The handbook provides an in-depth overview of the skills, tools, and technologies necessary to excel as a front-end developer / engineer. With 38,000 words of practical knowledge and advice, it covers the core technologies—HTML, CSS, and JavaScript—and how they form the foundation of modern front-end development.

As Cody Lindley reflects on the current state of front-end development:

“Once upon a time, front-end development primarily focused on the user and the user interface, with programming/software playing a secondary role. […] We have to find our way back to the user, back to the user interface.”

Get an overview of popular tools, libraries, and frameworks that go beyond the front end, such as:

• React.js/Next.js
• Svelte/SveltKit
• Vue.js/Nuxt
• SolidJS/SolidStart
• Angular
• Astro
• Qwik
• Lit

These tools enable you to create full-stack web apps and websites that interact with databases and share templates across server and client.

You can also develop native applications using web technologies with frameworks like:

• Electron for desktop apps
• React Native and Capacitor for mobile apps
• Tauri for mobile and desktop operating systems

Additionally, we touch on Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) and their ability to create installable applications with native-like experiences from a single codebase.

Whether you’re a seasoned front-end developer looking to refresh your understanding of the industry or a beginner eager to embark on a career in this exciting field, the Frontend Handbook 2024 is an essential resource.

To access the Frontend Handbook 2024, read it for free here:

Should I go deeper into front end, or expand to learning full stack?

xSOu!3nder

Hey everyone! So, I’ve been working mostly with Angular as a front-end dev, but then I got to mess around with Lit for our company’s design system and totally loved it. It’s got me thinking about diving deeper into front end and design systems.

But, I see a lot of talk about full stack being the way to go for more job options. I’m trying to figure out what’s best for my career. Should I beef up my backend skills and aim for full stack, or just keep focusing on what I really like with front end and design systems?

Would love to hear your thoughts or any advice you’ve got. Thanks a bunch!

Discord Community Responses

Marc

I can’t say what’s right for you, but personally, it’s always led me to go deeper into my interests. Becoming a design systems/component expert is a valuable skill. We are also doubling down on courses in this area this year since we are currently revamping our UX and design system on FrontendMasters.com.

SQL and back-end skills might make you more marketable to the broadest number of jobs. But it’s always served me the best to find an area I love enough to get the deepest into.

xSOu!3nder

Thanks a bunch for the advice!

I’m super into front-end stuff, like diving into how different frontend framework works bits and geeking out over CSS (CSS working group and Kevin Powell are both my idols lol). I’m all about making things accessible and looking good. But in Toronto, it seems like everyone’s looking for full stack devs. The few front-end job postings around are crazy competitive (200+, sometimes 500+ people fighting for 1 position), and they all want a ton of experience. Makes me wonder if I’m barking up the wrong tree wanting to be a front-end wizard.

Marc has a nice surprise

Marc

I just booked a workshop with Kevin Powell November 14th! Finally got him to come teach a workshop with us. 😀

xSOu!3nder

🐣 I’m beyond excited!

$ cd./villard

I wouldn’t wager that you’re alone in that experience. Lots of companies, offering either location-locked and remote roles, have been moving towards leveraging full-stack engineers. One could make an argument that this is because of “post-ZIRP” economics, but in speaking with others at my org, I believe it can also be attributed to applications trending away from big, bespoke front ends.

bagool

It depends on what you like/value. l’ve personally benefitted a lot more so far by being a generalist and going deeper into things only when I needed them rather than focusing on one particular thing. If you’re still at the beginning of your career it’s definitely worth it being nosey and trying as many things as possible imo.

$ cd./villard

That’s not to say there isn’t value in the front-end specialization, but there’s going to be a swing to generalization for many companies until new front-end concerns arise.

Nick Wattonville

I would work towards Full-Stack Dev. My understand is that being a Full-Stack Dev opens more doors, than just being one or the other. I like the frontend of JS and HTML, but far as design I can never get CSS to do what I want it to do lol. For backend PHP is one of my favorite languages other than JS to work with. But at the end of the day its up to you and what you like to do with your career.

Andrew

From my side will add that it’s the best feeling when you do what you like. So if you truly love the front end — go for it. Although, I’m curious what your answer would be about the back end.

Are you interested in tech powering the stuff as much?

