The Duchess of Hackers

Posted on Oct 3

From Beginner to Backend Developer: My Almost 1-Year Journey

#beginners #python #webdev #backend

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.

DEV Community