Top 15 Skills to Become a Full Stack Developer in 2024
Table Of Content
What is Full Stack Development?
Who is a Full Stack Developer?
Full Stack Developer: Eligibility Requirements
Top 15 Skills Required to Become a Successful Full Stack Developer
Tips to Become a Successful Full Stack Developer
Final Word
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Full Stack Development?
‘Full stack’ refers to the front and backend of an application or website. Meanwhile, the ‘frontend’ signifies the portion of a site or app that the end-users can view and interact with. On the other hand, an app or website’s ‘backend’ section is the portion that is not visible to users.
The frontend section encompasses the user interface and codes based on user interactions with the site. While the backend portion comprises all the code needed for the application to operate. These include processing data, communicating with other applications, and integrating data systems.
Who is a Full Stack Developer?
A full-stack developer or engineer is a person who is responsible for building both server and client software. With proper certification alongside a thorough understanding of web architecture, they can work on website applications by adopting front-end and back-end technologies.
Full stack developers need to possess a comprehensive knowledge of a technology stack, i.e., the set of technologies required for building an end-to-end application effectively. For instance, if they plan to build a web application using the MEAN stack, they must be aware of the four prime technologies that structure the layers of the stack. These include Angular(.js) — a client-side JavaScript framework; MongoDB — a document database; Express (.js) — a Node.js web framework; and Node(.js) — the premier JavaScript web server. Some common responsibilities of full stack developers are as follows:
- Help in selecting the technologies required for the project development and analyse both the sites’ front and back end.
- Stay updated with the current technologies and tools to make the finest possible technology-based decisions.
- Conforming to the best practices of the technologies and tools and writing the right code across the stack.
- Designing strategies related to product development.
Full Stack Developer: Eligibility Requirements
Full stack development is a great career choice. The need for efficient full stack developers is rising steeply across industries. The following are the eligibility parameters for full stack developers:
- The primary eligibility for undergoing a full stack development course is to pass the (10+2) exam in the Science stream with PCB/PCM (biology, physics, mathematics, and chemistry) as their major subjects.
- To apply for admission in full stack development courses, candidates must clear a bachelor’s degree in BA/B.Sc. with minimum marks of 50%.
- To pursue a professional course in full stack development, learners should pass the online and offline full stack development certification exam with a minimum of 70% marks.
- Students must also maintain an attendance record of at least 90% or higher in order to become eligible for placements.
- In professional full-stack development courses, candidates need to have proficiency in computer science and acquire considerable knowledge of HTSM, CSS, JavaScript, and Gi
Apart from these, another vital qualification for a full stack developer is that candidates need to have a minimum of one year of experience in creating large-scale software applications.
Top 15 Skills Required to Become a Successful Full Stack Developer
Becoming a promising full stack developer is a challenging task. It requires sufficient mission-critical skills, brainstorming, and dedication. Following are the top fifteen skills required to become a full stack developer:
1. HTML & CSS
Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) is the major language used to create web pages. Certified full stack developers must have comprehensive HTML knowledge to create effective, user-friendly interfaces. HTML is the initial building block for designing a website. The language features specific components that wrap the information in the webpage and correctly present it to the user.
On the other hand, full stack developers need to be familiar with Cascading Style Sheets or CSS, which showcases how HTML elements make the presentation of web pages. These comprise layout, colours, fonts, etc., that can be utilised while creating a page. It gives the liberty to the full-stack developers to make the website compatible with different-sized screens and devices.
2. JavaScript
Proper knowledge and understanding of JavaScript, a programming language, is mandatory for professional full-stack developers to execute different features in a webpage. Primarily, these could be presenting interactive maps, timely content updates, scrolling video jukeboxes, animated 2D/3D presentations, etc. Besides JavaScript, developers must be familiar with frameworks such as Angular, React Native, and Ionic. Regarding front-end development, JavaScript is extensively used to deliver interactive user experience (UX).
3. Frameworks
The framework unveils numerous ways for the developers to handle business objects. Furthermore, it streamlines the process of developing web applications as compared to what standard Java frameworks do. Among them, the Spring framework is a notable one.
This open-source software development framework offers infrastructure support to build Java-based applications. Spring framework combines new techniques such as Plain Old Java Object and Aspect-Oriented Programming. Due to its convenience, it has been a preferred framework among Java EE7 developers for creating accessible enterprise applications.
4. Git and GitHub
While learning Java full stack skills, professional full stack developers must also have Java backend development skills. In addition, they should be familiar with the Git and GitHub entities, which occupy a crucial place in the skills list of Java full stack developers. Git is an open-source version control system that developers use to handle projects.
Projects undergo different phases of development in which the project teams work to generate glitch-free software. On the other hand, GitHub refers to the location where the copies of the Git repository are being uploaded. With GitHub, developers can work on various projects interactively.
