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Ella Robinson
22nd May 2023
Full stack development, a concept that encapsulates the comprehensive development of both front-end (client-side) and back-end (server-side) of a web application, has been a significant driving force in shaping the digital world. This broad discipline has a rich history, filled with continual advancements to keep pace with the ever-evolving technological landscape.
The roots of full stack development can be traced back to the birth of the World Wide Web. In 1989, Tim Berners-Lee, a British computer scientist, envisaged a global network of information. Berners-Lee, a full stack developer in today's terminology, created HTML to structure web pages, HTTP to transfer data, and URI as an address system for resources on the internet. This trio of technologies served as the backbone for the internet as we know it, and laid the foundation for full stack development.
As the internet started to expand in the late 1990s, the complexity of web development grew exponentially. This era saw a shift towards specialisation in web development, with developers focusing on mastering specific areas such as front-end technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) or back-end technologies (PHP, .NET, Python). This division of labour allowed for more intricate and complex websites to be built, yet also presented challenges in coordinating and integrating the front-end and back-end components.
The resurgence of the full stack developer began around the late 2000s. This was fuelled by advancements in technology that allowed individual developers to manage both front-end and back-end development efficiently. JavaScript emerged as a critical full stack language, with its ability to run on both client and server-side (Node.js). Furthermore, the advent of frameworks and libraries such as React, Angular, and Vue.js streamlined front-end development, while Express.js, Django, and Ruby on Rails expedited back-end development.
The current state of full stack development is a hybrid of deep specialisation and broad knowledge. Full stack developers today are expected to be proficient in a myriad of technologies, including front-end and back-end languages, databases, version control systems, and deployment technologies. They are also required to understand key concepts in UI/UX design, security, and data structures.
The journey of full stack development is one of constant evolution, adapting to the changing needs of the digital world. As technology continues to advance, full stack development is likely to remain an indispensable discipline in the world of web development.