Developer career roadmap

Systems Programmer Roadmap

Build efficient, testable low-level software with a strong understanding of computing systems and memory.

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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
Computer Science Foundations
Explain how computers represent information, execute instructions, use memory, organize files, communicate over networks, and evaluate simple solutions.
3
Command Line and Shell Essentials
Navigate files, run programs, combine commands, manage environment variables, and write safe shell scripts across major operating systems.
4
Git and GitHub
Track changes, create focused commits, work safely with branches, collaborate through pull requests, and recover from routine Git mistakes.
5
C Programming Fundamentals
Write, compile, debug, and test C programs while managing arrays, strings, pointers, structures, files, dynamic memory, and input safely.
6
Data Structures and Algorithms
Select, implement, analyze, and test common data structures and algorithms using practical constraints rather than memorized patterns.
7
Debugging and Problem Solving
Reproduce failures, collect evidence, isolate causes, test hypotheses, apply minimal fixes, and prevent regressions across common environments.
8
Linux Fundamentals
Use and troubleshoot Linux files, permissions, processes, packages, storage, services, logs, networking, and routine administration workflows.

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

Build modern C++ applications using value semantics, classes, standard containers, algorithms, resource management, templates, tests, and profiling.

Build safe Rust applications using ownership, borrowing, structs, enums, traits, generics, error handling, testing, files, and concurrency.

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.