5. Back-end Development Languages (Java, Phyton, Ruby, PHP)
The backend of a website refers to the server side of the software development program, which remains hidden from the users. To become a successful full stack developer, you need solid knowledge about activities like APIs, creating libraries, and working with various system components that do not possess user interfaces. A website’s backend is formed of specific languages like:
- Java: Java is a highly dynamic language and is one of the most renowned and extensively applied programming languages and platforms.
- Python: It is a vital language for the backend since it enables developers to work efficiently and assimilate systems with minimal glitches.
- C++: Like Java, it is also a popular language adopted for competitive programming. Its outstanding adaptability enables it to be applied as a backend language.
- PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor or PHP is a scripting language applied in the server side of website development. As the PHP code is accessible on the server side, the language is known as a server-side scripting language.
6. NPM
To become a successful full stack developer, you should thoroughly understand Node Package Manager (NPM). This is a significant software used to handle JavaScript packages. It has been designed for Node.js and helps the node manage conflicts. Full stack developers often use it to discover, publish, develop, and install various node programs.
7. Frontend Design Ability
As the name suggests, it integrates creative design elements in order to present attractive web aesthetics to users. Usually, frontend developers possess decent knowledge and understanding of creating frontend design frameworks. These professionals ensure they design a visually tempting and remarkable website that can draw users and traffic. Sometimes, they adopt frontend frameworks such as REACT, AngularJS, etc. A good front-end design knowledge is a highly essential skill for full stack development.
8. Teamwork Skills
Aside from the potential to apply different languages and databases, full stack developers need to develop their habit of working in a collaborative team. This will foster communication among the team members and enable them to complete large-scale projects flawlessly and meet deadlines.
Sometimes, hiring managers consider hiring full stack developers who can conduct proper teamwork, follow the right directions, and profoundly utilise team members’ abilities to accomplish better production. These skills immensely help full stack developers opt for better website designing applications.
9. Verbal and written communication skills
Irrespective of the field, effective communication among the team members is essential. Generating code for frontend and backend needs both technical knowledge and business development skills. In addition, to become a successful full stack developer, you must acquire outstanding verbal communication skills to communicate with other developers and project managers.
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10. Design Fundamentals
Apart from constructing user-facing interfaces, full stack developers are responsible for backend architecture. Due to this, full stack developers require proper understanding and experience with design fundamentals. A comprehensive understanding of how users interact with an app or website helps ensure that every website design serves the end user.
11. Time Management
As a certified full stack developer, you must simultaneously carry out many job responsibilities. Under such circumstances, you should manage your time diligently to handle multiple projects and ensure you deliver the assignments before the deadline.
12. Analytical Skills
Another notable skill that you need to develop while becoming a full stack developer is analytical skills. As a full stack developer, you must learn various analytical skills to assess code, style sheets, and scripts while developing websites or applications.
13. Paying Attention to Detail
The variety of tools and technologies and the bulk of code analysed by full-stack developers can often lead to errors. This can hinder the overall performance of the website. Hiring managers mainly consider candidates who can quickly identify the flaws and areas in which both frontend and backend cannot communicate.
14. Creativity
Design and development need creativity in order to present codes and make designs as demanded by business users. While creating a fresh website application, you must use your innovative and out-of-the-box ideas and execute the customer’s needs into a meticulously designed web application. The skill to write codes and create user-friendly websites is highly necessary for this role.
15. Willingness to Develop Skills
In the constantly changing world where web development is evolving like anything, hiring managers consider choosing the highly-qualified full stack development candidates who are keen to learn and enhance their knowledge and expertise over time. Learning new skills constantly and upskilling your technical knowledge can help you become a skilled full-stack developer.
Tips to Become a Successful Full Stack Developer
Following are the best tips to become a successful full stack developer:
- Complete education in the field of computer science
- Learn the elementary programming languages
- Gain good knowledge of technical tools and development frameworks
- Practice coding
- Learn caching and database
- Undergo internship courses and participate in executive programmes in full stack development to have hands-on experience.
- Update your resume
Final Word
Full stack development gives a faster and better developmental experience to create websites and apps, as professional developers are equipped with thorough knowledge about modern technologies and tools and can apply their diverse expertise to developing visually impressive websites.
In this blog, we have specified the qualifications for a full stack developer and the top fifteen skills they must have. Further, to become a proficient full stack developer, you may pursue a full stack development course from a reputed institution, such as IITM Pravartak – Technology innovation hub of IIT Madras.
Following are the important responsibilities of full stack developers: is
- Analyse the general flow of a project
- Staying updated with the latest frontend, backend and cloud technologies.
- Market trend analysis
- Designing product development approaches
- Development of databases
- Product optimisation
- Product demonstration
