I still remember the excitement of building my first real backend project. The idea of creating APIs, connecting to a database, and making things work "behind the scenes" felt magical. But along with the excitement came confusion, bugs, sleepless nights, and plenty of “I wish I had known that before” moments.
Now that I’ve built several backend systems using Node.js, TypeScript, and PostgreSQL, I wanted to share some lessons that would’ve made my early days so much smoother. If you’re just starting out, I hope these save you some stress!
1. 🧠 Planning Before Coding is a Superpower
In the beginning, I’d jump straight into the code. No diagrams, no flowcharts, no clarity.
Big mistake.
Now, I always take time to:
- Understand the requirements deeply
- Map out the flow of data
- Sketch a rough architecture (even if it’s just on paper)
A little planning = a lot less debugging later.
2. 📂 Folder Structure Matters More Than You Think
I used to throw everything into a single folder. As the project grew, finding and managing files became a nightmare.
Now I follow a clean structure:
/routes
/controllers
/services
/models
/middlewares
/utils
Organizing things from Day 1 makes scaling and debugging so much easier.
3. 🔐 Authentication ≠ Authorization
At first, I thought logging in a user was all I needed. I didn’t consider what each user could or couldn’t do after that.
Authentication = “Who are you?”
Authorization = “What can you do?”
Now I use tools like JWT or Supertokens, and I always separate the logic for each.
4. 🧯 Don’t Ignore Error Handling
I didn’t know how crucial error handling was—until things broke in production 😅
Now I:
- Use try-catch blocks wisely
- Create centralized error handlers
- Send meaningful error responses to the client
It saves me hours of debugging and keeps the user experience smooth.
5. 🧪 Test Early, Not Just Before Deployment
I used to manually test every API with Postman at the very end. That’s risky.
Now I:
- Write Postman collections for each feature
- Add basic tests for critical endpoints
- Use logging to catch issues in development
Testing isn’t extra work—it’s peace of mind.
6. 🗄️ Choose Your Database Wisely
At first, I chose the “coolest” database without understanding my needs.
Now, I:
- Understand the data model before choosing between SQL/NoSQL
- Use PostgreSQL when I need structure and relational power
- Spend time designing proper schemas and indexes
The right database choice = long-term project stability.
7. 🌐 APIs Should Be Designed, Not Just Written
When I started, I wrote endpoints on the fly—leading to inconsistent URLs and confusion.
Now I:
- Follow RESTful conventions (
/api/users/:id) - Version my APIs (
/v1/,/v2/) - Use Swagger or Postman to document endpoints clearly
Good API design = happy frontend developers and maintainability.
8. 🧩 Understand the "Why" Behind Every Tool You Use
In my first project, I used libraries and tools just because they were in a tutorial—without knowing why they were needed.
That led to:
- Using bulky packages for simple tasks
- Not being able to debug issues when something broke
- Relying too heavily on copy-paste code
Now, I make it a habit to:
- Read official docs (even if just the intro or quickstart)
- Understand what problem a library solves
- Pick tools that fit the project, not just the trend
Knowing “why” makes you a smarter developer—not just a faster one.
9. 🙋 Ask for Feedback Early
I used to work in a silo, afraid of being judged. But the best feedback comes when things are still in progress.
Now I:
- Share my code with peers or mentors early
- Ask for code reviews or architectural suggestions
- Learn from others’ experiences
You don’t need to do it all alone.
10. ✅ Done is Better Than Perfect
I would get stuck tweaking things endlessly, chasing “perfect code.” Truth is, perfection is the enemy of progress.
Now, I:
- Focus on delivering working features
- Improve in iterations
- Remember that shipped > perfect
Each project is a step forward in your learning journey.
🧡 Final Thoughts
Backend development is an exciting and rewarding journey—but like anything, it comes with its learning curve. These lessons helped me become a more thoughtful, efficient, and confident developer. I still learn every day, and that’s the best part of being in tech.
💬 Your Turn:
What’s something you wish you knew before starting your backend journey?
Let’s share and learn from each other—drop your thoughts in the comments!
Top comments (4)
Nice one
Thankyouuu
Nice article. I once faced this same issues but got better at them now. The issue is every developer must embrace life long learning
Absolutely agree! Lifelong learning is the key to growth as a developer. Every challenge is just another step toward getting better. Glad to hear you've overcome it too! 🚀