Full Stack Web and Mobile App Development is Critical: GoodFirms’ Podcast with GeekyAnts

Updated on :October 18, 2023
By :Paul Richards

Full Stack Development has become more than just a buzzword in the software or mobile application development industry. It refers to the complete end-to-end management of the front-end and the back-end development of a web application or a mobile application. The front end primarily focuses on designing the application's user interface, usually visible to end users. These may include creating striking logos, simplified search bars, and the overall layout of the page. On the other hand, the back-end development centers around building the server-side software, databases, APIs, validating the data, etc. The front-end development is the client side, whereas the back-end development is the server side. The demand for experienced and skilled full-stack developers has grown significantly due to its myriad benefits. 

GoodFirms Roundtable is a series of podcast discussions where top IT professionals, CEOs, CTOs, and managers of software development companies share their views on the current IT services trends and this industry is heading toward the future. The information shared is a valuable resource for all those planning to start their businesses or launch new products. 

In this current podcast discussion, GoodFirms had a chance to interact with Saurabh Sahu, CTO of GeekyAnts

GeekyAnts is a leading product and service development company established in 2006 with offices in India, the UK, and the US. It builds wide-ranging innovative products specializing in end-to-end full stack development of web and mobile app development, apart from providing UI/UX designs, quality assurance, software testing, full stack development, and business analysis. The company offers solutions for diverse industry verticals and holds expertise in research and development. GeekyAnts  has been recently recognized by GoodFirms as the ‘Best Company to Work With.’

The podcast discussion will highlight the following points 

  1. Is the demand for full-stack applications increasing, and should companies offer them as services?
  2. What is full-stack development, and what key tech is used for mobile and web app development?
  3. What are the critical steps for conducting effective UX research? 
  4. How do UX designers manage accessibility and inclusive design elements?
  5. How can inexperienced developers and designers expand their knowledge of UI/UX, and what resources are helpful in this regard?

This podcast discussion will also make you familiar with

  • Critical challenges of full stack development when building mobile or web apps.
  • Is app scalability an issue for developers, and how to scale applications?
  • Key testing strategies for full-stack web and mobile app development?
  • How has GoodFirms helped GeekyAnts gain global client trust?

With the beginning of 2023, the mobile app market has significantly changed, and the demand curve for emerging technologies has been rising drastically. So, what are the numbers saying about the demand for full-stack applications? Are they in demand, and if yes, should new companies offer that as a service for their clients?

I think companies should gain expertise in full-stack development to ease out the clients’ pain. Full-stack development also eliminates the need to have different stakeholders for front-end and back-end development and infrastructure management.

Quotation 1

What is full-stack development, and can you please describe the tech stack used in web or mobile application development?

Full stack development is the term used to describe working on both the front and back end of a mobile or web app. It represents an end-to-end workflow.

We use the following tech stack for web and mobile app development. 

  1. For web apps, we use React.js, Next.js, TailwindCSS, and NativeBase.
  2. The tech stack used in mobile apps is React Native and Flutter.
  3. For the backend, we use Node.js, GraphQL API, Hasura, and the Postgres database

While working on UX for any application, it is important to conduct UX research and identify the loopholes that designers can address in their next work. How can designers do effective UX research, and what are the steps to conduct an effective UX research process?

According to Saurabh Sahu, the following are the crucial steps  to conduct an effective UX research process;

  • Defining the research goal - You must identify what you want to learn from the research and understand its significance.  This will help guide the research process and ensure that you collect the correct data.

For example, you need to identify the pain points of current applications while redesigning an application. Also, it becomes essential to study the solutions offered by your competitors to identify the problematic areas. 

  • Identify your target audience - Determine who you want to study and what you want to learn about them—the research methods change based on the targeted audience.
  • Choose the right research methods - Next, you must select the most appropriate research method, such as surveys, interviews, usability,  testing, or focus groups. 

For instance, we cannot use the same survey forms and interview questions for children, particularly targeting older people. We have to plan the activities based on the selected user group.

  • Conduct the research - Use the chosen research methods to collect participant data. Ensure to frame open-minded questions and actively listen to the participants' feedback.
  • Analyze the data - Review and analyze the data collected from the research. You must look for patterns, trends, and insights that help you frame design decisions. 
  • Document the findings -  Present your research findings to stakeholders and team members. Articulate the insights and implications for design and product development clearly.
  • Apply the findings - Use the insights and recommendations from your research to inform and guide design decisions. Evaluate and iterate on the design based on ongoing research and feedback continuously. 

By following these steps, designers can conduct effective UX research and gain valuable insights into user needs, behaviors, and preferences. This information can help to inform design decisions, improve the user experience, and ultimately drive business success.

Quotation 2

A designer named Frank Chimero once said, “People ignore design that ignores people.” This quote highlights the importance of inclusivity in designing applications. How can UX designers handle accessibility and inclusive design considerations?

If you want to handle accessibility more efficiently, you must follow the steps indicated below. 

