Raymond Ottun

Posted on Jan 8

Preparing for the Role of a (Senior) Full Stack Developer

#webdev #devops #interview #javascript

As we embark on a new year, if you are considering a career change or aspiring to step into the realm of a (Senior) Full Stack Developer, it's essential to prepare thoroughly for potential interviews.

This article aims to guide you on the key topics you should be well-versed in to confidently tackle Full Stack Developer interviews.

HTML, CSS, JavaScript

Mastering the fundamentals of web development is crucial. As a Full Stack Developer, ensure your proficiency in:

Accessibility
SEO
Forms
Web APIs (e.g. localStorage, fetch, history)
CSS Layout (e.g. Flexbox, Grid)
JavaScript Fundamentals (e.g. this, prototype, async, await, Promise)

Example HTML, CSS, JavaScript Questions

What is the difference between null and undefined?
What is event bubbling?

Web Frameworks

Familiarity with at least one web framework is expected. Notable frameworks include React, Vue, and Angular. Focus on the following areas:

Components
State Management
Routing
Server Side Rendering

Example React Question

Why use useReducer instead of useState?
What is prop drilling and how can it be avoided?

Server Programming Language (e.g. Node.js or Python)

Full stack developers should excel in at least one server programming language, typically Node.js. Key areas of expertise include:

Express (or other web frameworks)
REST APIs
Node.JS event loop
Async programming (e.g. callbacks, promises, async/await)
Streams
WebSockets
REST APIs
GraphQL

Example Node.js Questions

Why is the following code not a good practice in error handling?


process.on('uncaughtException', (err) => {
  console.log('Caught exception: ' + err);
});

What is the difference between process.nextTick and setImmediate?

Web Security

Understanding common web security vulnerabilities is crucial. Equip yourself with knowledge in:

CORS
CSRF
XSS
SQL Injection
HTTPS
Content Security Policy
Authentication (e.g. JWT, OAuth)

Example Web Security Questions

What is the purpose of a CSRF token?
What is the purpose of a CORS policy?
What is the purpose of a Content Security Policy?

DevOps

Efficient deployment and maintenance are integral skills. Focus on the following:

Docker
CI/CD
AWS (or other cloud providers like Azure or GCP)
Observability (e.g. logging, monitoring, tracing)
Infrastructure as Code (e.g. Terraform)

Example DevOps Questions

What is the relationship between Docker and Kubernetes?
Why is application observability important?
What are the common stages in a CI/CD pipeline?

General Engineering Practices

Adopting standard engineering practices is key. Ensure familiarity with:

Testing (e.g. unit testing, integration testing, end-to-end testing)
Git (e.g. branching, merging, rebasing, squashing)
Agile (e.g. Scrum, Kanban)
Refactoring
Code Review

Example General Engineering Questions

What is the difference between unit testing and integration testing?
What is the difference between rebasing and merging?

Databases

Database knowledge is foundational. Key areas of understanding include:

SQL (e.g. joins, aggregations, indexes)
NoSQL (e.g. key-value stores, document stores, graph databases)
ACID
Transactions
Database Indexing

Example Database Questions

What is the purpose of a database index?
What is the difference between a primary key and a foreign key?

Remember, this list is a starting point. Tailor your preparation to align with the specific needs of the company you are applying to.

It's natural to feel overwhelmed, but focus on continuous learning. You can acquire these skills gradually and even on the job. Be curious and open to learning.

To aid your revision for a Full Stack Developer role, consider using the list of questions I've compiled in this repo in the form a quiz with a small web app to practice Github Revis3, categorized by topics:

I hope you find this useful. If you have any feedback, please let me know.

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