Hiring a full stack developer
instead of a team of dedicated
engineers: why it may be
the best bet for a business

In recent years, full stack software development has seen a mind-boggling increase in demand. More and more companies hire full stack developers, which put it on the US list of jobs on the rise in 2021.

Modsen confirms this trend. With a growing frequency, our clients employ a single “jack-of-all-trades” with ample skills in the front-end, back-end, and testing technologies, preferring them to a team of specialized engineers.

As both software development approaches have their pros and cons, it may be confusing for a company to decide what professionals to choose. Read on to clear up the perks and risks of full stack web development and figure out if your project will benefit from getting this type of talent.

What is full stack development?

A web application is made up of two distinct technology layers making up the “full stack” of technologies. These are:

• front-end, or a presentation layer the users see and interact with.
• back-end, or a data access layer allowing the application to work while being hidden from the user. The back end incorporates databases, servers, APIs, and pathways, across which information is delivered to and from users.

Normally, a team of dedicated engineers works together to build the same web application, each handling one definite layer. Full stack developers deal with both app sides single-handedly.

Skills needed for a full stack developer

There are no two specialists with the same skillset. But we can identify several technology stacks that full stack developers commonly use:

• UI/UX design
• Markup languages (CSS, HTML)
• Front-end development (React, Angular, Node.js, etc.)
• Back-end development (Java, .NET, Python, C#, etc.)
• Experience with databases (MySQL, MongoDB, Firebase, etc.)
• Web app testing (Selenium, Katalon studio, TestComplete, etc.)

To be honest, the list is far from being exhaustive. Full stack developers should also understand network protocols, know how to build an app architecture, optimize app performance, and comply with security standards, such as OWASP top 10, if a web application stores sensitive data.:

All these competencies and extensive knowledge make this type of talent an attractive choice for businesses striving to be more efficient.

Full stack development benefits and risks

To get a clear idea of what to expect from full stack development, let’s look deeper into its merits and possible risks.

Benefits

• Top-grade knowledge and experience
  One of the major advantages of full stack developers is their excellent understanding of all software building phases. This extensive knowledge is the result of years of experience and practice on diverse web development projects. This exposure makes it possible for them to thoroughly analyze the project requirements and design unique solutions. Their valuable insights help achieve better performance and enhance the market acceptance of your product.
• Cost-effectiveness
  Businesses on a budget don’t always have sufficient resources to hire a team of separate specialists for different aspects of web development. That’s why hiring a full stack developer is the best solution for those who want to build a robust and affordable solution.
• Flexibility and agility
  While specialized developers stick to only one area of expertise, full stack developers are well-versed in different tech domains and are able to fulfill multiple roles. This allows them to switch between tasks swiftly and reduces development time and, consequently, time to market.
• Independence
  Full stack developers can both build the client-side and server-side of an app and test it on their own. Their experience helps them to have a clear understanding of the scenarios, foresee the possible results or troubles and come up with optimal solutions.

Risks

• Missing specific in-depth knowledge
  It’s impossible to be an expert in everything. While full stack developers have a good comprehension of different domains, they can’t be as practiced in one distinct field as a specialized engineer would be. While a full stack developer trains in various areas, dedicated specialists devote all their time and efforts to only one. Consequently, when tackling really difficult problems, full stack developers may need expert advice from others or extra time to deepen their knowledge.
• Falling behind the latest trends and technologies
  Technology is ever-evolving, and new tech stacks are appearing all the time. To preserve their title of full stack developer, engineers must take in emerging stacks and regularly upgrade their knowledge in their major spheres. This may lead to distraction from their ongoing tasks or even to an overload.
• Difficulties with responsibility control
  Full stack developers permanently work on cohesive parts of the project instead of splitting their work into many small tasks. This makes it harder for the manager or customer to check the progress and manage the work, especially if the project is small. An ideal solution for this lies in setting smaller tasks for a developer, with the duty to report regularly.

Having a full stack developer will be an asset to your team. But with the above risks, you better find out whether this talent fits your project before you rush into hiring one.

When you need a full stack developer

Here are some situations where full stack development will be profitable for a business.

• You have a small team. When you can’t hire a specialist for each layer of a web application, full stack developers are a perfect fit. They will fill in the gaps in different aspects of software development or even deliver a fully-fledged product with little or no support from others.
• You’re building a minimum viable product. Building even a simple simple product needs finance, and startups crafting a new product are often on a tight budget. In this case, the most reasonable solution will be to hire one full stack professional who is proficient in most of the technologies required to build an MVP. Although their pay rate is comparatively high, maintaining a full team of dedicated specialists who are masters only in a single domain will cost much more. Moreover, the timeline and performance of each individual differ, causing a fuss in project management.
• You look for additional expertise. With their unmatched knowledge of a bunch of technologies and best practices, full stack developers create a high-quality product with no or few bugs. Plus, they possess a basic understanding of technologies beyond their main expertise, picking out the best building strategy for your product.

Is it your case? Then it’s time for you to search for an experienced full stack developer. If you don’t plan long-term employment, you can consider hiring an expert just for a particular project.

Adding top talents to your team with Modsen

Still not sure if you need a full stack developer? Then Modsen will help you figure it out. We’ll analyze your requirements, and, if full stack development fits your needs, we’ll find the best match for you among a range of skilled professionals. There’ll be no risk for you as you’ll have a two-week free trial period to make sure that the developers meet your standards.

Modsen has already helped businesses create effective teams with top full stack web developers. Having a solid experience in this domain, we are well aware of the traps and pitfalls that may arise during a project and will help you avoid them. For more details, contact us at contact@modsen-software.com.