Web development is one of the most in-demand skills in the tech industry, whether you’re an aspiring IT contractor, a software developer looking to expand your expertise, or a recruiter wanting to better understand what makes a great web developer. But where do you start? What’s the minimum you need to know? And what tech stacks should you focus on? Let’s break it down.

The Minimum Tech You Need to Learn

Before diving into frameworks and stacks, you need to master the fundamentals:

1. HTML (HyperText Markup Language) – The backbone of the web. This is where every webpage starts.
2. CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) – This controls the look and feel of your website, from layout to animations.
3. JavaScript – The programming language that makes websites interactive. Every modern web developer must know JavaScript.
4. Version Control (Git/GitHub) – Essential for tracking changes and collaborating with other developers.

Once you’ve got the basics, you should also get familiar with:

• Responsive Design (so your sites work on any device)
• Basic Terminal Commands (especially if you plan to work with servers)
• Package Managers (like npm, yarn or nuget for handling dependencies)

Different Paths, Same Destination: Web Development Tech Stacks

Now, let’s talk about tech stacks. A “stack” is simply a set of technologies that work together to build web applications. Depending on your goals, you can choose different stacks to achieve the same result. Here are some popular ones:

MERN (MongoDB, Express.js, React, Node.js)

If you’re a JavaScript fan and want to build full-stack apps using a single language, MERN is a great choice. It’s commonly used in startups and modern web applications.

LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP)

One of the oldest stacks, LAMP is still widely used, especially in enterprise applications and CMS platforms like WordPress. If you’re looking to work with legacy systems, PHP and MySQL knowledge can be valuable.

MEAN (MongoDB, Express.js, Angular, Node.js)

Similar to MERN, but with Angular instead of React. Angular is more structured and often used in enterprise applications.

Django + Python + PostgreSQL

For those who love Python, Django is a powerful web framework that makes development fast and secure. It’s widely used in data-driven applications and machine learning-powered web apps.

.NET Stack (C#, ASP.NET, SQL Server, IIS)

If you’re working in the enterprise space, especially with Microsoft-based solutions, ASP.NET with C# is a solid choice. Many government and corporate applications use this stack.

Serverless (AWS Lambda, Firebase, Vercel, Netlify)

For developers who want to focus only on writing code without managing servers, serverless computing is an exciting approach. AWS Lambda, Firebase, and Vercel allow you to build and deploy web apps without dealing with backend infrastructure.

Where Do You Go From Here?

If you’re serious about web development, the next step is to start building projects. Whether you’re an IT contractor looking to sharpen your skills, a recruiter wanting to understand tech better, or someone aiming to launch a web-based business, the key is hands-on experience.

Want to fast-track your learning?

Join our growing IT contractor network where we connect developers with recruiters, projects, and professional services like resume writing and career coaching. Web development is a field that rewards those who take action – so start coding today.

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