Blessing Udor

Pathway to a Full stack developer

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1) Choose a stack (pick one to start)

You only need one primary stack to begin — you can learn others later.

Option A — JavaScript / TypeScript (recommended)

  • Backend: Node.js + Express
  • Why: huge ecosystem, easy transition to frontend, TypeScript adds safety and is in high demand.

2) Core learning phases (what to learn and why)

Each phase lists must-learn topics and mini tasks.

Phase 0 — Foundations (Weeks 0–4)

Goals: basic programming fluency, Git, CLI, HTML/CSS basics (so you can do small full-stack demos).

  • Programming fundamentals: variables, control flow, functions, arrays/objects, async (callbacks/promises/async-await).
  • Tools: VS Code, Git, GitHub, terminal basics (cd, ls, mkdir, rm, curl).
  • Web basics: HTTP, URL, status codes, headers, JSON, how browsers request resources.
  • Mini tasks: build small scripts (e.g., weather CLI), make simple static HTML page, push code to GitHub.

Phase 1 — Backend basics & first REST API (Weeks 5–12)

Goals: write a real backend service, understand routing, middleware, and databases.

  • Language deepening: advanced JS/TS (modules, types, error handling), or Python if chosen.
  • Framework: Express (or Flask/Django).
  • Databases: SQL basics (SELECT/INSERT/UPDATE/DELETE), PostgreSQL or MySQL.
  • Authentication basics: sessions vs JWT.
  • Testing basics: unit tests (Jest for JS / pytest for Python).
  • Mini tasks: build a CRUD API for a “Notes” app with Postgres, Dockerize it, write tests, deploy.

Phase 2 — Production patterns (Weeks 13–20)

Goals: make your app robust, secure, and deployable; learn caching, background jobs, and CI.

  • Docker + docker-compose.
  • Logging & monitoring basics.
  • Caching (Redis), background processing (Bull for Node, Celery for Python).
  • Security basics: OWASP Top 10, input validation, password hashing, HTTPS/TLS basics.
  • CI/CD: GitHub Actions or GitLab CI pipelines, automated tests.
  • Mini tasks: add auth to Notes app, add background job (e.g., send emails), add Redis cache, configure CI pipeline.

Phase 3 — Scaling & architecture (Weeks 21–28)

Goals: understand system design basics and scaling patterns.

  • Message brokers (RabbitMQ/Kafka) basics.
  • Microservices vs monolith tradeoffs.
  • API design: RESTful vs GraphQL.
  • Load balancing, reverse proxies (Nginx), containers orchestration basics (Kubernetes intro).
  • Mini tasks: split one service into two (e.g., Posts service + Auth service), or build a queue worker and scale it locally with docker-compose.

Phase 4 — Advanced features & polish (Weeks 29–36)

Goals: build larger projects, solidify testing and design skills.

  • Observability: metrics, distributed tracing (concepts).
  • Advanced DB topics: indexes, migrations, transactions, replication concepts.
  • Performance tuning: profiling, query optimization.
  • Mini tasks: build a small ecommerce prototype with payments mock, analytics events pipeline, and CI/CD; include tests and infra as code (Terraform basics optional).

Phase 5 — Interview prep & job hunt (Weeks 37–52)

  • Algorithms & data structures: arrays, linked lists, trees, hash maps, sorting, complexity analysis (Big O).
  • System design: prepare for basic to medium system design interviews (design a URL shortener, design a chat system).
  • Mock interviews, resume tailoring, open-source contributions.
  • Mini tasks: solve 40–100 algorithm problems (see schedule below), do 6 mock interviews.

3) Detailed timeline (week-by-week for the first 12 weeks, then monthly)

I’ll show a weekly plan for the first 12 weeks (most critical) and monthly checkpoints afterward.

