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Very much so. One can master 1-2 things, quality of life nonwithstanding. But not 5-6 things, as is called for being "full-stack". It is just not possible. Pe

by lstodd 6y ago

Very much so. One can master 1-2 things, quality of life nonwithstanding. But not 5-6 things, as is called for being "full-stack". It is just not possible. People, can you please quit your delusions?

GordonS 6y ago
Because you haven't seen it, doesn't make it so. It is absolutely possible. What it does take is time. Lots of time. I consider myself full-stack, and I've worked with a few great full-stack engineers over the years too. The thing they all have in common is 10+ years of software development experience, and without exception every one was what I call an "IT generalist" - aside from software development, they all knew a bit about Windows, Linux, databases, DevOps, networking at different layers, infrastructure, virtualisation, etc.
- Silhouette 6y ago
  What it does take is time. Lots of time. I agree, but more than that, it's also about what you're doing with that time. The distinction between having ten years of experience or one year of experience ten times very much applies here. Some types of work naturally have a long, steep learning curve: the lone technical founder in a software startup, or perhaps a freelancer or software house employee who might work on several different projects for several different clients each year. You're potentially going to learn far more in a situation like that than someone working in one role on one project for one employer with colleagues to refer to if they can't figure something out for themselves, over the same period of time. Multiply that difference in the rate of gaining experience by several years, and yes, you certainly can have someone with a skill set that is both broad and deep.
- lstodd 6y ago
  Like I haven't been learning all those 20+ years in industry. Like I haven't worked with those people. The notion of that it is possible to know a "stack" "fully" is a delusion. Calling yourself a "full-stack dev" is just plain hypocrisy.

by lstodd 6y ago

Very much so. One can master 1-2 things, quality of life nonwithstanding. But not 5-6 things, as is called for being "full-stack". It is just not possible. People, can you please quit your delusions?

GordonS 6y ago

Because you haven't seen it, doesn't make it so. It is absolutely possible. What it does take is time. Lots of time. I consider myself full-stack, and I've worked with a few great full-stack engineers over the years too. The thing they all have in common is 10+ years of software development experience, and without exception every one was what I call an "IT generalist" - aside from software development, they all knew a bit about Windows, Linux, databases, DevOps, networking at different layers, infrastructure, virtualisation, etc.

Silhouette 6y ago
What it does take is time. Lots of time. I agree, but more than that, it's also about what you're doing with that time. The distinction between having ten years of experience or one year of experience ten times very much applies here. Some types of work naturally have a long, steep learning curve: the lone technical founder in a software startup, or perhaps a freelancer or software house employee who might work on several different projects for several different clients each year. You're potentially going to learn far more in a situation like that than someone working in one role on one project for one employer with colleagues to refer to if they can't figure something out for themselves, over the same period of time. Multiply that difference in the rate of gaining experience by several years, and yes, you certainly can have someone with a skill set that is both broad and deep.
lstodd 6y ago
Like I haven't been learning all those 20+ years in industry. Like I haven't worked with those people. The notion of that it is possible to know a "stack" "fully" is a delusion. Calling yourself a "full-stack dev" is just plain hypocrisy.