  1. Take the time to learn about the needs of different user groups, including differently-abled people and those with diverse cultural, linguistic, and technological backgrounds. Stay up-to-date with the latest accessibility guidelines and standards, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
  2. Ensure that your design process includes input from a diverse range of users and groups, as indicated above. This will help to ensure that your designs are inclusive and meet the needs of a wide range of users.
  3. You cannot consider accessibility at a later stage. It must start to form the research phase. It helps to ensure that you do not miss the required information gathered during the research phase.
  4. Evaluate your designs and iterate based on user feedback continuously. Stay up-to-date with the latest accessibility guidelines and standards and make changes as needed.

Quotation 3

So, a full-stack developer must know front-end and back-end technologies. And to work on the front end, you must have an in-depth knowledge of appealing visual designs and utility. For designers and developers who have little experience, how can they build their knowledge around UI/UX and some resources that can help them in this journey?

For designers and developers with little experience in both areas, the knowledge of UI/UX can help them visualize and generate better solutions. I suggest the following resources for in-depth knowledge about UI/UX.

  • Get involved with designers in the design process -  The design process includes many brainstorming sessions. Participating in the design and brainstorming sessions gives them a better understanding of the entire design journey.
  • Attend conferences and workshops - Attending conferences and workshops can provide designers and developers with the opportunity to learn from experts, network with other professionals, and view real-world examples of UI/UX design.
  • Participate in design challenges - Participating in design challenges, such as those hosted by Dribbble or UX Design Challenges, can help designers and developers to practice and improve their skills.
  • Create personal projects - Finally, designers and developers can build their knowledge and skills by creating personal projects, experimenting with different design approaches, and seeking feedback from other experienced designers and developers.

What are some of the challenges you faced when you first started out for full-stack web and mobile app development?

There were several challenges when we started the full-stack development. 

  1. One of them was staying up-to-date with the latest technologies.  For example, we adopted RN during the early days while going for full-stack development. Since there was no library in RN, we had to contribute to the developers’ community by creating NativeBase.
  2. Also, mastering multiple technologies can be hard. Developers are expected to have a broader understanding of different programming languages.
  3. With full-stack development, it can get challenging to debug the issues. That's where QA testing can help.

Quotation 4

Within a full-stack web and mobile app, there is a lot going on. There are constant API communications going on from the front end to the back end. In this, isn’t app scalability an issue for developers? To handle increasing traffic, How will the application be scaled?

To scale applications, you can implement various essential strategies indicated below. 

  • Vertical scaling -  It involves upgrading the resources (e.g., CPU, memory, storage) of the existing servers to handle more traffic. The approach can be expensive and has limitations regarding the maximum capacity that can be achieved.
  • Horizontal scaling - This involves adding more servers to the existing infrastructure to handle more traffic. This approach is cost-effective and scales to a larger capacity than vertical scaling.
  • Load balancing - It helps to distribute the traffic across multiple servers to ensure that no single server is overloaded. This can be achieved using hardware or software load balancers.
  • Caching - Catching stores frequently accessed data in a cache to reduce the number of requests to the back-end server. It improves performance and reduces the load on the servers.
  • Content Delivery Network (CDN) - CDN helps to cache content at several worldwide locations to reduce the latency of delivering content to users. CDN improves the user experience and lowers the load on the servers.

Quotation 5

Testing is an important part of the development lifecycle. What are the testing strategies of the full-stack web and mobile apps, and what tools and techniques do you recommend for testing?

At GeekyAnts, we have our in-house device lab where testers don’t test the application on real devices. We use the following tools and techniques to carry out testing.

  • For automated testing, we use Jest, Cypress, and Playwright.
  • We also hold expertise in Selenium and Appium.
  • To run the app crawlers, we use the Firebase Test lab.
  • We also do the load and performance testing using k6.io.

Quotation 6

Full-stack development is a competitive market with many players doing their best to showcase their skills and accelerate their business growth. In this scenario, how has GoodFirms helped Geekyants gain trust from prospective clients globally?

GoodFirms is a top-rated IT rating and review platform that has helped us reach our clients and educate them about our capabilities effectively. We have a well-curated profile on GoodFirms that enables us to target the right audience to boost our web traffic. We have also been selected as one of the top development companies by GoodFirms recently.

If you are interested in listeningto this podcast discussion, please click here. 

What’s Next

With IT service firms and software development companies looking to curtail application building costs, full-stack development has become a budget-friendly viable option.  Companies can hire dedicated full-stack developers who ensure the timely delivery of the project and are familiar with the latest technological trends. Full-stack development also ensures improved organizational productivity, flexibility and accelerates the creation of high-quality products. 

Are you looking to share your views or experience on any topic related to IT services or software development? If yes, then just write an email to [email protected].

Paul Richards
Paul Richards

Paul  Richards is a Senior Content Creator at GoodFirms, an IT review and rating firm with 8+ years of wide experience. An ardent sports enthusiast and travel freak, he loves to share his ideas and knowledge on everything technology, software systems, digital marketing, and the latest industry trends. An avid reader, he likes to explore and browse various websites to accumulate more information on different topics.

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