Backend Development Roadmap
To start with Backend Development, you’ll need to choose a Server-side Programming Language. The most common programming language are Python, Java, Ruby, PHP, Go, Nodejs and Rust.
Basic Backend Concepts
Basic concepts to master to become a Backend Developer includes Programming Paradigms (Procedural, Object-oriented Programming, Functional), Data Structures and Algorithms, Operating Systems, Networking, and Web Programming.
Programming Concepts
For Backend Development, the programming concepts, you would need to know includes Data Structures and Algorithms (DSA), Software Development Methods (Waterfall, Rapid Application Development, Agile, etc), Design Patterns & Principles (SOLID, DRY, YAGNI), Architectural Patterns (Monolithic, Microservice, SOA, Serverless).
Software Design & Architecture
Software Design Patterns, Architectural Styles, also Best Practices should be known to become a Backend Developer.
Backend Frameworks
Most common Backend frameworks include Django / Flask for Python, Expressjs / Nextjs for Nodejs, Gin for Go, Laravel for PHP, Spring / Springboot for Java, also .NET.
Package managers for these frameworks include NPM for Nodejs, Composer for Laravel, Maven for Java, Pip for Python, Gem for Ruby, Cargo for Rust.
Databases
For Database Management System (DBMS) the most common are MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, and Firebase. You would also need knowledge about DB Design (Normalization, ERD), SQL Language (DDL, DML, DCL), ORM (Object Relational Mapping), Index & Transactions, ACID (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability), also Database Optimization.
API
The most common one being Representational State Transfer Application Programming Interface (REST API). JSON / XML knowledge, authentication systems (Basic Auth, Token Auth, OAuth, JSON Web Token [JWT]), API Docs (Swagger), GraphQL.
Caching
Caching knowledge with Redis would also be needed.
API Security
Here are some concepts to understand:
- Regular OWASP API Security Audit
- Authorization / Authentication
- Encryption Algorithms + Hashing
- HTTPS, SSL (Secure Socket Layer)
- CORS (Cross-Origin Resource Sharing)
- Content Security Policy (CSP)
- Rate Limiting
Unit Testing
Knowledge about Unit Testing, Integration Testing, also End-to-End (Functional) Testing would be handy.
Containerization & Virtualization
Knowledge about Docker, Kubernetes, and Ansible is common amongst Backend Developers.
Cloud Service Provider
The most common ones being:
- AWS
- Azure
- Google Cloud (GCP)
- Alibaba Cloud
Server Management
For server management, you would need knowledge about Apache, Nginx (serve static files, proxy requests, load balancing), or Microsoft IIS.
Version Management
Companies generally uses Git & Github / Gitlab for version management.
Misc
Some knowledge on stuffs like Message Brokers (RabbitMQ, Apache Kafka), Search Engines (ElasticSearch, Shodan) woule be nice. Hosting providers like Heroku, Github, Firebase, Vercel and Netlify should be common.