Making an Unconventional Move 5 Months Into Backend Development

Source: Dev.to

The Unconventional Decision

I’m making a move that might seem counterintuitive for someone 5 months into backend development: I’m going back to strengthen my fundamentals instead of just pushing forward.

Over the past 5 months I’ve been building with Node.js and have some projects to show:

• Chronos API – study tracker with JWT authentication, automated email reminders using node‑cron, background jobs, and production deployment on Render.
• Blog Platform – full CRUD operations, user authentication, and session management with EJS.

Both work and are deployed. Most people would keep building at this point, but I realized something important: I can follow patterns and documentation to add features, yet I lack confidence when it comes to understanding what’s actually happening under the hood or making informed architectural decisions.

Why This Makes Sense

Right now I can make things work, but I want to understand, not just implement. I want to be able to explain my code and make decisions based on understanding, not just what worked in the last tutorial.

As a CS student actively looking for internships, I know employers care about how you think and solve problems, not just what you’ve built. This is about developing that deeper understanding.

What I’m Focusing On

• JavaScript fundamentals – closures, async patterns, prototypes
• How Node.js actually works
• HTTP and web protocols
• API design principles
• Database design and optimization
• Testing and code quality

The Approach

How I’m Doing It

• Learning systematically through a structured roadmap
• Building progressive projects that increase in complexity
• Documenting everything publicly with weekly updates
• Sharing code, challenges, and what I’m learning

Why Publicly?

Two reasons:

1. Accountability – posting updates keeps me consistent.
2. Showcase – I want to demonstrate how I approach learning and problem‑solving, not just the finished projects.

What To Expect

Every week I’ll share:

• What I’m learning and why it matters
• Projects I’m building with code walkthroughs
• Challenges I’m facing and how I’m solving them
• Resources that are actually helping
• Honest updates on progress

No fluff. Just real learning and real progress.

Let’s Connect

If you’re learning backend development, working on similar goals, or just starting out, I’d love to connect. Drop a comment with what you’re working on or reach out.

• GitHub:
• LinkedIn:

Week 1 update coming soon.

Tags: BackendDevelopment NodeJS LearningInPublic WebDevelopment