For me, it always felt like that front end is for those who like to bring users easy and support, making sure the product is usable. And the backend is for individuals that are “optimizers/architecture runners”

hazelharbour

i’m currently a FE SWE and even at my work where we have had FE/BE split for forever, I’ve started to work a little on our APls. I used to be full stack so it was simple for me to learn a little bit and be able to help. Our BE team is just a lot busier due to some new features we are building. I think there’s value in being able to do some on the “other side” but specializing in what you like! I still heavily prefer the react/data flow portion of the frontend which is why I got hired in the first place. now l’m becoming more of a middle of the stack engineer. I don’t do a lot of CSS and I don’t do much database stuff.

danielvanc

It’s very difficult to be an expert in “true” full stack and I would say, less employable, because of that.

Full stack in the front-end world is being deemed as learning something like NextJS, but that’s simply is not the case. Look into the Full Stack by Jem on Frontend Masters for a good example of the term and what you need to learn.

You would go further being an expert in either the front end or back end.

Andrew

And, my second take: once an expert, always an expert. If you can master a tool, you have reasonable thinking and learning skills. At the end of the day, back end, front end, it won’t matter, you are just a master of everything and problem solver 🙂.

steveox152

Just some context: I have 11 years of experience and I have been leading multiple development teams. Mainly focused on front-end application development, and also the team responsible for the component library/design system. This is something that has come up with the people I have mentored in the past.

I have always told my team members that they need to focus on something that interests them, or else they will get burnt out. I can say that Design Systems and Component Libraries are something that there is a lot of desire for, but often its hard to find people that are interested in it, so it’s an awesome skill to have. I will say that most advice I have gotten from engineering managers at bigger tech companies is that have an area of expertise is really good.

Keep in mind that the best thing for you career is something that will change a lot over the course of a 30 year career, the most important thing is that you are focusing on something that you actually enjoy, or else you will be miserable. Any time I have a developer that is underperforming, the first thing I ask them is if they are unhappy with what they are working on and if they are, then I give them a different task, 9/10 times that solves their issues.

When it comes to going full stack, that is also great knowledge to have, you do not need to pick one way or the other, you can do both.

Focus on what you actually enjoy, but take some time to learn enough about backend/full stack so that you can contribute to conversations about it at work, who knows, 5 years from now you might want to switch and work on something different.

If you ever have questions or need some advice, feel free to DM me. I enjoy passing on my lessons learned to other people.

RedHoodJT

I would say to follow down the path with what makes you the happiest. Will full stack open more doors because of the possibilities that surround it? Yes. But if you aren’t happy then is it really worth it? You can stick with front end and Ul/UX design and, as someone mentioned earlier, learn what you need to backend-wise when the time comes for you to learn it. Maybe go through the basics of back end just so you have an understanding of it.

MacFoodly

Depends on what the person wants to do with their career IHMO. A specialist in a high-end tool is always a sought-after professional.

But one might think a full stack engineer can reach a broader job market. I do find this last point of view a bit misleading since you can tick a lot of boxes, but if you do not tick at least the core ones in terms of depth, your chances will be smaller.

Marc

I love this line:

I have always told my team members that they need to focus on something that interests them, or else they will get burnt out.

PURE GOLD!

steveox152

I see this all too often. Almost every developer I have had that was under performing was either burnt out or just completely uninterested in what they were working on.

“An inaccessible website can exclude people just as much as steps at an entrance to a physical location.”

~ADA.gov

Yet, according to WebAIM, developers still aren’t doing enough:

And this is just for websites. If you’re building something a React web app, there are additional things to consider, like interactive elements. If you’re looking for a job or a promotion, accessibility knowledge can really set you apart.That’s why we’re excited accessibility expert Marcy Sutton Todd created two new courses: Web App Accessibility (featuring React) for developers and Enterprise Web App Accessibility for technical leaders, to help build a more inclusive web! 

Web App Accessiblity (feat. React)

Solve the most common accessibility issues in React apps using testing tools, semantic HTML, and ARIA attributes to make interactive elements accessible. You’ll get hands-on experience with screen readers, keyboard navigation, focus management, and visual accessibility techniques, including color contrast and motion reduction. Learn to test and build with accessibility in mind, making your web apps more compliant with standards like WCAG and, most importantly, inclusive to the broadest audience possible!

Some highlights from the course:

• Apply WCAG and ARIA standards in React for better accessibility.
• Use screen readers and alternative text to support accessibility.
• Improve navigation with semantic HTML and ARIA attributes.
• Identify and resolve accessibility issues using Axe and Lighthouse.
• Implement keyboard navigation and visual adjustments for inclusivity.

