Have you ever wondered how we easily understand websites and apps’ layouts, language, and everything else? Behind all these are the dedicated back end developers who create and maintain websites while writing top-notch code. As a result, we get the final results on apps and websites.
In today’s era, almost every business has a website, and some have apps. With the increasing demand for website and app creation, companies depend more on backend engineers.
Let’s dive into detail about understanding backend development and how to hire expert backend developers.
Keep reading!
What is Backend Development?
Back-end development refers to the web development activities completed at the back end of programs you can’t see on websites. Creating libraries, writing APIs, and working with system elements instead of frontend development are certain server-side web application logic covered by back end development.
The web is entirely powered by back end development. Additionally, back-end development works with the front-end to provide final results to the end users.
What Does a Backend Developer Do? Roles & Responsibilities
A back-end developer is accountable for creating and designing the infrastructure of websites. As we discussed back end development, now let’s understand backend developer roles and responsibilities.
1. Writing Top-Notch Code
One of the critical responsibilities of back-end programmers is writing easily manageable and clean code to develop web applications ideally.
2. Creating and Maintaining Websites
Another critical responsibility of a back-end developer is determining how ideally to create user-friendly, intuitive prototypes and convert them into websites using multiple tools, languages, and frameworks. For this purpose, an understanding of cross-platform compatibility and functionality is crucial.
3. Doing Quality Assurance Testing Evaluating Speed and Efficiency
Back end programmers are also responsible for developing and overseeing the testing schedule to optimize user interface and experience, ensuring ideal display on various devices and browsers.
4. Offering Support and Training
Leading mentorship and training for subordinates, along with managing workflow with client teams to ensure advanced support, are also among the primary responsibilities of back-end developers.
5. Troubleshooting Issues
A backend engineer is also in charge of troubleshooting and resolving the problems while communicating them to stakeholders, project managers, and quality assurance teams.
Tools For Backend Development
There is a vast set of tools for back-end development in the tech world that makes the task easier for back-end developers. These tools prove beneficial in creating, testing, and maintaining website applications. These tools include programming languages, servers, databases, and frameworks.
1. Programming Languages
Programming languages used by back end engineers are C#, Ruby, Python, JavaScript, PHP, and Java. Let’s discuss the most important and widely used programming languages in detail.
Python
One of the most preferred programming languages for back-end development is Python. It is a general-purpose and top-level programming language that supports various programming models such as functional, procedural, and object-oriented.
Some of the most famous examples of platforms using Python in their tech stacks are Google, Spotify, and Instagram. Python provides exceptional features, such as easy integration with other languages, rich library support, compatibility with trending technologies, GUI Programming support, etc.
PHP
The acronym of HyperText Preprocessor is PHP. It is a server-side scripting language widely used for back end development of websites. Various well-known websites that rely on PHP include Wikipedia, Facebook, WordPress, and others.
The reasons behind the preference for PHP over other programming languages are OOP features, cross-platform compatibility, and easy integration with CSS, HTML, JavaScript, etc.
JavaScript
JavaScript is widely popular because of its substantial role in the development of websites. Alongside CSS and HTML, JavaScript is the basic unit of web development. The best part of JavaScript is that it can be utilized for both backend and frontend development.
2. Frameworks
Frameworks are another vital tool used by back end developers. Common frameworks include Laravel, Spring, Meteor, Django, Node.js, and Ruby on Rails. Although all these frameworks are used for website development, the most popular are explained below.
Laravel
In the tech world, the most popular framework is Laravel. It is an open-source website framework based on the model view controller architectural pattern. It also offers multiple upgraded features like Template Engine, Eloquent ORM, and Modular libraries.
Django
Another open-source website framework is Django, which lets you perform the task of website development more effectively. The architectural pattern followed by Django is a model template view. The features that make Django the most popular framework are its scalability, extensibility, security, fast development, and vast community.
3. Databases
Databases are also among the popular backend developer tools. Common databases are MongoDB, Oracle, and MySQL.
MongoDB
One of the web developers’ most well-known databases is MongoDB, a free and open-source document-oriented database. Prominent features of MongoDB are aggregation, Indexing, Load Balancing, and Replication.
MySQL
Another popular open-source relational database management system is MySQL, which is used explicitly for website applications. It offers better reliability, usability, and scalability.
