15 Essential Java Full Stack Developer Skills in 2024

Java is one of the most popular and robust of all software programming languages. It is ideal for cross-platform applications because it is a compiled language with object code that can work across more than one machine or processor. All programming is done using coding languages and Java is highly in demand. Also, Java back end developer and java full stack developer skills are wanted nowadays by the top companies. 

Java has become the go-to language for mobile development, backend development, cloud-based solutions, and other trending technologies like IoT and Big Data. Because of the simplicity of its syntax, its commands do not require complicated processes to write, run, decode or debug, unlike C and C++. All-in-all, because of these features and its compatibility with other languages, it is the most used language for Android apps today and is expected to grow exponentially in the years to come. 

Who is a Java Full Stack Developer?

A full stack web developer is a person having the skillset to develop both client and server software. Meaning, that full stack Java developer skills include handling the client side and server side of the software application. This type of developer works with the Full stack of a software application, beginning with Front end development and going through back-end development, Database, Server, API, and version controlling systems. His complete command of the framework and tools of Java Full stack like Core Java, servlets, APIs, database, web architecture, and the rest are highly instrumental in reducing the cost of the project and shrinking timelines as a full stack developer switches between front and back end development, seamlessly.

Thus, a Java Full stack developer is the designation used for a web developer who uses Java, a coding language, to develop the entire technology of an application. More in-depth and practical knowledge can be tapped from Full Stack certifications . It is most convenient due to its flexibility and ready availability. 

Top 15 Full stack Java Developer Skills

A Java developer is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining Java-based programs. His skill set would include writing a well-structured and developed code that would withstand rigorous testing and analysis. So, the Java developer’s key skills are: 

1. JavaScript
2. HTML/CSS
3. Git and GitHub
4. Backend Languages
5. Databases and Web Storage
6. Spring Frameworks
7. DevOps tools
8. Web Architecture
9. HTTP and REST
10. Software Design and Architecture
11. JVM internals
12. React or Angular
13. Kotlin
14. Design Patterns
15. Java Server Pages

1. JavaScript

Knowledge of JavaScript is essential for a developer to implement interactive features in web pages, such as timely content updates, interactive maps, and animated graphics. JavaScript frameworks like React Native, Ionic, and Angular simplify and expedite development. Facebook uses React and React Native to build its virtual community. 

In the virtual reality industry, JavaScript is used for developing web browser games, such as on GitHub. Node.js, a runtime environment, loads server-side applications without browser constraints. For front-end development, JavaScript delivers interactive user experiences, like drag-and-drop functionality. Understanding JavaScript frameworks is critical for full stack developers.

2. HTML/CSS

A Java front-end developer must be skilled in HTML and CSS. HTML structures and displays documents in web browsers, using elements to wrap and present content. CSS describes how HTML elements should appear, including colors, layout, and fonts, ensuring compatibility with different devices. HTML is the foundation of web design, organizing content like paragraphs, bullet points, and tables. CSS styles these elements, creating visually appealing and user-friendly interfaces. Together, HTML and CSS enable developers to build responsive websites and applications, essential for front-end development.

3. Git and GitHub

Java full stack developers need to master both Git and GitHub. Git is an open-source version control system that manages changes in source code, allowing recovery from crashes and tracking file modifications. It simplifies the code review process and helps manage large codebases. GitHub, a collaboration and version control platform, hosts Git repositories, enabling developers to work together from different locations. GitHub’s public repositories facilitate social coding, allowing developers worldwide to interact and improve each other's code. Mastery of Git and GitHub is crucial for efficient project management and collaboration.

4. Backend Languages

The backend of a software development program would be the server side of the website. It is that part of the website which cannot be seen by the client or the users. This part is accessed by the users through the front-end application. The backend, therefore, is the place where storage and arrangement of data are, and its work is to ensure the smooth working of the client side of the website. Java backend developer skills would include command over activities like APIs, creating libraries, and working with system components that do not have user interfaces. The backend of a website is built with the help of certain languages - these are: 

• PHP: It is a scripting language that is used to service the server side of web development. Since the PHP code is carried out on the server side, the language is called a server-side scripting language. 
• C++: It is a programming language now used for competitive programming. Its versatility allows it to be used as a backend language. 
• Java: It is a highly scalable language and is the most popular and widely used of all the programming languages and platforms. 
• Python: It is a very important language for the backend because it allows a developer to work quickly and integrate systems with minimum glitches. 

And then, there are frameworks like Node.js, Express, Django, Ruby on Rails, Laravel, and Spring. Knowledge of these languages and platforms is imperative if a Java Full Stack Developer technical skills are required for building mobile apps, websites, etc. 

5. Databases and Web Storage

Full stack developer skills in Java would have to include good learning of databases and Web Storage. A database is a collection of data that is organized and then stored digitally/electronically in a computer system. How data is stored largely depends on the ways it is intended to be used. A database is controlled and managed by a database management system (DBMS). The two combined, along with all the applications that are associated with this, form a database system and are conveniently referred to as a database. The data within a database is organized in rows, columns, or a series of tables that make it easy to access, manage, modify, update, control, and organize.

