Which is the Best: DevOps or Full Stack Developer?

Companies aim for expansion, effectiveness, and creativity in their operations. Thus, picking the right technical expertise is very important. If you are creating a new digital product, scaling an existing platform size, or ensuring seamless operations – the decision to hire either a DevOps vs Full Stack Developer can greatly affect how successful your project will be.

Knowing the difference between DevOps and Full Stack Developer aids businesses in deciding which function suits their requirements better. Full Stack Developers are responsible for building complete applications, handling both frontend and backend development. DevOps development focuses on automation, infrastructure management, and deployment to ensure stability and scalability.

This article explores how businesses can determine the right choice based on project requirements, operational complexity, and long-term scalability needs. Whether you're launching a startup, optimizing enterprise applications, or improving deployment efficiency, understanding the roles of DevOps and Full Stack Development will help you make an informed hiring decision.

What Is a Full Stack Developer?

A full stack developer is a versatile software engineer who handles both frontend (user interface) and backend (server-side logic) development. This role is crucial for businesses that need end-to-end application development without relying on multiple specialists. Full Stack Developers can design, develop, and maintain complete web or mobile applications, making them a valuable asset for startups and mid-sized companies that require agility and flexibility in development.

When Does a Business Need a Full Stack Developer?

• Startups and MVP Development – If you're launching a new digital product, a Full Stack Developer can build a minimum viable product (MVP) quickly without requiring a large development team.
• Custom Web or Mobile Applications – Businesses developing interactive web platforms or mobile applications benefit from Full Stack Developers who can manage both user experience and backend functionality.
• E-commerce & SaaS Solutions – Hire software developers if you need to build scalable e-commerce platforms, SaaS applications, or internal business tools. These projects require professionals who can efficiently integrate payment gateways, databases, and APIs.
• Budget-Conscious Projects – If hiring separate frontend and backend developers is not feasible, Full Stack Developers offer a cost-effective solution by covering both areas.

What Is a DevOps Engineer?

A DevOps engineer bridges the gap between development and operations by automating and streamlining processes related to software deployment, infrastructure management, and system performance. From a business perspective, the role is essential for improving the efficiency of operations, ensuring the scalability of services, and delivering high-quality software with minimal downtime. Engineers specialized in agile operational methods are very important nowadays when providing software development services where quickness, safety measures, and the ability to expand without losing performance matter most.

When Does a Business Need a DevOps Engineer?

• Scalability: When your business requires rapid scaling of services or applications, especially in cloud environments, a DevOps Engineer will ensure that the infrastructure can grow and adapt quickly to meet demand.
• Automation: For businesses that need to automate routine tasks, from software deployment to monitoring and system maintenance, a DevOps Engineer will set up systems that save time and reduce human error.
• High Availability: If your business requires constant uptime and cannot afford downtime, DevOps services ensure that systems are optimized for high availability, with automated recovery mechanisms.
• Frequent Releases: If your business is releasing frequent updates, new features, or patches, DevOps Engineers help create a continuous delivery pipeline, ensuring that software is deployed efficiently and reliably.

Difference Between DevOps and Full Stack Developer

The difference between Full Stack Developer and DevOps Engineer lies in their primary focus. Understanding the difference between these two roles is crucial for making the right hiring decisions that will drive efficiency, scalability, and overall success in your digital projects.

This DevOps vs Full Stack Engineer comparison highlights that both roles contribute to efficient software delivery but operate at different levels of the development lifecycle. If you need to focus on automating deployment, ensuring system reliability, and scaling infrastructure, a DevOps Engineer is the right choice. However, if your business is in need of a versatile developer who can handle both the user-facing and backend parts of your application, a Full Stack Developer will deliver the comprehensive solution you require.

Which One Is Better: DevOps or Full Stack Developer?

The question of better DevOps or Full Stack Developer depends largely on the specific needs of your business. While both roles are crucial in the software development lifecycle, they address different aspects of business operations. A DevOps Engineer ensures that your infrastructure, deployment processes, and overall system performance are efficient, secure, and scalable. On the other hand, a Full Stack Developer is instrumental in building the complete digital product from the ground up, focusing on both the front-end and back-end development.

When to Choose a Full Stack Developer

• Building a New Digital Product: When your business is launching a new web or mobile application that requires both front-end and back-end development.
• Limited Resources: If you’re a startup or small business with a limited budget, a Full Stack Developer can handle multiple aspects of the development process, reducing the need to hire multiple specialists.
• Rapid Product Iteration: If you need to quickly prototype and release new features or make changes to the product, Full Stack Developers can handle all layers of development efficiently.
• Tight Deadlines: When your business needs to go live with a product in a short amount of time, Full Stack Developers can develop and deploy both the user-facing and backend functionalities concurrently.

