Specialized developers are software developers specialized in either front-end or back-end development. On the other hand, full-stack developers are software developers that specialize in both front-end and back-end development. There has been this long-standing debate on whether you should hire specialized developers or hire full-stack developers for your project.
Let us discuss some of the main differences between the two; this should help you decide whether you should hire full-stack developers or specialized developers to give your business an edge.
Front-End Development
A specialized front-end developer uses front-end technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to create the visual side of the application. If you purely speak about the design and look of the app, usually a specialized front-end developer outdoes a full-stack developer.
However, front-end developers tend to overthink and do the designs that cause issues for back-end development. As he is not aware of how things in the back-end would work, he only focuses on the look of the application, not on the functionality.
A full-stack developer also works with front-end technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to design the visual look of the application, but he does that, keeping in mind that he has to develop the back-end as well.
When you hire full-stack developers, the knowledge of front-end and back-end development lets the full-stack developers come up with user-friendly application designs.
Back-End Development
A specialized back-end developer uses languages like PHP, Ruby, Python, dot net, and Java to develop the functional side of the application. The back-end developer is responsible for all the functions the app does. They are also the ones who manage the database and the communication between the application and the database.
You need to hire a reliable back-end developer as he is also responsible for making the application secure, so hiring a specialized full-stack developer is not a bad option. There are drawbacks though as you would need to hire a front-end developer for the design, also the front-end and back-end developer should be able to work as a team to complete the project.
A full-stack developer also uses the same technologies and languages as the other back-end developers. He does all the tasks a back-end developer would do, so it is his job to get the application and the database to communicate and to make the app secure.
That is why if you decide to go with a full-stack developer, you should hire a reliable, experienced developer who is strong at back-end development.
Flexibility
Flexibility is one of the most significant advantages that a full-stack developer brings to the table. A front-end developer can only work on the front-end, while a back-end developer can only work on the back-end. But as you can see that a full-stack developer can work on both front-end and back-end.
If you have a limited budget and can only add a single developer to your development team, you should hire a full-stack developer as he is suitable for both the front-end and back-end of the project. He can work with either side as and when required.
Cost
Cost is another reason for you to consider hiring a full-stack developer over specialized developers. The hourly rate of a skilled full-stack developer may be a bit higher than a dedicated front-end developer, or a dedicated back-end developer. You still end up saving as you don’t need to hire separate developers for the front-end and back-end development of the project; one full-stack developer does the trick.
Some estimates show that you save up to 40% of the development cost by hiring a full-stack developer for your project.
Knowledge
A specialized software developer is usually trained and experienced in one technology. Whether he is a front-end or back-end developer, he is also efficient with the technologies that he uses. It means he would have a deep understanding of that technology, but may not be familiar with other technologies used in front-end and back-end development.
Of the back, full-stack developers have been trained and have experience with front-end and back-end technologies. However, the knowledge of full-stack developers is not limited to just one technology on both sides.
Most full-stack developers are experts on one or more technologies along with knowledge of other front-end and back-end technologies.
Management
It is easier to manage full-stack developers from a management point of view, especially if you are outsourcing your project. By hiring full-stack developers, you avoid managing two teams of front-end and back-end developers. Instead, you only deal with one team that designs and develops the application. If you are hiring full stack developers for an Opencart project, you made the right choice.
You also avoid blame games that go on between a front-end and back-end team. As there is only one team for the project development, they have to take full responsibility for the project, whether it is quality, security or delivery.
Conclusion
If you are a large company with no budget, space and time constraints, you can surely hire a team of specialized front-end and back-end developers for your project. However, if you are a start-up or a mid-size company that has a budget and deadlines to adhere to, you should hire full-stack developers. Full-stack developers bring down the cost of the project development while giving you a robust, user-friendly application.
You can hire full-stack developers for a new project, or hire them to work on an ongoing project as they can work on both front-end and back-end development.
One of the best places to hire full-stack developers is Optimal Virtual Employee; they have a large pool of skilled and experienced full-stack developers. You can hire full-stack developers from them at an hourly or monthly rate, without getting into long term contracts.
