So, you have an idea for a software product, be it a SaaS web application or an online store. Should you hire a team of frontend and backend developers or opt for a full-stack team?
At digital design agency Fivecube, we provide both frontend/backend and full stack development services. Here’s everything you need to know about full-stack development as a product owner, including:
What is full-stack software development?
What technologies does it involve?
What are the benefits of full-stack development?
Which projects does full-stack development suit the best?
What Is Full Stack Development?
Before we dive into the typical cases where full-stack development is the obvious choice, let’s answer a vital question: What is full-stack development? In brief, full-stack development involves building both the frontend and backend of your application:
Frontend is the interface, i.e. the user-facing application component, built with technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Backend is the server-side component that enables the application’s logic and consists of three layers: API, storage, and business logic layers. It’s typically built with technologies like PHP, Java, Python, and Ruby.
Unlike frontend or backend developers, full-stack developers combine expertise in both types of technologies, which enables them to work on virtually any task during the project. They’re also usually well-versed in using database management systems like PostgreSQL and MongoDB.
4 Established Tech Stacks
Now that we’ve covered the full stack development meaning, let’s talk tech stacks. These are established combinations of server operating systems and database management, frontend, and backend technologies used to build the whole application.
Here are the four most popular tech stacks:
MEAN (MongoDB, Express.js, Angular, Node.js). This stack relies purely on JavaScript technologies, which makes it easy to get started with. MongoDB, in turn, is a good choice for building highly scalable apps.
MERN (MongoDB, Express.js, React, Node.js). This one also relies only on JavaScript technologies. Using React instead of Angular is a good choice for building dynamic web apps thanks to React’s component-based architecture and fast rendering.
LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP). This is one of the first tech stacks for web development. Today, LAMP is typically used for WordPress projects or projects that require open-source technologies.
Serverless (AWS Lambda/Azure Functions/Google Cloud Functions). This is a cloud-native stack used to build applications that will be deployed in the cloud. Its benefits include automated scaling support out of the box and cost-efficiency.
3 Main Advantages of Full-Stack Development
When to Choose Full-Stack Development
So, what is full stack development suitable for? In a nutshell, you should consider full stack development services whenever you need the team to build the whole product for you.
That said, thanks to their versatility and cost-efficiency, full-stack developers are typically best suited for developing products fast and on a tight budget. That’s why startups often turn to full-stack developers to build prototypes, PoCs, and MVPs. Simple and moderately complex apps, such as internal applications and custom tools, can also be built by a full-stack team.
On the other hand, if your product involves complex data pipelines and/or a sophisticated interface, you’ll be better off hiring dedicated frontend and backend development services. That said, you may still add one or several full-stack developers to the team to improve its flexibility and productivity.
Final Thoughts
Full stack software development is a solid choice for you if:
You need to quickly build a prototype, proof of concept, or minimum viable product (MVP)
Your product isn’t too complex in both application logic and user interface
You have a tight budget and want to have the application ready fast
Full-stack developers can take on both frontend and backend tasks, making them a valuable addition to any development team. So, you can also enhance your development team with one of several full-stack developers to make it more flexible and productive.
Not sure whether hiring full-stack developers is the right move for your project? Reach out to us to discuss how our full stack development services can help you speed up development and optimize its costs.
FAQ
What is full stack web development?
Full stack web development refers to building the frontend and backend of web applications. It typically includes designing the interface, building the server logic, adding the database operations, and integrating APIs.
What are the advantages of full-stack development?
Full-stack developers have both frontend and backend development and database management skills. This provides them with a more holistic understanding of the application and enables them to solve problems more effectively. Hiring full-stack developers also speeds up development and improves the team’s flexibility during it.
When should I hire web development full stack experts?
A full-stack development team is usually a suitable choice for relatively simple products or budget- and time-sensitive projects. Those include MVPs, PoCs, and prototypes. You may also hire full-stack developers in addition to frontend and backend experts to maximize the team’s productivity and flexibility.
May 13, 2025
By
Artem K.
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