Introduction

In just a few years, the fullstack developer has become one of the most sought-after profiles in the world of IT programming. And with good reason: in a context of accelerating digital transformation, companies are looking for versatile developers, capable of working on all the layers of a web or mobile application, from backend to frontend to infrastructure. The backend manages business logic, data and infrastructure, while the frontend takes care of the user interface and user experience. A fullstack developer therefore masters all the skills required to develop an application from start to finish, like a Swiss army knife of programming, to meet the market's needs for responsiveness and agility...

This craze is particularly pronounced in the ecosystem of start-ups and small teams, who need jack-of-all-trades to launch their products quickly. Rather than recruiting a team of specialists, it can be tempting to opt for a fullstack developer, who is expected to master the entire software development chain. This quest for the rare pearl can be found in many job offers.

But what does the job of a fullstack developer really entail these days? Between the numerous JavaScript frameworks flourishing on the front end, and the explosion of cloud solutions and microservices architectures on the back end, is it realistic to expect a single developer to be an expert in all these areas? Do we risk sacrificing code quality and user experience by trying to do everything ourselves? These are all questions worth asking.

To answer this question, we take a look at the key skills expected of a fullstack developer, as well as the advantages and limitations of this type of profile. This insight is provided by Grégory, a fullstack developer at Blue Soft, who shares with us his day-to-day experience between back-end, front-end and support. The result is a nuanced portrait of this fast-changing profession.

To find out more, read our article on IT development trends.

The key skills of a fullstack developer

Being a fullstack developer is a bit like being a chef who masters every technique, from starter to dessert. It's a wide range of skills, requiring constant juggling between the different facets of software development.

On the front-end, the fullstack developer must already be comfortable with the basic web languages: HTML for page structure, CSS for formatting, and JavaScript to make everything interactive and dynamic. But it's no longer enough to simply know how to manipulate the DOM, as was the case ten years ago. Today, mastery of one or more frameworks is essential for building rich, responsive interfaces. Whether it's React, Angular, Vue.js or Svelte, the fullstack developer needs to keep abreast of the constant evolutions of this teeming ecosystem.

Beyond code, they must also cultivate a sensitivity to web design and user experience, in order to offer interfaces that are both aesthetically pleasing, intuitive and accessible. Designing a responsive website, optimizing loading times, ensuring cross-browser compatibility... these are just some of the challenges the fullstack must rise to in order to deliver the best possible end-user experience.

But that's just the tip of the iceberg. Behind the scenes, the fullstack developer must master a whole world of back-end technologies. PHP, Java, Python, Ruby... they need to master at least one server language, as well as associated frameworks such as Symfony, Spring Boot, Django or Ruby on Rails. Their role is to develop the application's business logic, in interaction with the database. Whether SQL or NoSQL, the fullstack juggles different paradigms to optimally store and query data.

Et puis il y a tout l’aspect déploiement et infrastructure, souvent sous-estimé mais pourtant crucial. Être à l’aise avec le terminal, savoir administrer un serveur Linux, scripter des tâches, gérer des containers, configurer un pipeline de CI/CD… le développeur fullstack est aussi un peu ops sur les bords. Dans un monde de plus en plus « cloud native », il doit comprendre les grands principes du cloud computing, du serverless, des architectures microservices, pour faire les bons choix techniques.

To find out more about containerization, take a look at our article.

But beyond all these technical skills, it's also in their ability to embrace a project in its entirety that fullstack developers draw their added value. Understanding the customer's business needs, writing functional and technical specifications, designing a robust and scalable architecture, estimating workloads, coordinating resources... the fullstack developer's role is often akin to that of a technical project manager, in agile mode.

Enfin, pour relier tous ces savoir-faire, le développeur fullstack cultive des compétences transverses essentielles. Autonomie, curiosité, veille permanente, mais aussi esprit d’équipe et de communication sont indispensables pour mener à bien ses missions. Car si le mythe du « ninja » qui code dans son coin a la vie dure, la réalité du métier est toute autre : le fullstack est avant tout un développeur parmi d’autres, qui doit savoir collaborer et partager ses connaissances.

To find out more, our tips for a career in development

The advantages of being a fullstack developer

The reason why companies are so keen to recruit fullstack developers is that this profile offers a number of advantages in today's environment. Here's an overview of the main advantages of cultivating this versatility.

Le premier d’entre eux, c’est de pouvoir avoir une vision d’ensemble sur un projet de développement. Là où les spécialistes ont parfois une vue « en silo » sur leur périmètre, le fullstack embrasse toute la chaîne de production, de la conception à la mise en production. Une hauteur de vue précieuse pour faire les bons choix d’architecture, anticiper les problèmes, ou optimiser les performances globales. Lorsqu’un bug survient, il peut rapidement identifier s’il vient du front ou du back, sans se renvoyer la balle entre équipes. Un gain de temps et d’efficacité.

