For companies seeking to hire full-stack developers, a prevalent but misleading myth is that assembling the best development teams requires relying solely on narrow expertise.
Initially, this concept seems perfectly reasonable. In many domains — engineering, sports, medicine, or even the arts — the emphasis on specialised experts is standard practice. However, as we will explore in this article, the situation is more complex than it appears. For example, in the realm of digital transformation, companies that adapt swiftly are often better equipped for the digitisation process than those relying solely on narrow expertise.
Hiring full-stack developers can offer numerous benefits, but weighing these against the potential drawbacks is essential. Let’s dive into the advantages and disadvantages of employing full-stack developers.
Pros of Full-Stack Developers:
- Deeper Understanding and Wider View
- Increased Flexibility
- Optimal Implementation
- Effective Error Handling
- Reduced Implementation Delays
- Minimised Communication Delays
- Better Responsibility Handling
- Cost Efficiency
Cons of Full-Stack Developers:
- Lack of Deep Expertise
- Hard to Find
- Higher Individual Costs
- Difficulty Keeping Up with Trends
What is Full-Stack Development?
Full-stack development refers to working on a web or mobile app’s front end (client side) and back end (server side). A full-stack developer has the skills to manage all aspects of development, from UI design to server side logic and database management.
What is Specialised Development?
It refers to niche expertise. In this approach, developers focus on specific areas of a project rather than working across the entire stack. There are typically two main types of specialised developers: frontend and backend.
Full-Stack vs Specialised Development
In “Range: How Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World”, David Epstein argues that generalists often outperform specialists, especially in complex, changing environments. This idea is highly relevant to software development, where adaptability and broad knowledge are crucial.
Drawing from Robin Hogarth’s theory of “kind” and “wicked” learning environments, Epstein highlights how our shift to a creativity and knowledge-driven economy favours generalists who handle “wicked problems” better. Automation, while beneficial, makes specialist skills increasingly dispensable, impacting software development. Full-stack applications promote innovation beyond longevity through versatile integration and architecture. Let’s explore more benefits of full-stack developers.
Pros of Full-Stack Developers
- Deeper Understanding and Wider View
Full-stack developers comprehensively understand frontend and backend processes, giving them a holistic view of the entire development lifecycle. During the technical design phase, full-stack specialists can more freely combine various technologies while considering their suitability for the project’s needs due to their skills across multiple, diverse domains and their various proficiencies. For instance, they can see and advise where Java works better with a frontend based on React, where Python would be a more cost-effective backend solution if the customer would be better off considering Node.js or .NET, and if the project would benefit from Angular as opposed to making use of Vue.
Working on all stages of an application, from the server side to the user interface, allows full-stack developers to see how different components interact, making them invaluable assets to any team.
- Increased Flexibility
Their ability to work on various layers of an application makes them highly adaptable to different tasks and challenges. Because full-stack developers can seamlessly transition between different roles within a project, they provide flexibility and resilience; others can step in if a team member is unavailable, ensuring continuous progress.
- Optimal Implementation
Full-stack developers can choose the most suitable technologies and methods for each project, ensuring the best possible outcomes. Their ability to combine various technologies means they can implement the most appropriate solutions for each project. This flexibility leads to innovative approaches and more efficient outcomes.
- Effective Error Handling
Full-stack developers’ comprehensive understanding makes them proficient in identifying and resolving issues across the whole stack, leading to more efficient troubleshooting. They can usually pinpoint the nature of a problem and where it is likely to have originated. Furthermore, as professionals with significant experience in all web development stacks, they can conduct the project at all stages. Their involvement in all stages of development ensures consistent progress.
- Reduced Implementation Delays
Full-stack developers can significantly speed up the development process by simultaneously working on the frontend and backend; they can parallelise work to maintain project momentum.
- Minimised Communication Delays
Fewer team members means more straightforward communication, reducing the risk of misunderstandings and delays.There is less room for miscommunication. Furthermore, when a full-stack developer works on implementing a feature, they are usually responsible for the entire flow. This leads to a more consistent logic and leaves less room for miscommunication, which contrasts the likely inefficiency of multiple people overseeing different parts of the same system while relaying information to each other.
- Better Responsibility Handling
Full-stack software developers generally have a broader outlook than their specialist counterparts. Their broad skill set allows full-stack developers to take on more responsibilities, overseeing projects from start to finish. Furthermore, by quickly adapting to any team and seamlessly building from concept to completion, the full-stack development process also lends itself to improved developer support.
- Cost Efficiency
Full-stack developers are higher-quality software specialists; therefore, the choice to hire them will inescapably cost companies more. However, you will likely complete your project considerably faster than otherwise. Because full-stack development companies allow you to balance cost and efficiency, they are often the budget-friendly option. So, despite potentially higher individual costs, the overall project can be more economical due to smaller team sizes and faster completion times.
Types of Full-Stack Development
The technology stack impacts the development project’s performance, scalability, and ease of maintenance. Full-stack development offers a variety of tech stacks tailored to different needs and application types. Here, we’ll explore some of the most popular full-stack combinations and their ideal use cases, providing insight into why each stack might be the best fit for your project.
Popular Tech Stacks
- MEAN Stack: MongoDB, Express.js, AngularJS, and Node.js – typically flexible, scalable, and extensible, so ideal for cloud-ready applications like expense tracking, calendars, and news aggregation sites
- MERN Stack: MongoDB, Express.js, React, and Node.js – enables developers to build frontends, backends, and databases using nothing but JavaScript and JSON. Suitable for dynamic, JSON-heavy applications
- LAMP Stack: Apache, Linux, MySQL, and PHP – a classic combination for web development
- LEMP Stack: Linux, Nginx, MySQL, and PHP – like LAMP but with Nginx
- Django Stack: Python, Django, and MySQL – perfect for Python-based applications
- Ruby on Rails: Ruby, SQLite, and Rails – known for rapid development
Cons of Full-Stack Developers
- Lack of Deep Expertise
Full-stack developers might not possess the same deep expertise in specific areas as specialists. There are times when deep expertise is necessary, such as for highly specialised tasks or significant optimisations. Specialists may be a better choice for isolated tasks. A subject matter expert who works alongside your full-stack team is always beneficial.
- Hard to Find
Qualified full-stack developers can be scarce or difficult to locate, especially if they are not partnering with dedicated full-stack developers. Assembling a dedicated team can be challenging without the right connections or partnerships.
- Higher Individual Costs
While they can save money overall, full-stack developers often earn higher salaries due to their extensive skill set. In general, if the task can be easily isolated, it is probably more suitable for a one-tech specialist. Therefore, certain tasks may be more cost-effective when handled by specialised developers.
- Difficulty Keeping Up with Trends
Staying updated with the latest trends and technologies across the entire stack can be demanding. Full-stack developers may struggle to keep up with rapid advancements in all areas.
Conclusion: The Choice Is Yours
David Epstein highlights the value of versatility. Full-stack developers, or “jacks-of-all-trades”, offer broader expertise and a comprehensive outlook. They are not limited to a single technology but provide valuable insights across various domains.
The proverb “A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one” is particularly relevant to full-stack software developers. The lesser-known second part, “oftentimes better than a master of one,” emphasises the value of versatility and broad skill sets. Full-stack developers possess broad skills across frontend and backend development, allowing them to handle various aspects of a project. While they may not have the deep expertise of specialists in a single area, their versatility often makes them more valuable.
In today’s complex and rapidly changing tech landscape, the ability to adapt and manage multiple project layers is a significant advantage, making full-stack developers often better than specialists in driving innovation and ensuring comprehensive project oversight.
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