When getting into web development, there are a few questions you need to ask yourself. Some of those questions are.
- Am I a creative person? Do I like designing or writing?
- Am I an organised person? Do I like planning and decision making
- Am I an all-rounder? Can I see the big picture?
Based on the answers to these questions, you should have a fair understanding of the type of web development you want to pursue. Not all developers are cut out for all kinds of development, and that’s fine. In fact, in most web development companies such as Kodework which is made up of engineers from across Europe and India, there are dedicated teams for each kind of development. So, what type of web development do you want to try your hand at? Hopefully, this should get you started.
Frontend Development
In one of our earlier blog posts, we talked about the roles and responsibilities of Frontend Developers. We saw that frontend developers specialise in the programming of user interfaces. That being said, front end development (also known as client-side development) involves a certain sense of creativity. If you love designing user interfaces and user experiences, then this is probably the type of web development you want to consider.
Frontend developers understand the design principles of computer science. They work with design languages such as HTML, Java, and CSS to create stunning websites that are intuitive and responsive. If you’ve ever used a website that’s clean, minimal, has a beautiful layout and is easy to navigate, that’s probably because there’s a team of very skilled UI/UX frontend developers behind it, who are able to understand the end-users needs while ensuring they honour the client’s vision.
Backend Development
For those of you who are more technical and have a flair for organisation and planning, then backend development might intrigue you. There’s more to a website than what meets the eye. In fact, most of what makes a website ‘work’ happens on the backend. In our article on backend developers, we saw how these ‘heroes of web development’ employ disciplines such as implementation, design, core logic, performance, and scalability to develop and run software or systems on machines that the end-user does not see.
Backend developers use languages such as C, C++, Java, Python, Perl, Go, Scala to build the platforms on which websites run, and to manage all the data as well. There is a rather large amount of time and effort that goes into planning and managing data storage, databases, logging, caching, and email systems. With all things considered, the final step for any backend developer is to ensure that all the systems and databases that are running are encrypted and secure to ensure the safety of the client and their users’ data.
Full-Stack Development
Finally, full-stack development is a combination of frontend and backend development. This field requires years of experience since the developers who work with these teams are proficient in both the client and server sides of the operations. They work with stacks that include a number of programming languages such as JavaScript, jQuery, Angular, or Vue while programming a browser, or PHP, ASP, Python, and Node while programming a server.
Full-stack developers need to be able to see the big picture. Though it may seem like a lot of work, full-stack developers are highly sought after because of their ability to work independently. This could be very cost-effective for a startup that cannot invest in dedicated frontend and backend teams. In addition, full-stack developers are usually able to handle quality testing and debugging which means they are able to deliver a complete project. Needless to say, if you’re proficient enough in both ends of the spectrum, then full-stack development is definitely for you.
So, what type of development do you want to pursue? Are you already a developer and would like to share your experience? Then drop a line in the comments section below. Alternatively, if you’re looking to have a website design by a team of professionals, then get in touch with Kodework today.