If this blog was a song, it would be named: “Two Worlds Apart”
The lyrics would go something like this!
Two worlds apart, they each have their part, Local Designer’s art, Backend Developer’s heart. One paints the canvas, colors and style, The other builds the engine, makes it worthwhile.
As I explain to most prospects that reach out to us: There is a big difference between a local Website Designer skills set and what is referred to as a Backend Developer.
Let’s break it down
Local Website Designer (Frontend Designer)
Imagine a website as a house. The website designer is like the person who decides how the house should look and what colors the walls should be. They make sure the rooms are arranged nicely and that everything is easy to find.
They also pick the furniture and decorations to make the house inviting and cool. Not only that, but they use special computer codes to make the website look and act the way they want it to on your computer or phone.
Backend Designer (Backend Developer)
Imagine a website as a house. The website designer is like the person who decides how the house should look and what colors the walls should be. They make sure the rooms are arranged nicely and that everything is easy to find.
They also pick the furniture and decorations to make the house inviting and cool. Not only that, but they use special computer codes to make the website look and act the way they want it to on your computer or phone.
Now, think of the website’s backend designer as the person who makes sure everything inside the house works smoothly. They work with all the hidden stuff like the pipes, electricity, and machines that keep the house running.
They use different computer languages to create all the systems that store and manage information, like who visited the website and what they did there. Furthermore, they also make sure the house is safe from bad things and runs fast.
So, in simple terms, the frontend designer makes the website look great and easy to use, like decorating a house, while the backend designer makes sure everything works behind the scenes, like taking care of the plumbing and electricity in a house. Both are important to create a fantastic website!
Think of your website like a digital playground where everyone comes to have fun. But, just like any playground, it needs to be set up right to make sure everyone has a great time.
“The backend designer is like the playground designer – they make sure everything works smoothly.”
Now, if you only have a front end designer or a backend designer that doesn’t do their job properly, here’s what can happen:
Server-Side Problems: It’s like building a playground on a shaky foundation. Your website might not work at all, or it could be super slow. Imagine trying to play on swings that are about to fall over – not much fun, right?
Now, imagine if someone tried to build a house without a proper foundation. What would happen? Well, it might not stand up at all, or it could wobble and be really shaky. In the world of websites, that’s what we call “server-side problems.”
Programming Issues: This is like having games at the playground with confusing rules or pieces missing. Your website can have errors and bugs that make it act weird. It’s like playing a video game, and suddenly your character starts doing crazy things you didn’t tell it to do.
Database Troubles: Think of this as your playground getting all messy, and you can’t find your toys. Your website’s data might get lost or mixed up, making it unreliable. It’s like losing your favorite toy in a messy room – frustrating!
Security Risks: It’s like leaving the gates of your playground wide open. Without proper security, bad people can come in, mess things up, or even take away your toys (or data). Not cool, right?
Communication Problems: Imagine if kids on one side of the playground can’t talk to kids on the other side because they speak different languages. That’s what happens if the different parts of your website can’t communicate. It’s like having a phone without an internet connection – you can’t do much with it.
Performance Issues: This is like trying to race your toy car, but it’s super slow. Your website can become sluggish, especially when lots of people are using it. It’s like being stuck in traffic when you want to zoom down the highway – frustrating!
Errors and Glitches: Think of this like playing a video game that keeps freezing or crashing. Your website can have weird errors and glitches that make it a hassle to use. It’s like trying to play your favorite game, but it keeps stopping and starting on its own – not fun at all.
Website Might Not Work: Just like a house with a weak foundation might collapse, a website without proper server-side development might not work at all. People visiting the site might see error messages, or the pages might not load.
Slow Performance: Think of it like a house with a shaky foundation – it might stay up, but it’s going to be really slow and unsteady. In the website world, this means pages take forever to load, buttons don’t respond quickly, and it’s just a frustrating experience for visitors.
“ So, having a skilled backend developer is like having a master builder who ensures your website’s foundation is rock solid, making it a reliable and stable place for visitors to explore.”
Let’s talk a little more about programming issues in a way that’s easy to grasp.
