[wimagguc]

> for the third year in a row, "full-stack developer" was the most common response [for occupation]

Might be a loaded question, but doesn't full-stack mean just "web developer"? From the survey, "Full-stack developers are comfortable coding with 5 to 6 major languages or frameworks (vs. 4 for everyone else)" -- with knowing a bit of Wordpress that's fairly easy to collect: php, sql, html, javascript, css. Done.

Or full-stack is the new ninja?

[losvedir]

> Might be a loaded question, but doesn't full-stack mean just "web developer"?

Huh, interesting question. I think a "web developer" could focus more on front end or back end; I usually identify as "full stack web developer" to indicate I do both.

However, if I read your question another way: are you asking if "full stack" could apply outside the web realm? Can you be a "full stack"... erm compiler developer? I know compilers generally have a "front end" and a "back end", but I'm not sure if I've heard the terminology used that way. I'd be curious to know if "full stack" is used in other niches of software development than just the web.

[jghn]

My experience has been that "front end" or "back end" often implies a web dev shop. This isn't always true, but it's generally the case

[ruraljuror]

I don't think so. I think the self distinction is between developers who work exclusively on the front end or back end of websites vs those who do it all. My guess would be the correlation between the self identification has less to do with developer skill than to team/business size. If you are on a team of two or three people, and changes need to be made to the database, JS, and server-side code, you're going to be working across the full stack in a variety of languages. I don't think this approach lends itself to mastery or specialization, and so if you're like me you will be using SO to find out how to do simple things in JS.

But I see your point, the commentary suggests full-stack developers are more skilled.

[josteink]

> you are on a team of two or three people, and changes need to be made to the database, JS, and server-side code, you're going to be working across the full stack in a variety of languages.

So basically a web developer then. Right.

[inopinatus]

It is a matter of self-identification. I take the phrase with a large dose of irony. If someone calls themselves a full-stack developer, I assume they mean "JS/CSS/HTML/<app language>/SQL" and this is especially likely in this case, since it's a SO poll.

But I still want some sense of awareness of the many layers on which web systems rest.

"Oh you're a full-stack developer? Great! In this job interview we will be designing a new TCP retransmission algorithm, configuring a CI/CD pipeline, debugging CPU microcode, negotiating with a law enforcement agency, and testing the FM200 system in the DC"

[Drdrdrq]

I would identify myself as full stack web developer, but the problems you list (apart from negotiations) sound interesting to me... What does that make me? :)

[inopinatus]

My experience is that someone's willingness to understand/develop the whole canvas greatly enhances their potential effectiveness in leading major pieces of work.

Caveat #1: far from the only factor.

Caveat #2: increased risk of decision paralysis and (paradoxically) micromanagement.

[Cthulhu_]

I think it's more of a distinction with 'front-end developer', who is someone that works exclusively on the front-end - e.g. angular, ember, react, etc. This role barely existed 5+ years ago, and every web developer was more of a full-stack developer. Nowadays you could focus only on the front-end side and not need bother with a back-end ever.

[Illniyar]

Actually I see this as reversed, 5 years ago there were a lot more front-end developers (or just web developers then), since it was fairly common to create static sites with little or not interactivity, and if you had a fat client it was in flash (also a front-end only technology, mostly).

I don't think people writing some scripts in PHP would have considered themselves full-stack or back-end.

[brown9-2]

I think there are some big holes in the list of occupations.

Let's say you work in a place with a "microservices" architecture. You write in Java or Ruby or another language. Which occupation are you on this list?

Why is there a "backend web developer" but not "backend developer"?

[jghn]

What would be the front end in your example? You'd just be "a developer".

I tend to avoid jobs which self describe as backend as I have no interest in web development and my experience is if it is listed as "backend developer" that it's probably too geared towards web development for my tastes.

[brown9-2]

Well, "developer" is not even an option for occupation in this survey.

[prawn]

I always assumed full-stack was backend language plus SQL as well as the web server and server OS. So, the L and A in LAMP. Keep in mind that I started in 1996 or so, and only started hearing "full-stack" in recent years.

e.g., using common options:

  - A front end web developer would be HTML/CSS.
  - A back end web developer would be HTML/CSS/MySQL/PHP (or equivalent).
  - Full-stack all of the above plus Apache and Linux.

[adamb_]

Besides front and back end, someone who identifies with full-stack should also be proficient at the data layer. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multitier_architecture