Web App Accessibility course → https://frontendmasters.com/courses/react-accessibility/

Enterprise Web App Accessibility (Feat. React)

Learn to bake accessibility into your development process and culture. Understand UI accessibility, ARIA, focus management, and how to test for accessible web apps. Through hands-on exercises, you’ll tackle optimizing components for screen readers and keyboards, utilizing semantic HTML, and understanding JavaScript’s impact on accessibility. Foster an accessibility-focused culture within your development teams, equipping you with the knowledge to build inclusive web applications!

Here’s some highlights of what you’ll learn from the course:

• Automate accessibility testing and build a culture of accessibility in your organization.
• Fix common accessibility issues with best practices.
• Craft accessible UIs that leverage visibility classes, accessible naming, and ARIA.
• Test accessibility using tools like axe and screen readers.
• Navigate JavaScript’s impact on web app accessibility.

Enterprise Accessibility Course → https://frontendmasters.com/courses/enterprise-accessibility/

Podcast Episode with Marcy Sutton Todd

We also recorded a podcast episode with Marcy and put it up on YouTube: Marcy Sutton Todd – A Dive into Web Accessibility | Frontend Masters Podcast Ep.13

The episode is up on Spotify and Apple Podcasts as well!

We all can and do learn on the job, but all that learning is going to be within a certain circle of choices that have already been made. Choices about technologies, approaches, procedures, etc. There is a lot more to learn out there, much of which can be directly relevant to the work you are doing. After all, we’re all building websites. Rather than run around searching for what to learn, the smart move is to sign up for Frontend Masters. That way the content comes pre-vetted and high-quality, and is ready for you and your team to dig into whenever works for you.

Learning as much as you can, so you can help make smart, informed decisions and craft good code, is incredibly valuable. Perhaps you’re convinced already. Let’s convince your boss.

From: you@company.com
To: boss@company.com

Subject: Getting a Frontend Masters Team Account

Hey Boss,

I think we should get a Team Account on Frontend Masters. 
https://frontendmasters.com/join/

There is a ton of stuff to know about building websites, and while we learn a lot on the job around here, we've all got our gaps. Not to mention this stuff changes rapidly. 

Rather than scavenge around for the best learning materials around, Frontend Masters already has really good teachers and a tightly curated collection of courses. We could all take different ones and report back to the team. 

They've even got nice native apps where you can download the courses to watch, which I'm thinking I would do on that flight to the team meetup next week. 

Should we do it? 

- Timmy Twoshoes

Why Frontend Masters and not [Some Other Company]?

Hey, we’re not one to talk smack.

Let’s just say that Frontend Masters vets content seriously, so there is no need to wade through junk and worry that you didn’t pick the right course. The courses are also continuously updated, so you need not worry about outdated information.

Plus, there is content available at all the different skill levels, so one Team Account can be useful for a team that has different skill levels on it.

Who else uses Frontend Masters?

Ah, a bit of social proof you’re after eh? That’s fair. These companies aren’t just customers but are are the companies where our teachers actually work:

They are doing pretty well. Just saying.

Is it only front-end content?

We are known for front-end engineering excellence, but our training goes far beyond. We have courses that teach full-stack topics like Node.js, API Design, SQL, Docker, and DevOps. Backend languages like Python, Go, and Rust, as well as UX design, management, and technical leadership courses. 

So don’t let the name fool you. We will continue to expand our areas of focus to encompass all of software development (both front end and back end), design, UX, technical management and technical leadership. Remember your membership has access to all newly released content as well, which is happening all the time.

Can I watch something?

Like Kyle says: Frontend Masters helps give you the confidence to take the next steps in your career.

Let’s do this thing really quick, bullet point style.

• The teachers on Frontend Masters are the best in the business.
• You don’t have to worry about outdated or poor quality courses on Frontend Masters.
• If you build websites, the wide curriculum on Frontend Masters has things for you.
• Each course has practical hands-on exercises to make sure you learn in a relatable way.
• There are native apps, which has offline downloaded courses and bookmarking, helping you learn on the go.
• All your progress is tracked within the site.
• There is a supportive Discord community you’ll have access to.
• There are live workshops you can attend with Q&A sessions.
• The site-wide search will help you find very specific answers in no time, even within videos.
• All the courses are in glorious beautiful 4k video.

