Full-stack developers are the most sought-after professionals, adept in front-end and back-end development of web apps, websites, and platforms. In addition, they are also knowledgeable on database architecture, user interfaces, user experiences, design principles, and other computational tasks. Owing to their versatility, full-stack developers have higher chances of getting a job in software development and persistent growth.
Full-stack professionals are skilled in working in both front-end and back-end development environments. Due to the exceptional full-stack developer skills, these professionals are responsible for web designing and development at the front-end, carrying out tests, writing clean code, resolving bugs, etc. Moreover, they can work with data scientists to enhance the software.
As discussed in this overview, full-stack developers own a myriad of skills related to software development. The following section discusses the most important skills for a full-stack developer.
Let’s first look at the front-end skills:
Front-end Skills of Full-Stack Developers:
i. HTML & CSS:
Two crucial building blocks of a full-stack developer skill set working on any web application are HTML and CSS. Full-stack developers must possess decent knowledge and experience in both these programming languages as it helps in designing appealing front-end interfaces.
HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) determines the structure of a webpage. It informs the browser of the way a webpage must display elements. These elements can be words, images, videos, and widgets. Without HTML coding, an application or website will be devoid of a user interface which makes the website impossible to navigate.
CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) determines the appearance and feel of a website. It decides the aesthetic components like fonts, colors, and other style attributes. Furthermore, CSS lets a website feature consistent presentation irrespective of the device.
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ii. JavaScript:
The object-oriented scripting language is imperative because it is usually used to incorporate behaviors through HTML. It is the only programming language that can operate natively in the browser and on the server-side, i.e., Node.js. JavaScript is the most extensively used programming language for writing both front-end and back-end code for servers.
The knowledge of Java full-stack developer skills is vital for full-stack developers entailing various valuable features like prototypes, functions, closure, and higher-order event allocation, assisting full-stack developers in designing responsive webpages.
iii. AJAX:
Accessing information or carrying out updates while using your device is not an issue courtesy of Ajax- a web programming concept that allows seamless information retrieval and updates without disrupting apps in the background. Ajax enables full-stack developers to learn how web apps can send and retrieve information from servers asynchronously.
iv. jQuery:
jQuery is an essential Java full-stack developer skill, which works as a Javascript library that streamlines actions like HTML event handling, animations, and document traversing for Ajax. Full-stack developers use jQuery to save time while coding typical web development actions as it provides shortcuts to provide full-stack developers with more time to work on complex development issues.
v. ReactJS:
It is an open-source front-end JavaScript library helpful in creating user interfaces. For full-stack developers, it is useful because it lets them reuse UI components. ReactJS can create huge web applications that modify data without reloading the webpage.
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Back-end Skills of Full Stack Developers
i. Ruby on Rails:
It is a robust framework and programming language frequently used to develop software as a service (SaaS), social platforms, and online stores. It has been used to create platforms like Shopify, Twitch, SoundCloud, and Zendesk. The knowledge of Ruby on Rails helps full-stack developers know coding essentials, thus boosting their productivity. Therefore, it is one of the crucial full-stack developer skills.
ii. Node.js:
Full-stack developers use the Node.js platform to execute Javascript code before setting it up in a web browser. One can gauge its popularity among full-stack developers from the fact that multiple events and conferences are hosted annually to support the Node.js community.
iii. SQL:
This programming language enables data retrieval and consolidation in a relational data management system. Full-stack developers use SQL to let back-end elements like databases or servers communicate internally. This is possible because SQL helps formulate rules for storing, accessing, or modifying server data.
iv. Python:
Python is a programming language extensively used for developing applications and websites. It is also useful for automation and undertaking data analysis. Being a general-purpose language, it performs diverse web/app development tasks. Hence, full-stack developers must be knowledgeable in Python.
Other important skills for a full stack developer:
i. Git and GitHub:
Git and GitHub are vital full-stack skills any beginner or experienced full-stack developer should have.
Git is software for identifying modifications in any set of files. Essentially, it is an open-source distributed version control system capable of sufficing your different web development needs. The use of Git guarantees efficiency and speed for web development projects regardless of their size. Using Git, full-stack developers can flawlessly deal with all the modifications applied to websites, codes, documents, applications, and other info related to application/software development.
