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