Front-end developers, used to be focused on desktop applications. However, now we typically think of them as being focused on web or mobile development as that is where much of our applications are moving too.

Regardless of which one they work on, they play a crucial role in creating the user interface and user experience of applications. Their day-to-day activities involve a combination of design, coding, testing, and collaboration with other team members.

One thing that is interesting, is that for some organizations, Front End developers might not be listed under the title of “developer” or under a software developer department. They could be listed under, development, IT, marketing, and more. It all depends upon the organization that you are working for/with.

Depending upon the size of the organization, they may focus on just a few of these topics, or work in most of these areas.

  • User Interface (UI) Design: Collaborate with UI/UX designers to understand the design requirements and translate them into interactive, visually appealing interfaces. This involves creating layouts, wireframes, and mockups.
    • UX (User eXperience) uses more wireframes and mockups to determine how the end user will use the application
    • UI (User Interface) uses graphical software to help design and layout the interface. These individuals may define which frameworks and libraries are being used.
  • Frameworks and Libraries: Utilize front-end frameworks and libraries such as Flutter, React.js, Angular, or Vue.js to streamline the development process and enhance application performance.
  • Collaboration with Back-End Developers: Work closely with back-end developers to integrate front-end components with server-side logic and databases, ensuring seamless communication between the two.
  • Collaboration with Product Owners, Product/Project Managers: Work closely with business individuals to make sure the product meets the needs of the organization.
  • Code Testing Reviews: Participate in code reviews to maintain code quality, catch bugs early, and ensure that coding standards are followed. Provide constructive feedback to peers.
  • Debugging and Troubleshooting: Identify and fix issues in the code, whether related to functionality, performance, or compatibility. Use debugging tools to diagnose and resolve problems.
  • Version Control: Use version control systems (e.g., Git) to manage and track changes to the codebase, collaborate with team members, and maintain a history of code revisions.
  • Performance Optimization: Optimize front-end code and assets (images, scripts, stylesheets) to improve application loading times and overall performance.
  • Continuous Learning: Stay updated on industry trends, new technologies, and best practices in front-end development. Attend conferences, read documentation, and engage in professional development to enhance skills.
  • Documentation: Create and maintain documentation for the front-end codebase, making it easier for other developers to understand and contribute to the project.

Web Specific Jobs/Tasks

Some jobs are more specific to the web, such as using web languages. Many times web front end is thought of as more of a design specific.

  • Web Development Languages: Write code in languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to implement the visual elements of a website or mobile app. HTML defines the structure, CSS styles the layout, and JavaScript adds interactivity and dynamic behavior.
  • Cross-Browser Compatibility: Test and ensure that the application works consistently across different web browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc.) and platforms.
  • Responsive Design: Ensure that applications are responsive and work well on various devices and screen sizes. Implement responsive design techniques using CSS frameworks or media queries.

Mobile Specific

  • Mobile Development: If working on mobile development, use frameworks like React Native, Flutter, or native languages (Swift for iOS, Kotlin/Java for Android) to build mobile applications with a native look and feel.

In summary, front-end developers are responsible for bringing the design vision to life, creating visually appealing and functional interfaces, and ensuring a positive user experience across different devices and platforms. Their work is crucial in making web and mobile applications user-friendly and effective.

Front End Developers was originally found on Access 2 Learn

Assistant Professor

Walter Wimberly is an Assistant Professor at a regional college in Tennessee, teaching Computer Science in the Software Engineering track. He works as a student advisor, oversees curriculum changes, develops new courses, and manages the advisory panel.
Walter taught full time for about 7 years, before going back into “industry” as a full stack Software Developer for a dozen years. There he focused on web based projects coding in JavaScript/jQuery and utilizing the Bootstrap CSS Framework on the front-end, and coding in PHP, ASP/ASP.Net, SQL on the back-end.

Since he loves teaching, he taught as an adjunct web and digital media classes for eight (8) years, while working in industry, and has since returned to teaching full time.

He has been married for over 25 years, and is father to several special needs boys. As such, he is working on some projects to help others who have special needs to be self-sufficient, and support the care givers of those with special needs. Check out his Autism blog for more info.

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