Backend Developer
Step by step guide to becoming a modern backend developer.
12 sections
- Internet & HTTP FundamentalsHow the internet worksHTTP methods and status codesHeaders and the request/response bodyDNS and hosting
- Pick a LanguagePick one to startNode.js (JavaScript/TypeScript)PythonJavaGoPHPRuby
- Language & Tooling FundamentalsSyntax and control flowObject-oriented / functional principlesPackage and dependency management
- Version ControlGitBranching workflows and code review
- Working with DatabasesRelational databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL)NoSQL databases (MongoDB, Redis)Data modeling and normalizationIndexingORM vs raw SQLMigrationsThe N+1 query problem
- API DesignDesigning a clean REST APIAuthentication and authorizationSessions vs tokens (JWT)API versioningPagination and filteringRate limitingGraphQLoptional
- Application StructureMiddlewareError handlingLogging and observabilityCaching (Redis, CDN)Background jobs and queues
- SecurityPassword hashingInput validationOWASP Top 10Secrets management
- TestingUnit testsIntegration testsMocking and test databases
- Web Servers & DeploymentReverse proxies (Nginx)Containers (Docker)CI/CD pipelinesCloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure)
- Scalability & System DesignHorizontal vs vertical scalingLoad balancingMessage queuesMicroservices vs monolithsDistributed systems basics
- AI in Backend DevelopmentIntegrating LLM APIsVector databases and embeddingsManaging latency and cost of AI calls