In the complex and diverse programming world, picking the right career path can be challenging. This ecosystem requires full-stack and specialized Java developers with unique characteristics and responsibilities. This article will examine these two roles closer to understand their differences, benefits, and challenges.
What is a full-stack?
With the shift to online work, demand for website design and application building has risen dramatically. This surge in demand has led to an increased need for web programmers and developers. Full-stack developers stand out for their versatility. These professionals handle all aspects of web development and application design, making them a crucial part of the web development and application design landscape.
Generally speaking, full-stack technology refers to a comprehensive set of software products and technologies. These tools are utilized on a specific platform to create applications and perform various operations. The ‘full-stack’ encompasses elements such as the operating system, database software, etc. Some interpretations of ‘full stack’ focus on the front-end, database, and back-end, along with any middleware or external components applied.
One term often associated with ‘full-stack’ is ‘full-stack developer.’ In essence, a full-stack web developer is a master programmer. They possess a comprehensive understanding of all aspects of building an application or program, showcasing their expertise and proficiency.
Who are Full-Stack Web Developers?
Web programming has two main areas: server-side or back-end programming and user-side or front-end programming. Back-end programmers mostly design databases, services, and server engineering. Meanwhile, front-end developers create the parts of the website that users see and interact with, like the user interface, menus, product pages, etc.
Some people misunderstand full-stack programmers as familiar with many programming languages. This is not the case at all. Some full-stack developers only know one programming language and develop the site’s back-end and front-end in the same language. It does not matter what programming language a developer uses to perform full-stack development.
Some of the responsibilities of a full-stack developer include the following:
- Helping to design and develop software
- Optimizing software through testing and debugging
- Maintaining clean code for both the front-end and back-end of the application
- Creating the web application’s user interface
- Setting up a database and server to support the software back-end
- Optimize cross-platform compatibility
- Ensure that the application is responsive by testing and maintaining it
- Develop new features with the help of graphic designers
- Development of APIs and RESTful services
- Optimize your software by keeping up with technological advancements
- Achieving effective communication of emerging technologies to decision-makers
- A focus on the security, updating, scalability, and scalability of software.
Full-stack programming career outlook
According to a LinkedIn report, full-stack developers are in demand by 35% yearly since 2015. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics also predicts a 13% growth in web developer employment between 2020 and 2030.
The demand for full-stack programmers from companies active in technology and other industries is relatively high, and this can be understood from the job advertisements published on various websites. But other reasons for full-stack programmers’ increase include:
- Instead of hiring front-end or back-end developers, who each focus on separate parts of the web development process, companies are looking to hire people who manage the entire process from start to finish.
- The growth of e-commerce and new technologies, such as AI, IoT, the Metaverse, Blockchain, etc., have increased demand for web development, especially hiring full-stack developers. As these technologies become more widely used, the demand for hiring full-stack developers will increase in the coming years.
Advantages of full-stack web developers
Being a full-stack developer brings many advantages, including:
- It is possible to master all the techniques involved in a development project
- It’s easy to build an app prototype
- It is possible for you to help each member of the team
- It is possible to reduce the cost of the project
- It is possible to reduce team communication time
- It is possible to switch between back-end and front-end development depending on your requirements
- It is possible to be employed by any company you want with an excellent salary
- So on and so forth.
Disadvantages of full-stack web developers
Full-stack developers have many advantages, but they also face many challenges, including:
- Most full-stack developers work for startups; larger companies usually have separate front-end and back-end teams.
- The workload of full-stack developers is high since they perform the work of two or more people.
- The many technologies and tools available today make it difficult to keep up with and learn them all.
- Many prefer hiring specialists with deep field knowledge instead of full-stack developers.
- It is challenging and complex to be a full-stack developer.
- Coding in different languages can be time-consuming when working on a project. Even full-stack developers who are skilled and experienced programmers should understand the language they plan to use.
What is Java?
Java is one of the most widely used programming languages. It is more powerful and easier than C# and C++. In addition, professional programs can be created using this language. People fluent in Java can develop and design Android, mobile, and even game and animation programs.
Based on this, the Java programming job market is growing, and people interested in this field can quickly succeed by acquiring the necessary skills.
Who is a Java programmer?
A Java programmer is a person who, by mastering the Java language, is responsible for programming, architecture, and software development.
Java developers should interact and cooperate with other software engineers and web developers on their projects. In addition, a Java developer must identify problems and bugs related to the designed program and solve them. This is done while analyzing existing problems.
Other duties of a Java developer include:
- Mobile programming and other small systems, such as pocket computers
- Web application programming
- Writing code for large programs
- Programming desktop tools
Job market outlook for Java programmers
Today, the demand for hiring Java developers has also increased due to the wide acceptance of the Java programming language. This is due to its wide application in various matters such as games, mobiles, web tools, etc. Therefore, if you are interested in this job, do not worry about the job market and the profession’s future.
As well as numerous employment opportunities, you can do this job remotely and freelancely. In general, Java programmers have good job opportunities ahead of them. They can have different projects and work in all the following specialized fields:
- Embedded devices developer
- Android developer
- Back-end developer
- Big data developer
Advantages of Java developers
Although Java is not the only language used to create Android applications, it is still the most popular. Of course, the reason for this popularity is Java’s advantages. In the following, we will examine some of these advantages.
- Java provides object-oriented programming.
- Java is a high-level language and has many similarities with human languages.
- Java’s most significant advantage is in its enterprise applications.
- Java supports JVM on all popular operating systems, such as Windows, MacOS, and Linux.
Disadvantages of Java programming
Java has many capabilities in web development and programming, but it also has some disadvantages, which we will discuss below.
- The use of JAVE SE 8 in commercial, business, and production environments will require payment starting in 2019.
- High-level languages face low performance due to compilation and virtual machine abstraction.
- Starting in 2019, payment will be required for using JAVE SE 8 in commercial, business, and production environments.
What is the difference between a Java Developer and a Full-Stack Developer?
The difference between a Java Developer and a Full-Stack Developer lies in their skills, tasks, and areas of expertise. In the following, the main differences between these two roles are discussed:
Java Developer
1. Focus on the Java programming language: Java developers develop Java software. This includes building server applications, web applications, and distributed systems.
2. Expertise in the Java platform: They are proficient in using Java Development Kit (JDK) and Java Runtime Environment (JRE) and usually work with popular Java frameworks like Spring and Hibernate.
3. Back-end development: They focus on back-end development, although they may also work with front-end technologies in some projects.
Full-Stack Developer
1. Extensive knowledge of technology: A Full-Stack Developer has knowledge and skills in front-end (such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript) and back-end (such as Node.js, Ruby, Python, Java) development. They can develop both the user interface and the server and database logic.
2. Ability to work on all aspects of a website or application, from web design to server programming and database management. This flexibility allows them to play a crucial role in small projects and startups.
3. Mastering the complete development process: They can participate in all stages of software development, from initial ideation to final development and maintenance.
While a Java Developer may focus more on the more technical and complex aspects of coding on the Java platform, a Full-Stack Developer takes a more general view of web and software development and can work on all aspects of software development. Choosing between these roles depends on individual career goals, interests, and skills.
Java developer vs. full stack developer salary
There are different statistics and figures for the income of a full-stack developer, and these statistics and figures vary according to factors such as the skill level of the full-stack developer, the country you work in, the company you work for, and others.
Full-stack developers in European and American countries receive better salaries. According to web statistics from reputable companies, they earn $80,000 to $150,000 per year.
According to the StackOverflow survey, Java programmers earn an average of $72,701 to $115,708 annually. Of course, Java programmer income depends on professional experience. This includes industry, geographical location, level of education, skills, and the company’s size. Nevertheless, the Java Developer career path is a high-paying career.
Our other articles offer information on other programming languages and an answer to the question, “JavaScript or Python, which is better for the future?”