Why Do Some Programmers Say Frontend Is Easier Than Backend?

Is frontend development genuinely easier than backend, or is this just another tech myth we’ve all quietly accepted?

Are you curious about why so many backend developers confidently claim that frontend development is simpler? Ever wondered what specific skills are necessary to succeed as a frontend developer? Or perhaps you’re asking yourself what techniques can make frontend tasks more straightforward? In the words of Robert C. Martin, famed author and software expert, “The only way to go fast is to go well.”

In the fast-evolving world of web development, both frontend and backend present unique complexities. However, research from the University of Oxford clearly indicates that backend developers face a higher workload due to the inherent complexity of backend programming languages and infrastructure management. This differentiation has significant implications in the realm of business software development, where balancing intuitive user interfaces with robust backend functionality directly influences application performance, user satisfaction, and ultimately, business success.

At Flatlogic, we’ve spent over a decade building, analyzing, and refining both frontend and backend development practices. Through our widely-adopted frameworks, templates, and app-generation tools, we’ve gained firsthand insights into what truly differentiates frontend ease-of-use from backend complexity.

By reading this article, you’ll clearly understand why frontend development is often perceived as simpler, identify the essential skills for frontend developers, and discover proven techniques to streamline your frontend development workflow. Most importantly, you’ll be empowered to decide why—and when—mastering both frontend and backend skills is crucial to your career and project success.

Is Frontend Development Easier Than Backend?​​

During the past decade, frontend development has grown in popularity as more engineers switch from backend development to frontend. Due to its greater availability and perception as being “easier” than backend development, front-end programming has the propensity to be used more frequently. The primary reason so many developers like the front end is its simplicity. Frontend development has a lower learning curve and calls for less technical knowledge than backend programming. This makes it possible for developers to get started straight away even with just a basic understanding of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Moreover, several frontend frameworks, such as React and Vue, have made it simpler for developers to create working prototypes of websites quickly. The tools available are another reason frontend development is perceived as being simpler. Website development is made simpler for developers by the abundance of tools, libraries, and frameworks available. As an illustration, CSS preprocessors like Sass and LESS may significantly cut down on the time required to develop and maintain CSS code. The same is true for JavaScript build tools like webpack and Gulp, which may assist developers in writing task automation and optimized code.

The fact that frontend development is more visible and tangible than backend development is a last consideration. As a result, developers can more easily comprehend and interact with the code they write since they can view the results of their labors in real time in the browser. Developers may be highly motivated by this and debugging and troubleshooting are also much facilitated. In conclusion, many backend engineers assert that the frontend is simpler since it is more approachable, has access to tools, and is more visible and concrete.

However, to achieve high-quality, engaging, and responsive designs, partnering with front-end development services can provide the expertise and resources needed to navigate the complexities of modern web development, ensuring that projects are not only visually appealing but also functionally robust and user-friendly. Because of this, a lot of developers are switching from the backend to the frontend, and this trend is probably going to continue.

What is Frontend & Backend Development?

Frontend development (client-side development) refers to the development of the parts of a website that the user can see and interact with. This includes code that is responsible for the look, feel, and behavior of the website and includes HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. 

Backend development (server-side development) is the creation of sections of a website that the user does not directly view or interact with. This contains program code for databases, servers, and APIs that manage and handle the website’s data.

What’s the Difference?

The main distinction between frontend and backend development is that the former concentrates on the external components of the website, whilst the latter does so for its internal components. Backend development is in charge of data processing and storage, whereas frontend development is in charge of the appearance, feel, and functionality of the website.

Frontend developers build the aesthetics, style, and interaction of the user interface using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. The logic, databases, and APIs that power the user interface are created by backend developers in languages like PHP, Python, Java, and Ruby. Backend development is concerned with how the user interface works and interacts with the server-side logic and data, whereas frontend development is concerned with how the user interface appears and feels.

Why Is Frontend Harder Than Backend?

Why is it that some claim that frontend development is more difficult than backend development these days? There are several reasons why this is so, let’s look at them.

Keeping up with a rapidly changing environment

The rapid advancements in front-end development have given it a reputation for being challenging. Every few months, new frameworks and technologies like React, Angular, and Vue are released to improve development. These continual updates mean that staying up-to-date requires constant learning of new lessons and courses. Once Angular was the most popular frontend framework, but now React is the preferred choice for many companies. Even Netflix has gone back to using the original JavaScript due to performance concerns. With no indication that these advances will soon slow down, it’s important to remember how quickly the industry is developing the next time someone claims that front-end development is easy.

More information to consider

Frontend development may prove to be equally challenging in 2023 as backend development. With opinionated frameworks, state management systems, and intricate logic, there should be no assumption that the workload for back-end developers is greater than that of front-end developers. However, front-end development entails more than just programming, as it demands creativity, aesthetics, and an understanding of user experience. This includes being adept with design techniques, creating prototypes, and making sure the design looks professional. Furthermore, it necessitates taking into account how users will interact with the software to deliver the best user experience.

More tools to learn

As the workplace evolves, so too must your skillset. Keeping up with the latest tools, such as Webpack, React, Yarn, and NPM can be a challenge, as you may find yourself constantly learning new technologies, leaving less time to learn other programming topics, such as different paradigms, languages, and best practices. Nevertheless, it is important to remain up-to-date and not be discouraged by the ever-changing landscape.

Test suites and testing

Testing the front end of a web application is more difficult and tedious than the back end. In addition to checking for the theoretical soundness of functions and objects, and assessing edge scenarios, frontend testing requires tests for design components, logical operations, and state changes. As such, manual testing is often preferred over creating a unit test suite, which is more time-consuming and frustrating. All in all, frontend testing is more complex, laborious, and frustrating than backend testing.

Why Is Backend Harder Than Frontend?

Both backend and frontend development have specific explanations for why they are more difficult.

The higher learning curve for beginners

Compared to front-end development, learning back-end programming can be more difficult. To build a website’s front end, only HTML and CSS are needed. However, the backend requires a deep understanding of programming languages. This can be daunting for newcomers and lead them to believe that front-end development is easier. In reality, the learning curve for the back end is much steeper than for the front end.

Frontend is less visually appealing than the backend

Just knowing where to look can help you find the back end, which can be just as aesthetically pleasing as the front end. However, with front-end development, you can often see the effects of your changes in real time. The response time for the backend can be unpredictable, making it more challenging for a beginner.

Many backend languages

The complexity of learning backend languages can be attributed to their variety and the need to comprehend multiple languages. While frontend development only requires knowledge of JavaScript, HTML, and CSS, backend development involves mastering three languages to work with the various methods available. Although the concepts are generally the same, transitioning between languages can be challenging, leading many to stick with the language they are most comfortable with or switch only when necessary for a better career opportunity.

Summary 

In the landscape of business software development, both frontend and backend play pivotal roles, with frontend focusing on user interaction and aesthetics, and backend ensuring robust performance and security. Understanding these complementary challenges is key to creating comprehensive solutions that meet the multifaceted needs of businesses today.
So, which is harder, the backend or the frontend? The truth is that both types of development are equally difficult, but for different reasons. Frontend development necessitates comprehension of design concepts and user experience, as well as the ability to produce an aesthetically beautiful user interface. Awareness of server architecture, security, and strong technical language and framework knowledge are all necessary for backend development. In the end, both styles of development are essential for a successful product, and they each call for a unique set of talents. The distinctions between the two and the many tasks that each may be utilized for must be understood. You can more readily pick which form of growth is best for you if you are aware of the distinctions.