Web Storage, on the other hand, is DOM (document object model storage) which is a standard JavaScript API provided by web browsers. A web storage feature means having web applications that allow data storage within the browser on the client side. It does not send data to the server side, and this data will not expire depending on the time or session. Because it is stored locally, the data remains even if the page or browser is closed or reopened. 

6. Spring Frameworks

This framework provides myriad ways in which a developer can manage business objects. It also makes the development of web applications easier as compared to what classic Java frameworks used to do. The Spring framework is a combination of various new techniques like Aspect-Oriented Programming, Plain Old Java Object, and dependency injection to develop enterprise applications. Its lightweight nature makes it the preferred framework of Java EE7 developers for building simple and scalable enterprise applications. 

7. DevOps tools ( Jenkins, Docker, and Kubernetes)

DevOps tools and techniques help to simplify the building processes within a project. It increases the productivity of project teams manifold. These are tools that help streamline and automate manual tasks, help project teams manage complex environments of a large-scale project, and facilitate developers to keep a firm check on the high velocity brought about by the usage of DevOps tools. The software development and delivery process are greatly expedited by the use of these tools. 

• Jenkins: When a project requires continuous and constant integrations, then Jenkins is the tool to be used. It makes it easier for DevOps engineers to create, test, and integrate the resultant changes to the project without a lot of difficulties. This is a Java-based, open-source automation platform that has plug-ins to help in seamless integrations of changes within a project. 
• Docker: It is a software platform allowing applications to be built, tested, and deployed without loss of time. Docker has standardized units of packaged software (containerized) that have libraries, system tools, code, and runtime to make software go live. 
• Kubernetes: It is an open-source system, also referred to as K8s, used to automate deployment, scaling, and managing applications that come in a container, complete with whatever is needed to run the application. 

8. Web Architecture

This is also a part of the prescribed skills for a Java full stack developer. It is an adjective for the process used to create, design, and implement a cloud-based computer program. These programs could often be websites that have route maps for users/developers to design or develop programs for businesses or companies. Web architecture will use and include every component of an application that is needed by web developers to create applications aimed at enhancing user experience.

The most commonly used components would be Design, IT Infrastructure, User experience, Software, Monetization, Efficiency, Reliability, Scalability, and Security. It is the web architecture that decides the quality of the product produced because it forms the foundation for individual elements of an application or a software program. The character and nature of web architecture would also go a long way in ensuring flexibility in the adaptation of changes while the project is in progress. 

9. HTTP and REST

• HTTP: When understanding, What is Java full stack developer skills, knowledge of HTTP cannot be avoided. HTTP is an acronym for Hyper Text Transfer Protocol. It forms the base of WWW or the World Wide Web. It is this networking or communication protocol that helps transfer information from one device to the other networked device. A typical scenario would be a client machine requesting the server to send the required information and the server doing the needful. This back-and-forth communication between the machine and server is possible because of the HTTP via the cloud. It is a model based on client-server, request-response parameters. 
• REST: It spells Representational State Transfer. It is a way to access documents that are stored in a particular environment. These could be pictures or videos also. They are resources that can be requested by the client through the REST API; the server responds by sending these resources in their present state in a standardized format. REST refers to the attributes of an architectural style that make it apt for large interconnected systems like the Internet. 

So, it is that HTTP has many features of REST, but it is different from the latter. 

10. Software Design and Architecture

The design of the software is about considerations of user inputs, external interface stimuli, or interactions with elements of the computing environment. Software design will take into its ambit the response to commands and requests of the client. It is a process by which user requirements are given a form to guide the developer/programmer in coding and implementation. 

Architecture would describe various components, their relationship, and how they react and interact with one another. The factors that go into making up the architecture of software are Business strategy, human dynamics, and IT environment. So, it can be easily said that architecture is the blueprint of a system. It gives solutions to managing the system complexity and establishing and managing an interactive and collaborative among the components. Amongst the most common patterns used for software architecture are, Layered patterns, Client-Server patterns, Event-driven patterns, Microkernel patterns, and Microservices patterns. 

11. JVM internals

The Java ecosystem's linchpin is the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). JVM enables Java programs written on one machine to run on any other. It supports other languages like Scala, Kotlin, and Groovy, making them part of the Java platform. JVM allows a single physical machine to host multiple virtual machines, each with its own OS and applications. Java code is compiled into bytecode to create class files, which the JVM interprets for different platforms. This ensures Java programs can run on any JVM-supported platform or operating system, providing versatility and compatibility.

12. React or Angular

Java full stack developers must have a good working knowledge of frameworks like React and Angular. Angular, maintained by Google, is an open-source JavaScript framework written in TypeScript, used for developing mobile applications and interactive interfaces. It is widely used in social media, healthcare, e-commerce, and online banking. React, a newer technology, is an open-source UI library requiring less coding and offering more functionalities. Its virtual DOM and reusable components reduce development time, making it easier to create dynamic web applications. Both frameworks are essential for front-end development.

