How to Start a Full-Stack Development Career: 8 Step Guide

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May 9, 2022 Career

A full-stack developer is an engineer that works on both the server- and client-side of the software application. When looking to become a full-stack developer, there will be quite a few things to learn which might seem overwhelming at the beginning. You’ll have to master everything a front-end or a back-end developer has to learn.

But, worry not — our guide will teach you the main steps you need to follow to start a full-stack development career.

Learn Front-End Technologies

If you want to become a full-stack developer, the first step is to learn the basics of front-end technologies:

HTML — HyperText Markup Language is the building block used for structuring web pages.
CSS — Cascading Style Sheet is used to style the display of HTML elements.
JavaScript — the web programming language used to make web pages interactive. It’s essential for transforming simple websites into web apps where users can interact with each other and collaborate.

A well-versed full-stack developer should also learn version control. It allows the developer to organize different versions of your code the right way. As a result, you could commit code to the same project without overwriting existing code. The most prevalent version control system is Git.

Learn Back-End Technologies

Front-end technologies are crucial for the web projects’ structure, visuals, design, and user experience. On the other hand, back-end technologies manage the web project’s parts of the business logic. When you’re starting your full-stack journey, you can choose the following back-end technologies:

Python — Accessible language that has one of the most significant ecosystems, open-source software, and heavy community involvement across various levels.
NodeJS — A runtime environment used to run JavaScript outside the browser. It’s platform-independent and can run on different platforms such as Windows, Linux, and Mac OS.
PHP — An open-source server scripting language. It’s powerful yet easy to learn.

Learn How to Work with Database

Programming relies heavily on data. As you progress learning full stack development, you’ll master storing, managing, securing, and interpreting data. Web developers usually deal with personally identifiable information like login details, payment credentials, and emails, making storing this data securely a specific craft itself.

Structured Query Language, or SQL, is the ultimate technology to learn when diving into the database. SQL has dominated the market since its inception in 1992 and can be used everywhere. It’s flexible, simple to use, and highly reliable. By learning SQL, you’ll learn to optimize your projects.

Understand the Web Infrastructure

A full-stack developer should know the basics of web infrastructure as this is where the front- and back-end technologies fuse, and the project becomes a reality. In the beginning, you can focus on understanding the web as a system of technologies. For instance, familiarize yourself with how the browsers work, what DNS is, why is HTTPS important, and more.

Familiarize Yourself with DevOps

DevOps is a software development practices system that incorporates software development and IT operations. It’s designed to reduce the systems development life cycle while paying close attention to business objectives to deliver product features and updates.

While not essential, DevOps becomes an increasingly important competency in larger projects, scaling efficiently and correctly becomes a primary success criterion. DevOps doesn’t directly help in web development. It does, however, help you understand how the business sides of the web project work.

Learn Basic Design Skills

A full-stack developer should possess at least basic design skills so that you can make the website look appealing and interactive. Design fundamentals will help you understand the user psychology for the client-side of the application. Therefore, you should master the principles of responsive design and implement them accordingly.

Soft Skills

If you aspire to become a full-stack developer, relying only on technical skills isn’t enough. You must possess a balance of technical knowledge and soft skills. In addition, every full-stack developer should have an analytical mind, curiosity for learning, creative vision, good time management, and attention to detail.

Learn Through Practice

When it comes to full-stack development, there aren’t many official certifications to verify your credibility on the job. Instead, you’ll have to rely on your hands-on experience. You’ll learn from your own mistakes and get better with time. Consider even applying for internships or remote jobs to solidify the experience and gain industry exposure. At the same time, this will help you build a portfolio that demonstrates your practical knowledge.

Final Thoughts

Becoming a full-stack developer is an attractive goal for aspiring developers. It takes time and effort to learn the necessary skills, but in the end, you’ll become a versatile and marketable talent. Start by learning the basics of front- and back-end development, build up your knowledge, and be ready to tackle any development projects.