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Full Stack Developer's Roadmap 🗺

Hanzla Baig on January 04, 2025

Note: Leave a comments, reactions and share with fellow developers It's easy to focus on the front end of web development, but what about the back ...

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Adrian Tregoning • Jan 8

I think when a new comer looks at a list like this it's extremely intimidating and they'd be right. However I find this sort of list does more harm than good. You don't need to know half of these things. To simplify this you could take a path of learning Java, then MySQL. Then start joining the two together with JDBC. You'll start to encounter problems in complexity but then enter Hibernate. The next step would be creating a basic front end with HTML and CSS and then join that to your Java and MySQL with servlets, after that use JSP's and add on some JS too eventually.

Although this may be old fashioned, you'd be surprised by how many large companies still just use Java 8 for example. There's the world the internet makes things out to be, and then reality. I say this because I am self taught (coming from a mechanical engineering background 20 years ago) and have now changed careers.

There is nothing to truly gain by learning 4 different types of databases, do 1, learn it well. Again, no point learning Go, Rust, Ruby etc. Not all of them. Focus on one language. See what your area offers in terms of jobs. You'll save yourself not only the time, but ultimately many folks give up because it's too overwhelming - because the internet is saying learning all of this, when in reality you don't need to.

Ravi Vidyavanth Shetty • Jan 5

great effort
u bring almost everything under one roof.
thank u

Dev Studio • Jan 6

Thank you 👍

devevan • Jan 5

Awesome. Really grateful for this list

Dev Studio • Jan 6

Thank you 👍

Daniel T Sasser II • Jan 7

Wow! I love the layout and the traction you got on this post. What a great way to boost SEO for other articles you link to. Although I wouldn't call this an article but a curated link list.

Dev Studio • Jan 8

Ook! Thank you

Sanvi • Jan 7 • Edited

I just wanted some guidance from you, as a complete beginner in coding should I start by learning web dev or start by learning python and then move to data science?

Dev Studio • Jan 8

Answer:

When deciding where to start in your coding journey, it’s essential to consider your interests, long-term goals, and how much time you're willing to invest. Here's a comprehensive guide to help you decide between starting with web development or Python for data science:

1. Understanding Your Goals

Web Development: If you are interested in building websites, interactive user interfaces, or working on the front-end/back-end of web applications, web development is a great starting point.
Data Science: If you're fascinated by analyzing data, building machine learning models, or working with large datasets to derive insights, starting with Python and moving towards data science would be ideal.

2. Web Development Path

Technologies to Learn:

HTML/CSS: These are the building blocks of the web, essential for structuring and styling web pages.
JavaScript: Adds interactivity to web pages. Learn frameworks/libraries like React, Angular, or Vue.js for advanced front-end development.
Back-End Development: Learn server-side technologies like Node.js, Express.js, and databases (SQL, MongoDB).
Version Control: Git and GitHub for version control and collaboration.
Deployment: Understand how to deploy websites using platforms like Netlify, Vercel, or Heroku.

Learning Path:

Start with HTML, CSS, and basic JavaScript.
Build small projects (e.g., a personal portfolio site).
Learn a front-end framework (React.js is highly popular).
Explore back-end development and databases.
Build full-stack projects to consolidate your learning.

3. Python and Data Science Path

Technologies to Learn:

Python Basics: Learn syntax, data structures, and basic programming concepts.
Data Analysis: Libraries like Pandas and NumPy are crucial for handling and analyzing data.
Data Visualization: Learn Matplotlib and Seaborn to visualize data.
Machine Learning: Explore Scikit-learn for building models.
Data Science Tools: Jupyter Notebooks, Anaconda for a comprehensive data science environment.
Big Data: If interested, dive into Hadoop, Spark, and cloud services like AWS or Google Cloud.

Learning Path:

Start with Python basics through online tutorials or courses.
Practice with small projects like data scraping or simple data analysis.
Learn about statistics and probability to understand data science concepts better.
Dive into data visualization and machine learning.
Work on real-world projects and datasets available on platforms like Kaggle.

4. Key Factors to Consider

Interest: Choose the path that excites you more. If you enjoy creating visual and interactive elements, go for web development. If you like numbers and insights, data science could be your calling.
Job Market: Both fields have a high demand, but the skill sets required are different. Research job opportunities in your region or industry of interest.
Learning Curve: Web development provides quick visual feedback, which can be rewarding for beginners. Data science requires a good grasp of mathematics and statistics, which might take longer to master.

5. Long-Term Plan

Combination: Eventually, you can combine both skills. For example, knowing web development can help you build dashboards to showcase your data science projects.
Flexibility: Starting with one doesn’t mean you can’t switch later. The foundational skills in problem-solving, algorithms, and logic are transferable.

Conclusion

Start with what aligns more closely with your current interests. Web development can offer faster, more tangible results, which might be more encouraging for a beginner. However, if you're drawn to data analysis and problem-solving, starting with Python is a solid choice. Both paths are rewarding, and with dedication, you can transition between them or integrate both into a versatile skill set.

Feel free to reach out for more resources or guidance on whichever path you choose!

Riccardo Basile • Jan 6

We really need another useless list of concepts?
Anyone can find more lists like this one on the internet with one simple google search.

We really need another useless article??
In the last year this platform become the place for new writers: a lot of copy/paste articles just to fill the space, as it was a writing bootcamp.

We really need to degradate this platform like this?
This place is becoming a pile of s**t - it's not that beautifull and informative place that was before.
At the moment the chance to find a usefull article is about 5%, the rest is wasted server space.

Dev Studio • Jan 7

Dev Community isn’t your father’s estate where you can bring your frustrations. Yes, I used references for the article, but it was for people who want to learn and grow, not for negative thinkers like you. When the Dev Community appreciated my article, it proved that your opinion is irrelevant. If you have such a big problem with this platform, find somewhere else to vent your frustrations. And remember one thing: This article isn’t for stupid people, and your comments don’t affect me at all.

Daniel T Sasser II • Jan 7

I would be curious if you thought the same about my articles? I spend time researching and then I spend a lot of time on outlines and drafts. So mine are definitely not copy and paste but they are though piece on current technology. I do get your point. I sometimes wonder how some of these articles make it in my Google news feed.

Paper Coding • Jan 6

Even now, we can ask ChatGPT for that. What we really need is something more unique, like different perspectives and a practical path of experienced man.

Personally, I think studying by project-based is a good approach because at the end of the day, we need to use the knowledge to solve real-world problems. Even if starting by a TODO app, we can scale it in many way.