Need more help?

Hit us up over email anytime and we’d be glad to help: support@frontendmasters.com

Today, we’re excited to release our second quiz-based course by Lydia Hallie with questions on JavaScript!

Test Your JavaScript Knowledge

Challenge your core knowledge of JavaScript with 50 interactive quiz questions covering topics like the event loop, scopes and closures, the this keyword, classes and prototypes, garbage collection, and more! After each question, you’ll get an in-depth visual explanation from Lydia.

I personally really enjoyed her visual explanations of the event loop and how JavaScript processes the microtask and macrotask queues. It’s difficult to wrap your head around asynchronous code – things like timers and async/await – and Lydia really challenged how much I thought I knew. (BTW, she recommends this classic talk on YouTube: What the heck is the event loop anyway? if you haven’t seen it or don’t know much about the event loop, go check it out)

Other highlights of the course include:

• Solidify your understanding of asynchronous programming and JavaScript’s event loop
• Grasp the “this” keyword and the nuances of scope and closures
• Test your knowledge of module loading, maps/sets, proxies, and template literals
• Utilize classes and prototypes for prototypal inheritance
• Explore modules and garbage collection for code optimization

We hope you enjoy Testing Your JavaScript Knowledge!

Podcast Interview with Lydia Hallie

We also did a podcast interview with Lydia and put it up on YouTube: From Self Taught Coder to Vercel Through Open Source | Frontend Masters Podcast Ep.12

Lydia Hallie takes us through her tech journey, from early coding experiments to becoming a prominent figure in the developer community as a Staff Developer Relations Engineer for Vercel. Lydia shares her unique approach to tech talks, emphasizing authenticity and leveraging visual storytelling to make complex concepts accessible. She discusses the challenges of public speaking, her collaboration with Addy Osmani on patterns.dev, and her strategies for engaging with her audience beyond conventional presentation styles. Lydia also opens up about her personal struggles with burnout, highlighting the critical need for balance between work intensity and self-care. Her story is not just about her technical achievements but also about her insights into maintaining passion and productivity in tech. Lydia’s reflections offer valuable lessons on the importance of self-awareness and the courage to prioritize well-being alongside professional growth.

The episode is up on Spotify and Apple Podcasts as well!

It’s important to understand that if you do decide to pursue management, that it’s a role change, not a promotion. It’s also not a career move that’s right for everyone. Luckily, Jem Young and Ryan Burgess, Engineering Managers at Netflix, have new courses to help you identify if management is right for you and will teach you the skills to thrive as an engineering manager if you choose this path!

Engineering Management Fundamentals 101

“The goal of this course is to help you understand Engineering Management. Even if you decided being a manager isn’t right for you, that’s fine. If you understand the lessons here, you will become a better software engineer.”

Jem Young, Software Engineer Manager at Netflix

Jem discusses motivations for transitioning into management and confronts hard truths about the position to discover what makes a good manager.You’ll learn to develop people leadership skills, learn the day-to-day responsibilities, effective meeting management, and the initial challenges of new managers. You’ll know if management is right for you and get the foundations for a successful career in software management!

Some highlights from the course:

• Transitioning to management requires a shift from coding to people management.
• Key skills include effective communication, conflict resolution, and team development.
• Balancing technical knowledge with business understanding is crucial for aligning team and organizational goals.
• Run meetings more effectively to respect your team’s time and still communicate the most essential information.
• Dispel common myths about management and find out if engineering management is right for you!

Enterprise Engineering Management 102

Learn the keys to leading high-performing technical teams from Ryan Burgess, Senior Software Engineering Manager at Netflix. Set up your teams for success by developing OKRs and KPIs, team charters, hiring processes, and fostering strong partnerships. You’ll discover the importance of giving and receiving feedback and navigating change management to improve your teams. See real-world examples, interactive exercises, and expert discussions that will enhance your leadership skills!

Here’s some highlights of what you’ll learn from the course:

• Create OKRs and KPIs to create team goals and performance metrics.
• Develop team charters for creating alignment around a shared mission.
• Refine your hiring processes to build diverse and skilled technical teams.
• Establish and nurture productive partnerships across teams.
• Improve through cultivating feedback and evolving in changing tech environments.

We hope you enjoy these new courses: Management Engineering Fundamentals and Enterprise Enterprise Management!