5 essential skills for a full-stack developer, and why you should become one

If you have a knack for solving complex problems, have a passion for programming (or have always wanted to do it), and love learning new things, becoming a full-stack developer may be the best career choice you’ll make in 2024. Read on to find out why, and also what you’ll need to learn exactly to be successful in this field. Spoiler: it’s not going to be easy, but it’s totally worth it.

The statistics are there to prove that this is a great career choice. According to the results of a recent survey published by the International Data Corporation, IT skills shortage is expected to impact nine out of ten organizations globally by 2026, which may amount to $5.5 trillion in losses as a result of product delays, impaired competitiveness, and loss of business. As the adoption of new technology accelerates, AI skills, IT operations, cloud architecture, and software development are highlighted by surveyed businesses as the most in-demand skills of the near future.

Full-stack development, in particular, is a popular choice for those looking to future-proof their careers. Essentially, it’s a versatile profession that involves two domains of web development – frontend (the part of a website that users see) and backend (things like servers and databases). Khrexel Tech Group explains that to achieve success in this field, developers need a combination of technical knowledge and soft skills. Here are the top 5 skills you’ll need to master if you want to start a career in full-stack development:

Frontend skills

HTML, CSS, and JavaScript are essentially the foundation – or, rather, the building blocks – of web development, which you’ll need to build interactive and engaging interfaces. You’ll also need to understand JavaScript libraries, such as React and Angular – these are prewritten scripts that make development easier.

UX/UI design

In addition to learning the technical aspects of web design, it’s important to also know the best practices of user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design. By integrating these principles into frontend development, you’ll be able to create visually attractive, responsive, and user-friendly web apps.

Backend skills

Backend development is where the actual magic happens! Some of the most common backend languages include Python, Java, and C++, and each is suited to specific project types. Once you master them, you’ll have a versatile toolkit which you’ll be able to use for various technical challenges. To become an agile tech pro, you’ll also need to be familiar with database management, which will involve learning PHP and MySQL.

Cybersecurity skills

Whatever you do, always keep user data safety in mind. You should be able to write code that minimizes vulnerabilities, implement secure authentication mechanisms, and use the latest data encryption methods for databases.

Soft skills

In addition to strong analytical, problem-solving, and time management skills, which you probably already know are important for software development, you won’t get far without being a good communicator and team player. While you may imagine yourself working alone (and perhaps remotely), you should not underestimate the amount of collaboration with clients and colleagues you’ll be doing on a regular basis. As your job will involve various tasks and responsibilities, good communication skills are essential for ensuring that ideas, goals, and feedback are exchanged clearly and efficiently.

While the perspective of learning all of these things may seem daunting, trust us – it’s not rocket science, and you don’t need a university degree. In fact, a certification program may be enough to get the knowledge you need and apply for one of the 66,000+ job openings in full-stack development.

This content is provided in partnership with Khrexel Tech Group and is intended for informational purposes only. The views, opinions, and advice expressed in this article are solely those of Khrexel Tech Group and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of any other individual, organization, or entity.