Full-Stack JavaScript Development: Pros and Cons
There is no doubt about the fact that JavaScript is an extremely popular programming language right now. The reason for this is that JavaScript seems to be everywhere, particularly propelling the World Wide Web. Besides being a core component of lots of web applications, it also enables interactive elements on the web.
Used in front-end engineering initially, it is now possible to integrate JavaScript into the server-side, which has helped it become more popular over time. Now, a question might pop up in your mind regarding whether it will be possible to use JavaScript for the whole project because it can now be used in the front-end and backend. Simply speaking, will it be a sensible idea to hire a full-stack developer to work on a web project?
What do you mean by full-stack JavaScript development?
By the term “technological stack,” we refer to a set of technologies and functions imperative for developing software products. These consist of frameworks, libraries, databases, servers, etc. In turn, the software product comprises a couple of large components, the front-end, and the backend.
Being the client-side, the front-end will be perceptible to the users once the page is loaded. On the other hand, the backend happens to be server-side, which consists of all the procedures that happen on the server’s side and are not visible to users; however, its result enables interacting with the site.
It is possible to get a full-stack development by combining front-end and backend development. Consequently, comprehensive JavaScript development happens to be the development of an application or website by using JavaScript for the backend and front-end.
The professionals are proficient in many programs required for creating a potent website (HTML, JavaScript, CSS, PHP, and so on). In addition, they will be interacting with animation and graphics to make the site dynamic and create a proper user experience. Consequently, full-stack JavaScript development creates unique code that can be created and reused without any need to create it once again.
Expert Guide On: How to Hire Full Stack Developers
What do you mean by a full-stack JavaScript developer?
An engineer who is capable of developing front-end, as well as backend apps, is referred to as a full-stack JavaScript developer. This implies that it will be imperative for them to know CSS and HTML, and they also have to possess the skills of building a server, a browser, and a database. These developers have an extremely well-known stack for doing so, known as MEAN, which consists of MongoDB, Express, AngularJS, and Node.js.
These components are based on the JavaScript programming language, which supports the concept of managing all the layers of the web project using an identical language. For this reason, this stack has become so well-known among full-stack developers.
The popularity of MEAN does not imply that this particular stack happens to be the sole full stack used by JavaScript programmers. On the contrary, you will come across lots of other technologies to be used as alternatives for those components consisting of Restify, Koa, React, MySQL,Vue.js, and so on.
Full-stack JavaScript Pros
1. Enhanced feature ownership
Full-stack developers tend to implement features from beginning to end. They usually develop better concepts for applying and testing those features, given that they are 100% accountable for the production outcomes.
They are aware of the process of interaction of the components of the system and see the majority of the areas which have been impacted in the project that can break and require modifications. If something is not working, it will be their code, and they will be capable of debugging it without disturbing other folks. The product’s quality increases a lot thanks to this type of focus and commitment, and the number of glitches is minimized.
2. More reuse of code
It is a fact that both front-end and backend make use of JavaScript, and therefore, it will be possible to reuse code following identical implementation and logic. For this reason, any programmer working in a full-stack JavaScript development company will need to write less amount of code in the long run.
Because of this, full-stack development becomes more effective, and developers find it quite simple to update plus maintain the products.
3. Development efficiency
It is a fact that programmers who are working in smaller teams happen to be more productive. Individuals will be more focused on performing their job because of less communication, lesser number of blocking tasks, and planning. This is exactly the case when it comes to full-stack teams. After taking independent features, the developers implement these in parallel from beginning to end, making the required modifications as well.
On the contrary, each feature in a specialized team begins with brief sync on the API front-end team requirements, how it ought to work, the most effective data representation, what fields will be needed, and so on. Although the API might work separately at times, and the front-end functions on mock data, the full integration does not. Both teams should debug the situation along with an increasing number of sync meetings and more time for solving things.
What is going to happen in case the backend goes ahead? They can’t create more features separately from the remainder of the app. A number of them will change depending on the feedback from User Interface interactions.
It is likewise not feasible for the front-end team to implement everything blindly on mocks. It will not function as the actual app, and it will also not permit testing for edge cases. The mocks will gradually become increasingly complicated, and developers will be required to put more effort into unwanted codes. Plenty of extra work will be needed for integrating the backend.
4. Top performance
Full-stack JavaScript developers can use non-blocking programming to the fullest and create 100% asynchronous applications, thanks to Node JS. In this way, the resulting apps will be capable of running several independent procedures simultaneously.
In turn, this will increase the efficiency of web applications written in JavaScript, leading to better quality products and UX.
5. Better knowledge about the products
It is a fact that full-stack developers will be working on all product components, and therefore, they will have enhanced knowledge regarding the entire system. This will allow them to see what might break with each innovative feature, and they can also make suggestions on how to take care of that; however, they might provide useful feedback on the app from the perspective of the product.
Comprehending each feature and the advantages offered by it to the users will allow them to create remarkable tips on enhancing innovative features before applying them. The full-stack developers will observe the underlying benefits and consistency with the remaining part of the application and allow the designers and product managers to improve their preliminary vision.
6. More availability of talents
As per the 2020 Stack Overflow Developer Survey, JavaScript happens to be the most in-demand technology, with a remarkable 70% of the respondents asserting that they make use of it in some manner.
This implies that there are lots of individuals who comprehend this programming language and also use it regularly. Thus, it will be possible for you to pick fresh talent from a vast pool for improving your full-stack projects.
Full Stack JavaScript Cons
Despite having many benefits, full-stack JavaScript also comes with several downsides, which we have mentioned below.
1. Not the ideal solution for heavy computing
JavaScript frameworks will be most effective when it comes to developing advanced apps. Moreover, it is not ideal for complicated computing applications.
For example, incoming requests can be blocked because of the computing process, making it challenging for the app to function smoothly. Nevertheless, you can ignore this drawback if you do not create these types of solutions.
2. Scattered experience
A front-end developer must know CSS, HTML, as well as several front-end packages. On the other hand, a backend developer must know Node JS, message queues, various databases, GCP or AWS, plus many other backend packages.
On the other hand, a full-stack developer needs to know all these mentioned above. A specialist developer will be spending more time working with his technologies only if we consider two programmers who have identical years of experience.
Specialists learned CSS tricks, the depths of databases and AWS, or experiment with various component libraries. They will be able to write better quality codes for every separate section of the project since they have more profound knowledge.
3. There might be delays
The application can slow down because full-stack JavaScript development will involve heavy processing of data. Fortunately, you will come across several ways to solve these issues, such as creating child procedures, splitting the computational procedure into phases, and so forth.
4. Database is of small size
Full-stack development along with its database is a comparatively young technology. However, this situation is altering thanks to its usage by top companies.
Despite having some drawbacks, the benefits of full-stack JavaScript development are much more obvious. In a nutshell, one can use it for creating a dynamic and top-quality application. Furthermore, considering the open-source code, we can assume that this technology stack will help make the entire development process affordable.
Conclusion
Full-stack development can’t be considered to be a magical solution. Selecting the proper team is going to depend on the application type. There are many reasons for large companies to go specialized. They already come with complicated projects, different technology stacks, and valuable time for hiring a large team.
On the contrary, the startups are going to benefit from universal developers. They will require small and efficient teams to keep up the pace and appreciate all feedback on the product. Put simply, and full-stack JavaScript development will be ideal for projects such as IoT products, Fintech applications, e-commerce platforms, P2P services, plus web-based enterprise apps.
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