The Role of Frontend, Backend, and Full Stack Developers
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For a modern person, using web technologies has become an integral part of life: social networks, applications, and web pages. But have you ever thought about who is responsible for these resources’ display, operation, and functioning? Who can answer which type of web applications are more suitable for angular? Or who knows how to redesign your site? It is the work of web programmers, namely frontend, backend, and full stack developers. Let’s figure out who they are, how their activities differ, and what functions they perform.
Web Programmers: Who Are They?
Web programming is a promising and highly paid activity, which includes creating and developing dynamic web pages and applications based on a specific web app tech stack for each project.
A web developer often creates web projects that use a client-server model. To communicate between these components, a specialist uses a standard set of tools:
- HTML, CSS, JavaScript – on the one hand (client side);
- Java, PHP, Python, Node.js – on the other (server side).
As a rule, the set of technologies on the client side remains unchanged, but the server components are much more diverse and variable.
Who Is a Frontend Developer?
The front end of web applications is the simplest thing a web programmer does. However, there is an impressive list of skills, knowledge, and technologies that the frontend should know:
- The structure and principles of the database operation and the corresponding query languages. First, this is SQL and its variations, as well as MongoDB.
- HTML. This is the basis on which the central part of the front rests, and therefore the developer must know it perfectly.
- Specialized software – for example, version control.
- Styles. They are also one of the essential parts of the front, so you need to know not only the bases and main CSS frameworks but also preprocessors and also delve into other style components.
- Debugging tools.
- JavaScript. The third whale on which the modern web is based. Without JavaScript, pages will be static and not interactive.
- At least the basics of servers and how the relevant technologies work (.NET, Node.js, Ruby, and of course, the good old PHP).
- Some of the most popular frameworks, for example, backbone, react.js.
A valuable bonus for a front-ender will be knowledge of raster and vector graphic editors. For example, Photoshop, analogs of Canva, and Figma.
Who Is a Backend Developer?
This specialist focuses on developing components under the hood of a website or other web application. These components are invisible, but the same site can only work with them. The backend ideally needs to know the following:
- Server technologies. A good specialist must understand precisely how the client and server interact, the features of such an architecture, and how to configure this chain for different use cases. In addition, communication with third-party web applications is often required.
- The most popular frameworks, especially Laravel and Yii, React, and Vue. The more of them in the baggage of a specialist’s knowledge, the better.
- Several languages. Python, PHP, and Java are still on the top.
- The principle of operation of the database.
- Various specialized software for developing, debugging, and testing code.
- Browser programming interfaces. They allow you to implement non-standard functionality in a web application through interaction with the browser.
Who Is a Full Stack Developer?
A full-stack web developer specialist quickly takes on the duties of front and backend developers. Such specialists are rare, so they often work on large projects, responsible for all development stages from the client side to the server logic.
What skills and knowledge should a Full stack have?
- Components of frontend development (HTML, CSS, JavaScript).
- Languages for backend development (for example, PHP, NodeJS, and others).
- Knowledge of frameworks (React, AngularJS).
- Database knowledge (MySQL, MongoDB, and others).
- Knowledge of Web servers (Apache, Nginx).
Web Developer Qualifications
In web development, there are 3 categories of specialists, depending on their knowledge, work experience, and degree of responsibility: junior (junior), middle (middle), and senior (senior). Let’s talk more about each level.
Junior
A junior web developer is a novice programmer with 6-12 months of experience who knows OOP at a basic level, one of the programming languages , and 1-2 frameworks. His responsibilities include writing a simple script or program, minor code improvements, fixing bugs, and adding elements to the interface.
A beginner works under the control of a more experienced web programmer, who always gives feedback at all stages.
Middle
A mid-level specialist has experience in development of 3 years. He knows the syntax of several programming languages and knows how with the Git system, libraries and frameworks, and with design patterns.
Middle understands the functions and structure of the future website, writes clean, concise code, and can solve typical tasks without outside help.
