Navigating full-stack complexity

In IT fairyland, companies often dream about hiring full-stack developers. They look for one that fits the shoe: the one who could do it all and know everything.

At Valcon, we know that this eternal search for full-stack developers can be very difficult. But what exactly is a full-stack developer? And where can you find this rare breed? In this article, we explain everything you need to know about searching for full-stack developers.

What is a full-stack developer?

A full-stack developer is someone who understands multiple levels of the IT stack. They’re an expert in the backend field, and they know specific backend development languages, frameworks, and tools that are used to deliver applications. However, they also need to be an expert on database systems at the level where they are able to model a data structure and perform migrations and replications.

On the other hand, full-stack developers also need to know everything about the front-end field. Think of React, Angular, and Vue.js for creating web applications.

Not only does a full-stack developer need to know everything about front-end and back-end domains, but they also have to be able to understand the project and product development lifecycle. Moreover, they have to ensure that they are able to deliver on time.

The above description may seem extreme, but if we look at the definition of a full-stack developer, this is exactly what is often required of potential hires.

Why is a full-stack developer so difficult to find?

Specialisations

Finding someone who is an expert on everything is almost an impossibility, especially when the specialisation of IT employees increases. Not only are back-end and front-end development becoming more common specialisations, but also specific platforms such as .NET, Java, Python, React, Cloud, and others.

Years of experience

Asking for a full-stack developer also means that you’re asking for at least three years of experience per stack knowledge. If we look at the several stacks mentioned in this article, this would mean that you’re asking for someone with more than 20 years of experience in different platforms and development languages.

Innovation in components

Another factor that makes full-stack development so tricky is the many components that are newly added to the existing stacks over the course of the years. When you’re looking for a full-stack developer, this also means that you want them to expand their knowledge and expertise constantly.

How can Valcon help you find full-stack developers?

As described, finding a full-stack developer can be difficult or even impossible. However, we at Valcon can help you. We do not provide you with full-stack developers, but we help your business by providing a full-stack team. This means you get a team of developers as a service (TaaS) with multiple specialists. Back-end, front-end, and domain-specific specialists, all in your team.

Valcon gives you more flexibility. If needed, a team can be easily scaled up or down, lowering the risk for your organisation. Certain phases of product development require more front-end or more back-end work, and with Valcon, you are able to simply rotate with roles and domain specialists in your team.

Want to learn more? If you would like to learn more about full-stack teams, please email [email protected] and we’ll be in touch right away. 

Insights