How I Prepared to Become a Backend Developer from a Non-CS Background
I majored in business administration and started learning development entirely on my own. Now I've been working as a backend developer at a startup for a year. Here's a simple roadmap that might help other non-CS folks.
Step 1: I jumped straight into coding without any CS fundamentals. I watched 'Python for Beginners' videos on YouTube, but skimming through one book for the basic syntax was way more effective.
Step 2: Once you know basic syntax, build a small project immediately. I built a to-do list web app. That's where I first encountered database and server concepts, and you start wondering, 'How can I scale this?'
Step 3: After that, I had a rough sense of the structure, so I added REST API design and authentication logic, and even deployed it. Along the way, I picked up git and Linux commands.
Step 4: I polished everything to a resume-worthy level, and instead of a bootcamp, I found a study group in a community and worked on a mock project. Reviewing each other's code is where I improved the most.
- I want to say you don't need to attend a coding academy, but when you go solo, you'll later feel painfully how weak your fundamentals are. Algorithms, networking, and operating systems become more important the longer your career goes on.
- Having actually operated a project from my portfolio got especially good feedback. I recommend deploying it to the cloud and getting at least a few real users to try it.
People say the door to becoming a developer has narrowed these days, but there are still positions for non-CS majors if your portfolio and project experience are solid. You got this!
7 answers
Yeah, a lot of what you said is right.
Wow, I'm a business major too and I totally relate... Especially in step 1, it seems like reading one book is the way. I just binged online lectures and wasted 3 weeks.
Well, aren't bootcamps faster these days? Self-studying takes too long and it's easy to give up. Doing all of that would take at least a year.
Got a source? Honestly, with a year of startup backend, you're not even a newbie.
It's fine for a non-CS major to go to a startup, but one project on your resume isn't enough. I got in thanks to luck, but realistically, you need some algorithm study and CS fundamentals to avoid hitting a wall later. Finding a study group really helps, and code review is essential. However, it's better to learn Git more deeply.
lol why are there so many people saying they made a schedule management app lolol I made one too and it does help with your portfolio
So it's because it's a startup after all lol They probably can't get into a big company anyway.