If you're a full stack developer or you're an aspirant of the field, you might get confused about programming languages of the full stack to learn and tools of the full stack one must know about. There are multiple programming languages and tools available for full stack developers. These developers select the tools or programming language based on their unique features and the project requirements. In this guide, we're going to discuss what are some of the most useful tools of full stack and programming languages of full stack. Let's get started with the blog.
What is full stack developer?
Before going through the important tools and programming languages used by full stack developers, you need to understand, what is full stack web development, and who is a full stack developer.
Full stack developers work on both the front-end and back-end of the website. These professionals are experts in creating whole websites or applications based on their skill sets. They are also familiar in working with databse and frameworks. These developers work on multiple projects and have complete freedom in the creativity of projects. Based on project requirements developers are required to select programming languages and tools.
Now that you know what does a full stack developer do, and what is full stack web development, it's time to see the top programming languages used by developers.
Programming Languages Used By Developers
HTML & CSS
HTML is one of the most basic programming languages, it stands for Hypertext Markup Language. This language is very efficient in creating the structure of your website. It helps in publishing the text, tables, and headings, to the webpage. The language HTML is often paired with another programming language named CSS. CSS stands for Cascading Style Sheet and is responsible for the looks and design of web pages. It helps in making your website appealing and interactive. Both HTML and CSS are very easy to learn and are supported by multiple browsers and tools.
JavaScript
Remember how we mentioned there are two ends of a website, namely front-end and back-end? In the same manner, certain websites are suitable for front-end development, while some are best for back-end. JavaSript is an advanced programming language and is essential for the front-end development of websites. The important feature of the website is that it allows multiple functions and updates in the content, it provides the option of animation to make the platform more user-friendly. Many popular apps you interact with daily, like Facebook, and YouTube, make use of this programming language.
Python
Python is among the most popular and beginner-friendly programming languages. It has a wide range of applications from machine learning, and data science, as well as for back-end web development. The syntax of these languages is very similar to English languages which makes programming easy for beginners. Two of the Python frameworks, Django and Flask help in supporting the back-end development of the website.
MEAN
The popular full-stack development stack MEAN (MongoDB, Express.js, Angular, Node.js) is used to create dynamic web applications. A NoSQL database called MongoDB stores data in an adaptable, JSON-like format. Express.js provides a solid framework for creating APIs and managing HTTP requests, which makes server-side development easier. A front-end framework called Angular allows for the development of responsive and dynamic user interfaces. The server is powered by Node.js, a server-side JavaScript runtime, enabling smooth communication between the front and back ends.
PHP
An excellent server-side scripting language for creating websites is PHP. Creating dynamic websites and web applications is where it excels most. PHP has a wide ecosystem of frameworks and libraries, and it connects with databases like MySQL with ease. You can utilize PHP as a full-stack developer to manage user requests, process data, and produce dynamic online content. It is a flexible language that can be used to create both the front end and back end of web applications.
Ruby
Ruby is an object-oriented, dynamically typed scripting language renowned for its beautiful and understandable syntax. Popular web framework, Ruby on Rails, makes full-stack development easier by prioritising convention over configuration. With built-in capabilities for managing databases, routing, and more, it promotes quick development. Ruby is a desirable option for building web apps with a significant focus on developer productivity because of its flexibility and developer-friendly approach.
Perl
Web development is just one of the many things Perl language is perfectly suited for. The Common Gateway Interface (CGI) of Perl has traditionally been used to create dynamic web applications. Perl still provides significant text-processing capabilities and can be used for both front-end and back-end applications despite not being as popular today as PHP or Ruby.
C++
Programming languages using statically typed variables include C++. Although not commonly related to web development, it can be utilized in some situations when low-level control and efficiency are crucial. C++ can be used in full-stack development for things like optimizing server components, managing computationally taxing activities, or creating specialized web services. To build highly scalable and resource-efficient web applications, one can make use of its efficiency and robustness.
SQL
SQL (Structured Query Language) is a domain-specific language for managing relational databases; it is not a standard programming language. SQL is crucial for database management and data retrieval in full-stack development. To ensure effective data storage and retrieval, developers utilize SQL to construct, modify, and query databases. Building the back end of web apps that rely on databases requires a solid understanding of SQL.
These were some of the popular programming languages. Now, let's explore front-end or client-side tools used by full stack developers.
Front-End/ Client-Side Tools
In full-stack development, the portion of a web application that users directly interact with is referred to as front-end or client-side development. It focuses on designing the user interface and making sure the user experience is seamless, responsive, and visually appealing. To accomplish these objectives, front-end developers make use of a range of tools and technologies.
The installation and administration of libraries and dependencies are made simpler by tools like yarn and npm (Node Package Manager). Web page debugging and inspection tools are incorporated into browsers to assist developers in finding and resolving problems.
Build tools, such as Webpack and Babel, bundle and optimize code, enhancing performance and assuring cross-browser compatibility. To find and fix mistakes in front-end code, testing and debugging tools like Jest and Chrome DevTools are helpful.
To ensure quick loading times, tools like Lighthouse and PageSpeed Insights analyze and enhance the performance of web apps.
These front-end technologies give developers the ability to design appealing and client-friendly graphical user interfaces while ensuring speed on a range of devices and browsers.
Back-End/ Server-Side Tools
In full-stack development, back-end or server-side development deals with handling data storage, processing, and communication with the front-end. It also builds the architecture and basic logic that enable web applications. Full-stack developers use a variety of tools and technologies to do this:
Application Programming Interfaces, or APIs, enable communication between the front end and the back end. RESTful or GraphQL APIs are built by developers to expose data and functionality to the client side.
Implementing user authentication, and authorization, and protecting against widespread security flaws like SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS) requires the usage of tools like OAuth, JWT (JSON Web Tokens), and security libraries. To keep track of changes to their codebase, engage with team members, and manage various branches and releases, developers use version control systems like Git.
Application performance is tracked using monitoring tools like New Relic and Datadog, which also identify bottlenecks and optimize server-side components. Pushing code updates to production servers is automated via deployment solutions like Heroku, Docker, and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines.
These were some of the tools and programming languages used by full stack developers for developing projects. With this, we've reached the end of the guide. Let's continue to conclude the blog.
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Conclusion
In conclusion, full-stack developers use a variety of languages and tools to create comprehensive web solutions. The cornerstone of the front end is HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, which are complemented by strong frameworks and tools for designing attractive user interfaces. Back-end development relies on frameworks, databases, and server-side languages like Node.js, Python, or Java to handle data, provide authentication, and create APIs. The development process is streamlined by testing tools, cloud services, and version control. Modern craftsmen and full-stack developers expertly use these tools to create dynamic, responsive web apps that smoothly integrate the user experience with the server's powerful functionality while also guaranteeing security, scalability, and performance.
