Back-End Development in 2020

Try booking yourself a set of movie tickets or shopping from an e-commerce app. Even simpler, enter something on the browser. Are you wondering how the content is continually changing and updating with real-time data or amazed at how you’re getting suggestions without having typed the full detail? It seems like magic doesn’t it? All this is a part of a detailed behind-the-scenes process commonly known as ‘Back-end Development.’ Back-end is all about maintaining a strong online presence while keeping the audience engaged with a unique set of technologies and languages. It powers the product’s growth, making the entire process of online browsing seamless. 

The back-end is the backbone of software development. It is the process of writing codes that communicates with the front-end and shares relevant information to be displayed on the screen. The interaction happens through a series of requests sent to the back-end servers that store millions of terabytes of data, to help dynamic software maintain their elective presence and keep users interactively engaged. Back-end development also ensures that the software doesn’t crash often or have 404 errors that restrict the overall performance of the page. 

Now, all this is not powered by AI yet; it is done manually. It is thereby creating a high demand for proficient and experienced back-end developers. However, the role of a back-end developer is easy. It requires a massive investment of time, patience and knowledge to master the art of just one language. One language alone is so exhaustingly comprehensive that the developer has to be deeply involved in knowing its entire architecture. These languages also keep modifying themselves with upgrades and updates. In such a scenario, back-end developers can’t or rather shouldn’t afford to move to new languages and be a jack of all trades. This would reflect on their knowledge and skills.

So how do developers know about the language in which they need proficiency? Should they follow a new style, or should invest their energies in the older ones? 

Well, before we delve deeper into that, let’s first take a closer look at the necessary skills set that summarize the role of an ideal back-end developer. 

With reference to the above diagram, an ideal back-end developer should have: 

• Complete command of any one programming language- Java, Go, Python, among others
• Competent knowledge of various database technologies like MySQL, MongoDB, Oracle, to name a few
• A good background in administering servers like Linux, Microsoft IIS, Apache, etc. 
• The ability to manage APIs that are executed across devices such as JSON, AJAX, SOAP

JAVA

One of the most celebrated software programming languages of all time that is used in more than 3 billion devices.

Best Java Frameworks to Know in 2020:

• Spring- Is extremely handy when developing complex applications. 
• Hibernate- When there are multiple databases, this framework makes things speedy, powerful, easy to scale, modify, and configure.
• Struts- This framework reduces the processing time as it provides well-organized easy to maintain, extensible, and flexible applications.
   
• Grails- Is useful in creating robust and scalable applications for content management systems, and e-commerce sites. 
• Play- A credible framework for apps replete with speed, scalability, and performance.

PYTHON

A powerful programming language designed with easy understanding for both beginners and seasoned developers. 

Best Python Frameworks to Know in 2020:

• Django-  This simple, flexible, reliable, and scalable framework ensures a pragmatic and secure development of software. 
• Pyramid – Fondly known as a finishing-focused lightweight framework that starts small and throughout ensures continual performance and quality features.
• Flask– It is a lightweight microframework used to build web apps with minimal to no dependencies on external libraries. 

GO

Google’s latest development environment and programming language is efficient in developing and optimizing apps.

Best Go Frameworks to Know in 2020:

• Revel- It is easy for building applications owing to its high-productivity, engine-driven, migration-friendly features.
     
• Gin Gonic- An HTTP web framework, 40 times faster than other frameworks, delivering much better performance.

• Bugsnag- Take a proactive approach to monitor and detect errors and improve app quality in real-time.
• Beego- With an extensive array of intelligent yet straightforward features, a high-performance framework is exceptionally efficient at building and developing applications.

NODE JS

With a robust technology stack, Node JS is a universal language for both clients as well as server-side programming. Its outstanding runtime environment helps build fast, scalable network applications.

Best Node Js Frameworks to Know in 2020:

• Express JS – An incredibly fast yet minimal framework used to build high-performing software and unique APIs. 
• Socket JS – This javascript library enables in the creation of real-time applications like chatbots, score tickers, dashboard APIs, amongst others. 
• Hapi JS – One of the most preferred robust, stable, and reliable frameworks providing technology solutions to several large-scale websites.
• Sails JS – This popular framework is exceptionally compatible with several back-end platforms and is also famous for building data-driven APIs.

RUBY 

A dynamic and elegant language that is extremely popular among developers owing to its blazing speed in creating new projects with high performance. Since 2002, Ruby has had 1,082 releases.

Best Ruby Frameworks to Know in 2020:

• Ruby on Rails-  The extensive ecosystem and set of conventions in Rails help speed up the development process while offering high scalability.
• Sinatra – With a minimalistic development effort and a straightforward, simple syntax, Sinatra offers what is necessary for the creation of software.
• Padrino – This full-stack Ruby Framework is a fun and interesting way of building highly advanced software applications.

This may seem mundane, but the career of a back-end developer progresses within the same technology. They usually upgrade from basic concepts to design patterns to architecture if seeking advancements. It is rare and rather unadvisable for a back-end developer to change technologies and languages with time. However, they do have a close alternative. Depending on their levels of expertise and learning agility, one can take up the challenge and venture into becoming a full-stack developer. Such developers work on both front-end and back-end with a working knowledge of various other areas like Databases, Version Control System, Designing, etc. 

For example, becoming a MEAN STACK Developer requires proficiency in M- Mongo Database, E- Express JS, A- Angular JS, and- Node JS. 

Another popular choice is LAMP STACK, wherein the foundation is L-Linux, A- Apache, M- MySQL, and P- PHP.  

Back-end development is poised for growth. As there are advancements in the creation of software, there is advancement in the selection of the right back-end programming language too. Concurrently, the presence of such exhausting technologies and languages are also intimidating. So what is to be leveraged best to grow your business or regrade a developer?   

You must understand that these tools have been there for the last 20 years, and their new versions add more value to them. As a developer, it is for you to decide what language best suits your needs. The bigger picture has to be the one that creates top-notch web development and design and meets business objectives seamlessly. However, a closer look at each language’s framework suggests there is a vast difference in libraries, APIs, Code Quality, test automation capability, community, popularity, productivity, and future-proofing caliber. Now link this to the fact that the next generation would soon witness an influx of machine learning, data science, and AI. It is, therefore, critical to explore these possibilities and explore how you can sync them with your expertise to create powerful synergies among them. As the competition intensifies, it is time to be smart, pragmatic, and relevant.