What I think about the 'Full-stack developer' title and about the current state of front-end development

[DoronBrayer]

In my experience, most developers who are highly skilled in JavaScript, actually suck at HTML+CSS.
As a matter of fact, in my current workplace, each so-called ”Full-stack" developer basically don't know HTML+CSS, but purely backend and basic JavaScript.

The real problem is:
In almost all job postings the term 'full-stack' is showing up, which represents the overly ambitious (and ridiculous) goal of the company to find a programming wizard...
While in truth, 99% of the developers don’t even come close to the 'Wizard’ (or Full-stack) level.

This leads to three bad phenomenons:

1. Most developers declaring themselves as a ‘full-stack developer’, despite their lack of knowledge in crucial fields.
   In other words — many developers simply lie about their skills (especially about HTML+CSS) in order to get a job.
2. Many skillful (and honest) developers feel they are not suit for such a big job title, so they are actually forced to look hard for a reasonable place/person that is willing to accept them as a “semi-stack”.
   This is no easy task, it may take them twice or even x3 longer to find a suitable job.
3. Some developers — such as myself — got really tired of the full-stack bull***t or the JavaScript revolution, and decided to simply move to another field (Product management / QA / Design).

Unfortunately, team leaders and tech recruiters are not aware of this issue, and they continue glorifying all JS phrases and buzzwords.
That is totally annoying and sad.

One time I left a job interview with a really terrible feeling, knowing I completely flopped.
There were technical questions I couldn’t answer, as I didn’t have prior knowledge of the subject at all.
The job title was ‘front-end developer’, while the company was really looking for a JavaScript guru (and ONLY JavaScript!).
They did not care about anything but JavaScript. I shit you not.

So I'll finish this rant with two quotes:

"Smaller companies and startups NEED full-stack developers. Developers are often forced to acquire new skills when the resources simply aren't available. I feel the problem for companies desperate to hire these guys and girls, is that the real multi-skilled developers are often lost in a sea of douchebags, claiming they know it all." – Andy Shora

“I understand the desire to have people who can do a lot of things. What I don’t understand is why it’s okay if you can “just write JS”, but somehow you’re not good enough if you “just write HTML and CSS” ” – Mandy Michael