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to become a backend developer there are

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five essential skills let's go over them

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one by

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one the first step to learning backend

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development is to pick up a programming

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language here we have a few options like

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JavaScript python Ruby Java C and go

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just to name a few now which one is the

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best well it's almost impossible to pick

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one language as the best or the ultimate

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language because the choice of language

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depends on various factors like project

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requirements team expertise and

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performance needs for example JavaScript

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is used for full stack development

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because we can use it on both the front

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end and the back end in contrast Python

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and Ruby are often used for rapid

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prototyping and fast development Cycles

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Java and C are often used in building

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large scale Enterprise grade

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applications they're heavily used in

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large organizations and government

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systems and go is used for performance

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critical and concurrent applications now

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a common mistake I see among my students

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is that they try to learn learn many of

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these languages hoping that this would

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increase their job opportunities but it

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doesn't work that way because learning a

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language is only the first step you also

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need to learn the ecosystem of tools and

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libraries for that language to land a

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job so if you're starting out just stick

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to one language whichever you like but

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also do a bit of research and see how

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many job opportunities are available for

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that language where you live generally

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speaking there are often more job

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opportunities for python Java and

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JavaScript but again I want want you to

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do your own research now assuming that

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there are more job opportunities for

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these three languages in your town and

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you're not sure what language to start

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with I would recommend python because

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it's the easiest and has a simple

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readable syntax that's great for

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beginners my second choice is Java

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because it's a solid language and is

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often taught to computer science and

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software engineering students JavaScript

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has a ton of weird parts and baggage

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from the past because it wasn't

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originally built for building backends

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we can certainly use it to build great

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backends and I've done that many times

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but I still prefer Java or C to

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JavaScript for building backends so

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don't overthink this pick a language and

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dedicate 2 months to learning it if you

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spend 3 to 5 hours every day studying

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and coding you can learn any of these

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languages in about 2 months now to help

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you on this journey I've created a free

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supplementary PDF that breaks down the

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specific Concepts you need to learn for

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each skill it also includes several

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project ideas to help you practice and

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apply what you have learned it's a great

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resource to review your progress find

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gaps in your knowledge and prepare for

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interviews you can find the link in the

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description Box by the way I have a

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bunch of tutorials on this channel and

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complete courses on my website if you're

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looking for structured learning again

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links are in the description box the

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next thing you need to learn is a

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version control system like git git is

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not a programming language it's a tool

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that we use to track changes to our code

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and collaborate with others git and

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GitHub which is a platform that hosts

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git repositories are essential for every

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developer git has a ton of features but

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you don't need to know them all for

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everyday use think of it like the 8020

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rule 80% of the time you use 20% of gits

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features so 1 to two weeks of practice

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is enough to get up and running now

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building backends often involves working

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with data structures and implementing

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complex algorithms this is where a lot

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of self-taught programmers struggle

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because they try to skip ahead and learn

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more and more languages and tools

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without learning the fun alss of

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computer science data structures and

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algorithms are critical subjects taught

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to computer science students and they're

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often covered in Tech interviews

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especially at Big tech companies like

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apple Google and Microsoft while you can

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skip this step and go to the next as

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someone who has had the privilege of

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teaching millions of people I highly

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recommend you not overlook this step

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otherwise you're going to feel the pain

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later in your career so spend 1 to two

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months studying classic computer science

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data structures and algorithms this will

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give you a strong foundation in

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programming and problem solving the next

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thing I would recommend to learn which a

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lot of self-taught people Miss is design

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patterns design patterns are proven

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solutions to Common software design

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problems there are 23 classic design

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patterns that were documented in this

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classic book design patterns by the gang

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of four many of these patterns are used

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in web Frameworks particularly springing

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Django and as.net core which we'll talk

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about in a few minutes so learning these

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design patterns will give you a deeper

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understanding of objectoriented design

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principles and how these Frameworks work

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under the hood now I got to tell you

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this book is pretty old and it's written

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in C++ honestly it's a difficult read

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because many of the examples in the book

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are dry and not quite relevant to Modern

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software that's why I've created a very

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Hands-On and pragmatic course on this

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topic where I use Java and modern

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examples that you find in applications

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we use every day so you can see how

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these design patterns are used to solve

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problem problems in modern applications

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whether you want to take my course or a

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different resource I believe if you

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dedicate a few hours every day you can

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have a pretty solid understanding of

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design patterns in about 2 months the

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next thing you need to learn is

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understanding and designing databases

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there are two classes of database

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engines relational and non-relational

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also called nosql databases in

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relational databases data is stored in

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tables with rows and columns that are

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related that's why we call them

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relational databases these databases are

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best for applications that require

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complex queries and transactions like

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banking systems and e-commerce

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applications especially any application

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that needs complex reporting examples of

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relational database engines are MySQL

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postgress SQL server and Oracle these

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are different products that despite some

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differences work more or less the same

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way with all these products you retrieve

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or store data using a language called

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SQL some people call it SQL which is

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short for structured query language it's

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a simple language that looks like plain

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English now you don't need to learn all

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these database engines because different

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projects and teams use different

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database engines when you're starting

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out you just need to learn one of them

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and you can easily pick up others on the

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job out of these I would recommend MySQL

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because it's the most popular database

