Want to be a back-end developer? Oh man, that’s an exciting life! First, you have to learn what it takes. Today’s post will take you step by step through the important skills you need to be an accomplished back-end developer.
Software development is becoming more and more advanced. New programming languages, new frameworks, new APIs are being released at a rapid pace. But to keep up with the rest of the world, you need more than just a basic knowledge of how things work.
As web developers, we are often asked to teach or share what we think are the skills that someone needs in order to be considered a good back-end developer. This list is constantly changing as technology advances and new tools become available. This makes it difficult for people who are just starting out as developers.
Who is a back-end developer?
Back-end development is the backbone of almost every website you visit. It supports the rendering of HTML, CSS and JavaScript code that is used to display pictures, videos, ads and interact with other content on a web application.
A backend developer is a professional computer programmer that is responsible for the internal conception and development of web applications on the server side as well as for the regular maintenance and care of databases and servers. The server side is the code and language that works behind the scenes on the web server which is a sharp contrast to the front-end developer that creates the user experience on the client side.
Skills required of a back-end developer
Back-end developers are responsible for physically setting up the server, which informs and improves all of the tools (like databases and coding languages) that run on it. To accomplish their tasks, back-end developers need to understand a whole slew of web-based technologies. These include such things as: Servers Operating systems Coding languages such as HTML, CSS or PHP; SQL and so on.
Here is an overview of the skills you need to become a back-end developer:
- Deep knowledge of the programming language and frameworks
Programming is a competitive field, and it will be for the foreseeable future. Just as in other fields, the best way to stand out is to have a knack for programming. There are, however, many other criteria that one should consider in order to be considered: having a sound understanding of one or more back-end programming languages can certainly speed up the process.
Examples of back-end programming languages include:
- Python
- .NET
- Java
- PHP
- Ruby
- Solid understanding of front-end web technologies
As a back-end developer, you will be collaborating with front-end developers a lot. It is therefore important you are knowledgeable in front-end web technologies for a seamless and effective collaboration. HTML, CSS, JavaScript are common front-end programming languages you should definitely pick interest in. The more front-end skills you have, the more marketable you’ll be in your marketplace.
- Database administration
Database administration is the technical and ongoing task of keeping your data organized and secure. This involves maintaining the existing structures of the database and making changes to its schema to reflect changed needs.
Database administration is a high-level technical skill. Back-end developers typically have years of experience in software development and customizing applications. They use their knowledge of databases to maintain and develop application systems and ensure they are maintainable. The specific skills you need will vary and might include any of the following areas: MySQL, SQL Server, Oracle Etc.
As a back-end developer, you should be able to write applications and scripts to administer and manage databases, usually in an automated fashion. This can include things like creating, creating, updating, deleting, altering, and moving data in and out of databases.
- Competent in working with popular web servers
You need to have developed a sufficient knowledge of working with web servers Apache, NGINX, and Microsoft IIS are popular, widely used ones. You will need to be comfortable working with them and with others as well – you should at least be familiar with the basics of each platform.
- Experience with version control programs
Version control programs like Git are used for tracking changes made to a piece of software. It can be primarily used for tracking changes made to software programs. What this means is that if you make a change to the source code for a software program, and want to make sure it doesn’t cause problems for other people who might use it, you should use a version control program to track the changes so you can make sure they don’t get merged into the final version without permission.
- Adept in using popular cloud services
Cloud computing is the future. It’s here, and it’s here to stay. Regardless of whether you believe in its benefits or not, you have to embrace it. Your future self will thank you. A well-rounded back-end developer possesses the tools necessary to work with cloud hosting platforms like Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform and Microsoft Azure for server hosting and other purposes.
- Soft skills
- Strong communication skills (written and oral)
- Ability to work in a team
- An eye for innovations
- Organizational skills
- Analytical thinking
Conclusion
The most important factor in becoming a back-end developer is learning the skills needed for the position. This can be difficult since there are many different programming languages and technologies used. Since there’s so much to absorb, it takes time to become an expert. However, if you know where to start and how to gain experience, you’ll be well on your way.
