My Stage 0 Backend Task: Building a Dynamic Profile Endpoint with Node.js and Express

I recently completed the Stage 0 backend task for the Backend Wizards program, and it was a really nice refresher on how small backend details matter. The task was to build a simple API endpoint /me using Node.js and Express that returns my profile information, a live timestamp, and a random cat fact from the Cat Facts API.

At first, it looked straightforward, but it reminded me how important things like clean response structure, error handling, and external API integration are in real projects. I also made a few corrections along the way — ensuring the route path was correct, adding timeout and error handling for the external API, and keeping my TypeScript structure neat and reusable.

In the end, the endpoint returns a new cat fact and a fresh timestamp every time it’s called. It was a small task, but it reinforced some big lessons about reliability and simplicity in backend development — exactly the kind of mindset I want to keep as I grow as a developer.