Imagine your website as a book. It’s got pages, words, and pictures. Now, think about the person who writes the book – that’s the backend developer. They use special languages, like the author uses words, to create the story of your website.
But here’s the thing: if the backend developer doesn’t pick the right languages or doesn’t write the code correctly, it’s kind of like having a book with problems. Imagine reading a book, and some pages are missing or filled with mistakes. That would be confusing and frustrating, right? Well, that’s what can happen to your website when there are programming issues and
Here’s what can go wrong
Errors and Bugs: Just like a book with typos or missing pages, your website might have errors and bugs. These are like mistakes in the code that make things not work as they should. Buttons might not click, forms might not submit, or pages might look weird.
Confusion for Visitors: Think about reading a book where the story doesn’t make sense because the words are jumbled up. That’s how visitors to your website might feel if there are programming issues. They’ll get confused, and confusion isn’t good when you want people to enjoy their visit.
Frustration: When visitors can’t do what they came to your website for, like buying something or finding information, they get frustrated. It’s like trying to follow a recipe in a messed-up cookbook – it’s just no fun.
In summary, programming issues mean the backend developer didn’t use the right “language” or didn’t write the “story” of your website correctly. This can lead to errors, bugs, confusion, and frustration for the people who visit your site. So, having a skilled backend developer is like having a fantastic writer who makes sure your website’s story is clear, enjoyable, and free of mistakes.
Let’s now talk about database troubles in a way that’s relatable.
Imagine your website’s database as a big, organized room where you keep all your important stuff – like your favorite books, toys, and school projects. It’s neatly arranged so that you can find everything easily.
Now, think about the backend designer as the person in charge of keeping this room tidy. They’re responsible for making sure everything is in the right place and well-organized. But if the backend designer doesn’t do a good job of managing the database, it’s like turning that once neat room into a complete mess.
Here’s how it’s similar
Data Gets Lost: Just like if your room is super messy, you might lose track of where you put your favorite things. In the world of websites, this means that important data, like user accounts or product information, can get lost in the chaos. Users might not be able to log in, or products might disappear from your online store.
Data Gets Mixed Up: Imagine having your toys all mixed up, so you can’t find the one you want to play with. If the backend designer doesn’t manage the database well, information can get mixed up too. It’s like someone ordering a blue dress and getting a red one instead when shopping online – not what they expected!
Website Becomes Unreliable: Just like a messy room can be frustrating because you can’t find what you need, a website with database troubles can become unreliable. Visitors might click on links and get error messages or see incorrect information. It’s like going to a library where the books are all out of order – not a great experience.
In a nutshell, database troubles mean that the backend designer didn’t do a good job of organizing and managing the important information your website needs to work correctly. This can lead to data being lost or mixed up, making your website less reliable and potentially frustrating for the people who use it.
“So, having a skilled backend designer is like having a super-organized keeper of your digital treasures, ensuring everything is in its right place.”
Let’s talk about website security in a way that makes sense. Think of your website as your online house. You’ve got all your valuable stuff in there – photos, personal information, maybe even some other private holdings.
Just like you lock the doors of your real house to keep it safe, your website needs protection, too. Now, who’s responsible for that protection? That’s where the security measures come in, kind of like digital locks and alarms for your website. And who’s in charge of setting up these locks and alarms? That’s the job of the backend designer.
But here’s the thing: if the backend designer doesn’t set up these digital locks and alarms properly, it’s like leaving the doors of your house wide open. And guess what happens when you do that?
Unwanted Visitors: Just like anyone can walk into your house if the doors are open, hackers and bad people can stroll into your website. They can snoop around, steal your stuff, or even break things on your site.
Data Theft: Think of your website’s data like your personal diary. If it’s not protected, it’s like leaving your diary out in the open where anyone can read your secrets. In the digital world, this could mean sensitive user information getting stolen.
Damage: Imagine if someone not only entered your house but started breaking your favorite things. On your website, if there are no security measures, bad people can damage it, deface it, or make it malfunction. So, in simple terms, security risks mean that without those digital locks and alarms, your website is vulnerable to unwanted visitors who can steal or mess with your stuff, just like if you didn’t lock the doors of your house.
Having a skilled backend designer is like having a superhero locksmith who makes sure your digital house is secure, keeping out the bad guys and protecting your digital treasures.
Let’s explore the idea of communication problems between different parts of a website in a way that’s easy to understand. Think of your website as a big, interactive playground, and each part of it is like a different game or activity. Now, to make sure everyone can have fun together, these games need to talk to each other and share information. That’s where APIs come in.
Now, what are APIs? Well, they’re like the rules or the language that these games use to talk to each other. Imagine if every game on the playground had its own secret language, and they couldn’t understand each other – that would be a problem, right?
Let’s now talk about database troubles in a way that’s relatable.
Imagine your website’s database as a big, organized room where you keep all your important stuff – like your favorite books, toys, and school projects. It’s neatly arranged so that you can find everything easily. Now, think about the backend designer as the person in charge of keeping this room tidy. They’re responsible for making sure everything is in the right place and well-organized. But if the backend designer doesn’t do a good job of managing the database, it’s like turning that once neat room into a complete mess.
Here’s how it’s similar
Data Gets Lost: Just like if your room is super messy, you might lose track of where you put your favorite things. In the world of websites, this means that important data, like user accounts or product information, can get lost in the chaos. Users might not be able to log in, or products might disappear from your online store.
Data Gets Mixed Up: Imagine having your toys all mixed up, so you can’t find the one you want to play with. If the backend designer doesn’t manage the database well, information can get mixed up too. It’s like someone ordering a blue dress and getting a red one instead when shopping online – not what they expected!
Website Becomes Unreliable: Just like a messy room can be frustrating because you can’t find what you need, a website with database troubles can become unreliable. Visitors might click on links and get error messages or see incorrect information. It’s like going to a library where the books are all out of order – not a great experience. In a nutshell, database troubles mean that the backend designer didn’t do a good job of organizing and managing the important information your website needs to work correctly. This can lead to data being lost or mixed up, making your website less reliable and potentially frustrating for the people who use it.
“So, having a skilled backend designer is like having a super-organized keeper of your digital treasures, ensuring everything is in its right place.”
Let’s talk about website security in a way that makes sense. Think of your website as your online house. You’ve got all your valuable stuff in there – photos, personal information, maybe even some other private holdings.
Just like you lock the doors of your real house to keep it safe, your website needs protection, too. Now, who’s responsible for that protection? That’s where the security measures come in, kind of like digital locks and alarms for your website. And who’s in charge of setting up these locks and alarms? That’s the job of the backend designer.
But here’s the thing: if the backend designer doesn’t set up these digital locks and alarms properly, it’s like leaving the doors of your house wide open. And guess what happens when you do that?
Unwanted Visitors: Just like anyone can walk into your house if the doors are open, hackers and bad people can stroll into your website. They can snoop around, steal your stuff, or even break things on your site.
Data Theft: Think of your website’s data like your personal diary. If it’s not protected, it’s like leaving your diary out in the open where anyone can read your secrets. In the digital world, this could mean sensitive user information getting stolen.
Damage: Imagine if someone not only entered your house but started breaking your favorite things. On your website, if there are no security measures, bad people can damage it, deface it, or make it malfunction. So, in simple terms, security risks mean that without those digital locks and alarms, your website is vulnerable to unwanted visitors who can steal or mess with your stuff, just like if you didn’t lock the doors of your house.
Having a skilled backend designer is like having a superhero locksmith who makes sure your digital house is secure, keeping out the bad guys and protecting your digital treasures.
Let’s explore the idea of communication problems between different parts of a website in a way that’s easy to understand. Think of your website as a big, interactive playground, and each part of it is like a different game or activity. Now, to make sure everyone can have fun together, these games need to talk to each other and share information. That’s where APIs come in.
Now, what are APIs? Well, they’re like the rules or the language that these games use to talk to each other. Imagine if every game on the playground had its own secret language, and they couldn’t understand each other – that would be a problem, right?
So, here’s what happens if the backend designer doesn’t create the right APIs:
Silent Games: It’s like having games on the playground that can’t talk to each other. Imagine playing a game of tag without being able to shout “You’re it!” to your friends. It would be a little lonely, right?