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engine but you can pick any other

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database engine that you like one month

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is enough to learn the essence of SQL

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and working with a relational database

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now in no SQL databases data is stored

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without a predefined table structure so

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these databases are more flexible

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they're best for applications that

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require flexible data models and

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real-time analytics examples include

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mongodb couch DB and Cassandra again

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these are several products out there and

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you don't have to learn all of them out

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of these I would recommend mongodb

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because it's the most popular and you

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can learn it in about a month you're not

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going to be an expert but you're going

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to have a decent practical knowledge

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the next thing you need to learn is a

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web framework which depends on your

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programming language for python you

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should learn D Jango for Java you should

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learn spring boot for JavaScript you

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should learn express.js for C you should

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learn as.net core for Ruby you should

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learn Ruby on Rails and for go you

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should learn J all these Frameworks more

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or less do the same thing they provide a

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bunch of tools for building backends

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handling tasks like routing request and

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response handling database interaction

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and Security in a nutshell with these

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Frameworks we can build and publish

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application programming interfaces or

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apis these apis are essentially

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communication points between front-ends

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and backends allowing frontends to

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retrieve or post data to backends if you

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have a solid background in a programming

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language and databases you can learn any

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of these Frameworks in about 2 months so

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if you dedicate a few hours every day

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and follow this road map you'll have the

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necessary knowledge to apply for entry

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level backend Developer jobs in about 12

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months now if you want to take your

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skills to the next level there are of

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course additional things you should

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learn I've included them in the PDF I

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mentioned earlier again the link is in

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the description if you have any

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questions please let me know in the

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comments below and I'll do my best to

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answer you right here or in my future

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videos If you enjoyed this video please

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give it a like And subscribe for more

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useful content

Essential Skills to Become a Backend Developer: A Comprehensive Guide

In the ever-evolving tech landscape, mastering backend development is crucial for aspiring developers. This article delineates the five essential skills you need to cultivate to thrive as a backend developer. By focusing on programming languages, version control systems, data structures, design patterns, and frameworks, you will be well-equipped to tackle the challenges of backend development and open up new opportunities in this dynamic field.

1. Choose Your Programming Language Wisely

The foundation of backend development lies in selecting the right programming language. Options like JavaScript, Python, Ruby, Java, C, and Go are prevalent, each serving various project needs. While it's easy to become overwhelmed by choices, consider your local job market. Generally, languages like Python, Java, and JavaScript are highly sought after.

Beginning your journey with Python is advisable due to its effortless syntax, making it perfect for beginners. However, if you're interested in a strong understanding of computer science, Java could be a great choice as it’s commonly taught in academia. Dedicate around 2 months, studying 3 to 5 hours daily, to develop a solid understanding of your chosen language.

2. Master Version Control Systems

Once you've established a strong programming foundation, the next skill to learn is a version control system, with Git being the most widely used. Git allows you to track code changes and collaborate efficiently with others in software development.

While Git comes with many features, as a beginner, focus on the core functionalities—about 20% of the features you will use 80% of the time. Allocate 1 to 2 weeks for practice to get up and running smoothly with Git and GitHub.

3. Grasp Data Structures and Algorithms

A deep understanding of data structures and algorithms will drastically improve your problem-solving capabilities as a backend developer. These concepts form the backbone of computer science, and you'll likely encounter them in technical interviews, especially at big tech corporations like Google and Microsoft.

Emphasize honing your skills in classic data structures and algorithms over a period of 1 to 2 months. This groundwork will enhance your ability to write efficient code and tackle complex programming challenges effectively.

4. Delve into Design Patterns

Next, it's essential to get acquainted with design patterns—established solutions to common software design dilemmas. Familiarity with design patterns enhances your understanding of object-oriented design principles and provides insights into how modern frameworks operate.

The classic "Design Patterns" book can be challenging due to its age and language focus. Instead, consider pursuing a modern course that applies these principles using languages like Java. Dedicating a couple of hours each day over 2 months will enhance your proficiency in utilizing design patterns effectively in your projects.

5. Understand and Design Databases

Finally, a robust understanding of databases is vital. Learn about relational databases using SQL and NoSQL databases for flexible data models. You can focus on MySQL or MongoDB to start. Committing to about a month for each database will equip you with the necessary skills to handle real-world data management.

In today's applications, having the proficiency to interact with databases is a prerequisite for backend developers. This expertise enables you to create, retrieve, update, and delete data without a hitch.

6. Embrace Web Frameworks

After establishing a sound foundation in programming languages and databases, it's time to explore web frameworks. Depending on the language you selected, you can learn Django for Python, Spring Boot for Java, Express.js for JavaScript, and so forth.

Web frameworks streamline the backend development process by handling routing, request and response management, and database interaction. Dedicating 2 months to learn how to utilize these frameworks effectively will set you up for success in building robust backend systems.

Conclusion

By following this roadmap, dedicating time to learn each skill methodically, and seeking out resources, you can be ready to apply for entry-level backend developer roles within a year. Remember, the journey to becoming a successful backend developer is a marathon, not a sprint. So, be patient, keep learning, and don’t hesitate to seek help when needed. Tech is an ever-evolving field, and with time and dedication, you will find your place in it—possibly even innovating practices that contribute to its future.