🚀 Full Stack Development
Master Frontend, Backend, and Everything In Between
👋 Welcome to Full Stack Development!
Full Stack Developers can build complete web applications from start to finish. You'll work with databases, servers, APIs, and user interfaces - the entire technology stack!
Become a versatile developer who can bring ideas to life!
🤔 What is Full Stack Development?
Full Stack Development means working on both the frontend (what users see) and backend (server, database, logic) of web applications. Full stack developers understand how all parts of a web application work together.
The Complete Picture:
- Frontend: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React/Vue/Angular
- Backend: Node.js, Python, Java, databases
- DevOps: Deployment, hosting, CI/CD
- Tools: Git, APIs, testing, debugging
📚 The Full Stack
Technology Stack Layers
┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ FRONTEND (Client-Side) │
│ HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React/Vue │
│ User Interface & User Experience │
└─────────────────────────────────────────┘
↕
┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ API LAYER │
│ REST APIs / GraphQL / WebSockets │
│ Communication Protocol │
└─────────────────────────────────────────┘
↕
┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ BACKEND (Server-Side) │
│ Node.js, Python, Java, PHP │
│ Business Logic & Authentication │
└─────────────────────────────────────────┘
↕
┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ DATABASE │
│ MongoDB, PostgreSQL, MySQL │
│ Data Storage & Retrieval │
└─────────────────────────────────────────┘
↕
┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ DEPLOYMENT & HOSTING │
│ AWS, Heroku, Vercel, Docker │
│ Production Environment │
└─────────────────────────────────────────┘
🎯 Popular Tech Stacks
⚛️
MERN Stack
- MongoDB - Database
- Express.js - Backend framework
- React - Frontend library
- Node.js - Runtime environment
Most popular JavaScript stack
🔷
MEAN Stack
- MongoDB - Database
- Express.js - Backend framework
- Angular - Frontend framework
- Node.js - Runtime environment
Enterprise-focused stack
🐍
Python Stack
- Django/Flask - Backend framework
- React/Vue - Frontend
- PostgreSQL - Database
- Python - Backend language
Great for data-heavy apps
💎
Ruby on Rails Stack
- Ruby on Rails - Full framework
- React/Vue - Frontend
- PostgreSQL - Database
- Ruby - Backend language
Rapid development
🏗️ Building a Full Stack Application
Complete Todo App Example (MERN Stack)
1. Backend Setup (Node.js + Express + MongoDB)
// backend/server.js
const express = require('express');
const mongoose = require('mongoose');
const cors = require('cors');
const app = express();
// Middleware
app.use(cors());
app.use(express.json());
// Connect to MongoDB
mongoose.connect('mongodb://localhost:27017/todoapp', {
useNewUrlParser: true,
useUnifiedTopology: true
});
// Todo Model
const Todo = mongoose.model('Todo', {
title: { type: String, required: true },
completed: { type: Boolean, default: false },
createdAt: { type: Date, default: Date.now }
});
// Routes
// Get all todos
app.get('/api/todos', async (req, res) => {
try {
const todos = await Todo.find().sort({ createdAt: -1 });
res.json(todos);
} catch (error) {
res.status(500).json({ error: error.message });
}
});
// Create todo
app.post('/api/todos', async (req, res) => {
try {
const todo = new Todo({
title: req.body.title
});
await todo.save();
res.status(201).json(todo);
} catch (error) {
res.status(400).json({ error: error.message });
}
});
// Update todo
app.put('/api/todos/:id', async (req, res) => {
try {
const todo = await Todo.findByIdAndUpdate(
req.params.id,
{ completed: req.body.completed },
{ new: true }
);
res.json(todo);
} catch (error) {
