How to Become a MERN Stack Developer?

Do you also get amazed at those beautiful websites that appear in front of you? Those are designed by none other than Full-Stack Developers Or MERN stack developers. They are software developers who specialize in building web applications using the MERN stack, which is a popular set of technologies for creating full-stack web applications. Also, full-stack Developers are the most in-demand professionals whose demand will always be at its peak, no matter what. And when we talk about full-stack, MERN is an insanely demanding technology. It is the most popular technique when it comes to building a website. There are millions of MERN stack developers in the world. 

The MERN stack consists of four technologies:

1. MongoDB – a popular NoSQL database
2. Express – a web application framework for Node.js
3. React – a JavaScript library for building user interfaces
4. Node.js – a JavaScript runtime environment

MERN stack developers are proficient in using these technologies to build high-performance, scalable, and secure web applications. They are responsible for developing both the front-end and back-end components of web applications, and they often work in collaboration with designers, product managers, and other developers to create effective solutions.

How to Start as a Beginner 

Becoming a MERN stack developer as a beginner can seem overwhelming at first, but there are several steps you can take to get started. Here are some tips:

1. Learn the basics of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript: These are the foundational technologies of web development, and you should have a solid understanding of them before moving on to more complex technologies like the MERN stack. There are many online resources available for learning these technologies, such as GeeksForGeeks, Codecademy, FreeCodeCamp, and W3Schools.
2. Learn Node.js: Node.js is a JavaScript runtime environment that allows developers to build server-side applications in JavaScript. It’s a key component of the MERN stack, so learning Node.js is an important step in becoming a MERN stack developer. You can find many tutorials and courses on Node.js on websites like Udemy and Coursera.
3. Learn React: React is a JavaScript library for building user interfaces, and it’s a key component of the MERN stack. There are many resources available for learning React, including the official React documentation, Codecademy, and FreeCodeCamp.
4. Learn MongoDB: MongoDB is a popular NoSQL database that is used in many MERN stack applications. There are many tutorials and courses available on MongoDB, including the official MongoDB documentation and online courses on websites like Udemy and Coursera.
5. Build projects: Once you have a basic understanding of the technologies involved in the MERN stack, start building projects to practice your skills. You can find project ideas online, or come up with your own ideas. Building projects will help you gain practical experience and demonstrate your skills to potential employers.
6. Join a community: Joining a community of developers can be helpful for getting support and learning from others. There are many online communities for MERN stack developers, such as the MERN Stack community on Reddit or the MERN Stack Slack channel.

Technologies Required For a MERN Stack Developer

1. MongoDB

MongoDB is a NoSQL database that stores data in JSON-like documents. It’s a popular choice for MERN stack development because it allows for flexible data modeling and scaling, and it can be easily integrated with Node.js using the Mongoose ORM (Object-Relational Mapping). This MongoDB Tutorial will help you to cover basics to advanced topics of MongoDB such as the 

• Installation of MongoDB,
• Methods used in MongoDB (Insert(), Update(), Find(), count(), skip(), …..),
• Operators (Logical, Arithmetic, Relational, Expression),
• Working with Documents and Collections,
• Building Projects Using MongoDB

2. ExpressJS

Express is a lightweight and flexible web application framework for Node.js. It provides a simple way to handle HTTP requests and responses, and it includes many middleware modules for common tasks like authentication and session management.

If you’re a newbie and want to build an application using Express, do read the Steps to Create an Express.js Application which is a well-defined procedure explaining commands to install different packages, the file structure, and the steps required to run the application. 

3. ReactJS

React is a popular JavaScript library for building user interfaces. It allows developers to build reusable UI components and manage the application state in a declarative way. React also supports server-side rendering, which can improve the performance and SEO of web applications. React JS (Basic to Advanced) – Self-Paced covers some common React topics like states, React_Hooks, Event Handling, Redux, and deploying a project to see it working live.

4. NodeJS

Node.js is a JavaScript runtime environment that allows developers to run JavaScript code outside of the browser. It’s used to build server-side applications in the MERN stack, and it provides many built-in modules for tasks like file I/O, networking, and security. Here’s a free resource on NodeJS that explains about basics to advanced usage of it.

Job Description

MERN stack is composed of technologies that build applications faster. The whole technology is JS-based which makes it easy for developers to learn and build projects using it. Once, you have built amazing projects and have complete knowledge of MERN, you can definitely start applying to companies. But before that, you must definitely know the roles and responsibilities of a MERN Stack Developer. 

Roles and Responsibilities of a MERN Stack Developer:

• Developing and maintaining web applications: A MERN stack developer should be able to develop and maintain web applications using the MERN stack. This involves writing server-side code with Node.js and Express.js, using MongoDB for database storage, and developing the user interface with React.js.
• Designing and implementing APIs: A MERN stack developer should be able to design and implement APIs that allow web applications to communicate with each other.
• Troubleshooting and debugging: A MERN stack developer should be able to troubleshoot and debug web applications to identify and fix errors.
• Collaborating with other developers: A MERN stack developer should be able to collaborate with other developers to develop and maintain web applications.
• Keeping up with the latest technologies: A MERN stack developer should be up-to-date with the latest technologies and trends in web development.

Project Ideas

Your knowledge of MERN can be depicted when you start building projects. Being a beginner, you must start from the basics and then move to advanced-level projects. For building a project, choose an IDE on which you want to work, technology i.e., MERN (HTML, CSS, and JavaScript), and then post it on GitHub. 

Here are some interesting MERN projects you can try:

1. Social Media Application
2. Managing Application
3. PUS Billing Application
4. E-Commerce Website
5. OTT Platforms

Future Scope

Web development is all about front-end, back-end, and databases. And when we talk about web development, MERN is at the top. MERN Stack is powerful and in demand for web technology. Being a MERN Stack Developer, it is definite that you will always have a blooming career. All you need is a good knowledge of JavaScript to become one. With just a good understanding of JavaScript and dedication to learning, your future is bright with MERN.

You can go through Full Stack Development with React & Node JS – Live which covers 10 modules and where you will come across the 

• Basics of JavaScript and ReactJS
• Performing CRUD Operations
• Handling REST APIs
• Basics of NodeJS and Databases (MongoDB, PostgreSQL) 
• Introduction to AJAX and Bootstrap
• Building projects