In summary, the role of the full-stack developer is to build and maintain both the front-end (user interface) and back-end (database and logic), whereas the role of the specialized developer is to pick one of them and be an expert.
Think about a building. You have the receptionist, who receives guests, and you have the clerk, often hidden in their office. Their roles are specialized. But the apartment manager has to deal with both roles, dealing with people and the building affairs, just like a full-stack developer.
Let’s explore more in-depth the differences between both roles, as well as the ideal use cases for employing full-stack developers.
Full-Stack Developers Vs Specialized Developers
Full-stack developers are well-versed in both front-end and back-end web development (server-side). As a result, they have a thorough understanding of software development.
In contrast, specialized developers are highly trained in one or two specific technologies. They can solve challenges at a faster pace and can build robust systems at scale, provided these are done in the specialized tech stack they are familiar with.
Key Differences Between Full Stack vs. Specialized Developers
| Full Stack Developer | Specialized Developer |
| Must understand both front-end and back-end technologies. | Should have a thorough understanding of either front-end or back-end issues. |
| Well-versed in a wide range of technologies and abilities. | Highly trained & experienced in one particular sector. |
| Must have a diverse skill set that includes project planning, software testing, and more. | Should have deep expertise in one area rather than other skill sets. |
| Can take up an entire project on their own. | Take care of one specific system in a project. |
| Hiring them is comparatively less expensive. | Specialist developers usually charge higher than full-stack developers. |
Full-Stack Developer Roles and Responsibilities
In short, full-stack developers craft websites and web applications on both ends (front and back). They are responsible for the entire lifecycle, from concept and design through development, testing, and deployment. Finally, they also develop application programming interfaces (APIs).
Full-Stack Developer Hard Skills
A good full-stack developer masters programming languages for both ends:
- CSS
- JavaScript (crucial)
- HTML
- Ruby on Rails
- PHP
- Python
- CakePHP
- Java, etc.
In addition, other full-stack developer skills are web design and web architecture. Users need convenient software with an intuitive, appealing interface. Photoshop, Canva, and other art applications are needed to create compelling designs and craft navigational elements.
For server-side programming, full-stack developers need to master back-end processes, which requires a solid background in algorithms, cloud computing, and the MERN stack (MongoDB, Express.js, React, and Node.js). MERN is especially important since it allows developers to leverage JavaScript most of the time, enabling code reuse and streamlining the development process.
Don’t forget database management. A full-stack developer understands and works with database queries and web storage. Here are some languages and tools in addition to those previously mentioned for this end:
- Angular JS
- Apache HTTP Server
- Amazon Web Services
- Ember.js
- jQuery
- Laravel
- Microsoft SQL Server
- MySQL
- Nginx
- Polymer
- Vue.js
Full-Stack Developer Soft Skills
Being a genius at code and having almost zero soft skills will lead you nowhere. A full-stack developer will oversee the project from conception to continuous deployment with a full team. Skills like leadership, teamwork, software development methodologies (especially DevOps), and emotional intelligence will lead you beyond the commonplace.
As many companies are adopting remote cultures by day, your full-stack developer career will benefit from asynchronous communication, focus on results (adoption of OKR and KPI).
If you are looking for a senior Full-Stack Developer, look for problem-solving skills as well.
Full-Stack Developer Salary in the U.S.
According to Glassdoor, the estimated total annual salary for a Full-Stack Developer is US$ 117.926, with a median of US$ 95.882. That is not counting bonuses, commissions, and participation in profits that may reach US$ 22.044 per year.
Specialized Developer Roles and Responsibilities
On the other hand, specialized developers concentrate their expertise on specific areas of the software development process.
- Front-End Developers dedicate themselves to user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) for websites and web applications.
- Their primary focus is on the client-side of the application, where they design the visuals, interactive features, and ensure the application is responsive across various devices (PC, Mobile, Tablet…).
- Back-End Developers, on the other hand, focus on server-side logic and infrastructure.
- Their responsibilities are managing data storage, ensuring robust security measures, and developing the application “backstage”.
Their specialization is strong, so they are able to do things in their areas that their full-stack counterparts can’t.
Think about your health. When you catch a cold, you don’t go directly to a specialized doctor. You visit a medical doctor. But an MD can’t perform heart surgery on you. The same applies here. A full-stack developer is like a medical doctor, and a specialized developer in the front or back-end is like a heart specialist.
Front-end Developer Hard Skills
A good front-end developer masters the fundamental languages for front-end:
- CSS
- JavaScript
- HTML
The front-end developer should also learn frameworks like React, Angular, or Vue.js, and libraries like jQuery.
Tools like Sass or LESS can simplify writing your CSS and help keep everything much more organized, especially on bigger projects.
Using something like Git helps to track all the changes you make to your code and to work effectively with a team without stepping on each other’s toes.
All tips about design and UX for full-stack developers apply here. Don’t forget to learn SEO basics and how to build RESTful APIs.
Front-end is all about the visual parts of the application and the User Experience.
Back-end Developer Hard Skills
Here are the best languages to learn if you want to be a back-end specialist:
- C#
- PHP
- Python
- Ruby on Rails
- Java
- Javascript
- .NET
They need to understand frameworks as Node.js, Django, Springboot, Express.js, and Laravel. Don’t forget that back-end developers need to know how to develop an API, how to optimize software, and they are also in charge of security. Everything we already discussed about for server-side programming and database management for Full-Stack developers applies here as well.
Back-end is all about how the application works, its performance, optimization, and security.
Specialized Developer Soft Skills
They are the same as what a Full-Stack Developer should have.
Specialized Developer Salary in the U.S.
According to Ziprecruiter, the estimated total annual salary for a Front-End Developer is US$ 110,412, and for a Back-End Developer is US$ 120,086.
Which one is better to get started?
Short answer: whatever floats your boat.
Long answer: usually Full-Stack devs get a bigger salary, even if, by the time of this article, back-end developers are earning more money.
Full-stack developers were actually the first to come to the world. Specialized roles emerged when they created the definition of back and front ends. Therefore, there is no truly balanced full-stack developer; someone always prefers one over another or develops more skills in a certain end.
So, I would start full-stack, just to be aware of how the software works as a whole, knowing its whole lifecycle. Then, I would gravitate towards one of my choices or just stay full-stack. No time would be wasted, since the more I know about both ends, the better.
