Basics for backend development - Roadmap

Every web development enthusiast trying to learn backend development often get stuck on what to learn as a beginner. They tend to get confused about the project to build and backend concepts to implement on that project.

Having worked as backend developer for two years and guided half a dozen fresh interns, I have a roadmap for you. From my experience, to start the backend engineering journey, initially focus on building endpoints, no more than that.

• learn basic commands of git
• create GitHub repository for your project
• have an adequate grasp on a backend programming language
• search for the popular and market demanding framework for the language
• do not think of difficult projects, just start with simple TODO app and build upon it (this is where most beginners get stuck)
• create REST endpoints for CRUD operations in Todo app without connecting to database first.
• test your endpoints in postman
• now connect your app with database and perform CRUD operations. Start with any database, do not think much (I recommend PostgreSQL)
• find a way to deploy your project online (up and running app gives you a good vibes)

Now you have built APIs and it is deployed (amazing feeling).But do not stop here.

Learn more backend concepts and after learning any one concept, TRY implementing that on your TODO app.

You can further explore the followings:

• database design concepts like ER diagrams, relationships, normalization and crow foot notation.
• HTTP status codes.
• concepts of authentication and authorization(ROLE-BASED).
• learn about cookie, session and token (inclusively REFRESH TOKEN).
• try uploading files and images into your server.
• learn and implement the concepts of database migrations, transactions, seeders and factories.

After implementing any above points, please DEPLOY your project (it boosts your confidence)

Implement the above concepts as many as you can. If you cannot implement any of these concepts at the moment, know about the concept and move on to implementing another point, don't get stuck.

Note: Please keep in mind, you are starting and you are not supposed to know everything in this phase.

Everything I mentioned above in a picture: