If you have worked on a backend project with technologies like Tomcat, JBoss, etc… and also worked on the front-end project with technologies like ReactJS, VueJS, or AngularJS… or a full-stack project that is similar to what is mentioned, it shouldn’t be too difficult for full-stack developers to move into the AEM-universe. AEM’s primarily uses Java backend and HTML/CSS/JS for the frontend, which seasoned full-stack developers would have the experience to all these technologies. All of your fullstack web developer experiences in the past are transferrable Skills to become an AEM Full Stack Developer 2022.
Listed below are the backend and frontend skills of what I think are beneficial when transitioning to AEM, as a new AEM Full Stack Developer in 2022.
1. Transferrable Backend Developer Skills
As transitioning into AEM as a new AEM Full Stack Developer in 2022 it would be beneficial if you had experience with the items below; for backend work.
- Java 11+ Framework
- TomCat / JBoss / ASP.NET
- Java Server Pages(JSP) / ASP.NET: Razor
- Java JSP Standard Tag Library (JSTL)
- Java Servlet
- Service-oriented architecture/web services (SOAP/REST)
- RESTful Services/APIs
- Markup languages like XML and JSON
- Object-oriented programming (OOP) concepts and patterns
- Abstract classes and interfaces
- SQL database queries
- Relational Databases & Non-Sql Databases
- Java Annotations
- Web frameworks (e.g., Spring and Struts)
- File IO and serialization
- Access specifiers
- Java virtual machine (JVM) and memory management
- Dependency injection
- Ability to read Java API documentation (AEM offers alot of backend Services)
The skills & experiences listed above are examples of what I think will be great backend transferable skills, from my experience. Definitely more skills & experiences can be added to this list.
2. Transferrable Frontend Developer Skills
As transitioning into AEM as a new AEM Full Stack Developer in 2022 it would be beneficial if you had experience with the items below; for frontend work.
- HTML/CSS
- JavaScript
- jQuery
- Object-oriented programming (OOP) concepts and patterns
- Markup languages like XML and JSON
- JavaScript Frameworks
- Front End Frameworks (ReactJS, VueJS, Angular)
- Creative -> HTML & CSS
- CSS Preprocessors like Sass or Less
- RESTful Services/APIs
- Responsive/Mobile Design
- Cross-Browser Development
The skills & experiences listed above are examples of what I think will be great backend transferable skills, from my experience. Definitely more skills & experiences can be added to this list.
3. Transferrable Extra Skills
As transitioning into AEM as a new AEM Full Stack Developer in 2022 it would be beneficial if you had experience with the items below.
- DevOps
- AWS Platform
- Content Delivery Network
- Linux Web Servers
- Apache Module Web Server, and all it’s modules
- Transport Layer Security
- User Authentication
- Web Tokens
- UX / UI Basic Knowledge
- Search Engine Optimization
The skills & experiences listed above are examples of what I think will be great backend transferable skills, from my experience. Definitely more skills & experiences can be added to this list.
As you start learning about the AEM stack, the different Java Libraries that AEM utilizes, in the beginning, will be a challenge, but once you absorb and understand how everything is linked and referenced, it would be easy to manage.
Thank you for the post, Brian –great information!
I’ve got an ASP.NET/C#/ASP.NET MVC background with HTML5/CSS/JavaScript, so entering into the Java/Apache arena and trying to get my head around a new IDE and understanding how to build out components feels intimidating.
Do you have any suggestions for someone who has lived mostly in the Microsoft side of things?
Thank you again.
Hi Tina,
I don’t think it will be too rough to context switch from ASP.NET/C#. It will just be new syntax from the Sightly HTL & Java Backend API.