This global vision also enables the fullstack developer to communicate more effectively with the various parties involved in a project. Firstly, with the customer, to understand their business needs and propose the most appropriate solutions. But also with creative teams, by being able to discuss with UX and UI designers to design interfaces that are both aesthetically pleasing and high-performance. Or with business experts and end-users, to gather their feedback and develop the application accordingly. By acting as a link between these different interlocutors, the fullstack greatly facilitates collaboration and co-construction within a project.

Another major advantage is their versatility and adaptability. In a constantly evolving sector like web and mobile development, where frameworks and tools are constantly being renewed, knowing how to switch from one technology to another is a real plus. Thanks to their knowledge of several languages and paradigms, fullstack developers can quickly build up their skills in a new technical area, and thus cope with any changes of direction that occur during the course of a project. This agility is invaluable in responding to changing market and user needs.

C’est d’ailleurs pour cette raison que le profil fullstack est tant plébiscité par les startups et les petites équipes en mode « guerilla ». Quand on a peu de ressources et que chaque recrutement compte, mieux vaut miser sur un développeur touche-à-tout, capable de porter seul une bonne partie du projet. Un profil « débrouillard » qui colle bien à l’état d’esprit des jeunes pousses, où il faut souvent faire preuve de créativité pour contourner les obstacles. Quitte à ce que le code ne soit pas parfait au début, l’essentiel est de livrer rapidement un premier produit viable, pour le tester auprès des utilisateurs et lever des fonds. Le développeur fullstack est le couteau-suisse idéal pour ce type de mission.

Last but not least, it's also a profile that offers excellent career prospects. After a few years of dabbling in everything, the fullstack developer has acquired solid experience and a thorough understanding of project challenges. It's enough to aim for positions of responsibility, such as lead developer or software architect. Some even go on to create their own start-ups, backed by their business vision and end-to-end mastery of the development chain. Proof that versatility doesn't prevent you from delving deeper into an area of expertise - quite the opposite, in fact: it opens up a whole new world of possibilities.

Limits and points of vigilance for the fullstack developer

Si le profil de développeur fullstack présente de nombreux atouts, il comporte aussi certaines limites dont il faut avoir conscience. Car contrairement à une idée reçue, le fullstack n’est pas un « super-héros » du développement, capable d’exceller sur tous les fronts en même temps.

The first pitfall is the difficulty of maintaining a high level of expertise across such a broad spectrum of skills. Let's face it: it's an illusion to be at the top of every technology, every framework, every best practice from front-end to back-end, especially given the frenetic pace of innovation in the sector. Whereas a specialized developer can focus on a specific area and master all its intricacies, a fullstack developer often has to make do with a more superficial knowledge, at the risk of missing out on certain subtleties. A jack of all trades, master of none.

This is particularly true of front-end development, which is sometimes the poor relation among fullstack developers. Pressed by back-end needs and production launch, some tend to neglect the user interface, coding pages in haste without regard to HTML quality, responsiveness or accessibility. This neglect can quickly become problematic, as it is the front-end that is the showcase of a web application. A wobbly, slow or poorly designed site may have a solid back-end architecture, but it won't convince users. Hence the importance of not sacrificing this part of the chain.

Another common misconception is that you want to do everything yourself, like an almighty code god. Carried away by their enthusiasm, fullstack developers can sometimes overestimate their abilities and exhaust themselves trying to manage everything from A to Z, without delegating or asking for help. Even the best developer has his limits. On large-scale projects, it's often more effective to build a team with specialists in each field, rather than putting everything in the hands of a single person. A fullstack developer needs to know how to play as part of a team.

This is all the more true when you consider that technology watch and ongoing training are absolute necessities if you want to keep up with the times. When you're a jack-of-all-trades, it's hard to find the time to keep abreast of the latest developments, test out new tools or hone your skills on a new framework. And it's all the more time-consuming because you have to do it on all fronts at once, from CSS to NoSQL to DevOps. It's enough to make you dizzy, and risk burn-out if you don't know how to take your foot off the gas from time to time.

Enfin, le mythe du « ninja » fullstack peut aussi se retourner contre le développeur quand il s’agit de valoriser ses compétences. A vouloir trop embrasser, on peut donner l’image d’un touche-à-tout sans réelle expertise, et peiner à faire reconnaître la valeur de sa polyvalence. C’est tout le paradoxe du fullstack : bâtir une carrière solide et bien rémunérée sur un profil aussi généraliste n’est pas toujours évident. Il faut savoir « vendre » ses compétences multiples comme un atout, sans se faire passer pour un couteau-suisse bas de gamme.

Interested in code quality? Read our article on QA tools

Testimony of Grégory, fullstack developer

To embody these reflections on the profession of fullstack developer, let's take a look at Grégory, who has been in the profession for over 10 years. Currently working for Blue Soft, an ESN with a presence in France and Europe, he shares his views on his day-to-day life and the challenges of his job.

