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Michael Cook
Full Stack JavaScript Techdegree Graduate 28,975 PointsI dislike styling pages and creating layouts, but love programming. Is back-end development for me?
I find using css to be close to nightmarish. Sure, I enjoy seeing a nice user interface come together as I work on it, but that doesn't outweigh the tedium for me. It's difficult, tricky, feels tedious, and to top it off I have next to no design sense. For this reason I recently left the FEWD track after completing about 3/4ths of it and decided to finish the Beginning JS track and then learn back-end dev with either Python or JS and node. I love logic and making things work. Yes, programming is actually harder than css but it gets me very excited to make something function vs. making something look and feel good.
My question is, could I have a career focusing mainly on backend dev? My ultimate goal is freelancing and remote work. For some reason I keep thinking that probably most backend devs have a compsci degree and if you want to be a self-taught dev you should stick to the front end. Am I correct? Just looking for some guidance.
8 Answers
mayleks
5,957 PointsIt would appear your situation is almost the same as mine. I can't stand CSS as well.
I don't think you need CS degree for back-end development. I've done a little research and it seems that CS degree would help you tremendously if you're aiming to work as an AI engineer. Being able to break down people's solutions in Machine Learning sphere rather than just copy and paste requires a deep understanding of algorithms.
To add to your questions. It would seem there is no back-end track on Treehouse similar to Front-end track. Therefore where should one begin his journey into back-end development?
Thiam Hock Ng
22,131 PointsI am a self-taught full stack developer. You do not need a CS degree to do backend development. Like you, given a choice, I rather do backend than frontend (as I am bad in design sense, and CSS is one of my weaknesses).
That's being said, being a full stack developer means I have to do both the backend and frontend. I compensate my weakness by pairing with my colleagues who are better than me. This is how you can grow. I do not subscribe to the belief of overly specialisation.
Being just a backend developer, you are always dependent on someone who can do the frontend. And I hate dependencies more than I dislike CSS. I do not need to be the best in both - that will be very difficult. But I have to be strong enough to be self-sufficient at both.
So to answer your question, while it is ok to focus your career on mainly backend, never forget about frontend - those are what the users see and what users are more likely to pay for. Also, explore more backend languages. Try to learn at least one object-oriented language and one functional language on top of JavaScript. You will change how you approach coding.
Michael Cook
Full Stack JavaScript Techdegree Graduate 28,975 PointsThanks for your advice Thiam. I definitely do believe it is important to be at least functional with front-end technologies. I am continuing to take CSS courses, I just find working with it to be incredibly annoying and tedious so my level of motivation to work at it is far less than when it comes to writing an actual program. I intend to focus mainly on back-end, but maintain a basic ability to do front-end work when necessary. Out of curiosity, is Treehouse where you got the skills that landed you a full-stack developer job?
Thiam Hock Ng
22,131 PointsIn that case, I recommend to look into frontend UI frameworks like Bootstrap or material design. It is pretty easy to get started and do up a decent looking page without touching too much of CSS.
Treehouse help me get the skills required to build my first personal trivial project, and then another fairly complicated project which made it to production with actual paying users. It is the second project which got me the job.
Michael Cook
Full Stack JavaScript Techdegree Graduate 28,975 PointsGlad to hear you were successful Thiam, congrats. Yes, I am definitely going to focus on CSS Grid and Bootstrap and grit my teeth when I have to do front-end work. But I sure would love a job where I just script algorithms all day.
jrs0801
259 PointsYes you can 100% be just a backend developer. In fact I encourage it as I have a strong dislike for the jack of all trades full stack dev. It's nearly impossible to be a master at both ends.
Michael Cook
Full Stack JavaScript Techdegree Graduate 28,975 PointsHey jrs0801, I'm not sure why you would dislike full-stack developers. I admire anyone who is able to acquire such an extensive and diverse skillset. I plan on being a full-stack developer myself, but one who focuses more on the back-end.
jrs0801
259 PointsBecause most full stack developers suck at one end or the other. If you want to do backend, do backend. If you want to be frontend, do frontend.