When to Choose a DevOps Engineer

• Infrastructure Scalability: If your business needs to scale infrastructure quickly to handle growing user demand or expanding services, DevOps Engineers can ensure your systems can grow with minimal disruption.
• Continuous Integration and Deployment (CI/CD): When your business requires fast and automated deployment cycles for frequent updates or new feature releases, DevOps Engineers streamline these processes.
• High Availability and Reliability: If your business cannot afford downtime, a DevOps Engineer ensures that systems are monitored and remain operational with automated recovery processes in place.
• Cloud-Based Solutions: When your business is shifting to cloud-native environments or leveraging cloud infrastructure, a DevOps Engineer will help optimize resources and manage cloud services effectively.

When considering Full Stack vs DevOps, companies with product development teams may prioritize end-to-end developers, while enterprises focusing on scalability, automation, and reliability may hire DevOps Engineers.

Does Full Stack Include DevOps?

Full stack development does not inherently include DevOps, although there are some overlapping areas where both roles interact. Full stack development and agile operations serve distinct functions within the software development lifecycle, and while there are commonalities in terms of automation and system integration, each role has its own specific focus and expertise.

An end-to-end developer is responsible for both the front-end and back-end of an application. This means they work on everything from the user interface (UI) to the server-side logic, databases, and APIs. Their focus is on the development and functionality of the application itself, ensuring that it is user-friendly and works seamlessly across both the client side and server side.

DevOps engineers, on the other hand, are focused on the deployment, automation, and maintenance of the infrastructure that supports the application. They work on the integration of development and operations teams, automating the deployment pipeline, scaling the infrastructure, monitoring system performance, and ensuring that the software can be reliably delivered to users at scale.

Use Cases: When to Choose DevOps vs Full Stack

Choosing between Full Stack Developer vs DevOps Engineer depends on the specific needs of a project, the complexity of the infrastructure, and the long-term scalability goals. While end-to-end developers focus on building complete applications from frontend to backend, agile operations engineers specialize in optimizing system performance, automating deployment, and ensuring seamless infrastructure scalability. For companies deciding whether to go with Full Stack or DevOps, the decision often comes down to whether they need end-to-end application development or a reliable, automated, and scalable infrastructure.

Choosing a DevOps Engineer becomes essential when your business needs to ensure that its systems are scalable, automated, and reliable. If your company is experiencing significant growth and your infrastructure cannot keep up with the demand, a DevOps Engineer will design systems that allow for rapid scaling while optimizing resource use.

On the other hand, a Full Stack Developer is the right choice when your business is building or launching a new digital product, such as a web or mobile application. Full Stack Developers handle both the front-end and back-end, giving businesses a streamlined approach to development, especially in smaller teams or startups where resources may be limited.

Future Outlook

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for software developers, including Full Stack developers, is expected to grow by 17% from 2023 to 2033, significantly outpacing the average growth rate across all industries. This rapid growth highlights the increasing reliance on software development in various sectors.

The DevOps market is also set to see substantial growth, with projections indicating an expansion from approximately $10.4 billion in 2023 to $25.5 billion by 2028, representing a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 19.7%. This surge reflects the growing need for efficient infrastructure management and continuous integration in modern business environments.

Looking ahead to the next 2 to 5 years, both Full Stack developers and DevOps Engineers will remain crucial in the tech industry. However, the integration of AI and automation tools will reshape these roles. Professionals who continuously enhance their skills in areas like AI, machine learning, and cybersecurity will be in higher demand, as they will be better equipped to navigate the evolving landscape.

As more organizations embrace cloud services and automated deployment pipelines, the expertise of DevOps Engineers will become even more vital, ensuring seamless scalability and performance for businesses globally.

Expert Insights: When to Choose DevOps or Full Stack Development?

At Artjoker, our experienced DevOps and end-to-end developers have worked on a variety of projects across different industries, giving them deep insights into when each approach is the right choice. We asked our internal experts to share their thoughts on when businesses should opt for agile operations engineers and when they should go with end-to-end developers.

When is it Better to Choose a DevOps Engineer?

"As businesses grow and their systems become more complex, stability and automation become critical. For example, if your company already has a growing user base and your primary challenge is maintaining stability and speeding up releases, then adding a DevOps engineer is the best choice. DevOps focuses on ensuring continuous integration, smooth deployments, and automation, which helps businesses improve infrastructure performance and minimize downtime." – Prokopiev Oleksandr, CEO of ARTJOKER

When is it Better to Choose a Full Stack Developer?

"Full stack developers are ideal for businesses that need a versatile approach to development. If your company has an aging codebase or needs to build new features rapidly, a full stack developer can handle both the front-end and back-end aspects of the application. They are crucial when the code requires major updates or new features that span across multiple layers of the application stack." – Prokopiev Oleksandr, CEO of ARTJOKER