Muhammad Rezki Dwijayanto

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Roadmap to Becoming a Backend Developer


Backend development focuses on the “behind-the-scenes” part of applications: databases, servers, APIs, and logic that makes the system function. Unlike frontend (which handles user interfaces), backend ensures data processing, security, and performance.

This roadmap guides you step by step.

1. Foundations of Programming

Before diving deep, start with a strong foundation:

  • Learn a programming language: Python, JavaScript (Node.js), Java, Go, or PHP.

  • Understand variables, loops, functions, and data structures.

  • Learn Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) concepts (classes, inheritance, polymorphism).

📚 Suggested: Python or JavaScript (Node.js) for beginners.

2. Version Control

  • Master Git and GitHub/GitLab/Bitbucket.

  • Learn branching, merging, pull requests, and collaboration.

3. Databases

  • Relational Databases (SQL): MySQL, PostgreSQL.

  • NoSQL Databases: MongoDB, Redis.

  • Learn how to design schemas, write queries, and optimize performance.

4. Server, Networking & APIs

  • Understand HTTP/HTTPS, request/response cycle, and status codes.

  • Learn REST APIs and introduction to GraphQL.

  • Work with Postman/Insomnia for API testing.

5. Backend Frameworks

Choose a framework based on your language:

  • Node.js: Express.js, NestJS

  • Python: Django, Flask, FastAPI

  • Java: Spring Boot

  • PHP: Laravel

Learn how to:

  • Build CRUD applications.

  • Handle authentication & authorization.

  • Implement middleware and error handling.

6. Authentication & Security

  • Learn about JWT (JSON Web Tokens), OAuth, and sessions.

  • Protect against SQL Injection, XSS, CSRF.

  • Use HTTPS and hashing algorithms (bcrypt, Argon2).

7. Testing & Debugging

  • Unit testing (e.g., JUnit, PyTest, Mocha, Jest).

  • Integration testing.

  • Logging and monitoring tools.

8. Deployment & DevOps Basics

  • Learn how to deploy apps on Heroku, Vercel, Netlify, AWS, DigitalOcean.

  • Understand CI/CD pipelines.

  • Basics of Docker and containerization.

9. Scalability & Advanced Topics

  • Caching (Redis, Memcached).

  • Message Queues (RabbitMQ, Kafka).

  • Microservices architecture.

  • Cloud computing (AWS, GCP, Azure).

10. Soft Skills & Career Preparation

  • Problem solving (LeetCode, HackerRank).

  • Writing clean, maintainable code.

  • Communication and documentation skills.

  • Build a strong portfolio: APIs, full-stack projects, open-source contributions.