A jack of all trades is far less valuable than a master.
Ed Basquill
3,984 PointsI am learning full stack development. I will probably focus on the back end. I would advise everyone learn full stack whether you enjoy it or not, for the same reason I am. This will be a sideline or retirement job for me. I am a technical manager. It is career enhancing to know full stack development if for no other reason but to enhance communication. I work with developers sometimes. It seems a frustrating 90% of the time is spent on communication back and forth, 10% on doing the work. Developers aren't known for their people skills with people in management. Management is known for being much like Dilbert's pointy headed boss, not knowing enough to know what they want. If you can know full stack it is it is a powerful thing, just from a communications standpoint no matter where you specialize later.
Michael Cook
Full Stack JavaScript Techdegree Graduate 28,975 PointsGood point Ed. My experience is similar. Workplace communication is often one of the biggest challenges, and it really doesn't need to be.
jrs0801
259 PointsCould not disagree more. I get the thinking though, and in theory its fine. Reality most and i mean like 99.99% cannot exceed at bith front and backend. Two different mind sets, far too much to learn and get great at.
Michael Cook
Full Stack JavaScript Techdegree Graduate 28,975 PointsHey jrs, I noticed you have been on Treehouse for quite a while, but have barely any activity. It is interesting to me that you have such strong opinions and wish to start a debate. Do you work as a developer?
jrs0801
259 PointsStrong opinions based on actual research, common sense, and speaking to the most successful of people. The biggest mistake people trying to enter the field today make is not niching down.
Michael Cook
Full Stack JavaScript Techdegree Graduate 28,975 PointsThanks for sharing your opinions, jrs. I look forward to conversing with you here on the forum to see if/how your views change as you shift away from forming your opinions on the basis of what others say and move toward actually learning the basics and completing projects. Experience is certainly the best teacher of all.
Ed Basquill
3,984 PointsWhen one talks of finding a niche and developing a specialty, one needs to have developed a base first. I just recently started with tree house classes ( November 2018 or so?) For me (or anyone) to decide now to focus on back end would be foolishness. Your General Practitioner doctor sucks at brain surgery, but he knows when you need a brain surgeon. The brain surgeon went to medical school and learned how the whole body worked together, he didn't just go right to cutting into brains. He specialized after learning everything. In the grand scheme of things, the classes at Treehouse (at least what I have experienced) are entry level. Make your bones doing the work, then talk about a niche.
Michael Cook
Full Stack JavaScript Techdegree Graduate 28,975 PointsI agree Ed. It really just goes without saying that no matter what area of web development one ends up focusing or specializing in, becoming proficient in HTML, CSS and JavaScript along with at least one CSS library or framework, and at least one JS library or framework, is a necessity. Otherwise you're going to be overly dependent on subcontractors as a freelancer, or you will be a tough sell on the job market when looking for a place in a company. Have you given any thought to which back-end language you're going to pursue once you're ready?
Ed Basquill
3,984 PointsI did some classes on sololearn on python and was thinking about that one. I got into that because I am trying to figure out how to bring data from redvox.io so I can play with it in excel or something for a project I am working on on the engineering/hobby/science side. they provided files in python on the website one could modify to do it but I kept running into problems I wasn't experienced enough to solve. I think Treehouse is more thorough and initially pursued it to learn python, but it seems like (to use my analogy on a prior post) I need to start at the beginning with basic front end development, build some skills and come back at it after that.
Michael Cook
Full Stack JavaScript Techdegree Graduate 28,975 PointsMichael Cook
Full Stack JavaScript Techdegree Graduate 28,975 PointsThanks for your response. I think the Full Stack JS track has a strong backend focus. One could also tackle the various PHP and/or Python tracks. There are even courses and tracks covering important backend frameworks like Django, Flask and Laravel so actually there is a lot to choose from and that is part of the problem. Which should a new developer go for? I may be over thinking it though.