Limited Fun: Without the right APIs, some parts of your website might not work properly or might not work at all. It’s like trying to play a video game, but your controller doesn’t connect to the console – you can’t have much fun that way.
Frustration: Visitors to your website might get frustrated because they can’t do everything they want to do. It’s like being at the playground and wanting to join a game, but you can’t because you don’t understand the rules – not very enjoyable.
In simple terms, communication problems happen when different parts of your website can’t talk to each other because they don’t have the right rules or language (APIs).
It’s like having a phone that can’t connect to the internet – you can’t do much with it because it can’t communicate with other devices or websites.
“So, having a skilled backend designer is like having a language expert who ensures all the games on your digital playground can understand each other and have a blast!”
Now, I want you to imagine your website as a super cool car. People come to your website because they want to go on a speedy and exciting digital ride. Now, who’s responsible for making sure your website car runs smoothly and swiftly? That’s the job of the backend designer.
But here’s the deal: if the backend isn’t optimized for performance, it’s like having a car that can’t go fast enough on the highway. And what happens when your car can’t keep up with the traffic on the highway? It can be really frustrating, right?
So, here’s what can occur when there are performance issues:
Slow Loading: Just like a car struggling to accelerate, your website can take forever to load. It’s like waiting and waiting for your car to speed up when you’re in a hurry – not fun.
Unresponsiveness: If your car’s engine is acting up, you might press the gas pedal, but it doesn’t respond quickly. Similarly, with performance issues, your website might not respond promptly when people click buttons or links. It’s like trying to steer your car, but it doesn’t turn when you want it to.
Frustrated Users: Imagine driving a car that’s always sluggish – it can be super annoying. The same goes for your website. Slow performance can frustrate visitors, and they might leave before they get to see what you have to offer.
Traffic Jams: If lots of people are trying to use your slow car on the highway, it can create a traffic jam. Similarly, if your website becomes slow when many users visit it, it can get clogged up, and nobody likes waiting in a digital traffic jam.
In simple terms, performance issues mean that your website doesn’t run as fast and smoothly as it should. It’s like having a car that can’t keep up with the flow of traffic on the highway, and that can be really frustrating for the people who want to explore your website.
So, having a skilled backend designer is like having a car mechanic who tunes up your website to make it zoom and keep users happy on their digital journey.
Let’s dive into errors and glitches in a way that’s relatable.
Okay, so imagine you’re playing your favorite video game. You’re all excited, ready to have a blast, right? But as soon as you start playing, the game starts acting up. It freezes for a moment, or it suddenly crashes and kicks you out. Not fun at all, is it?
Well, that’s a lot like what happens to a website when there are errors and glitches because of problems in the backend code. Here’s what’s going on:
Weird Stuff Happens: Just like in that game where things go haywire, your website might do strange and unexpected things. Buttons might stop working, pictures might disappear, or the layout might get all jumbled up. It’s like playing a racing game, and suddenly your car starts flying – definitely not what you were expecting!
Frustration Sets In: Just as you’d get super frustrated when your game keeps freezing, visitors to your website can feel the same way. They might click on something and get an error message, or the page might suddenly reload for no reason. It’s like trying to score a goal in a soccer game, but the goalpost keeps moving – not fair and not fun!
Loss of Interest: If a game is full of glitches, you’d probably give up on it, right? Well, the same goes for your website. If it’s full of errors, people might lose interest and leave before they can even see what you have to offer.
So, in simple terms, errors and glitches happen when the backend code of your website isn’t checked and fixed properly. It’s like playing a video game that’s all messed up – frustrating and not enjoyable at all.
‘That’s why having a skilled backend designer is like having a game tester who makes sure your website runs smoothly and keeps visitors happy without any unexpected surprises.”
In Conclusion:
In a nutshell, if the backend designer doesn’t do their job well, the website can be unreliable, insecure, and frustrating to use. It’s essential to have a skilled backend developer to ensure that everything runs smoothly and safely behind the scenes, just like a well-built and secure foundation for a house
Founder & CEO
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