by The Dechuess of Hackers
Introduction
Almost a year ago, I started learning backend development alongside my studies in Marketing & IT. The journey has been full of challenges, learning, and growth. One of the first projects I built was a simple ATM simulator in Python, which taught me foundational concepts in backend programming. In this post, I’ll share the lessons I learned, the challenges I faced, and how my experience shaped my journey as a backend developer.
My Starting Point
When I first started, backend development felt intimidating. Concepts like server-side logic, data storage, and Git were new to me. I often felt overwhelmed by tutorials and documentation, but taking small steps and building projects helped me gain confidence.
Project Example: ATM Simulator
The ATM simulator allowed users to:
- Check balance
- Deposit funds
- Withdraw funds
- Change PIN
You can explore the project here: ATM_Machine Repository
This project helped me practice:
- Python control flow (loops, conditionals)
- Handling user input in a CLI
- Debugging and problem-solving
Key Lessons Learned
1. Start Small, Finish Something
Focusing on small, manageable projects allowed me to learn steadily without getting overwhelmed. Completing a project, no matter how simple, gave me a sense of accomplishment and practical experience.
2. Embrace Mistakes
Mistakes are inevitable in programming. For example, I once used a mutable default argument in a Python function, which caused unexpected behavior. Debugging and fixing these issues taught me critical problem-solving skills.
Example:
# Bug
def add_item(item, container=[]):
container.append(item)
return container
# Fix
def add_item(item, container=None):
if container is None:
container = []
container.append(item)
return container
`
3. Consistency Over Intensity
Coding regularly, even for short periods, helped me maintain progress. Small daily efforts over almost a year led to substantial improvement.
4. Ask for Help & Join Communities
Communities like DEV, Tech4Girls, and GitHub were invaluable. Asking clear, specific questions saved time and helped me learn best practices faster.
5. Document Progress
Keeping notes, README files, and reflections reinforced what I learned. Writing mini blog posts or tutorials also helped me consolidate knowledge and share insights with others.
Tools & Resources
- Languages/Frameworks: Python
- Editor: VS Code
- Version Control: Git & GitHub
- Learning Platforms: DEV.to, Stack Overflow, Python documentation
A Year of Growth
Reflecting on almost a year of backend development:
- Improved Python and command-line programming skills
- Learned Git basics and version control workflows
- Gained confidence in debugging and problem-solving
- Started collaborating on group projects, enhancing teamwork and integration skills
- Developed persistence, patience, and a growth mindset
What's Next
I’m currently working on a group project, which is still in development. I plan to explore more advanced backend topics such as:
- RESTful APIs and authentication patterns
- Testing (unit and integration)
- Containerization with Docker
- Deployment pipelines and CI/CD
Final Thoughts
Backend development is a journey that requires patience, consistency, and a willingness to learn from mistakes. Even small projects, like my ATM simulator, lay the foundation for bigger challenges and growth. Keep coding, reflect on your progress, and don’t hesitate to share your journey — the community is here to support you.
Call to Action
If you’re learning backend development, what’s one thing you’re struggling with? Drop it in the comments, and I’ll try to help. If you’ve finished a small project, share a link — I’d love to see it. Follow me on DEV for tutorials, mini-postmortems, and project walkthroughs.
Top comments (8)
Really inspiring journey
I love how you highlighted consistency over intensity and the importance of starting small.
Thanks a lot. Consistency and starting small honestly saved me from giving up early. Glad it resonated with you
Nice! Same here, on the path of learning fullstack development for 1 year now. I can easily relate with everything you wrote. Congrats on your progress!
Appreciate it! Wow, a year into fullstack that’s a big step. I can imagine the challenges and wins along the way. Let’s keep going and cheering each other on
Good one, Somehow this post was the first suggestion and totaly worth it 🙌
Thank you so much! I’m really glad it showed up for you that means a lot 🙌. Happy it was worth the read, and I appreciate you taking the time to drop a comment!
Good post, thank you.
most welcome