Full Stack Developer or Software Engineer – Which Way to Go?

William Imoh · Improve this Guide

Have you ever heard the saying that all full stack developers are software engineers, but not all software engineers are full stack developers?

A full stack developer is responsible for the user-facing side of web applications, user interfaces, and the behind-the-scenes logic and web architecture that makes everything work, while a software engineer may specialize in just one of these areas.

Despite the differences between full stack developers and software engineers, both roles require similar problem-solving skills, even though their toolkits may vary.

This guide provides a detailed explanation of the following:

• Full stack development and software engineering roles.
• Skills required to be a full stack developer and a software engineer.
• Similarities and differences between a full stack developer and a software engineer.
• Growth opportunities in full stack development and software engineering.
• Average salary of a full stack developer and software engineer.
• Guidance if you should go for full stack development or software engineering.
• Provide full stack developer and software engineer roadmaps.

The table below summarizes a full stack developer vs software engineer roles.

Full Stack Developer	Software Engineer
Full stack web developer also known as a full stack engineer work on end-to-end web development side of applications (both front-end and back-end web programming)	A software engineer specializes in new technologies and practices in one domain or a particular project and has a deep knowledge of it.
A full stack developer role is mostly limited to just front-end(web design elements) and back-end	A software engineer has a broader range of domain options to choose from. e.g front-end, back-end, web apps, mobile, desktop, embedded systems, native apps, web development

Let me take you through each role so you see what they’re like and I’ll help you decide which is best suited to your ambitions and interest.

Who is a full stack developer?

A full stack developer also known as a full stack programmer possesses the knowledge and technical skill sets to work proficiently in a software application’s front-end and back-end.

An application’s front-end encompasses everything the user can see while interacting with it, i.e., the user interface. The back-end of a web application consists of the server-side programming, the database, and the server. Full stack developers typically are responsible for building the front-end and back-end of software applications.

Let’s take a look at both the front-end and back-end in greater detail.

Front-end development

It refers to everything a user can see and interact with. It is also known as the client side of an application. It is concerned primarily with the client-side development, user interface (UI) and user experience (UX).

The common programming languages used in front-end development by a full stack developer include HTML, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), and JavaScript. HTML defines the markup of the web page. CSS builds upon HTML and represents the style and format of the webpage. JavaScript is a programming language often used for front-end development and adds logic to your web page. You’ll find an excellent guide and roadmap to learning JavaScript on our platform.

There are quite a few front-end web development frameworks out there used by full stack developers. Some of the common ones are React, Vue, and Angular. You can look at the front-end beginners roadmap or the advanced front-end roadmap for a more detailed guide.

Back-end development

It includes everything the user cannot see. It is sometimes referred to as the server side of an application. It focuses on the application’s functionality and business logic. Examples of back-end components include data storage, security, and handling of business logic.

Back end development mainly involves creating API endpoints consumed by the application’s front-end. Backend developers usually work with languages such as Python , Java , or Ruby , along with frameworks like Node.js , Django , or Ruby on Rails. Check out the back-end developer roadmap.

Full stack developers’ skills

The necessary technical skills to be a full stack developer include:

• Knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript/TypeScript.
• Knowledge of at least one JavaScript framework e.g. React, Vue js, Angular.
• Knowledge of at least one of the back-end programming languages. You can transfer your knowledge of JavaScript to the back-end with Node JS.
• Solid understanding of server-side rendering and web security.
• Knowledge of APIs.
• Understanding of database management systems and database architecture.
• Knowledge of data structures and algorithm
• Basic knowledge of DevOps.
• Project management skills.

Who is a software engineer?

A software engineer is a specialist with a deep understanding of software development, computer systems, and programming languages. A software engineer designs and creates software programs and web applications that solve real-world problems.

Software engineers are specialists who focus on a specific aspect of software development. A software engineer produces high quality software solutions and ensures high software performance. They can specialize in parts of development such as database management, web development, mobile development and more.

There are two primary types of software engineers: applications and systems software engineers.

Application software engineers

An application software engineer is also known as s client-focused software engineer. These software engineers design and develop software applications users interact with.

An application software engineer could be a front-end engineer, a back-end engineer, or full-stack software engineer. They also develop applications for operating systems such as iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, and many more.

Systems software engineers

These software engineers develop systems and networks that drive the user-facing applications developed by the application software engineers. A system software engineer is a specialist in either hardware or software engineering or both.

System software engineers can also integrate different software products into a single platform; for example, DevOps engineers can use tools like Docker and Kubernetes to deploy and orchestrate applications.

System software engineers often serve as IT or system architects or backend software developers who design, test software and enforce industry tech standards. A system software engineer is an expert in software design and mostly design back-end systems and operating system that users do not directly interact with.

Software systems are complex, and much thought goes into building them. Software engineers use their broad knowledge of coding languages and engineering principles to break down these complex systems and build software.

The usual software project development and management life cycle looks like the following:

• They design the whole system, typically employing the principles of system design and software design architecture. They decide on the software architecture to use for the application by weighing the pros and cons of different system architectures that might be suitable. Some standard architectures are monolith architecture, micro-services architecture, event-driven architecture, etc.

