Top 13 Full Stack Developer Skills

A full stack developer is a versatile career for a reason. Proficient in front-end and back-end development, every company seeks these talented professionals. 

Brands today strive to build a better online presence via websites. This helps them target their ideal audience and gain a reputation among customers.

Naturally, the field of web development is growing, and so is the demand for multi-talented web professionals. 

If you’re willing to make a career in the most sought-after field, you must know about the soft and hard full stack developer skills to upgrade your resume and demonstrate your expertise.

Technical Skills

Full-stack developers boast several hard skills to take on a variety of projects. Here are a few non-negotiate technical skills you must learn to enter the field.

1. HTML/CSS

HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) and CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) help decide the website's feel and visual appearance. HTML allows adding web content, whereas CSS is used to style and design the website. 

Because the website’s appearance plays a crucial role in capturing the target audience’s attention, HTML and CSS are important to any business. 

Professional full stack developers use HTML to define a web page structure. However, they must also know how to use CSS to represent HTML components. Without an understanding of HTML and CSS, developers struggle to create attractive and engaging front-end apps.

2. Git and GitHub

Web development would be incomplete without Git and GitHub. Budding and experienced developers are both familiar with the platforms and their usage.

GitHub enables full stack developers to work, handle, and review several projects simultaneously. As the name implies, it creates a networking hub that makes interaction for developers easier.

Git, on the other hand, allows full stack developers to manage each step of the development procedure. The error-solving efficiency makes Git stand out among other control systems. It enables you to monitor your progress on the go and make the desired changes.

You can also add snapshots and make the required adjustments.

Working with such platforms allows developers to enhance their leadership and team-management skills. Besides, they enhance their ability to work effectively and make code working hassle-free.

3. JavaScript 

JavaScript is another mandatory skill for full stack developers. The interaction-based, versatile language significantly enhances front-end development. Its versatility allows developers to use it for the client and server side of applications. 

It is fully compatible with CSS and HTML and adapts with most browsers to make work straightforward and quick. 

You can also create responsive web pages using the functional features of JavaScript, like prototypes, closure, and more.

However, full stack developers must have a deeper understanding of JavaScript and its features like Angular and React. Besides, levelling up your existing knowledge by getting familiar with newly launched tools and frameworks is essential.

4. Backend Frameworks

Because full stack developers work with both frontend and backend, you must also have an in-depth knowledge of technical backend languages and frameworks. Here are a few languages to explore. 

• Python. Python is popular among developers for all the right reasons. The reasonably simple syntax and multiple features enable developers to use it for high-level structured programming. 

• PHP is another efficient and versatile programming language. It has several helpful features available for back-end scripting. Plus, it’s compatible with different operating systems like Windows, MacOS, and Unix. So, regardless of the system you use, you can benefit from the advanced functionalities of PHP during your work.  

• Java. The multi-purpose language can be used for smartphone and desktop application development. Besides, its security and cost-effectiveness are other notable features. 

• Ruby is known for its object orientation, dynamic typing, and straightforward code. Ruby enables multiple approaches to resolving an error during coding. Besides, its Ruby on Rails framework is popular among developers for its ability to build incredible web apps. 

5. REST and SOAP

As a full stack developer, bridging the gap between two primary elements (clientside and serverside) of web application development is crucial.

Therefore, having proficiency in APIs like REST and SOAP is essential. They enable data sharing between two systems, making development processes more straightforward and quicker.

6. Database and Web Storage 

Almost all websites have a database that stores the application data. For instance, if you run an e-commerce store, the data of users and products will be stored in the app’s database. 

As a full stack developer, you must learn to write queries and retrieve necessary data from the website when needed. This requires you to be proficient with data structure and how it works. It will help store data, enabling it to be queried effectively. 

Two primary databases are SQL (relational) and NoSQL (non-relational). Organisations might prefer one over the other based on their needs.

7. Web Architecture 

Because the primary responsibility of full stack developers is to develop complicated software applications from scratch, they must learn to structure code, separate files, and arrange data in databases.

