Become a Professional Web Developer: A 2019 Guide

The booming era of the Internet and the age of professional web developer has always been here and there since their first appearance in the mid 20th century. And what do we have now?

There are several websites that can connect everyone in the world as long as they have an internet connection. People also invented many websites that offer us buying items without getting out of our room. And did I forget to mention a bunch of streaming service websites where one can watch Friends, Breaking Bad, etc. or listen to their favorite singers even if you don’t store their songs on the PC? Well, my list can go on and on like… forever.

So, I guess, when spending your precious time reading all the above information, perhaps you’re looking for a comprehensive guide to be one of the brilliant people who make this world a more convenient place via websites: professional web developer.

Then, who are they exactly?

In short, web developers will be in charge of building web applications by writing markup and coding, from the interfaces, data, to the complex structure behind, etc. Thanks to their work, visitors can use and interact with a certain website.

But in fact, things are not that simple. If you already have some basic ideas of this industry, then it’s easy to point out the three main types of a programmer here:

• Front-end developer.
• Back-end developer.
• DevOps engineer.

It’s not easy because each one takes account of different tasks in the process of making a website. And deciding which one to become is the first and most important step since it must be one of your most important focuses in the future.

Therefore, we at Designveloper wrote this article to give you a deeper look at 2 main professions which are front-end developer and back-end developer. We hope that this article will make it easier to choose one and be a successful professional web developer.

Professional web developer as a Front-end programmer

Developers who perform this practice of programming will be responsible for producing HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. With these three languages, the look (or the interface) and the interacting flow of a website will be formed based on blueprints from UI/UX designers. For example, all the buttons, texts, images, etc. on our site are the result of front-end development.

Besides, a senior front-end developer from Designveloper has revealed that his jobs also include adjusting the works from UI/UX designers so that it’s possible to code and works best from time to time.

Being aware of trends is another thing to bear in mind. Because, like any other industry, a professional web developer needs to be updated frequently in terms of technologies and aesthetics, etc. to meet users’ demands.

So, what exactly do you need to become one?

First of all, it’s time to master coding in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Front-end developers use HTML to build website structures and content. This language will put headers, footers, the display of text, media, and images, etc. together. It’s also essential to know how to combine elements effectively and correctly. Besides, as a front-end developer, you must have good knowledge of common HTML elements such as default layout rules, styling, HTML semantic and contextual usage.

As for CSS, this is broken into modules and comprises the code for every graphic element — from backgrounds to the font, etc. — that make up the look and feel of a website. To make the best of CSS, front-end developers must understand fundamental concepts of CSS like cascading, specificity rules, selectors, inheritance, box model and stacking context.

Last but not least: JavaScript. At any level, there are three key features of JavaScript that are important one must know; they are prototype chain, closures, and ‘this’ keyword. As a professional web developer, you should also understand some other main features of the language such as dynamic typing, literals, variable and function hoisting. At the same time you will want to be advanced in JavaScript, let’s learn JS idioms, patterns, modules, and frameworks.

Apart from the three programming languages, front-end developers should have a good knowledge of Git and UX/UI. The first helps us keep track of changes, gives people the ability to submit the issues. More importantly, your work will be cleaner and your coding skills will improve when we can revise the work and fix it once there’s a bug. And when you have a good UI/UX base, it’ll be easier to point out any issues regarding the design and fix it fast if possible.

Professional web developer as a back-end programmer

The second path you may be interested in is back-end (or server-side) development.

Instead of using code to create interfaces and interaction flows, back-end developers’ responsibilities are to:

• Use back-end programming languages to create business logic so that the website could run properly.
• Optimize websites’ speed and efficiency.
• Make sure users’ data and service requests through the front-end system are delivered well.
• Create and maintain core databases, and at the same time, build data storage solutions with databases.

Or in short, this type of professional web developer takes account of all the inside works of a certain website regarding data, internal logic, security, the structure of databases and servers, etc.

It is said that back in the day when people did not really care about user interfaces (most of the computer users then were developers and they used code to navigate everything), back-end development was the core of a website. Nowadays, even though the attention for web development has been shifted towards the front-end, the role of the back-end is still as important as ever. Since if there is a single bug, at some point, the experience will be mildly (or seriously) ruined.

Furthermore, it’s necessary to code and maintain your server-side in a good state to avoid security threats as well as low performance, etc.

Then, what do you need to become a back-end developer?

First thing first, it’s always about programming languages.

In fact, there are several back-end languages in the industry, however, many experts suggest that beginners should focus on only one or two languages at a time. Some of the most important programming languages for back-end developers are Java, PHP, Node.js, and Golang.

Some courses to learn Java for beginners are:

• Java Code Geeks
• Java Brain
• Oracle Java Tutorial

And as for PHP, we suggest:

• Beginner PHP and MySQL Tutorial
• Building Web Applications in PHP

Besides programming languages, a professional web developer should be familiar with database and query languages.

Regarding query languages, SQL is the most used and famous one that every back-end developer needs to acquire a solid base of SQL syntax. Along with that, Dates, String manipulation, aggression, etc. are also some other practices a back-end developer must know. You can learn more about SQL with Short and Sweet: Get Started with Git and GitHub Right Now.

Last but not least, control version tools are needed more than ever. Since your tasks sometimes will be a local environment setting, so knowing how to use Git is necessary. As a result, you can install and configure this tool. On top of that, let’s get comfortable with communicating local and remote source repositories.

A conclusion about being a professional web developer

No matter what your choice is, it’s important to focus on one then continue with the other. Furthermore, don’t be afraid of the learning curve, the more you know and practice, the more amount of salary will be likely to fill your pocket.

If you are a web developer and looking for a job in this industry, look no further than Designveloper. We offer you a competitive salary, a great working environment, and an amazing team. Come join us now.

And if you are a business owner and want to hire professional web developers, why don’t you partner up with us? Experts at Designveloper offer a wide range of services from web app development, mobile app development to business consulting. Tell us your ideas and we’ll realize them!