(Newswire.net — February 24, 2016) — Historically, companies have actively sought out full stack web developers. After all, why hire multiple people if you can just hire one? But as Web 2.0 becomes more and more complicated, with many new programming languages appearing in the industry, the “full stack” is getting fuller. What will this mean for full stack web developers? Will they still be needed going forward?
The short answer to that question is yes, but the details are a little more complicated. The need will be in a different capacity, and it will need to encompass other skillsets.
What Having a Full Stack Skillset Means Now
In the fullest sense of the term, being a full stack developer means you have a more varied skillset that allows you to dabble in both front-end and back-end development.
“In other words, they have a full range of skills that can be applied to the user interface and everything that makes it work in the background,” says Chris Castig, UX specialist for One Month. “Some people consider a full stack developer not as good as a front-end or back-end developer, and often refer to the saying, ‘Jack of all trades, master of none.’ But it’s also worth noting that the full phrase is ‘Jack of all trades, master of none, though oftentimes better than a master of one.’”
Such is the mindset behind the introduction of full stack responsibilities. These kinds of developers could wear many hats, which made them indispensable during the era of Web 2.0, when web development was much more expensive and time consuming than it is now.
However, things are a little different now. They were essential at the time, but now web development processes have become infinitely more complex. Those who want to be experts in a chosen field must choose a specific, narrow emphasis to excel in, and they don’t have the luxury of engaging fully with every aspect of the job.
That being said, they can, of course, dabble in other areas. That’s where the full stack part comes in, but the stack is now much fuller. With iOS, Android, Scala, machine learning, various codes, and content management systems to worry about, it becomes increasingly more difficult for a single developer to be proficient in each category.
“I’d wager that there are zero individuals with advanced-level knowledge in each of these areas that would be capable of single-handedly delivering this next generation kind of application,” says Peter Yared, contributor to Tech Crunch. “Just keeping up with the advancements and new programming interfaces in each category is almost a full-time job.”
What’s the Market Like for Full Stack Developers?
In reality, there are very few people who could take on the name of full stack developer at this stage in the game. What’s leftover are what you might call full stack integrators, and companies need at least one to remain fully functional. Even then, the integrator likely has an understanding of one or two processes that exceeds their knowledge of the others.
Such an integrator would have a functional understanding of each part of the developmental process. With that knowledge, they can connect ideas and ensure smooth facilitation of each. They’ll be the ones to connect the dots between the other members of the team with more specialized skillsets that focus on just one or two tiers.
All in all, the future is uncertain for developers. The full stack concept may very well fade into the background as advancements grow. There may or may not be job openings for those with full stack capabilities, but demand is high for those with specific skillsets. Those currently pursuing or embroiled in a full stack career would do well to sharpen their narrow abilities for the future.