I would recommend you take some courses on pluralsight.com as this website will provide you 20hrs + on AEM training videos on how to get started. You can try to use my promo code here as a free trail – https://www.pluralsight.com/pricing/free-trial?clickid=UlKR0sXprxyIUYvSowSpp0KmUkD2ufQeNTFuTo0&irgwc=1&mpid=3205385&aid=7010a000001xAKZAA2&utm_medium=digital_affiliate&utm_campaign=3205385&utm_source=impactradius
Thanks
You’re welcome!
Excellent article Brian, would definitely share with my AEM mates, glad i found it!
Although I have a question: How difficult will it be to switch to Java fullstack from AEM fullstack? Given my few months of experience on AEM, I couldn’t think of a situation where AEM would require me to code deep complex Java codes, which leads me to wonder if I am limited/stuck in AEM.
If complex java coding is a part of AEM do let me know and how can i leverage switching to Java Fullstack.
Thanks
Hi Subasish, in my opinion, when moving to AEM Fullstack, in the very beginning, you will be spending a lot more time understanding the infrastructure of how an AEM website is built; this means understanding components, templates, pages, etc… You’ll spend a lot of time learning about the conventional configuration structures of how AEM ties everything together. Once this is understood, you might work more on Front-end (Micro-services, HTML, CSS, JavaScript) or Back-end (I would say, importing data from a third party, workflows, and data structures in the JCR). Moving away from AEM, the lost knowledge would be the AEM infrasture, which cannot be used, But from the years of AEM Experience that you obtained, you will be able to take all your FE experiences to make ReactJS, Angular, VueJS experiences. For the backend, to me, AEM is somewhat like the Spring.io Framework. So you can be a RESTFUL-API developer writing in Java Backend with the Spring.io framework. You can imagine if you transition away from AEM, you will be working as a Spring.io Framework full-stack web developer.
BUT, AEM is just starting to become more and more popular, and now is the right time to start.
==================
“Adobe Experience Cloud is used by 75% of Fortune 100 companies”
Out of curiosity, I did a little digging…
What I found is interesting.
AEM is used in pretty much most industries, but these are the biggest:
– Pharmaceutical
– Health
– Telecommunication
– Consumer Retail
– Financial Services
Now, there are some BIG companies like Apple and Amazon that use AEM.
But they tend to use it for internal communications or microsites.
I estimate that there are 1,200 +/- US-based companies currently using AEM right now.
What I find most interesting is this represents a small portion of a much bigger pie.
Let me explain…
Adobe over the last few years has started to focus on medium to large size companies.
Think companies with 1,500 employees and 500 million in revenue.
And with “75% of the Fortune 100” already sold to. There isn’t much more “selling” room left.
So consider this enterprise market tapped out.
You also see that over the last few years Adobe’s strategy is to move AEM to the cloud, which they call AEM as a Cloud Service.
And with their latest acquisitions of Marketo and Magento, it gives Adobe a solid footprint into those medium to large size companies.
And given that footprint, it just makes sense that Adobe is going to have a much easier time selling AEM as a Cloud Service and their other enterprise products.
Lastly, Adobe changed its licensing from a cost-per-instance to a usage-based model supported by Adobe managed services and AEM as a Cloud Service.
So all-in-all Adobe’s future with AEM is just getting started.
Hello Briankasingli, Thanks for giving information about Transferable Skills to become an AEM Full Stack Developer in 2022. Your blog had been explained about Transferrable Backend and Frontend Developer Skills and Transferrable Extra Skills which is short and neat. Eventhough you had included more details about AEM Full Stack Developer. Thanks for your effort!!!
Hello Briankasingli, thanks from your guidance, I want to be AEM full stuck developer in the future . kindly tell me the best roadmap for learning AEM, AEM topics to be snowed about it,
I have created a new article your query, Developers Courses in 2022, https://sourcedcode.com/blog/aem/aem-developers-courses-2022-that-really-helped-me. I hope this helps.
Hi I have read a lot from this blog thank you for sharing this information.
Thanks for taking a look!
Very good content in this blog.
Hi, I have read a lot from this blog thank you for sharing this information.