Full-stack development A bit about everything 

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A webapp : simple full-stack software 

Android : A complex stack 

First impressions matter. The UI should look good ● ●UI != UX. Good UX needs good UI. But just good UI doesn’t ensure good UX. ● ●Do not overdesign. The best UIs are the simplest ones. ● ●UX is a tool to make the user do what you want. But without him knowing this. (dark and light patterns). The front-end : UI/UX 

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Speed : Computers are faster than humans. Keep it that way. And users are impatient. ● ●Information : Show what is needed. Hide what isn’t. Users aren’t developers. They don’t need ‘under-the-hood’ stats. ● ●Depending on the platform, decide the tradeoff between client and server side processing. (eg. Autodesk Pixlr) ● ●Handle crashes gracefully. Stay with the user. Do not bail out. The front-end : functionality 

●Speed of development matters. ●Validate everything that the user enters in forms or otherwise. ●MVP first, scale later ●Learn and embrace new tech like Docker Containers. The Server Side Stuff 

Use a robust platform. Check its forums, find out if the platform and it’s providers have downtimes, or issues. ● ●Do not become dependent on the platform or the host. Always keep bags packed and ready to move. ● ●First MVP with a easy to set up platform. Then move to more native platform when scaling. ● ●Use containers, servlets, docklets, VM images. These are The server platform 

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Forget Windows/Mac. Learn Linux. Forget GUI. You’re now in command (pun intended) ● ●Bash/Shell scripting = your single largest tool. ● ●Learn managing a VPS. Learn setting up OpenStack, OpenCloud, AWS, GAE, Heroku etc instances. ● ●Use monitoring tools like Nagios. Learn network fundamentals. DNS, iptables etc. Managing the backend : SysAdmin 

It’s not just coding ●Writing code ●Testing and debugging ●Version control ●Managing the databases ●Sysadmin for the backend ●Designing UI for frontend ●Marketing and publicity 

Reach MVP first. Optimize later. ● ●Use comments. Especially //TODO, //FIXME lines. ● ●Run & test often. At least once after adding every 100 lines. ● ●Code may be poetry. But it needs proofreading. Good practices : coding 

Good practices : testing Test like your granny would (no offense). Press all the buttons. Do everything that can crash the app. Trust me, your users will too. ● ●Test under worst conditions. Slow internet, corrupt data, throw everything at it. ● ●Test all the cases. Especially the improbable ones. Remember Murphy’s law. 

Good practices : debugging Learn to log your code. Learn to read the logs. Developing is >50% of debugging. ● ●Bug hunting skills are more important coding. Many people can build stuff. Few can fix things when they are broken. ● ●Investigate bugs systematically. Change one component at a time. Pinpoint the portion that causes the bug. ● ●DO NOT duct tape your bugs. Solve them properly. 

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Good practices : data models It’s very difficult to change data model after 5000 people have started using your product. Choose wisely from the start. ● ● Work out the flow of data. In your mind, on a paper, on the drawing board. The data model should be made accordingly. ● ● Reduce iterations. Reduce number of passes your functions make through each table. ● ● Cache the data that is repetitively used. Make sensitive data redundant. ● ● If your data model depends on your language or framework or platform, you’re probably doing it wrong. You might need to change your platform or language tomorrow. 

General suggestions for a FSD Identify your strong suite. No one can be a true all rounder. Go deep with that. Spread thin on other areas. ● ● Use ready-to-use solutions for your weaker base. (eg. Ionic/Titanium for client side, Parse/Firebase for backend) ● ● Make friends with other FSDs. Especially with non-intersecting strengths. ● ● Keep working on new technologies. Follow well known developers. Track some awesome github projects. ● ● Use cross-end languages in hobby projects. Eg. Python, javascript, java etc which can be used to make both front and back ends easily. 

Tools Used for development + Server Side : Python(Flask) + Web APP : Bootstrap,Angular JS + Android and iOS app : Ionic framework Tools used for marketing + Facebook Ads + Twitter and facebook bots + Setting up a content writing team. Full Stack in Action: Orch.in