I'm 19 and just starting my journey in full stack development. I've been getting the hang of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, but then I jumped into backend development, mainly because my college course covers SQL and PHP. Recently, I stumbled upon discussions about the MERN stack and saw quite a bit of negativity around it, especially regarding MongoDB being less favorable compared to relational databases. I'm a bit overwhelmed with all these tech stack options and wondered what stack I should consider. I thought MERN might help me strengthen my JavaScript skills, but I'm also seeing a lot of terms that are confusing. My main goal right now is to land an internship quickly. So, is the MERN stack worth my time, or are there better alternatives for backend development that are currently relevant in the industry?
6 Answers
It's easy to feel overwhelmed with all the choices, but my advice is to just pick one stack and dive in. Skill development is more important than a perfect stack choice.
MERN (or MEME as some humorously call it) is quite niche and may not set you up for a serious web development career. However, it’s a decent place to get started and learn some things.
PHP combined with SQL creates a solid foundation, part of the classic LAMP stack that powers a lot of the web. Your college course gives you a great edge! Remember, there's a ton of opinion out there about technology choices, and it’s often biased. When learning, don't stress too much about what's 'best'—just focus on something simple and enjoy the process! 😊
Diving into PHP with a framework like Symfony or Laravel alongside SQL (MySQL or MariaDB) will really broaden your skill set. Once you’ve got SQL down, using MongoDB won't be as daunting.
You’re overthinking things a bit. At your age, the specific stack isn't as crucial as being able to complete projects from start to finish. MERN is good, but a basic Node + Postgres setup is also a valid path. The debates over MongoDB versus relational databases are mostly just developers arguing online.
If landing an internship is your priority, why not look up the job postings in your area? Check what tech stacks they commonly use to guide your learning.
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