4. Servers
Servers are also backend tools for web development, among which the most common are Apache, Microsoft IIS, NGINX, and Lighttpd. However, NGINX and Apache are widely used among all the servers because of their user-friendly features.
NGINX
NGINX server is commonly used for catching, load balancing, proxying, and mail proxying.
Most enriching features of NGINX are IPv6-compatible, handling static files & auto-indexing, URL rewriting & redirection, etc.
Apache
Apache is a leading open-source, cross-platform server, as approximately half of the total websites across the world are powered by Apache. Prominent features of Apache are CGI support, Loadable Dynamic Modules, User and Session tracking, and Multiple Request Processing modes.
Hire Back-end Developers in Poland: PHP, Node.js, Scala
Why is Backend Development Important?
Many reasons show the importance of backend development. The most apparent advantage of back end development is speed. Backend programmers can effectively and quickly produce apps because they deal with smaller codebases than front-end engineers.
Additionally, back end development is essential because it ensures the websites function accurately while focusing on the back-end logic, databases, servers, architecture, and application programming interface.
Backend Development Process
A back end platform has three leading roles, which are discussed below.
1. Acquiring Information that User Wants Through App
While using an app, a user always requires data regardless of the product’s nature. This is true whether it is a scheduling app that lets the user set their daily schedules or a weight loss app where the user needs exercises and tips from the app to lose weight.
2. Combining and Transforming Gathered Information
The data needed for an app to function correctly comes from databases. For this purpose, back-end developers find specific information from databases and combine all the valuable information to offer the best results to the users.
3. Giving Back Information to User
During the backend development process, the data is sent to the user once all the information is gathered and combined correctly. However, most users need to learn how to read the details in pure code produced by the back-end developers. For this purpose, translators are used by the back-end designers to translate pure code into human language and make it easy for users to get the information in the simplest form.
Key Skills to Look Out for When Hiring Backend Developers
Back end development is a complex process and requires in-depth understanding, expertise, and knowledge of specific skills. The essential skills to look out for while hiring backend programmers are discussed in detail here.
1. Technical Skills
A back end programmer must have technical skills such as in-depth expertise in backend programming languages like Java, Python, and PHP.
Furthermore, knowledge of Popular frameworks such as Ruby on Rails, Django, Flask, and Express is also crucial, along with an understanding of data structures and Algorithms that include Arrays, Linked Lists, Stacks, Queues, Graphs, Hash Tables, Binary Search, Recursion, Bubble Sort, Selection Sort, Binary Search, and Insertion Sort.
A back end engineer should also be skilled in databases, cache management, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Also, the familiarity of backend engineers with servers, APIs (XML and JSON), Version Control, and Version Control Systems (e.g., Git) can’t be ignored.
2. Problem-solving Skills
Along with technical skills, back end programmers should be experts in problem-solving skills because issues can occur anytime, so back-end developers must tackle the problems efficiently.
A skilled back end engineer possesses an in-depth understanding of the field and creativity, which makes it easy for them to solve problems.
3. Communication and Interpersonal Skills
Among the skills needed for backend developers are good communication and interpersonal skills. A back end engineer with good communication skills is a superb team player because, along with creating and maintaining the project, he also understands how to communicate effectively with teammates and customers to run the project smoothly.
5 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring Backend Developers
If you want to hire a backend developer, you must avoid these five common mistakes to eliminate the chances of your project failure.
1. Skipping Technical Assessment
Suppose you skip the technical assessment of the back end engineer. In that case, you’re at higher risk of handing over your task to a less experienced backend programmer who needs help understanding how to complete your project. Therefore, you must conduct a technical assessment while hiring a back end engineer.
2. Ignoring Tech Stack Compatibility
Tech stack comparability refers to the understanding of frameworks, programming languages, databases, libraries, servers, and other tools that function together to develop and offer features and functionality of the applications. Therefore, pay attention to tech stack compatibility while hiring back end programmers to ensure your project is in safe and experienced hands.
3. Underestimating Problem-solving Skills
Experience in problem-solving is an essential requirement of almost all tech-related jobs. A programmer skilled in troubleshooting and solving issues effectively could bring a wide range of benefits to the company. For this purpose, never underestimate problem-solving skills in the hiring process of back end engineers.
4. Neglecting Soft Skills
A back-end developer should also be skilled in soft skills such as accountability, teamwork, good communication, adaptability, creativity, and time management. This will ensure you hire a well-experienced back end engineer who understands how to tackle any situation.
