Ask HN: Front end back end split vs. full stack?

1 points by buddhistdude 3 years ago | 2 comments

What’s your opinion on companies where developers are split into Frontend and backend vs where every developer is full stack / a generalist? Does the latter indicate higher competence? Why do companies use either system?

devdude1337 3 years ago |

Full-Stack doesn’t indicate competence. A good developer will write good software. When the task is building a nice GUI, he will. When it’s building a performant datalayer he will also. Refusing to work on stuff outside ones comfort zone may indicate mediocrity. Personally I always do what has the most positive impact for my team and my clients. In the end frontend and backend is still just software - input-processing-output. The technical details can be learned quickly. The proper mindset to learn effectively may not be acquired so easily tho…

awb 3 years ago |

Generalists are typically better in smaller companies. As companies grow they move towards specialists.

This is typically because of workload. In the early days of a project the work oscillates between front and back end. As projects grow you will have enough frontend work to support dedicated front end engineers and similarly for backend.