Week 1 (Day 1–7)

  • Install tools: VS Code, Git, Node / Python, Postgres, Docker.
  • Learn Git basics: git init, git add, git commit, git push.
  • Do an intro tutorial: JS basics (variables, loops, functions) or Python basics if chosen.
  • Mini: create GitHub repo and push a “hello world” script.

Week 2

Week 3

  • HTTP fundamentals (GET/POST/etc), status codes, headers, JSON.
  • Learn Express basics (or Flask): routing, middleware.
  • Mini: simple Express server with 3 routes.

Week 4

  • SQL basics: SELECT, WHERE, JOIN, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE.
  • Setup Postgres, connect from Node/Python.
  • Mini: connect Express to Postgres and store simple records.

Weeks 5–8

  • Build Notes API: CRUD endpoints + Postgres, input validation, basic auth (JWT).
  • Add unit tests (Jest or pytest).
  • Dockerize app + postgres via docker-compose.
  • Deploy to free tier (Railway/Render/Heroku) — learn env vars and secrets.
  • Outcome: deployed Notes app, tests, Dockerfile, GitHub repo.

Weeks 9–12

  • Add features: rate limiting, email notifications (use SendGrid or mock), file uploads.
  • Add Redis for caching.
  • Add CI: run tests on PR with GitHub Actions.
  • Start small frontend (optional): simple HTML/JS to call your API so you can demo full-stack.

Months 4–6 (if intensive) / Months 4–9 (if part-time)

  • System design basics + microservices experiments.
  • Build bigger project: e-commerce or scheduling app with:
    • auth service, product service, order service (or simpler: blog + comments + search)
    • background jobs (order processing), message queue
    • monitoring/logging basics
  • Start interview prep: weekly algorithm practice, a few mock interviews.

Months 6–12 (final polish for both tracks)

  • Contribute to an open-source project or build a public portfolio project with strong README and architecture docs.
  • Network: GitHub, LinkedIn, meetups, referrals.
  • Apply to jobs, do mock interviews, iterate on resume and interview answers.

4) Concrete projects (in order of increasing difficulty)

Build these and put each in GitHub with: README, architecture diagram, tests, Dockerfile, CI, and a deployed link.

  1. Notes API (CRUD) — Postgres, Express/Flask, JWT auth, unit tests, Docker, deployed.
  2. Authentication system — Email/password, password reset, sessions/JWT, refresh tokens.
  3. Blog platform — Users, posts, comments, image upload, pagination, search.
  4. Task queue demo — Submit jobs (e.g., image conversion), process with worker (Bull/Celery), show queue UI.
  5. E-commerce prototype — Product catalog, orders, payments mock, order processing pipeline.
  6. Real-time chat — WebSocket or Socket.IO, rooms, presence, deploy.
  7. Microservice split — API gateway + two small services + message broker to show interservice comms.

For each project include:

  • Architecture diagram (draw.io screenshot or Markdown diagram).
  • How to run locally (Docker compose).
  • How to deploy and credentials (no secrets).
  • Tests and badges (CI passing).

5) Interview preparation (how to practice)

  • Algorithm practice: do problems on LeetCode/HackerRank. Start easy → medium. Schedule:
    • Intensive: 1–2 problems daily (30–60 min).
    • Part-time: 3–4 problems/week.
  • System design: study basic patterns; practice 1 design per week (URL shortener, tiny social feed).
  • Mock interviews: use Pramp, Interviewing.io, or pair with peers. Do 1 mock/week in the last 8 weeks.
  • Behavioral: prepare STAR stories for 8–10 experiences (teamwork, conflict, project ownership).

6) Tools + nitty gritty you’ll use daily

  • Editor: VS Code (extensions: Prettier, ESLint, GitLens).
  • DB tools: psql CLI, PgAdmin, DBeaver.
  • API testing: Postman or Insomnia.
  • Version control: Git + GitHub (PR workflow).
  • Containers: Docker, docker-compose.
  • CI/CD: GitHub Actions.
  • Cloud: learn basics of one cloud (AWS, GCP, or Azure). Start with deploying apps to a simple platform (Render / Railway / Heroku) then learn EC2/ECS or App Engine.
  • Monitoring: simple logging to console, then explore Prometheus/Grafana later.

