Very in-depth knowledge of all the stacks is not required. Start with coding and work your way down the list.

Step2: Asses your interest and choose one language to specialize. Be an expert in that language and an intermediate user for a few others. Trying to master everything is just not the way to go! If you are confused, pick one out of the above list and just go for it!

Step3: Take a course and get certified in languages. This adds strength to your resume. Research courses carefully as there are a lot of sites which are bogus and promise you high returns very fast.

Step4: Practice, practice and practise. A good full stack developer should be comfortable working both the front-end and back-end coding.

Step5: Challenge yourself. Build basic pages and assess your performance. Keep developing until you are confident.

Step6: Apply for internships or remote jobs to solidify the experience.

Step7: Network with your peers and stay updated on all this related to your field. Joining a community of stack developers will help in addition to the other social media channels.

Responsibilities of a full stack developer.
Participate in product development until the product is deployed.
Work on the product features and fix bugs.
Improve performance.
Develop reusable codes and share them for future use.
Work with the team to optimize the existing system
Maintain websites.
Troubleshoot UI.
Are Full stack developers web in demand? Is it a good choice for a career?

Full stack developers are very much in demand in today's job scene. Companies like the idea of a full stack developer as they go beyond development to include optimization and maintenance of the system. Full stack developers bring to the table versatility and are by default goal oriented and are budget friendly to the company. So, yes. Full Stack developer is very much in demand and is a great choice for a great career.

How attractive is the salary?
This job is as attractive as any other. Being an in-demand job, the pay is definitely competitive. Remuneration packages for a position also depend on the company, the employee’s educational background, skills, and experience.

The national average for a full stack developer in India is Rs.514,198 per year. According to Glassdoor, it can be as low as Rs.3,10,000 per year and as high as Rs.10,14,000 per year.

Summary :

Full Stack web Developer is required to learn a lot across disciplines.

Full stack developer is an expert in one layer of the stack and an adept in others.
Knowledge of design, data structures, algorithms and Git are good value addition.
Full stack developer is expected to maintain, troubleshoot, and optimize the system.
The most commonly used and popular stacks are LAMP, MEAN and MERN.
Companies can create their own stacks as per their requirements.
Full stack developer is an in-demand job.
The pay is high and competitive.