I'll try to be as brief as possible and hope this isn't off-topic. I started learning JavaScript this year (1st Jan). After a couple of weeks learning the basics of JavaScript, I decided to start learning Node.js because I prefer backend. I even purchased a couple of Node courses on Udemy.
The problem is I hardly, if ever see anyone on any job threads either here or on twitter mention Node in isolation when listing their skillset. It always includes (in addition to HTML and CSS) some frontend framework like React/Vue/Angular etc, or some backend language like PHP/Ruby. Is this because frontend jobs are more popular?
I'm still midway through the Udemy course ( by Andrew Mead) which contains about 180 videos, so I'm yet to see how it all comes together, but I'm beginning to think it would be insufficient and I need to learn a frontend framework.
Should I learn a 'proper' backend language like Python/PHP or just learn React? Is just knowledge of Node enough to get a job? I need all the advice I can get now because I have just a bit of money at the moment to invest in educational materials,BUT I have up until June before I'm no longer self-sufficient and every second counts. Thanks
Top comments (2)
You just need to know how to pick the right tool for the job, honestly. If you're comfortable with how the backend works works from a problem-solving perspective then you should be able to hop to different languages/frameworks without much trouble.
I wouldn't be quick to suggest just knowing one stack, as then you're kind of learning that particular group of technologies instead of the problems that they're solving and how to approach them. If the only tool you have is a hammer, then every problem will look like a nail.
IMHO, decide 1 thing and become master of it. There is lot of jobs for every stack, just be the right person for it.