Developer career roadmap

JavaScript Backend Developer Roadmap

Build secure, database-backed JavaScript APIs and operate them through modern delivery workflows.

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Dependency-aware sequence

1
Programming Foundations
Understand how programs process data, make decisions, repeat work, organize logic, and report errors, then build and debug a command-line application.
2
Command Line and Shell Essentials
Navigate files, run programs, combine commands, manage environment variables, and write safe shell scripts across major operating systems.
3
Git and GitHub
Track changes, create focused commits, work safely with branches, collaborate through pull requests, and recover from routine Git mistakes.
4
JavaScript Fundamentals
Write, organize, debug, and test JavaScript programs that process data, respond to browser events, update pages, and communicate with APIs.
5
Computer Networking Fundamentals
Explain how devices communicate, configure and troubleshoot basic IP networks, interpret DNS and DHCP behavior, and locate connection failures.
6
HTTP and APIs
Trace HTTP requests and responses, use common methods and status codes, work with JSON APIs, handle authentication, and diagnose communication failures.
7
Node.js and Express
Build, validate, test, secure, and deploy a database-backed HTTP API with Node.js and Express.
8
SQL and Relational Databases
Design a relational schema, write reliable queries, update data safely, use transactions, and diagnose common correctness and performance problems.

Project ladder

Stage 1

Build evidence that combines the skills from the roadmap stages you have completed.

Stage 2

Build evidence that combines the skills from the roadmap stages you have completed.

Stage 3

Build evidence that combines the skills from the roadmap stages you have completed.

Extend your capability

Design useful tests, separate unit and integration concerns, test error behavior, recognize unreliable tests, and create a balanced test strategy.

Identify trust boundaries, validate untrusted input, protect credentials, apply authentication and authorization safely, and reduce common risks.

Build, run, secure, debug, connect, persist, test, and distribute containerized applications and multi-service development environments.

Build secure, testable, versioned, observable, and recoverable pipelines for software integration, artifacts, releases, deployments, and rollback.