/*Full Stack As Standard – Development The DataFlex Way*/

Full stack development and developers defined

Full stack development is the process of building and maintaining both the front-end and backend components of a software application.

• The front-end involves everything the user interacts with through their devices, such as the user interface (UI), design, and client-side logic, built with technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
• The backend refers to the server-side logic, the cloud, databases, APIs, and infrastructure that power the application, using technologies like Python, Ruby on Rails, and PHP.

Full-stack developers are skilled in both domains and handle the entire software development process, from designing user experiences to managing databases and server configurations.

They work across the (literal) full stack of technologies, including different operating systems, web servers, networking, and cloud services. This holistic approach enables them to build complete, end-to-end solutions, often streamlining development processes and improving collaboration between different parts of a project.

Options for setting up a full-stack team

Let’s imagine you have a team of experienced backend engineers, but you also need front-end specialists. You have three main options:

1. Carry out a lengthy recruitment process to attract and acquire front-end talent. This could take months.
2. Train your existing backend developers in a front-end programming language. Again, this takes time and resources.
3. Transform your backend developers into full-stack developers by getting them to work in DataFlex.

Why use a full-stack language like DataFlex?

When it comes to choosing programming languages and frameworks, there’s a world of choice out there. Being an expert in multiple, ever-changing technologies is a big ask, and arguably impossible. So it can be highly advantageous when full stack developers carry out their work in a single language and framework. Like DataFlex.

Especially in larger dev teams, front-end and backend developers might rarely meet, except to exchange documentation. That means there is always a disconnect between the two. In contrast, DataFlex gives developers oversight of the entire product. As a result, it mitigates your dependency on specialists – who could easily leave your organization – taking their knowledge of your product with them.

Encompassing both front-end and backend programming, DataFlex comes with a lot of useful tools for communicating with a database. In fact, your backend developers won’t need any specialist knowledge to create a functional front-end: they simply drag and drop blocks of pre-written code to instantly create front-end components. It’s that easy.

With DataFlex you get a single language for delivering your entire database-driven application. So, whether your dev team is a single programmer, or a team of ten, DataFlex puts highly-scalable, full-stack capabilities at their fingertips.

Advantages that stack up

The DataFlex framework is a great fit for developers who prefer working with databases and backend systems over creating beautiful front-end interfaces. That’s because it enables them to build a backend that generates a robust and functional front-end without having to invest in learning a new programming language.

With the DataFlex framework, 80% of the controls are there for you. A backend engineer can simply drop an object into the code. Of course, once the front-end is built, there’s no reason why you can’t bring in a specialist to help beautify and refine it, if required.

Working in one language and one framework eliminates the need for much of the back and forth between front-end and backend teams, saving you time. It can also lead to cost savings because you don’t need to expand your team to accommodate front-end specialists.

With DataFlex, full-stack comes as standard. To discover more, why not try it for yourself? Try DataFlex

Note: this blog is written by a copywriter, based on an interview with Harm.