On the other hand, GitHub is a web-based interface that allows multiple individuals to simultaneously make distinct changes to a file. It offers cloud storage for source code, simplifies the duplication process, and allows version control collaboration. If working in a team, professional developers must have a GitHub profile.
ii. Web architecture:
Full-stack developers must know all facets of web architecture to develop server-side structures and fulfill client-side needs. It entails the knowledge of data structure, code structure, file categorization, computational tasks, and using application logic between the server and the client.
iii. HTTP and REST:
HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) is a communication protocol supporting web actions like video streaming, webpages loading, and other types of interrelation between web servers and web browsers. REST (Representational State Transfer) is a translator between the front and back ends. Hence, both HTTP and REST are vital for full-stack development.
iv. NPM:
It is software for managing dependencies for the Javascript packages. Particularly, it is designed to use with Node.js and assists the node in handling conflicts. Usually, full-stack developers use NPM in tasks like development, issuing, detection, and deployment of node programs.
v. Database storage:
Every web app depends on information saved in a back-end database. With efficient database storage, apps and websites can effectively and effortlessly access information when needed.
Full-stack developers create the bridges connecting the client-side and the server-side. So, they must be skilled in aspects like NoSQL databases, relational and non-relational data, and storage solutions like MongoDB.
Soft Skills:
Soft skills are important in the full-stack developer skill set, just like the front-end and back-end skills.
Full-stack developers must possess powerful attention to detail. This is because different tools and technologies and the volume of code used can lead to errors. The occurrence of errors makes the websites and platforms unfeasible. Therefore, if full-stack developers possess powerful attention to detail, they can detect errors in code and spot mistakes in a framework. Also, they can identify where the front-end and back-end fail to communicate.
Another vital soft skill for full-stack developers is communication. A full-stack job profile implies needing to be an expert at tech stuff and communication. They should ensure flawless communication between different teams involved.
Other must-have skills are the ability to consolidate, prioritize, and delegate to ensure the projects are on track.
Salary of Full-Stack Developers:
According to Indeed, the average base salary of Full-Stack Developers is ₹7,80,157 per year in India.
According to Indeed, the average base salary of Full-Stack Developers is $113,349 per year in the U.S.
Factors on which the salary of Full-Stack Developers in India depend
- Salary based on employer
- Salary based on the job location
Salary of Full-Stack Developers based on the employer in India:
Recruiter | Average Salary (per annum) |
GROWEL SOFTECH | INR 12,39,685 |
Catalyst Solutions | INR 11,91,270 |
Unnati | INR 10,75,583 |
Trigent Software Limited | INR 10,61,239 |
Source: Indeed
Salary of Full-Stack Developers based on job location in India
For Full-Stack Developers, the highest paying cities in India are:
Job locations | Average Salary (per annum) |
Hyderabad, Telangana | INR 9,13,205 |
Bengaluru, Karnataka | INR 8,61,952 |
Pune, Maharashtra | INR 8,19,737 |
Gurgaon, Haryana | INR 7,98,025 |
Mumbai, Maharashtra | INR 7,80,599 |
Chennai, Tamil Nadu | INR 7,34,115 |
Indore, Madhya Pradesh | INR 6,30,503 |
Ahmedabad, Gujarat | INR 5,79,519 |
Source: Indeed
Get Started With Your Full-Stack Developer Journey With UpGrad:
Over the years, the number of full-stack developer aspirants is increasing significantly. Many organizations recruit full-stack developers to assist in web/app development and make cost-effective business decisions.
Full-stack developer aspirants can opt for Full Stack Development Certificate Program by IIIT Bangalore . It is a live program created to impart job-ready software skills by industry experts. Moreover, it includes 400+ hours of live sessions. Completing this 12-month course with a 10-12 hours/week course schedule indicates a guaranteed job as a full-stack developer.
Conclusion
These are some of the most vital skills every full-stack developer must possess before starting or pursuing a career in full-stack development. These will allow you to have end-to-end control over full-stack development aspects.