Besides, performing essential computational tasks is a part of their job. 

Doing all this is impossible without having the fundamental knowledge of web architecture.

8. Design Skills

Being good at coding is one thing, but you must also understand the user interaction with an app or a website. Although most developers go the general design route of UI and UX design, learning additional skills is always advantageous for your career. 

Most businesses today prioritise visuals and aim to deliver quality user experience at each user journey stage. So, they’ll naturally prefer someone with an eye for design.

9. NPM 

NPM is developed for Node.js. It lets developers install and manage dependencies for various JavaScript packages. Besides, it allows Node to handle conflicts and enhance work efficiency. 

Full-stack developers can use NPM to install, create, discover, and publish node programs. You can use it for a wide variety of applications, which is another plus.

Non-Technical Skills

Soft skills are just as important to be a worthwhile addition to the company. Here are a few non-technical skills you must brush up on for a successful career in full stack development.

10. Attention to Detail 

Handling front-end and back-end development is not a piece of cake. It requires developers to juggle various tasks, handle multiple codes, and use different tools and technologies. As such, errors are pretty much expected. 

However, strong attention to detail helps developers perform their work cautiously, minimise errors within a framework, and expedite processes. 

If you can multitask without compromising work quality, your attention to detail skills are commendable, and they’ll help you in your full stack developer career.

11. Team Player 

Full-stack developers are bound to work with teams, given the versatile nature of their work. So, you must know how to effectively collaborate with other team members to meet deadlines while keeping project specifications in mind. 

Therefore, besides your proficiency in the field, you must have strong collaborative skills to communicate project details with team members and stakeholders. This helps streamline processes and boost productivity.

12. Patience and Organisation 

Working on web development or any specific feature requires organisation. You’ll struggle to take on any project without appropriate planning and research. 

Here’s when you need to ease your nerves and remain patient. Writing code and reviewing it is fun. However, you must sit and plan to save yourself the trouble later. Here are a few things to consider. 

• Review the data structure to organise the components

• Explore various packages to resolve a problem 

• Carefully observe the existing code to ensure you comprehend it 

While mapping out a plan alone is crucial, you’ll always have a few things to discuss with the product manager and designers. Therefore, you might need to alter your initial plan slightly. Here’s when patience comes into play.

You might miss out on crucial task details because of haste. Full-stack developers are expected to move slowly, discuss each step, and ask for clarification. Otherwise, they’ll commit errors that can be a pain in the neck to resolve later.

13. Growth Mindset

Technology is constantly evolving, and so are the processes involved in full stack development. This means developers must stay updated regarding the changing features to implement them during web development. 

Even professional developers are bound to encounter tasks they aren’t sure about. Giving up at this point isn’t a favourable trait for the industry. It’s OKAY not to know everything. 

They figure out what they do not know and look for solutions to understand it. You can always learn new things by breaking bigger tasks into smaller, more manageable tasks. Later, evaluate each and see what you can do to learn and - eventually - master them.

FAQs

What Are the Most Important Full Stack Developer Skills? 

A blend of technical (database management, frontend languages, backend languages) and non-technical (attention to detail, communication, and creative skills) are a must-have as a full stack developer.

Besides, a can-do attitude will let you take even the toughest of projects and nail each. 

What Should I Do to Become a Full Stack Developer?

You must identify the skills you need to learn, take a course to enhance your knowledge, build a portfolio, and apply to jobs to become a full stack developer.

Make sure you also grow your professional network to seize opportunities in the competitive field.

Conclusion

By honing the listed full stack developer skills, the upcoming year can be life-changing for you. Often, good developers only need to polish their existing skill set to climb the ladder in the field. On the other hand, amateur developers need a push to get started and become successful. This guide will give you a direction to kick-start your career. 

You can also take a Full Stack Software Development Course at UCD Professional Academy to establish your coding career and showcase your expertise to land a job. The critical lifelong skills taught in the course will also help you advance your career.