7) Weekly study schedule templates

Intensive (40 hours/week) — sample week

  • Mon–Fri: 6–7 hours/day
    • 2–3 hours course/tutorial
    • 2 hours hands-on coding (project)
    • 1 hour reading/docs + 30min algorithms
  • Sat: 6 hours — deep work: architecture, tests, CI.
  • Sun: rest + 1–2 hours review.

Part-time (20 hours/week) — sample week

  • Mon/Wed/Fri: 2.5 hours each — tutorials + exercises.
  • Tue/Thu: 2.5 hours each — hands-on project work.
  • Sat: 4 hours — deep work, tests, deployment.
  • Sun: 1 hour — algorithms or reading.

8) What “intermediate developer” looks like (checkpoint)

You should be able to confidently say “I can …”:

  • Build, test, and deploy a production-grade REST API.
  • Design a small system and reason about tradeoffs.
  • Use SQL and optimize queries; model relational data.
  • Implement authentication and basic security practices.
  • Write unit and integration tests; set up CI pipelines.
  • Containerize apps with Docker and deploy to cloud or PaaS.
  • Use Redis for caching and a queue for background jobs.
  • Debug and profile backend issues; interpret logs.
  • Communicate about architecture, write good READMEs and docs.
    If you can do these, you’re intermediate.

9) Resources (pick ones that fit your learning style)

Free: freeCodeCamp, MDN Web Docs, The Odin Project, SQLBolt, nodejs.org docs, Express docs, Django docs.
Structured / paid: Udemy (look for high-rated Node/TypeScript or Django courses), Frontend Masters (for deep backend topics), Educative.io (system design).
Books (for later): Designing Data-Intensive Applications (useful for architecture), Clean Code (coding craftsmanship).

10) First 30 days — exact action plan (no fluff)

Follow this if you want immediate focus.

Days 1–7:

  • Setup tools, GitHub, Node or Python.
  • Finish 10 small exercises (loops, functions, arrays).
  • Push first repo.

Days 8–15:

  • Complete a beginner tutorial for Express or Flask.
  • Learn SQL basics and create a Postgres DB locally.

Days 16–23:

  • Start the Notes API: routing, DB connection.
  • Commit daily, open PRs to yourself — practice writing good commit messages.

Days 24–30:

  • Add JWT auth and tests for basic endpoints.
  • Dockerize and push to GitHub.
  • Deploy to free tier.

At day 30: you’ll have a deployed project, GitHub repo, and the confidence to continue to bigger features.

11) How to get your first job / internships

  • Polish 2–3 showcase projects with documentation.
  • Add a short technical writeup on each (1–2 pages).
  • Contribute to small open-source issues (label “good first issue”).
  • Apply to many roles, tailor your resume, include links to GitHub and deployed apps.
  • Network: LinkedIn posts about your projects, join local dev meetups, ask for informational interviews.
  • Prepare 10–20 STAR stories for behavioral interviews.

12) Common pitfalls + how to avoid them

  • Pitfall: jumping between too many technologies.
    Fix: pick one stack and finish projects with it.
  • Pitfall: projects without tests or docs.
    Fix: always add at least basic tests and README.
  • Pitfall: focusing only on tutorials and not building.
    Fix: build small projects from day 10 onward.
  • Pitfall: ignoring algorithms.
    Fix: 20–45 minutes, 3× weekly practice.

13) Final checklist — are you ready to apply?

You’re ready when:

  • You have 2–3 public projects (deployed + repo + README).
  • You can explain architectural decisions for those projects.
  • You can solve common interview coding problems (medium level).
  • You understand deployment and can debug production logs.
  • Your resume and LinkedIn highlight your projects and tech stack.

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