Passionné d’informatique depuis toujours, Grégory a commencé sa carrière dans le développement web avant de bifurquer vers le jeu vidéo pendant près de 15 ans. Une expérience qui lui a permis de toucher à beaucoup de technologies différentes. « Dans l’informatique de toute façon je n’ai jamais vraiment quitté le côté programmation, j’en ai toujours fait », explique-t-il.

Il y a deux ans, Grégory a rejoint Blue Soft au moment du rachat de sa précédente entreprise, Coaxis. « J’ai pu garder mon côté couteau suisse, touche à tout, et le transposer chez Blue Soft sur des projets de plus grosse envergure », raconte-t-il. Un changement d’échelle qui lui a permis de monter en compétences, notamment sur les architectures cloud et les méthodes agiles.

Aujourd’hui, son rôle de développeur fullstack l’amène à intervenir sur toutes les composantes des projets, du back-end en Java au front-end en Angular, en passant par les bases de données et le déploiement. Une polyvalence qu’il voit comme une opportunité de se challenger en permanence. « On peut vraiment toucher à beaucoup de technos, il y a toujours quelque chose de nouveau à apprendre », apprécie-t-il.

Mais cette polyvalence a aussi ses défis au quotidien, reconnaît Grégory. « Je suis en permanence en train de me remettre en question. J’essaie de garder une compétence transverse, pas forcément une expertise pointue mais une capacité à trouver des réponses rapidement, quel que soit le sujet ». Un exercice d’équilibriste qui demande une grande curiosité et une veille technologique constante.

Pour se ressourcer, Grégory apprécie particulièrement les moments d’échange et de partage avec ses collègues. Qu’il s’agisse de répondre aux questions des alternants, de débattre des choix technologiques avec ses pairs ou simplement de passer un moment convivial à la pause déjeuner, il est attaché à l’esprit d’équipe qui règne dans son entreprise. « C’est très studieux mais aussi très humain, il y a une vraie émulation positive », témoigne-t-il.

Un équilibre entre challenge technique et environnement de travail épanouissant qui semble être le moteur de ce développeur passionné. Et s’il avoue qu’il faudra sans doute se spécialiser à terme pour évoluer vers des postes à responsabilités, Grégory ne regrette pas son choix d’être fullstack. « C’est un métier où on ne s’ennuie jamais, où il faut savoir sortir de sa zone de confort. Mais c’est aussi ce qui le rend passionnant ! »

To listen to Grégory's full testimonial, discover our podcast, Chroniques de Talents Bleus.

Conclusion

At the end of this overview, one thing is certain: the profession of fullstack developer leaves no one indifferent. Adulated by some, criticized by others, it has crystallized the debates on the evolution of software development in recent years. Should it be seen as the absolute grail of the developer or, on the contrary, as an unattainable myth? The truth probably lies somewhere in between.

What emerges from our analysis is that there's no such thing as a typical fullstack developer profile. Above all, it's a question of balance and adaptation, depending on your experience, your skills and the projects you work on. Some will see it as an opportunity to vary the pleasures of the job, and gain 360° skills. Others may prefer to specialize in a particular technology and aim for expertise. The most important thing is to find the right formula to flourish in your profession.

Because if there's one thing everyone agrees on, it's that versatility shouldn't come at the expense of quality. A fullstack developer is not a superhero who can do everything on his own. He's first and foremost a member of a team, who needs to know how to collaborate and delegate in order to achieve project objectives. Wanting to embrace everything is the best way to embrace everything badly, as Grégory's testimony rightly reminds us.

Rather than looking for the rare pearl who has all the answers, it's in companies' best interests to build multi-disciplinary teams, where the skills of some complement those of others. It's by combining specialized expertise with more generalist profiles that the best results are achieved. In this respect, the fullstack developer has a key role to play, as a facilitator and link between the various players.

At a time when technologies are constantly evolving and becoming more complex, one thing is certain: the ability to learn continuously and adapt will be the key skill of tomorrow's developers, whether they are fullstack or specialized. After all, it's by cultivating your curiosity and knowing how to get out of your comfort zone that you'll stay up to date in this profession. It's an exciting challenge for anyone who likes to be challenged on a daily basis.

If these thoughts on the job of a fullstack developer resonate with you, you should know that companies like Blue Soft are looking for talent ready to take on these challenges on a daily basis. With over 900 employees in 9 locations in France, Switzerland and Belgium, Blue Soft has been supporting a wide range of customers in their digital transformation projects since 2008.

Whether it's specific development, consulting, infrastructure cloud or Microsoft solutions, Blue Soft teams work on a wide range of technologies to meet their customers' business needs. An ideal playground for developers looking for a challenge, whether full-stack or specialized.

Vous vous reconnaissez dans le témoignage de Grégory et souhaitez en savoir plus sur les opportunités de carrière chez Blue Soft ? N’hésitez pas à consulter les offres d’emploi sur le site de l’entreprise ou à contacter directement les équipes de recrutement. Qui sait, peut-être ferez-vous bientôt partie de ces « talents bleus » qui créent chaque jour « un océan de compétences » au service de la transformation digitale.