res.status(400).json({ error: error.message });
}
});
// Delete todo
app.delete('/api/todos/:id', async (req, res) => {
try {
await Todo.findByIdAndDelete(req.params.id);
res.json({ message: 'Todo deleted' });
} catch (error) {
res.status(400).json({ error: error.message });
}
});
const PORT = process.env.PORT || 5000;
app.listen(PORT, () => {
console.log(`Server running on port ${PORT}`);
});
2. Frontend (React)
// frontend/src/App.js
import React, { useState, useEffect } from 'react';
import axios from 'axios';
import './App.css';
const API_URL = 'http://localhost:5000/api/todos';
function App() {
const [todos, setTodos] = useState([]);
const [newTodo, setNewTodo] = useState('');
const [loading, setLoading] = useState(true);
// Fetch todos on component mount
useEffect(() => {
fetchTodos();
}, []);
const fetchTodos = async () => {
try {
const response = await axios.get(API_URL);
setTodos(response.data);
setLoading(false);
} catch (error) {
console.error('Error fetching todos:', error);
setLoading(false);
}
};
const addTodo = async (e) => {
e.preventDefault();
if (!newTodo.trim()) return;
try {
const response = await axios.post(API_URL, {
title: newTodo
});
setTodos([response.data, ...todos]);
setNewTodo('');
} catch (error) {
console.error('Error adding todo:', error);
}
};
const toggleTodo = async (id, completed) => {
try {
const response = await axios.put(`${API_URL}/${id}`, {
completed: !completed
});
setTodos(todos.map(todo =>
todo._id === id ? response.data : todo
));
} catch (error) {
console.error('Error updating todo:', error);
}
};
const deleteTodo = async (id) => {
try {
await axios.delete(`${API_URL}/${id}`);
setTodos(todos.filter(todo => todo._id !== id));
} catch (error) {
console.error('Error deleting todo:', error);
}
};
if (loading) return
Loading...
;
return (
Full Stack Todo App
Total: {todos.length} | Completed: {todos.filter(t => t.completed).length}
);
}
export default App;
3. Styling (CSS)
/* frontend/src/App.css */
.App {
max-width: 600px;
margin: 50px auto;
padding: 20px;
font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
}
h1 {
text-align: center;
color: #333;
}
form {
display: flex;
gap: 10px;
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
input[type="text"] {
flex: 1;
padding: 10px;
border: 2px solid #ddd;
border-radius: 5px;
font-size: 16px;
}
button {
padding: 10px 20px;
background: #f5576c;
color: white;
border: none;
border-radius: 5px;
cursor: pointer;
font-size: 16px;
}
button:hover {
background: #e74c3c;
}
.todo-list {
list-style: none;
padding: 0;
}
.todo-list li {
display: flex;
align-items: center;
gap: 10px;
padding: 15px;
background: #f8f9fa;
margin-bottom: 10px;
border-radius: 5px;
}
.todo-list li.completed span {
text-decoration: line-through;
color: #999;
}
.todo-list span {
flex: 1;
}
🔐 Authentication & Authorization
JWT Authentication Example
// Backend - User authentication
const jwt = require('jsonwebtoken');
const bcrypt = require('bcryptjs');
// User Model
const User = mongoose.model('User', {
email: { type: String, required: true, unique: true },
password: { type: String, required: true },
name: String
});
// Register
app.post('/api/auth/register', async (req, res) => {
try {
const { email, password, name } = req.body;
// Check if user exists
const existingUser = await User.findOne({ email });
if (existingUser) {
return res.status(400).json({ error: 'User already exists' });
}
// Hash password
const hashedPassword = await bcrypt.hash(password, 10);
// Create user
const user = new User({
email,
password: hashedPassword,
name
});
await user.save();
// Generate token
const token = jwt.sign(
{ userId: user._id },
'your-secret-key',
{ expiresIn: '24h' }
);
res.status(201).json({ token, user: { id: user._id, email, name } });
} catch (error) {
