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X-Apps Team

As in other areas of the market, software development also has professionals with more specialist profiles and others with a more generalist approach.

While the former focus on improving in a specific stage of software development, the latter aim to see the process as a whole and learn multiple techniques and areas of knowledge: they are the full-stack developers.

Below, we prepared a guide so you can better understand who these professionals are and what they do.

Keep reading to learn about:

- What the term “full stack” means

- What a full-stack developer is

- What this type of professional does

- Key hard and soft skills

- The difference between full stack and full cycle

- How to hire full-stack developers

First of all, what does “full stack” mean?

In programming, “stack” is the name given to a set of technologies required to run software. A stack includes, for example, programming languages, tools, and other components.

The term “full stack” means understanding and mastering the complete set needed to build a specific system, such as websites and apps.

This concept emerged as software development evolved, with systems becoming more complex and new technologies and languages appearing.

While back-end and front-end development split to handle the specifics of each stage, full-stack development is characterized by a complete view of how a system is built end to end.

>> Still not sure about the differences between back-end and front-end? Click here and learn.

So, what is a full-stack developer?

A full-stack developer is a professional who works across all stages of software development, from the internal structure of the code to the interfaces the user will see.

This end-to-end view means they have more than one competency, unlike programmers who specialize in a single phase. That’s why they need to understand both back-end and front-end, as well as databases, servers, APIs, and more.

But having a more generalist profile does not mean a full-stack developer is an expert in every existing technology. In practice, they usually have stronger affinity with a particular language or stack, along with solid knowledge of the other processes around it.

What does a full-stack developer do?

This professional is highly qualified and versatile. That’s why they are in high demand by companies of different sizes and industries.

In smaller teams, for example, a full-stack developer can cover more than one stage of the process or, in some cases, build complete systems alone, such as websites and apps.

In larger teams—with specialists in back and front—they can be the link between separated areas. They can also lead software development work, thanks to their broader understanding of the processes.

Below are the main areas a full-stack developer typically works with and what they need to know to be effective.

Back-end programming

They build the code responsible for the system’s operation. To do that, they need to know languages such as Java, PHP, Python, and others.

Front-end programming

They may also be responsible for the project’s interfaces. Here, it is important to understand basic fundamentals of user experience in addition to the languages typically used in this layer, such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Mobile development

With the growth of mobile applications, full-stack developers also started working on app creation. For that, it helps to know specific frameworks such as React Native.

Database modeling

Designing the database architecture is one of the key phases in building websites and apps. Therefore, it’s essential that the professional knows at least the basics of databases to manage them and run queries.

Server setup and maintenance

Even if it’s a more “basic” activity, it’s useful for a full-stack developer to have server fundamentals—both to configure environments and to troubleshoot issues when they happen.

Technical documentation

A full-stack developer can help with—or even be responsible for—technical documentation. It’s not mandatory, but it’s a differentiator.

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Soft skills for a full-stack developer

Hard skills alone don’t make a great professional. Below are some important traits for a full-stack developer profile:

- Attention to detail: paying close attention to each detail in the code you’re writing can save time and headaches with bugs later.

- Problem-solving: in software development there will always be challenges. Being able to solve problems quickly can improve the professional’s performance and the project they’re involved in.

- Communication: being able to communicate well with teammates and leaders is essential. Knowing how to translate technical issues into clear language also helps solve problems faster.

- Openness to collaboration: even if a full-stack developer can handle a lot independently, they may also be in leadership roles. That’s why teamwork is important.

What’s the difference between full stack and full cycle?

At first, these terms may seem confusing, but in practice full-stack and full-cycle profiles can complement each other. Here’s why.

The term “full-cycle developer” became popular around 2018 after an article on the topic was published on the Netflix engineering blog.

Basically, a full-cycle developer is a professional committed to the entire software development lifecycle—from the business side to support. They can understand and contribute to multiple stages such as requirements gathering and analysis, architecture definition, programming, design, testing, and deployment.

This type of professional is not necessarily a generalist. They may be specialized in back-end, for example, but they take responsibility for the entire process they are part of.

In this context, full-stack developers often adapt more easily to a full-cycle working style, because they are used to navigating different technologies and processes.

How to hire a full-stack developer

Despite the high demand in the job market, it can be difficult to find qualified professionals with proven experience. One option is to open positions on executive-oriented social platforms such as LinkedIn and Glassdoor.

Another option is to reach out directly to schools and courses specialized in full-stack development and programming.

To make IT recruiting easier, X-Apps built the Hire Squads platform. With it, you can select and hire developers in minutes.

Don’t waste time—hire a full-stack developer now! Click here.

Learn more

• The importance of a front-end developer for your project
• How to hire an app developer
• Staff on demand: what it is and its advantages