Find the Best Web Application Development Jobs

What does a web application developer do?

A web application developer is someone who develops websites and web apps for desktop, tablet, and mobile devices. A web application developer uses a variety of programming languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, in addition to frameworks such as React and Vue, to create and support web applications. The developer may also use a plethora of third-party tools and services to create the application. It is part of a web developer's responsibility to ensure that the application is accessible to users around the world.

Web application developers may also be expected to handle the maintenance and hosting infrastructure of a web app. This will include configuring DNS options for connecting domain names and subdomains, setting up proper MX rules for email support, and performing maintenance work when necessary, such as updating plugins and other dependencies in software.

What skills do I need to become a web application developer?

A web application developer may work with many programming languages and frameworks. HTML, CSS, and JavaScript form the core programming languages that every web application developer should know, but these skills may be augmented with a variety of additional programming languages such as Python, C#, and PHP.

Web application developers must also be familiar with a variety of popular frameworks and software libraries relevant to their area of expertise. These will often include the use of Node.js and popular JavaScript frameworks such as React, Vue, and Express.js. Web application developers must be comfortable working with the command line in order to install and update project dependencies.

Web application developers may also be responsible for handling the front end of the app. This relates to the user interface and user experience, such as how the app looks and feels to the end user. Web developers may be tasked with integrating layouts provided by designers and making sure apps have a consistent end-user experience on different devices, from desktop computers to smartphones.

Common skills a web application developer should possess include:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, or related field
• Proficiency with required web development coding languages such as HTML5, CSS, Ruby, JavaScript, and Bootstrap
• Strong understanding of asynchronous request handling, partial page updates, and Ajax 5.
• Experience with at least one server-side language, such as PHP, Java, or .NET
• Proficiency with relational databases, such as MySQL and SQL
• Experience with using caching, routing, and queueing software
• Ability to work well with management, front-end developers, back-end developers, and other programmers

What are the core web application developer job responsibilities?

A web application developer will be expected to build and create web applications from scratch as well as work on the maintenance of existing web apps. This may include the design and implementation of RESTful services in order to provide API endpoints to web app data or to integrate third-party data sources for consumption by internal APIs. Building from scratch will also involve the design and implementation of relational database schemas or NoSQL data stores for data storage purposes. Knowledge of popular third-party cloud-based storage and hosting services such as Amazon Web Services or Google Cloud is not necessary but may be useful.

Web application developers are required to gather and define project requirements from clients and convert these into a functioning web application. This will include defining the scope, creating the software architecture, writing and testing the software, and optimizing it for speed and performance. Web developers with experience and background knowledge should be able to understand when existing tools and services can be used to meet client requirements and when completely bespoke code is required, knowledge that helps save both time and money for the client.

Web application developers will often have to integrate third-party tools and services into existing applications. Common use cases involve integrating data analysis software or ad network services. This will involve becoming familiar with the provided tools and understanding how to integrate them into the web application.