Bold headlines always spark clicks and debates—but let’s be honest, they also strike a nerve for a reason.
The phrase “You’re not a real developer until…” isn’t meant to gatekeep. It’s a challenge—a wake-up call. A reminder that writing tutorials isn’t enough. Copy-pasting code from YouTube and calling it a day won’t make you stand out. What separates real developers from the crowd is their ability to build, break, and rebuild.
If you want to be taken seriously, build seriously. Here are 5 projects you must build not just to level up, but to prove to yourself that you’ve arrived.
1. The CRUD App That’s Not Just Another Todo List
We’ve all built a todo list. It’s like the developer’s rite of passage. But now it’s time to evolve. Think Inventory Manager, Student Record System, or Expense Tracker.
Why it matters:
CRUD is the DNA of most web apps. Create, Read, Update, Delete—mastering these operations means you understand real-world app behavior and data flow.
What you’ll learn:
- Local storage or backend integration
- Form handling and validation
- Real-time UI updates
- Modular design
2. A Fully Responsive Portfolio Website That Actually Represents You
You’re a developer. People Google you. What do they find?
If your portfolio is still “Under Construction,” it’s time to fix that.
Why it matters:
Your portfolio is your digital handshake. It's where potential clients, recruiters, and collaborators meet you. Make it count.
What you’ll learn:
- Semantic HTML & CSS mastery
- Responsive design (mobile-first)
- Animation and UX design principles
- Hosting and deployment (Netlify, Vercel, etc.)
3. A Real-Time Chat App with Authentication
Nothing says “I get full-stack development” like a real-time app that requires users to sign in and communicate.
Why it matters:
It’s a big step. This project throws you into the deep end—authentication, WebSockets, databases, and frontend-backend interaction.
What you’ll learn:
- Firebase or Node.js + WebSocket + MongoDB
- User authentication (OAuth, JWT, sessions)
- Real-time updates with Socket.io or Firebase Realtime Database
- Clean UI with React or Vue
4. A Fully Functional E-commerce Store
This is your boss battle. Product listings, cart logic, user accounts, payments—it’s everything rolled into one.
Why it matters:
E-commerce is complex. Building it proves that you can architect large-scale apps, and think like a business owner.
What you’ll learn:
- API integration (Stripe, PayPal, etc.)
- State management (Redux, Zustand, etc.)
- Security and validation
- Component reusability
5. A SaaS Dashboard with Admin Controls
It’s one thing to build pretty UIs. It’s another to design functional admin systems that can scale. Dashboards teach you how real software works.
Why it matters:
This is what companies pay big for—tools that manage, analyze, and control. Building this shows you’re not just a coder, you’re a problem solver.
What you’ll learn:
- Data visualization (charts, tables, KPIs)
- Role-based access control
- Backend integration (Node, Django, or Laravel)
- Clean, modular UI systems
Final Thoughts: Build or Be Forgotten
There are millions of developers out there. Tutorials are free. Bootcamps are common. But what will make you stand out is your portfolio of real projects. Not just half-finished GitHub repos, but fully-deployed, cleanly-coded, user-focused solutions.
The code is your canvas. The world is your audience.
If you’re serious about leveling up, check out my ebooks and real-world developer resources at:
codewithdhanian.gumroad.com
I’ve poured years of experience into resources that help you build—not just learn. The world needs more builders. Be one of them.
Top comments (81)
You're not a real developer until you've burned out, quit, and now raise goats on a farm in the middle of nowhere.
I feel you bro! :-D
Being a farmer is the last stage of being a developer!!
I normally get with assembling IKEA only🤣
😂😂
True that
Are you speaking from experience? Kek.
I already have a goat and want to become a developer...
In my case, I am the goat
Goals.
A Strawberry Farm counts? I'm a .NET Developer and started harvesting a two years ago..
i feel you bro (2)
You're not a real developer until you've written your own microkernel
That's debatable lol.
Not really.
I remember those days when I wrote my own php frameworks 😁
30 years as a developer (junior, senior, project lead, tech lead etc.) - but according to this post - not a real one apparently.
Anyone can be a developer. Not everyone ends up a GOOD developer. See the difference? Anyone can cook, but very few are famous chefs instead of Line Cooks for 30 years. Your a Line cook, not a chef. No amount of time will change that.
also, being famous doesn't make you great in what you are doing IMO
Let's say, you are a Go, C++, PHP or Python developer. You will build these applications totally differently, and what you will learn and use will not be on the lists detailed here.
CSS is broken in your website brother.. btw great artical. Appreciate it💪✨️🚀
Not being a real developer shouldnt stop us from idealizing about it especially with this perfect clickbait and engagement.
You’re not a real [web] developer if you set unrealistic goals.
Very few people master everything you mentioned.
You'd rather focus on 1 specific project and do it good.
You may disagree with me, but you can actually get a job without a portfolio.
I think your article is more about web developer.
Well to be honest: has dev.to have ever been anything other than webdev? I remember seeing few Scala articles, some Java ones, and I'd love to read more about FP or effect systems but I'm afraid that if we want that, we have to lead by example and start doing so
id say this hit home for me, gotta admit shipping real stuff always feels way harder than just following tutorials
It is, why is why platforms like Shopify exist, because building an e-commerce site from scratch is really really hard. Most tutorials don't even come close to producing a production-ready e-commerce site.
There's a huge difference between building something from a tutorial, and building something that is usable in the real world.
Nice! Reminds me I always wanted to program the algorithm of multiple elevators in a building with animation.
Never had time to do it and I still wonder how difficult it might be. :-)
I would also recommend programming a shooting game or any real-time animation and then make it multiplayer.
That should squeeze the best of you :)
So the 5+ companies who employed me employed a fake developer?
Noted. 😂
Lol you just escaped 😂😂😅you need my ebooks
lol
😂😂
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