The full stack hamburger – a software developer’s recipe
2024-03-08T11:04:09Z
Technology
In the world of technology exists the concept of the ‘full stack hamburger,’ an umbrella term for a bunch of inter-related IT terminology. Instead of buns, patties and toppings, the full stack hamburger is made up of IT terms and skills. The bottom bun of the hamburger contains the ‘backend’ terms, where all the important stuff happens behind the scenes, like knowing how to set up servers and databases and how to handle data.
The top bun contains the ‘frontend’ terms, or what users interact with. The frontend is all about making things look good and work smoothly. This involves using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to create high-quality interfaces.
The patty is the "middleware”, which is like the bridge that connects the frontend and backend. This is where the orders from the frontend are correctly processed in the backend, and the results are presented aesthetically to the user.
Toppings and sauces are the extra skills, like mobile app development, databases or special frameworks.
What does a full stack developer do?
A full stack developer is like an architect of the digital world. If a house is being built, full stack developers are the ones responsible for designing both the outside appearance and the systems that make it function inside.
On the outside, they craft what you see and interact with – the user interface. Just like an artist, they use languages like HTML to create the structure, CSS to paint it, and JavaScript to make things dynamic and interactive (the parts you touch, click, and see when you use an app or website).
They’re also the engineers behind the scenes making sure everything’s working properly. For example, they create the server where data is stored and retrieved and design databases to neatly organise information, using languages like SQL to manage it efficiently. They also bridge the visible interface you interact with and the behind-the-scenes processes that powers it.
If you want to become a full stack developer you need to learn all these different parts – frontend, backend and middleware – and understand how they work together.
Strong problem-solving skills are a must-have, along with being able to collaborate and make sure everyone's on the same page. Curiosity is a good trait to have too, because as technology keeps evolving, full stack developers are the ones adapting to new tools and techniques.
The top bun
The terms in the top bun mostly relate to web development, including technologies used to enhance the functionality, user experience, and interactivity of web applications. All the terms are related to web development in some way, focusing on different aspects of building web applications.
Most of the terms, such as AJAX, AngularJS, Bootstrap, CSS3, HTML5, jQuery, ReactJS, and JavaScript, are related to frontend development. They deal with user interface, interactivity, and presentation of web pages. PhoneGap is the only term specifically related to mobile app development but still utilises web technologies for building cross-platform apps.
JSON is used for data exchange between web applications and servers due to its lightweight and easy-to-read format. AJAX, PWA, and SPA are focused on improving user experience by making web applications more responsive, interactive, and app-like. AngularJS, Bootstrap, jQuery, and ReactJS are frameworks or libraries that provide developers with tools and features to streamline web application development.
The lettuce
The terms that make up the lettuce of the full stack hamburger relate to web communication and interaction, with a focus on enabling seamless data exchange and communication between applications. The terms are related to facilitating communication and data exchange between applications over the internet.
REST, SOAP, and WebSockets are different approaches to enable API-based interactions between applications. REST and SOAP use different protocols (HTTP and XML, respectively) for data exchange, while WebSockets utilise a persistent connection over the WebSocket protocol.
WebSockets are specifically designed for real-time applications, enabling bidirectional communication between client and server, making them suitable for chat apps, stock tickers, and other real-time scenarios. APIs, including REST and SOAP, provide a way for applications to access the functionality and data of other applications.
