Important technologies to master as a full-stack software developer

When working as a software developer, you are expected to learn new skills and master existing ones as you keep growing.

Below is a list of technologies you should know when you keep growing into more senior software developer positions in your career.

Frontend technologies

Frontend technologies are tools, frameworks, and coding languages used to build the client-side of the web page. The client-side of a web page is the one that is run inside the browser and is visible to the end-user.

The client-side includes the user interface, which can be built using multiple languages and tools, such as the ones listed below.

HTML

Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) is used to build the web pages’ basic structure. This text, as you see right now, is part of the HTML code.

CSS

Cascading Style Sheets is a language that applies the visual styles for HTML elements. The size of this text is handled by CSS language.

JavaScript

JavaScript is a programming language that can be used to manipulate a web page dynamically. Clicking the hamburger menu from the top header of this web page (on mobile) triggers a JavaScript function that includes the instructions for toggling a sidebar menu.

TypeScript

TypeScript is an additional layer on top of JavaScript for adding static type definitions such as classes and interfaces. TypeScript helps with codebase’s maintainability and makes coding JavaScript less error-prone.

Service Workers

Service Workers are JavaScript workers running in their own background thread separate from the main thread of the web page. Service workers add an additional layer or a proxy between the main thread of the web page and the external network. Service workers aim to bring native app-like functionalities to the web.

REST

REST refers to an architectural design where information is exposed between resources. REST is used for transferring data over the network.

JSON

JSON is an object notation syntax used for representing data.

Backend technologies

Backend technologies refer to coding languages and frameworks which are invisible to a web page end-user and function in the background inside a web server. Backend technologies’ responsibilities include CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations and server-side logic.

Node.js

Node.js is a JavaScript runtime environment used to build asynchronous event-based web pages and servers.

Java

Java is an object-oriented programming language and a computing platform for building multi-purpose applications and services with as few implementation dependencies as possible.

Databases

Databases are systems that organize and collect data.

NoSQL

NoSQL database is a collection of data that is not strictly organized nor structured in any specific manner.

MySQL

A MySQL database is a relational collection of data that runs on a web server.

SQL

Structured Query Language is a query language used to access and modify data within a relational database.

Infrastructure & networking

Infrastructure and networking work as enablers for all information technology operations. These include a wide range of hardware and software as well as configurations.

Docker

Docker is a tool that makes it easier to create containerized applications.

Kubernetes

Kubernetes is an open-source system for managing containerized applications.

Jenkins

Jenkins is an automation server that aims to make it easier to build, test and deploy applications reliably.

Linux

Linux is an open-source operating system.

Load balancers

Load balancers distribute traffic between clients and web servers.

DNS

Domain Name System is a decentralized system for matching human-readable addresses with network IP addresses.

Other miscellaneous specializations

Other essential frameworks and tools needed for creating and managing software.

SEO

Search Engine Optimisation is the process of optimizing and improving a web page for the search engines.

Google Analytics

Google Analytics is a tool for tracking and measuring a web page’s usage and metrics.

Git

Git is a version control system that makes collaboration between teams and developers more straightforward and efficient.

DevOps

DevOps is a methodology for running software-focused projects with management and software development.

SAFe & Agile

Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) refers to implementing Agile practices on the organization scale. Agile is the practice of building and delivering software systems in timed iterations.

Conclusions

While you need to know many different technologies, methodologies, and tools when working as a software developer, it doesn’t mean you have to master them all. It is more important to understand software development concepts than it is to master every programming language.