Published 14 December 2021 /

Full Stack Developer vs Software Engineer: How to Decide?

Eddie Lewis

By Eddie Lewis

Full stack vs software engineer

The computer science industry is constantly growing and ever-changing. If you are someone interested in a career in computer science, you may be wondering about the difference between software engineers and full stack developers. Although both developers and engineers work with computers, their roles often differ. We'll use this guide to discuss the differences between the two positions, including duties and skills.

Full Stack Developer Job Role

Full stack developers have knowledge of multiple programming languages to build both the front and the back end of a website or web application. They should know how to create templates in HTML and CSS as well as a front-end framework like React, Vue, and Angular. These developers should also be able to communicate with clients and create APIs that connect to a front-end application. They typically also have an understanding of how databases and servers work as well as back-end programming languages like Node, Python, Kotlin, Java, and C#. A Full stack developer can perform simpler tasks as compared with a Software Engineer.

A Full stack developer is generally easier to find and is available in most places as compared to a software engineer.

Software Engineer Job Role

Software Engineers work on the back end of applications. They write the code that works on the server. Instead of working on the design, they focus on the backend code. They are also able to work on the front-end code, but it is common for them to work on the back-end code. Their specialisations also include a wide range of programming languages, databases, and software design principles. They write code for the operating systems and programming platforms such as operating systems and lower-level libraries.

Software Engineer is a higher calling and is only available in places where there are experienced developers. In a company with 10 - 20 developers, finding a software engineer may not be easy, and they may have to be hired from another city or country.

Choosing Between a Full Stack Developer and a Software Engineer

The first thing you need to decide is if you want to work on the front end or the back end. If you are comfortable programming from scratch and are a good designer, you'll probably do better as a full stack developer. If you like working with existing frameworks and libraries and you are more focused on the backend and architecture, you may do better as a software engineer. Remember, though, you can still be a software engineer and work on front-end code, and you can be a full stack developer and work on code that lives on the server. Things like how much control you want over the front end and how much control you want over the back end will be key factors in deciding which path to take.

Conclusion

Full stack developers and software developers are both important players in the computer science industry. It is important for people to understand the difference between the two and also understand that a person can fall into both categories. If you want to be a full stack developer or a software engineer, begin with the basics to get started. If you are interested in learning how to build an app, software development or full stack development may be a good choice for you.

If you’re looking to start a career in web development, then Code Success is here to help you realise that dream. From learning the basics of coding to building real-world websites, our professional web developers are ready to help you learn everything you can to become a full stack developer yourself. Enrol in our full stack developer course and carve your way to success!