How to Become a Python Full-stack Web Developer

We wrote a lot about the choice of direction in development, in order to always be in demand as a specialist and not waste time on technologies that are a thing of the past. According to recent studies, the most explosive growth is shown by Data Science and fullstack development - the demand for them has grown by 226% and 199%, respectively. We have already talked about data scientists, so today we will cover another profession - a full-stack developer in Python.

Benefits of Python

First, it's a good language to start with. Even if you have never done programming before, you can quickly master it. Python has a simple syntax, coding in it is almost like writing sentences in English.

Secondly, Python will not let you get bored. This is a universal language in which you can write not only a website - a landing page with animation, for example, or a multi-pager with a complex structure - but also a desktop or mobile application. Having practiced well on the web, you will be able to expand the pool of projects, take on more complex tasks and earn more.

If we compare Python with the popular PHP, then here are a few more differences:

• improved structure: the Django framework that Python works with is easier and faster to set up than PHP frameworks;
• in Python, you can create more reliable and readable code;
• Python is used not only in development, but also in analytics, big data science, NLP - areas in which interest is growing every year;

In addition, the demand for PHP developers has fallen by 21% since 2016, while for Python developers it has grown by the same percentage. There is something to think about.

Another argument: Python has been used in the development of web services for YouTube, Instagram, Quora, Facebook, Pinterest, Reddit, Google, Netflix and Spotify - an impressive list and a pleasant company.

What do you need to know to become a Python Fullstack Developer?

You need to learn gradually: first, master the basics of any programmer - HTML, CSS and Javascript. HTML and CSS are responsible for the arrangement of elements on a web page and style information: fonts, text style, indents, Javascript adds interactivity: in this language, you can insert animated elements into the page. This is the layout designer level - the first stage of development.

The next step is the frontend, the creation of the external shell of the site and the development of interaction between the user and the site. You can stay on it, but if you want more - for example, create your own application, deploy a server, write your own CMS - the backend is connected here, that is, the server part. The further, the more often Python is used to write the backend, and not the usual PHP.

What a future full-stack developer needs to know:

1. Python basics: how to write code, how to include libraries and work with different types of files.
2. How frameworks work. These are programs that facilitate the creation of the backend and its underlying logic. They tie together URLs, pieces of Python code, databases, and HTML pages into one system. The most popular interactive website frameworks today are Bootstrap and Django.
3. How to connect a database using SQL. For a service to meet business requirements, it must collect customer data. To do this, you need to know exactly how to collect, store and transfer them. These are tasks for the SQL language.
4. Working with docker containers and Linux OS. Containers help you package your application, along with its launch environment, into a file that can be easily opened on another computer. This way you can transfer the application to the customer safely and easily. And you will deploy the server on which your application will run on Linux - for this you need to understand how this system works.

The listed skills can be obtained in 9-12 months on a comprehensive course and a little longer - collecting materials on your own. Having gained a base for the junior level, in two years of practice you can become a confident middle.

Where can I learn full stack development with Python?

Here are a few books to help you immerse yourself in development and understand if this field is right for you and in which direction you want to develop.

"Hello World! Entertaining Programming (Python)" - Carter and Warren Sand

Yes, this is a book for children - it was written by a programmer and his son. It is suitable for those who do not have a technical education and need explanations on their fingers - just to understand how everything works in the development world.

The book will not scare you with brick layout, small print and heaps of formulas. The textbook is good for those who need extra confirmation: programming is a skill that is easy to master with desire and a sufficient level of perseverance.

"Programming in Python" - Michael Dawson

A good basic book for beginners, introduces the principles of programming using Python as an example. Its author is not only an experienced practitioner, but also a teacher, so he knows how to convey information. The book describes all the necessary skills, many examples of program code and practical tasks.

"Learning Python" and "Python Programming" - Mark Lutz

The book is based on a training course, suitable for beginners who already understand something in programming. Its author, one of the pioneers in the Python community, began working with the language in 1992. Two dive volumes: detailed theory with all tools, object types, quizzes, exercises and illustrations. There is not only basic syntax here, but also complex Python tools: decorators, descriptors, metaclasses.