Senior
Senior is a PRO-level web developer with at least 5-7 years of experience, who is not only a technical lead, but also knows several programming languages, can implement the project architecture from scratch, and choose a technology stack following those. Task independently solves problems of any complexity and takes responsibility for the final result and other developers.
Conclusion
Creating websites and applications is a highly demanded activity that will be preserved in demand for an extended period due to the growth and influence of the Internet environment in our lives.
There are many courses on web development for people who want to become skilled specialists in the world of web development and take their lives to a new level. It is challenging to learn how to create websites of any complexity and become a qualified specialist under the strict guidance of experienced web programmers.
App development and marketing: tips from SECL
Developing and marketing an app: golden rules
If you currently have an app idea or are already at the development stage, you are certainly dealing with a few questions: will the investment be worthwhile? Will the app turn out to be useful, and, above all, how do I market my app?
SECL would like to answer these and other questions that concern many customers.
I have an app idea, but where do I start?
Start by putting your idea into words as clearly as possible. Think of user stories and personas. This means: defining who the users of the app will be and imagining what they can do with the app.
For example, the app calculates how many liters of paint are needed to paint a certain area. Stephen (an imaginary person), who has no experience in painting and is also not particularly familiar with the operation of apps, downloaded the app. He wants to easily measure the wall’s area size with the mobile phone’s camera and see the results directly. He does not want to enter personal data or register for anything. Imagining such stories may seem weird, but it can help you understand your customers a lot.
After you have defined the idea, target group, and user stories, you should make yourself a sketch of what the app should look like. It is enough to outline your idea roughly on paper. However, you can also search for prototyping tools on the Internet and create a detailed mock-up or wireframe for your application. If you have already defined your requirements, look for a company that can design and develop the app for you. Alternatively, you can also use the mock-up or discuss everything with developers and create a wireframe together with an app development agency.
How do I know if the customer wants my app at all?
With a prototype, a so-called Minimum Viable Product (MVP), you can test the market quite quickly and on a low budget and find out if your idea is good. So don’t wait to complete a complete app with all functions. Let the application’s core functions be developed and tested with customers. This gives you important feedback from your customers and allows you to develop the app further, even more specifically.
Should I have my app developed in-house or externally?
If you want to launch your app’s first version, you should ensure that the costs remain low. Therefore, it is advisable to choose external developers (outsourcing, choosing a dedicated team). The big advantage of such development is that if you work with a specialized agency that takes over the development of your app, you benefit from the enormous reduction in costs and time. Your primary goal should be to make the app available to users as quickly as possible.
How do I submit my app to the app stores?
Apps can be submitted to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store via developer accounts. These accounts cost a certain annual fee. So it is also advisable to work with developers at this point. A professional app development agency usually includes uploading to the common app stores in its offers.
Should I offer my app for free?
Of course, this depends entirely on what you offer within your app. Should the app be available in a premium version? Is there perhaps special premium content that can be purchased via app-in purchase? Either way, you should pursue a clear monetization strategy right from the start.
My app is ready. Now what?
Similar to other products, apps do not sell themselves. You must approach the customer and make it easier for him to access the item. Optimizing the entry in the app stores can help to be detected faster, but it is not enough to make long-term profits with your app. To get more visibility, you need to market your app.
How do I market my app?
Here, the same rules apply as with other products. Make your app known on social networks, place online advertising and rely on third-party support. Reviews from bloggers and word of mouth are important! Also, pay attention to the reviews published by your app users and work to undo negative reviews!
How much does it cost to develop an app?
This is a question that we cannot answer in such a general way. The cost of creating an app varies greatly depending on the requirements that the app should meet. Many questions lead to an approach to the cost issue: Which operating systems should the app be intended for? Should it be a native or hybrid app? Is a web app planned, or should there be a website connected to the app? The more complex and powerful an app is, the higher the development costs.
One way to save costs here is the cross-platform development of a hybrid app with the Ionic framework. With just one development process for several operating systems at the same time, you save time and money!
If you have any further questions about app development and marketing, feel free to contact SECL: guys working there are experienced professionals in the field of development. By cooperation with them, you are guaranteed to get excellent results quickly. Good luck!