Web-based software on the market is a combination of backend and frontend components. If you’re tech-savvy and enjoy coding behind the scenes, becoming a backend developer might be a great career choice. Being a program developer and a software architect are both well-paying jobs.
Currently, there is a huge market for top backend developers. One reason for this is that backend development can be offered as an independent solution to cater to various UI apps. There is a demand for plug-and-play with the required frontend using API.
The backend developer needs to be knowledgeable on backend programming languages and frontend technologies such as Java, C++,CSS, HTML, and API. Backend development refers to server-based programming.
What Does a Backend Developer Do?
Backend developers are responsible for the efficiency of responses to the software application and dedicated hosting server along with the DB. To achieve this, backend developers will need to work on:
- Thorough knowledge of the end-user usage of the software app to come up with an effective framework. The framework should be easy to materialize programmatically.
- Ensure data storage and security of the data. Sensitive data protection using encryption.
- Payment-related processing should be secure. Example: Payment Gateway implementation.
- Logic on the backend system should work seamlessly for various UI. Apply the appropriate API, based on the protocol used to retrieve and send data to the backend.
- Frontend developers and backend developers should understand and synchronize each other’s components.
- When the web designer focuses on the layout of the site, fonts, colors, and overall presentation of the site, backend developers need to focus on the data structure and algorithms implemented in the code which should cater to the frontend development.
- Improve the latency of web page responses.
- Select the most reliable, flexible, and excellent Hosting methods.
- Propose the test automation platform for the integration testing.
- Effective continuous integration/continuous delivery/continuous deployment (CI/CD/CD) to be proposed to DevOps Team.
Education Needed to be a Backend Developer
If you want to be an efficient backend developer you must be proficient with at least one programming language. Having this as a base, you can build the application on any of the latest programming trends. You’ll find it important to keep up with industry trends and the latest programming languages.
These days, there are various ways in which you can learn to code, including through Mobile apps, online tutorials, and training institutes. The basic degree needed for this is a bachelor’s degree in computer science or related subjects like IT. A master’s degree is not mandatory, but with an advanced degree, you’ll stand out more in the large group aspiring to become developers or software architects.
Popular master programs are offered at Boston University, University of Denver, and St. Joseph’s University, among others.
A master’s in computer science with web, database, networking, will help you gain an advantage. The undergraduate education will take four full years and a master’s education will take two more years.
How to Become a Backend Developer
A backend developer possesses technical expertise, including:
- Efficient data structure and algorithm skills.
- Good at programming languages like C, C++, Java, SQL, Docker (Container builders), and GIT (Version controllers).
- Understand the usage of relational database management systems.
- Learn Framework with MVC (Model-View-Controller) principle.
- Have a hands-on item that you learned by doing simple demo projects, such as a basic project management app or a simple blog.
- Should be good at solving OS-related obstacles.
- Should have innovation and creativity on top of basic ideas and skills.
- Learn how to HOST the created project.
But if you wish to do both frontend and backend development, then a full stack developer job is best for you.
How to become a full-stack developer?
Full-stack developer skills cannot be accomplished overnight. It’s accomplished slowly by consistent learning. A full-stack developer career can be a fantastic opportunity with great growth potential. It can be a self-sufficient job and very satisfying. It’s achievable within one year of training.
With the skill set of a backend developer, and if you are good at frontend technology, you can be a full-stack developer. You need to master one programming language and understand others, but you don’t need to be a master of all programming languages. You will need to be able to guide on end-to-end web development and testing.
Therefore, being a full-stack developer can provide a helping hand to the entire web team. This helps you work as a freelancer delivering your project fully developed and tested like a container.
Backend Developer vs Frontend Developer?
Reading the above details on what a backend developer needs to know and how to achieve those skills, you can imagine yourself to be a backend developer or frontend developer.
If creating the look and feel and catering to client demands is easy for you compared to that of data structure and algorithms to maintain the data, you could be well-suited to be a frontend developer.
But it is not necessarily that simple to be a frontend developer. Pleasing all kinds of customers is tough to manage and maintain. On the other hand, a backend developer’s contributions are vital to the health of the business. A small mistake from a backend developer could cause an enormous loss for the business or even leave the company vulnerable to hacking.
Perfect algorithms and efficient solutions to difficult problems—that’s why backend developers get all the attention.
A backend developer is paid more than a frontend developer as they are more responsible for the success and the security of the business. But both play an equally important role in software development.
Summary
Coding and programming are very lucrative and hence desirable jobs today. It isn’t hard to get on with coding. It just takes some time to learn and practice. Testing also involves coding for automation frameworks and scripts. Tutorials for various programming languages and test automation tools are available online for free. The opportunity to become a successful backend developer is now just a few clicks away!
