[markfinger]

I feel as though there may be a bit of misunderstanding as to what the term implies from an employer's perspective and hence what is actually being requested by "full stack" positions. Given the ever-changing state of the tech industry, the term offers a comparatively safe option to an employer.

If any of us were to make an investment, maximum return with minimum risk is our natural choice. Given that an investment will never come without risk, we will obviously seek to minimise them. A business investing in an employee can seek to minimise their risk by hedging their bets and advertising for a role requiring an individual that is capable of multiple functions and is capable of adapting to changing needs.

Generally speaking, a "full stack" developer has a particular strength, but is capable of much more. The potential that exists in a multi-skilled developer is what appeals to an employer. Multi-skilling often implies experience adapting, learning and improving, so as a business changes, as its needs change, its workforce's capabilities can change to adapt.

Technical competency across the entire stack is rarely a necessity; intelligence, motivation and an open mind are the essentials. Maintaining an awareness of the broader picture is definitely helpful - when you have a new problem an awareness of the stack can provide an idea of where to start, which logs to start tailing and how you can start trying fix things - but it's the ability and openness to flying by the seat of our pants that makes the "full stack" magic.