res.status(500).json({ error: error.message });
}
});
// Login
app.post('/api/auth/login', async (req, res) => {
try {
const { email, password } = req.body;
// Find user
const user = await User.findOne({ email });
if (!user) {
return res.status(401).json({ error: 'Invalid credentials' });
}
// Check password
const isValidPassword = await bcrypt.compare(password, user.password);
if (!isValidPassword) {
return res.status(401).json({ error: 'Invalid credentials' });
}
// Generate token
const token = jwt.sign(
{ userId: user._id },
'your-secret-key',
{ expiresIn: '24h' }
);
res.json({ token, user: { id: user._id, email: user.email, name: user.name } });
} catch (error) {
res.status(500).json({ error: error.message });
}
});
// Middleware to verify token
const authenticate = (req, res, next) => {
const token = req.headers.authorization?.split(' ')[1];
if (!token) {
return res.status(401).json({ error: 'No token provided' });
}
try {
const decoded = jwt.verify(token, 'your-secret-key');
req.userId = decoded.userId;
next();
} catch (error) {
res.status(401).json({ error: 'Invalid token' });
}
};
// Protected route
app.get('/api/profile', authenticate, async (req, res) => {
const user = await User.findById(req.userId).select('-password');
res.json(user);
});
🚀 Deployment
Frontend Deployment
Vercel / Netlify
- Free hosting
- Automatic deployments
- Custom domains
- Perfect for React/Vue
Backend Deployment
Heroku / Railway
- Easy Node.js hosting
- Database add-ons
- Environment variables
- Free tier available
Database Hosting
MongoDB Atlas
- Cloud MongoDB
- Free tier (512MB)
- Automatic backups
- Global clusters
Full Stack Platforms
AWS / Google Cloud
- Complete infrastructure
- Scalable
- Professional grade
- More complex setup
Deployment Example (Heroku)
# 1. Install Heroku CLI
# Download from heroku.com
# 2. Login to Heroku
heroku login
# 3. Create Heroku app
heroku create my-fullstack-app
# 4. Add MongoDB
heroku addons:create mongolab:sandbox
# 5. Set environment variables
heroku config:set JWT_SECRET=your-secret-key
# 6. Deploy
git push heroku main
# 7. Open app
heroku open
📋 Full Stack Developer Roadmap
Your Learning Path (6-12 months)
Phase 1: Frontend Basics (2-3 months)
- HTML & CSS fundamentals
- JavaScript basics
- Responsive design
- Git & GitHub
Phase 2: Frontend Advanced (2-3 months)
- React or Vue.js
- State management
- API integration
- Build projects
Phase 3: Backend Development (2-3 months)
- Node.js & Express
- Databases (MongoDB/PostgreSQL)
- REST APIs
- Authentication
Phase 4: Full Stack Integration (2-3 months)
- Connect frontend & backend
- Deployment
- Testing
- Build complete projects
💡 Best Practices
Full Stack Best Practices:
- Version Control: Use Git for everything
- Environment Variables: Never commit secrets
- Error Handling: Handle errors gracefully
- Validation: Validate on both frontend and backend
- Security: Sanitize inputs, use HTTPS
- Testing: Write tests for critical features
- Documentation: Document your APIs
- Code Organization: Keep code clean and modular
- Performance: Optimize database queries
- Monitoring: Track errors in production
🛠️ Essential Tools
Development
- VS Code
- Git & GitHub
- Postman/Insomnia
- Chrome DevTools
Frontend
- React/Vue/Angular
- Tailwind CSS
- Axios
- React Router
Backend
- Node.js/Express
- MongoDB/PostgreSQL
- JWT
- Bcrypt
Deployment
- Vercel/Netlify
- Heroku/Railway
- Docker
- GitHub Actions
💼 Career Opportunities
Full Stack Developer Roles:
- Junior Full Stack Developer: $50,000 - $70,000/year
- Full Stack Developer: $70,000 - $100,000/year
- Senior Full Stack Developer: $100,000 - $150,000+/year
- Full Stack Architect: $120,000 - $180,000+/year
High demand for developers who can work across the entire stack!
🎓 Our Training Course
📖 Related Topics