In today's era of cost reduction and efficiency improvement, "full stack" seems to have passively become the final destination for most developers.
In the eyes of some people, full-stack represents faster growth, richer job options, and a more comprehensive technology stack can also pave the way for promotion to management positions. Some people also believe that full-stack means being a jack of all trades but master of none. It is difficult for full-stack engineers to possess the deep technical knowledge of professional developers in the feature field, which makes them unable to cope with some extremely detailed requirements.
If you are a developer groping in the maze at this moment and want to figure out whether the full-stack path is suitable for you, then let us conduct a systematic decoding of full-stack engineers.
1. What is a full stack engineer?
A full-stack engineer is like a versatile artist, painting on two sides of the canvas, each side representing a different aspect of the software application.
Essentially, a full-stack engineer is a developer who is proficient in handling the front-end (the visible part of a web application) and the back-end (servers, databases, and application infrastructure). This is also the most important technology stack that full-stack engineers need to possess.
However, while the term “full stack” traditionally refers to someone working on both front-end and back-end, the evolving nature of the tech industry has added more requirements to full stack. This includes handling cloud services, DevOps tasks, and even understanding UI/UX principles. The goal of a full-stack engineer is to have a holistic view of the software development process.
It is important to note that becoming a full-stack engineer does not necessarily mean mastering every technology or tool in these links. In contrast, full-stack engineers need to have enough understanding of each area to develop solutions that span the entire web application.
In my experience, every full-stack engineer, without exception, has his or her favorite area of work. Even if they take the time to master many (or even all) areas, everyone will find one area more valuable or more fulfilling than others.
2. Advantages and disadvantages of full stack
Diving headfirst into the vast world of full-stack development can be both exciting and daunting. Like any career choice, full stack has its own advantages and challenges.
①About advantages
On the plus side, full-stack developers can create both sleek, interactive front-ends and powerful, efficient back-ends. This dual expertise allows them to help many teams, especially in startups or smaller companies where more multi-functional roles are needed.
Second, with holistic experience, full-stack developers can visualize the complete lifecycle of a project. This holistic perspective helps make informed decisions that benefit the project.
At the same time, full-stack developers generally have a wider range of job opportunities. Whether they're delving into back-end solutions or crafting more polished user interfaces, their skillset is vast and attractive to a variety of employers.
Finally, mastering the entire web application structure often means full-stack developers can solve problems more efficiently. The different needs of full-stack development can also promote continuous learning for developers, allowing the role to maintain a long-term state of progress.
②About disadvantages
On the downside, with the rapid development of technical tools and frameworks, sometimes the breadth of knowledge required for the full stack may come at the expense of depth in a certain area. While full-stack developers have skills in various areas, it is difficult for them to have the deep expertise of professional developers in specific areas, which can be a limitation for projects that require deep technical prowess in a specific area.
And employers or team members can sometimes have unrealistic expectations, assuming that full-stack developers can seamlessly handle any task they come across, leading to potential bias.
Juggling responsibilities across the stack can also lead to longer hours and increased workload, which, if not managed, can lead to faster burnout. Additionally, continually making choices between front-end and back-end solutions can lead to decision fatigue, affecting the quality of your choices over time.
3. Full stack development platform for developers
Low-code is very active in the tech world right now!
JNPF rapid development platform is a full-stack development platform based on SpringBoot+Vue3. It adopts microservices, front-end and back-end separation architecture, and is based on visual process modeling, form modeling, and report modeling tools to quickly build business applications. The platform can be used locally Deployment, also supports K8S deployment. When building applications with JNPF, you only need to focus on the business itself. Data storage, operating environment, servers, network security, etc., the platform handles them all for you.
Application experience address: https://www.jnpfsoft.com/?csdn
The engine-based software rapid development model is configured with visualization function engines such as chart engine, interface engine, portal engine, and organization user engine to basically realize the visual construction of page UI. There are hundreds of built-in functional controls and usage templates, which can meet the user's personalized needs to the greatest extent with simple drag-and-drop operations.
Since the functions of the JNPF platform are relatively complete, this article chooses this tool to expand, so that you can more intuitively see the advantages of low code. From a developer's point of view, it is always hands-on > understanding, so you can boldly try it!
4. Full stack or specialization
You may find yourself at a crossroads—pursue the broad full stack or delve deeper into a specialty area. Here are some summary ideas to help guide your thinking.
Remember, the tech industry is dynamic. At this very moment, the boundaries between front-end, back-end, and even full stack are constantly evolving. Basic technology today may be obsolete tomorrow, and vice versa. Therefore, the choice should not be based solely on market trends but should be a combination of passion, skills and long-term goals.
Striking a balance between depth and breadth is critical. While full-stack developers may have a broad skill set, delving deeper into a specific area at some point in their career can be invaluable, such as AI today. Likewise, experts in certain fields may benefit from occasionally broadening their horizons. There’s really no better or worse path between these two paths—the key is to find a rhythm that resonates with your goals.
No matter which direction you prefer, full stack or specialization, the cornerstone of success is still continuous learning. Tools, languages, and frameworks may change, but a mindset based on curiosity and adaptability will always be your north star.
5. Summary
Ultimately, your career is deeply personal. It is woven from your experiences, challenges, accomplishments, and the unique value of what you create. Whether you choose full stack, front-end, back-end or other fields, your choice will become a catalyst for your future. At this moment, full stack or specialization? The answer lies within yourself.