How to improve as a backend developer: beyond frameworks and languages
10 key skills to take your career to the next level and not stay in the basics
Are you starting in backend development and feeling lost?
What framework should you use?
Which programming language should you learn?
Why does everyone recommend something different?
What other technologies should you explore to improve?
If you’re asking yourself these questions, here’s something important: the language or framework you choose doesn’t matter as much as you think. Learning many technologies won’t immediately make you a better developer. On the contrary, you might find yourself stuck in a loop of repeating the same tasks with different tools without truly growing as a professional.
In this article, I share 10 essential recommendations based on my experience and insights from senior developers. These concepts aren’t things you’ll master overnight, but with time, practice, and real projects, they’ll help you grow as a backend developer.
1. Master Software Pattern and Architecture
Understand Object-Oriented Programming (OOP), design patterns, and Software Architectures. These are the foundations for building extensible and dynamic systems.
Don’t try to learn everything all at once. Take it step by step:
Master the OOP fundamentals.
Apply design patterns such as Singleton, Strategy, and Adapter.
Learn architectures such as Monoliths, Microservices, Event-Driven Architecture, or Domain-Driven Design.
This will not just improve your technical skills — it gives you the edge to build complex systems while maintaining best practices.
2. Dive Deep into Databases
Databases are the heart of most applications. Learn both relations and non-relational databases.
Go beyond tables and relationships:
Understand indexes, how they store information, and how to scale a database.
Master SQL to write advanced queries and optimize systems beyond what ORMs can handle.
Two popular databases to explore are Postgres (relational) and MongoDB (document-oriented).
3. Make Testing your best ally
Learn to write unit tests and integration tests. Testing isn’t just about catching bugs—it helps:
Protect critical application flows.
Avoid issues during refactoring.
Deploy changes with greater confidence.
Testing ensures your application is robust, reliable, and ready for growth.
4. Invest in Web Security
Security is fundamental for any system. While you don’t need to be an expert in cryptography, you should know how to keep your systems safe.
Learn about:
Authentication and Authorization.
Common attacks like SQL Injection, XSS, DDoS, and CSRF.
A secure system not only protects users but also the financial stability and reputation of your company.
5. Write Documentation
Good documentation isn’t optional, especially for large projects. Document:
Business logic.
Project structure
What each system component does
This not only helps other developers work with you but also saves you time when you forget how your code works.
6. Learn DevOps basics
DevOps has its field, but basic knowledge can be invaluable. Learn about:
Most modern applications run in the cloud, and knowing how to manage deploys and scale infrastructure is a huge advantage.
7. Understand observability
There’s a famous saying: "What can’t be measured can’t be improved". This applies especially in complex systems.
Learn to use tools such as Prometheus, Grafana, and OpenTelemetry to:
Quickly detect errors.
Identify bottlenecks.
Improve performance and reduce costs.
8. Learn about Scalability
A scalable system can handle growth in users, data, and transactions without problems. Learn concepts like:
Horizontal and vertical scaling.
Caching.
Load balancing.
Using queues to process tasks.
This keeps your system running smoothly under high demand while optimizing operational costs.
9. Foster a Reading Habit
Books are an endless source of knowledge. While your mistakes teach you a lot, books let you learn from others’ mistakes.
Start small—read one or two pages per day. A great book I’m currently reading and recommend is:
Designing Data-Intensive Applications, by Martin Kleppmann.
Books are mentors: invest time in them, and they’ll transform your thinking and development skills.
10. Develop your Soft Skills
Last but not least important, work on skills like:
Effective communication
Conflict resolution
Teamwork
The code can open many doors, but your soft skills will enable you to lead projects, collaborate better, and shine in large teams.
Being a great backend developer isn’t just mastering tools, but also building a mindset of continuous learning. Dedicate time to practice, learn from others, and above all, don’t give up.
Keep exploring, reading, and tackling new challenges. The development path is long, but each step take will lead you to build stronger and more powerful systems.
See you in the next edition!
References
Feel free to complement this information with more resources.
What other tips would you give someone starting in software development to help them perform at their best? I’d love to hear from you in the comments.
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