A full-stack developer is one of the most sought-out designations. According to LinkedIn, it ranks 4th in the top emerging jobs.
Many companies including startups try to hire full-stack developers. They know why these professionals are an asset to an organization.
Full stack developers can work on both, the frontend and backend of the website/application. They know how to create a minimal viable product with little to no support from others.
Their abilities to handle multiple facets of a project save massive costs to an organization. Thus, if you plan to hire full-stack developers who can work on your project, or as an extended team, this article is for you.
Hiring a full stack developer instead of a complete software development team can help you save not just professional costs, but also managerial costs, and other indirect costs like taxes.
So, let’s discuss everything about them:-
Who is a full-stack developer?
Pros of hiring a full stack developer
Cons of hiring a full stack developer
Types of full stack developer
Pros of outsourcing full stack development
Cons of outsourcing full stack development
Conclusion
Who is a full-stack developer?
There is disagreement over what it means to be a full-stack developer. Different organizations have different definitions of what skills a full-stack developer should have. However, all the definitions have something in common:-
“A full stack software developer is someone who can create a web application from start to finish. They know how to work on an application’s back and front end. This makes them valuable to organizations. Full stack developers can usually get by with very little help from others.”
Pros of hiring a full stack developer
1) Development scope
A full-stack developer can single-handedly work on developing both the frontend and backend of an application. This means that the program will be simpler, have code consistency, fewer bugs, and offer a better user experience.
2) Skills
A full-stack developer has a lot of skills. They know different technologies and how to plan products. Because they will be the only person to work from the beginning to and end of the project, they need to have a variety of skills so that they can complete the application properly. Full stack professionals also have a good understanding of the use case and product roadmap so that there is less chance of development conflicts.
3) Performance
When you hire Full stack engineers, it ensures better performance because the responsibilities are more clearly defined. There is less need for dependability between team members, and the complexities due to misunderstandings or lack of teamwork are also reduced. The project progress can be more easily monitored, and the performance to progress ratio can be calculated more easily.
4) Cost
Hiring a full-stack developer is more economical for companies than hiring experts in specific technology areas. A full stack developer can do frontend and backend development, as well as unit testing. This means that the company does not need to invest in separate infrastructure, office space, taxes, benefits, or managerial tasks. The company can be kept small because the full-stack developer will take on many of these responsibilities.
5) Framework knowledge
Full stack developers know multiple programming languages and frameworks. They can plan their strategy to improvise without much difficulty. Since they have experience in several technologies, they know how to increase the product’s efficiency by utilizing the best of each framework.
6) Experience
A full-stack software engineer knows how to do many different things in the process of making software. They know how to work on UI/UX, frontend, backend, testing, checking the software, and writing code. They learn all these things over time, so they are more appealing to companies. This makes them better able to face challenges quickly and without hesitation.
7) Problem-solving mindset
People with a lot of experience with different parts of developing a project can handle changes better. They know about lots of different programming languages and ways of doing things, so they can solve problems more easily. This means that if a company hires full-stack developers, they will have more flexibility in their development process and less uncertainty.
Cons of hiring a full stack developer
1) Project complications
If a project demands that the developer work with multiple languages, it can be challenging for a full-stack developer. They will have to constantly change the programming language on the fly. They can change fields, but they will need some time to brush up on the small things so they can understand the language better.
Besides, switching between programming languages can slow down the process. If you want to switch technologies, it will be better to hire someone who specializes in one particular language. This will help them learn the new language more quickly. To complete your project faster, you might need to hire another developer.
2) Performance settlements
Developers who work on multiple platforms and technologies are not as efficient as those who focus on a single platform. A full-stack developer is someone who knows a lot about programming. They can do many different things, making them ‘Jack of all trades, master of none.’ Whereas someone who only knows one specific thing will probably do that thing better than the full stack developer.
3) Slower advancement
Full stack engineers know multiple technologies. But it can be hard to keep up with all the new technologies developing quickly in the software development industry. Their learning and progression speed is usually slower compared to specialized developers. This is because of so much stuff they need to work upon, which takes their time to move on and focus on the next thing.
Types of full stack developer
There is a high demand for full-stack engineers in the market. However, the demand for different types of full-stack developers varies. Depending on the need, we can group full-stack developers into different categories:-
1) Full stack website developer
A full-stack web developer knows the best of frontend and backend technologies. It includes HTML, CSS, JavaScript, jQuery, Angular, React, PHP, Vue, Python, ASP, SQLite, Node, or MongoDB.
2) Full stack Android developer
An android full-stack developer can create a full-fledged android app for your business. They know technologies like React, Python, JavaScript, Ionic, Mobile Angular UI, Xamarin, Flutter or React Native.
3) Full stack Java developer
Java is a popular programming language that is used for developing computer software and mobile apps. It is often used for creating artificial intelligence programs, and it is also the native language of the Android operating system. A full-stack Java developer can write code in Java and help you develop applications for different purposes.
4) Full stack PHP developer
A full stack PHP developer use LAMP stack (Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP) to develop an app. They also use other frontend languages like HTML, JavaScript, CSS, Angular, or jQuery.
5) Full stack mobile developer
A full-stack mobile developer uses many programming languages like Swift, Objective-C, Java, Kotlin, Node, JavaScript, and TypeScript. They also use software like Android Studio, XCode, and Ionic. They use APIs to finish the development.
6) Full stack cloud developer
A full stack cloud developer uses different technologies to develop, deploy, and run applications on cloud platforms. This includes HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, Node.js, React, and Python. They are also likely to be familiar with DevOps practices and containerization.
7) Full-stack JavaScript developer
A full-stack JavaScript developer can use programming languages such as JavaScript, jQuery, Angular, or Vue to program the front end. They can also use frameworks a Node.js expert uses to create the server side.
When it comes to JavaScript full stack development, you have a few different options. You can hire a MEAN stack developer (MongoDB, Express, Angular, and Node.js), MERN stack developer (MongoDB, Express, React, and Node.js), or MEVN stack developer (MongoDB, Express, VueJS, and Node.js).
8) Full stack AI developer
A full-stack AI developer knows a lot about different technologies related to artificial intelligence and machine learning. They know how to use programming languages like Python, Java, Nodejs, etc. to connect the machine learning model.
Pros of outsourcing full stack development
Hiring an outside party, preferably an agency, to develop an application is called outsourcing full stack development. Following are the benefits associated with it:-
1) Saving money is important. Outsourcing work is a cheaper way to get things done than hiring a permanent team.
2) No need to set up an infrastructure.
3) Zero indirect costs.
4) Developers’ comfort, which leads to better output quality.
5) Short-term commitment.
6) Access to talented resources.
7) Work gets done at a faster rate.
8) The outsourcing agency will take complete responsibility for the quality.
9) No need to provide training.
10) Experienced programmers who help you scale your product.
11) Smooth monitoring and management via tools.
12) Free support and maintenance after project completion.
Cons of outsourcing full stack development
1) Quality may get compromised.
2) In-person communications are much better than virtual.
3) Hard to get workflow transparency.
4) Split focus because of other clients that the agency is handling.
5) It is challenging to hire remote developers.
6) All developers may not be able to understand the concept of the project.
Conclusion
If you’re thinking of outsourcing a dedicated JavaScript developer who knows full stack development, you should first learn everything about the role.
That’s why we’ve outlined the pros and cons of full stack development and hiring full stack developers. By understanding what a full stack developer does and how they can help your business, you can make an informed decision about whether or not this is the right move for you.
Full stack developers are in high demand, so don’t wait too long to talk to an agency if you think this might be the right path for your company.