• After deciding on the system architecture, the next step is defining the tools. The tools include programming languages, database management, version control, and cloud systems (Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, or Amazon AWS). Several factors affect the choice of the tools: existing knowledge and expertise, cost, suitability of the tools to the application, and so on.

• After choosing the tools, the next step is to define the different entities and their relationships. This is usually done with an expert experienced in the domain where the application to be built will be used.

• Building the system involves several iterations. Still, the target is usually to produce the minimum viable product (MVP), the application’s basic functionalities. A lot of software testing is done by quality assurance personnel and the application’s users.

It is important to note that this entire process is iterative.

Software engineers skills

The following core technical skills and soft skills are required for the software engineering role:

• Knowledge of computer science fundamentals, software development, and system design.
• Knowledge of at least one of the common programming languages
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Knowledge of operating systems
• Understanding of networks and security
• Knowledge of cloud platforms and DevOps systems
• Knowledge of testing e.g. unit testing, integration test, end-to-end test
• Well-versed in debugging processes/systems
• Project management skills
• Technical support skills

Full Stack Developer vs Software Engineer: Key differences to consider

You might be wondering which specialization you should pursue, either being a full stack developer or a software engineer. When choosing a path, consider the following points:

• Focus and expertise
• Accessibility and entry point

Focus and expertise

Full-stack developers have broad expertise. Full-stack developers are experts in both front-end and back end development. The opposite is the case for software engineers in practice. Software engineers specialize in a particular field and thus typically have a deeper, more specialized knowledge.

A software engineer could focus on only front-end development and have extensive knowledge of that aspect while a full-stack developer focuses on the overall software lifecycle.

Accessibility and entry point

Two major pathways exist to becoming a full-stack developer or software engineer: self-taught and a formal education with a degree.

For the formal pathway, you will be taught and develop a strong computer science background, which is the core of software development and web development. Self-taught full stack developers and software engineers learn specific, industry-relevant skills on their own time.

One advantage of the formal education path is gaining hands-on full stack development and software engineering experience while studying through internships.

Common full stack developer and software engineer skills

Despite the differences between full-stack developers and software engineers, they share some common grounds and skills as they are both crucial in the software development lifecycle. They include:

• Collaboration and teamwork
• Technical knowledge
• Lifelong learning
• Job description

Collaboration and teamwork

Full-stack developers and software engineers primarily work in collaborative environments. They work with a tech team comprising other developers and engineers, designers, product managers, QA testers, business analysts, etc. They must collaborate with other team members to achieve a goal.

Technical knowledge

A full stack developer and software engineer require a good understanding of core programming principles such as object-oriented programming (OOP), separation of concerns, clean code, SOLID principles, etc. They also require strong problem-solving and analytical skills, which are critical in the roles and in getting the job done.

Lifelong learning

This is a common ground shared amongst all fields in tech. As tech continually and rapidly evolves, a software engineer and full stack developer must stay up to date, which involves continuous learning to stay ahead. They continually update their technical and soft skills to remain relevant in the tech industry.

Job description

Full-stack developers and software engineers share some common responsibilities, which can be reflected in their job descriptions. Some of these responsibilities include:

• They both collaborate with front-end, back-end, full stack engineers and other team members to improve efficiency and identify and resolve blockers.
• Full stack developers and software engineers collaborate with cross-functional teams.
• Full stack developers and software engineers implement new software features.
• A full stack developer and software developer conceptualizes and designs software architecture for the front-end and back-end.
• A full stack developer and software engineer document the software development process.
• A full stack developer and software engineer troubleshoots, debugs, and upgrades existing systems.
• Full stack developers and software engineers comply with project plans and industry standards.

Full stack developer vs software engineer salaries

Full-stack software developers and software engineers are in high demand in various sectors. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in software development are expected to grow by 25% between 2022 and 2032.

According to Statista, full-stack software developers and software developers are among the top technical positions demanded by recruiters worldwide in 2023. Indeed reported that the average software engineer’s annual salary is $105,624, and that of a full-stack software developer is $124,120.

Experience and expertise are key factors that determine the salaries of full stack developers and software engineers. The table below shows the difference in average salaries of full stack developers and software engineers based on their years of experience.

How do I become a full stack developer or software engineer?

As you’ve seen, becoming a full stack developer requires various skill sets. roadmap.sh provides a step-by-step guide on how to become a full-stack programmer or developer, and by signing up, you will be able to:

• Keep track of your learning progress and share it on your public roadmap.sh profile.
• Draw your roadmap, either as an individual learner or for Dev teams.
• Generate new roadmaps with AI.
• Collaborate on official roadmaps.

Recall that a software engineer, as defined above, specializes in different areas in the software development cycle and possesses a thorough knowledge of coding languages and engineering principles. roadmap.sh provides learning paths for various software engineering specializations. You can also sign up for computer science, data structures and algorithms, software design and architecture, and system design roadmaps.