Which is Better? Full-Stack Developer or Mean Stack Developer?

Software developers all over the world have been using modern tools to build apps that are scalable, efficient and robust. However, with advancements in technology, there is a growing creed of developers who make use of stack to build the software’s front end as well as back end. Before we dig deeper into what is stack and how a developer uses it, let us understand the basic concepts.

What is a Full Stack Developer?

A full stack developer uses several elements to build a software. Starting from the frontend and moving on to the backend and then the database, each part is built by one person. The developer uses a combination of various technologies such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, MySQL etc for creating different modules that interact with each other. A typical software development model involves collaboration between various members of a team, each one of them working on a different technology. However, a full stack developer has hands-on experience with ALL the technologies that are used in a particular software development. 

The obvious advantage with it is that a full stack developer can do all the tasks within a shorter fame of time. That means cost savings for the client as well. With ever-growing competition and aggressive development timelines set by product owners, it is imperative to bring full stack developers into the picture. Besides, it is also advantageous for digital agencies because they do not need to hire multiple resources and take up a heavy cost burden of salaries, infrastructure, etc for a long period of time. A full stack developer can be easily deployed on any project and so does not have to be put on bench.

What is a Mean Stack Developer?

A modified version of full stack is known as MEAN stack. It uses a collection of Java-based technologies and is an acronym for MongoDB, ExpressJS, AngularJS, and Node.js. These technologies and frameworks are used by a full stack developer to design and develop apps. In other words, MEAN is a set of best-in-class technologies that are used together for optimum results. 

A MEAN full stack developer can develop a basic website or a complex, multi-user application that involves integration of several modules. In fact, most of the responsive web pages are directly backed by these four technologies. It is also considered as the fastest-growing framework that supports open-source web development. A MEAN full stack developer can access a list of tools and technologies from the online forums, which can help him develop apps better and faster. 

Here is a brief overview of the technologies that are used:

• MoboDB is used by full stack developers to create back-end parts of the application and store data in the form of JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) documents.
• Express.js is a tool that allows running back-end web application framework over the Node.js layer.
• Angular 2 is a framework that is used by full stack developers to build the front end of an application. Angular utilizes JavaScript to run the code, which allows the user interface to be dynamic.
• Node.js is a runtime environment of JavaScript and is used to implement the back-end parts of JavaScript code

What are the Benefits?

• MEAN full stack development revolves around the idea of using a single JavaScript language for front end as well as back end development. So, if the full stack developer is expert in Java, it would be easier for him to complete the development. Besides, it will be easier for him to switch between various parts of the app.
• A MEAN full stack developer can do isomorphic coding, which means that he can transfer code from one framework to the other and utilize it for multiple projects.
• MEAN stack allows easy and convenient cloud integration by the full stack developer. As soon as the app gets developed, it can be tested on the cloud. By utilizing MongoDB, the developers can make changes quickly and easily.
• JSON or JavaScript Object Notation is compatible with NodeJS and AngularJS. In addition to the above, MongoDB is a relational database that allows full stack developers to save their documents in the form of JSON.
• Node.js is faster and ascendable due to its architecture of non-blocking. Also, Angular.js is one of the frameworks of JavaScript, which offers easy testability, maintenance and a wide range of online libraries.

Conclusion

When you discuss your requirements with an experienced full stack developer of Optimal Virtual Employee, you can get a detailed project analysis and feedback that will enable you to make the best decision. You must focus on the set of features that your application needs, rather than technologies that will be used. Both of the above approaches have their own set of advantages and a careful calibration of those is necessary for optimum outcome.

What Are The Hidden Costs of Hiring Web Developers?

Should you hire web developer inhouse or should you collaborate with an IT company for completing your software development projects? This is a common dilemma faced by many entrepreneurs while going for digital transformation of their business. Through this article, I will try and explain to you what are the costs involved in hiring in-house resources, which you may not have calculated.

Salary of Onsite Web Developer

The salaries of onsite web developers in the US can be in the range of $40 to $170 per hour, depending upon the type of skill set that you are looking for. While it may be higher for more experienced resources, a lesser experienced resource might not be suitable for your project. In Europe, the cost of hiring web developer onsite can be from $70 to $130 per hour, depending on the length of the contract and the experience levels. That's a lot right? However, if you outsource your project to Optimal Virtual Employee - which is based in India - you can get the same talent for under $20 per hour! Yes that's right because the Indian Rupee is a highly devalued currency and is usually pegged at INR 70 to the US Dollar.

Recruiting a Web Developer

As many of us know, recruitment can be a lengthy and time-consuming process. In the absence of a specialized HR recruitment team, you might have to spend considerable resources. First, you need to place an advertisement. Second, you need to shortlist the resumes and third, you need to contact them individually for face-to-face interview rounds. This can be a draining process, which might delay your software development projects by several months. However, Optimal Virtual Employee does this job for you without any fuss! We have over 300 web developers working on our payroll and their experience levels range from 2 years to 15 years! Besides, their experiences are verified and their coding skills have been tested by our experts.

Office Space and IT Infrastructure

When you have chosen to start work on your project and decided to hire web developer, the next task is to arrange office space and IT infrastructure for them. While these things might seem innocuous, they carry a high importance and steep costs. For taking up an office space, you need to pay upfront costs that may include advance rentals and security deposit. Besides, there would be annual maintenance costs too. For IT infrastructure, you need laptops, servers, anti-virus, cloud storage, etc to help in the work of your web developers. These are important capital expenditures which some entrepreneurs fail to calculate and end up under a huge credit load. However, Optimal Virtual Employee is a company that has its own office building in Noida, India. Equipped with over 400 office seats, our development center boasts of state-of-the-art IT infrastructure in plug-and-play configuration. No more upfront costs for hiring web developers for you!

Need For Project Managers & Support Staff

Do you envisage the requirement of a project manager to manage your web developers? You might then need to hire a project manager who could cost you upwards of $90,000 per annum. A project manager is usually hired to lead a team of web developers. He not only manages their workload, but also ensures that their project timelines are met and the code is of required quality. He can also help them in resolving day-to-day developmental issues. At Optimal Virtual Employee, our clients get a project manager free of cost! Yes, in case you hire a team of 4+ web developers with us, we will be happy to offer the services of a Project Manager without any additional charges. 

Conclusion

With the above calculations, you can imagine what kind of costs you are going to incur when you hire web developer. Take a pick on whether you want an in-house team or an outsourced team. Decide what is best for you and then go for it!