13. Kotlin

Kotlin is used for creating mobile applications (especially Android apps), web development, server-side applications, data science, and more. Its popularity is primarily because of its complete compatibility with Java and its ability to work on different platforms like Windows, Mac, Linux, Raspberry Pi, etc. Android apps that use Kotlin have a 20% less chance of crashing ( ref: developer.android.com). It is a modern language requiring less coding. It allows the developer to build and create UI with intuitive APIs in considerably less time. Kotlin coroutines facilitate and smoothen asynchronous programming, ultimately making network calling and database updates very simple. So a Java full stack developer skill set would definitely include Kotlin. Its design makes it a cross-platform, statically typed, high-level programming language that can interoperate completely with Java. This makes it a much-preferred language by the developers.

14. Design Patterns

In a software design, problems occur that can be resolved by typical solutions. These are Design Patterns. Each pattern works as a blueprint that can be customized to sort out a particular design problem in the code. It is not an off-the-shelf solution that can be simply pasted into the code where the problem is occurring. It is conceptual and guides the developer on how to solve a particular problem. The details of the pattern given can handhold the developer and nudge him towards solutions that will work for the code that he is writing. In the section on pattern description, we find sections that further simplify using them. These would be Intent, Motivation, Structure, and Code examples.

15. Java Server Pages

It works at the backend since it is a server-side technology. Java server pages are used for creating web applications and dynamic web content. For this, JSP tags are employed to insert Java code into HTML pages. It is a web-based technology that is used for creating dynamic and independent web pages. Its features include portability, flexibility, and easy maintenance, as these are independent of the browser and server. Because of this feature, there is no need for recompilation. It also reduces the length of a code because tags like action or custom tags are used, which is why a developer would require less time to build an application.

Roadmap to Become a Java Full Stack Developer

A full stack development professional would be required to have a complete and thorough knowledge of important elements of development along with that the latest technology. When the question arises as to “What skills are required for a java full stack developer” it would mean being conversant with all aspects of development: 

1. Front end 
2. Back end 
3. Database management 
4. Version control 
5. Operating systems 
6. System design 

A Java full-stack developer with technical skills would be needed to design back-end architecture using multiple technologies; they must build front end technologies to create user interfaces along with building applications that are as per the preferences of the client and the user.

Front End Development 

It is also known as client-end development. These Java front end developer skills are the fundamentals you need to start your journey as a Java developer.  

1. Basic Web Development Tools: HTML, CSS, TypeScript, JavaScript. 
2. Integrated Development Environments (IDE): Visual Studio Code IDE, Sublime Text 3.  
3. Front End Frameworks: Angular, VueJS, React.  
4. User Interface (UI) Libraries: Material UI, Bootstrap CSS 

Check Out upGrad’s Software Development Courses to upskill yourself.

Back End Development  

It is also known as server-end development. These Java back-end developer skills are the basics that you need to start your journey as a Java developer. You need to be skillful in core Java skills with Java 8 features also referred to as Java Functional Programming. 

1. Java Build Tools: Maven, Gradle  
2. Integrated Development Environments (IDE): Intellij IDEA, Spring Tool Suite  
3. No SQL Databases: MongoDB, Apache Cassandra, RavenDB, Redis 
4. Relational Databases: MySQL, MS-SQL Server, Oracle, SQL Server, PostgreSQL  
5. Cloud Databases: DynamoDB, Cosmos DB  
6. Build DAO/Repository Layers: Spring Data JPA, JPA/Hibernate  
7. Build REST APIs: RestEasy framework, Jersey REST framework, Sprint Boot  
8. Secure REST APIs Using Spring Security: JWT, Authentication, Role-based authorization

How Much Does a Java Full Stack Developer Make?

A Certificate in Web Development means a successful career as a Full stack developer in Java. This is an opportunity for one developer to work across all spectrums of software app development, thus saving time and resources for the company he is working for. A Java full stack developer skills resume will be reeling off a complete list of the most relevant skills only then can he be a valued asset who can command a salary of INR 2.4 to 14.3 with an average annual salary of INR ₹6,90,000 per year in India (Source: Ambitionbox), depending upon his skills and experience. The average salary for a Full Stack Developer is $147,280 per year in the United States (Source: Built.in). This varies based on years of experience and location. 

Conclusion

Software and technology are going through rapid advancements that could change the way businesses of the future would shape up. Demand for professionals with full stack development skills in Java will go northwards. 

Similarly, the statistics point towards Java being a highly sought-after skill set. This feature makes it the perfect reason to opt for a Master of Science in Computer Science course that entails different full-stack Java development areas.

upGrad’s Executive Post Graduate Programme in Software Development – Specialisation in Full Stack Development can be an excellent way to navigate this path, learning a comprehensive and up-to-date curriculum from leading industry professionals.

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