5. Rushing the Hiring Process
Take your time in the hiring process; and invest time and energy during hiring because it will result in getting the best candidate for the back end programmer position for your project.
How to Hire a Backend Developer?
While hiring a back-end programmer, follow the steps below.
1. Recognise Your Needs
First of all, it is essential to understand your company’s needs, which will ensure why you need a back end programmer and what tasks you want him to perform. Once you know the needs, finding back end engineer that fit perfectly for the position becomes more accessible.
2. Check Relevant Experience
After recognizing the needs, check for relevant experiences, such as an understanding of programming languages, servers, frameworks, etc, that align entirely with the back end engineer position at your company.
3. Review Their Portfolio
A portfolio provides vast details about the candidate’s experience and knowledge; therefore, review their portfolios to get a clear idea about their expertise. Reviewing a portfolio also helps you with questions during interviews with back-end developers, making the hiring process more accessible.
4. Give a Coding Assessment
You can quickly assess many candidates for back-end programmers through skill assessment tests. This coding test lets you quickly evaluate whether a candidate is a perfect fit for your company.
5. Conduct a Coding Interview
Those candidates who pass the coding test undergo the interview process, the final stage of the hiring process. While interviewing the candidates, look for their technical and soft skills and expertise.
6. Evaluate Deadline Adherence
During the selection process, ensure you finalize the back end programmer who adheres to the deadlines and is keen to play a vital role in achieving company objectives.
7. Consider Cultural Fit
Prepare a list of questions about cultural fitness and ask these questions from the candidates before the final selection. It will evaluate the fit between the company culture and the back-end programmer.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Backend Developer?
When hiring, a company always wants to hire the best candidate that fits their needs and is effective. The back end engineers in Western Europe and the USA cost the highest. The average salary of a back end programmer in New York (2024) is $70 per hour. The case is entirely different in Eastern Europe, Asia, and Africa. The average per-hour salary of back-end developers in Ukraine is $59.
The table below shows the hourly salaries of backend engineers in various regions of the world.
| Region | Hourly Income |
| Africa | $33 |
| Asia | $28 |
| Eastern Europe | $58 |
| Western Europe | $75 |
| North America | $77 |
| Latin America | $61 |
3 Best Models for Hiring Backend Developers
There are three fundamental models when it comes to hiring a back-end engineer. These models are discussed below.
1. In-House
Overview
A back end engineer hired directly by an organization to work exclusively on software systems and applications along with backend infrastructure is an in-house back-end engineer.
Advantages
- Direct control and oversight of the development process
- Better understanding of firm goals, requirements, and culture
Disadvantages
- Costly
- Recruitment and retention become challenging
2. Freelance
Overview
A freelance back end programmer works independently from anywhere worldwide, mainly on a project basis.
Advantages
- High flexibility
- Less costly
Disadvantages
- Often unavailability issues
- Risk of not getting the results you want
3. Outsourcing
Overview
Outsourcing refers to hiring external back end engineers through a third party company to handle application creation and server-side aspects of an organization.
Advantages
- Cost efficiency
- Scalability
Disadvantages
- Communication challenges
- Lack of control
Hire Offshore Backend Developers.
Although back end developers are found worldwide, hiring offshore developers are becoming more common. It is because offshore programmers offer high-quality work at competitive costs.
Why Hire Backend Developers from Poland/Ukraine?
Although you can hire back-end engineers from anywhere worldwide, back end programmers from Eastern European countries are most in demand for the following reasons.
1. Cost-Effective Talent
You can access highly skilled programmers at competitive rates in Poland and Ukraine.
2. Strong Technical Expertise
You can benefit from a rich pool of experienced backend developers with diverse skill sets.
3. Quality Work
Back end engineers in these regions are known for their commitment to delivering high-quality work.
4. Time Zone Compatibility
Close time zones of Poland and Ukraine facilitate more accessible collaboration and project management.
5. English Proficiency
Many developers in Poland and Ukraine are proficient in English, easing communication.
Let RemoDevs Help You Hire Backend Developers
If you want to hire backend developers and need assistance in this regard, RemoDev is here to help you! We are known for connecting companies with highly skilled developers who can do development effectively. So why wait? Contact us now and enjoy the high-end services of back end engineers.
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Founder and Chief Executive Officer at RemoDevs