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Learning Path30 Days

Become a Backend Developerin 30 Days

A structured 4-week program. One clear goal each day. Four real projects to show hiring managers. By day 30, you have a deployed API, a CI/CD pipeline, and the skills to compete for your first backend role.

30 days
4 courses
4 projects
Beginner → Job-ready
Week 1Week 2Week 3Week 4
Week 1

CLI Expense Tracker

C#File I/OLINQ
Week 2

Task Manager REST API

ASP.NET CorePostgreSQLEF Core
Week 3

Secured Task API v2

JWT AuthClean ArchitectureFluentValidation
Capstone

URL Shortener + Analytics

Full .NET APIDockerGitHub ActionsRedis

The 30-Day Program

Week 1

Programming & Foundations

Write real code from day one

Day 1–2
C# Fundamentals— Variables, types, loops, functions, and OOP basics
Day 3–4
Collections & LINQ— Lists, dictionaries, filtering and transforming data
Day 5–6
Async / Await— async/await, Task<T>, cancellation tokens
Day 7
Mini Project— Build a CLI expense tracker with file persistence

By the end of week 1 you can:

  • Write C# confidently without looking up basics
  • Understand value vs reference types
  • Read and write async code without deadlocks
C# Fundamentals →

Week 2

APIs & Databases

Build things other developers can call

Day 8–9
ASP.NET Core & REST— Controllers, routing, middleware, HTTP verbs
Day 10–11
SQL & PostgreSQL— SELECT, JOIN, indexes, transactions
Day 12–13
Entity Framework Core— Code-first, migrations, LINQ-to-SQL
Day 14
Mini Project— Build a CRUD Task Manager API with PostgreSQL

By the end of week 2 you can:

  • Build and test a REST API from scratch
  • Write efficient SQL queries with JOINs and indexes
  • Connect your API to a real database with EF Core
ASP.NET Core API →

Week 3

Auth, Security & Architecture

Make your backend production-worthy

Day 15–16
JWT Authentication— Access tokens, refresh tokens, claims, middleware
Day 17–18
Clean Architecture— Layers, DI, SOLID principles, repository pattern
Day 19–20
Input Validation & Error Handling— FluentValidation, ProblemDetails, global middleware
Day 21
Mini Project— Add auth + clean architecture to Week 2 Task API

By the end of week 3 you can:

  • Implement secure JWT-based authentication
  • Organise code in layers that scale without spaghetti
  • Return consistent, meaningful error responses
Security & Auth →

Week 4

Build, Test & Deploy

Ship real software to the internet

Day 22–23
Testing: Unit & Integration— xUnit, Moq, TestContainers, arrange-act-assert
Day 24–25
Docker & Containers— Dockerfile, docker-compose, multi-stage builds
Day 26–27
GitHub Actions CI/CD— Build → test → push image → deploy pipeline
Day 28–30
Capstone Project— Build & deploy a full URL Shortener with analytics

By the end of week 4 you can:

  • Write tests you can actually run and trust
  • Package your API in Docker and deploy it
  • Automate builds and deploys with GitHub Actions
Docker & DevOps →

Day 28–30

Capstone: URL Shortener + Analytics

Your final project is a production-grade URL shortener — the same kind used by Bit.ly and TinyURL. You'll design the schema, build the API, add Redis caching, write integration tests, containerise it with Docker, and deploy it automatically via GitHub Actions.

API Design

POST /shorten, GET /:code, GET /analytics/:code

Data Layer

PostgreSQL + Redis for sub-ms redirect lookups

Observability

Click counts, referrers, geo data, Swagger docs

Skills After 30 Days

C# & .NET 8ASP.NET Core REST APIsPostgreSQL & EF CoreJWT AuthenticationClean ArchitectureDocker & ContainersGitHub Actions CI/CDUnit & Integration TestingRedis CachingSOLID PrinciplesLINQ & Async/AwaitSwagger / OpenAPI

This path is for you if...

  • You're new to backend development
  • You know some programming but not APIs or databases
  • You want a job-ready portfolio project by the end
  • You prefer building over watching theory lectures
  • You want to learn .NET — the most in-demand backend stack

Prerequisites

  • Basic programming concepts (variables, loops) — any language
  • A computer with VS Code or Visual Studio installed
  • ~2 hours/day to commit for 30 days
  • No prior .NET, API, or database experience needed

“I had zero backend experience. After the 30 days I had a real API on the internet and landed my first backend role.”

DK

David K.

Junior .NET Developer

“The week-by-week structure removed all the overwhelm. Each day I knew exactly what to build next.”

SM

Sara M.

Software Engineer

“The capstone project alone was enough to impress my interviewer. Deployed Docker container + CI/CD pipeline as proof of work.”

OT

Omar T.

Backend Developer

Start Day 1 Today

Thirty days from now you'll have a deployed backend and the confidence to apply for your first role. Start with Week 1 — C# Fundamentals.

Start Week 1 — Free Browse All Courses
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