When It Comes To Becoming A Backend Developer, The Focus Is Only On The Frameworks And Tools Developers Use To Carry Out Projects. In contrast, A Good Backend Developer Should Have A Deep Knowledge Of The Fundamentals Of The Internet. 

For example, one of the most straightforward and essential concepts for a backend developer to know is how the Internet works.

Backend developer roadmap

Do you know how the Internet responds to our requests? Communication is based on client-server architecture. In the above architecture, the request is sent through HTTP (or HTTPS) protocols, which is the application layer based on TCP/IP, and the response is received similarly. Meanwhile, operating systems play a crucial role in adequately rendering web pages.

The operating system manages the Software and hardware of your system and monitors file storage processes, memory management, and input and output operations.

Now that we have an overview of the Internet, it’s time to see how a web page works. We all visit different websites daily to do various things. Front-end and backend form the foundation and infrastructure of all websites. The frontend subcategory includes all the visual elements that can interact with websites. In contrast, all the available services and information you receive are included in the backend subcategory. Usually, when it comes to website support services, it is more about the back end of the site, as the front end is not of a nature that requires constant updates. In contrast, the back- end isThe site needs continuous evaluation so that the website can serve without problems. Before diving deep into the backend topic, it’s better to review some of the underlying frontend concepts you should know about as a backend developer, namely HTML, CSS, and JS.

HTML HyperText Markup Language is a single standard for creating web pages. This language contains the elements used to build a web page efficiently. All headers, paragraphs, images, and titles added to a web page are based on HTML codes.

Cascading Style Sheets CSS Cascading Style Sheets are used to format an HTML document so that web pages and elements within it have an attractive structure. CSS can be used to style multiple web pages at the same time. Using CSS, you can manage graphic elements, such as colors, fonts, borders, etc., in different ways.

JavaScript is the most popular and most accessible programming language in the world. JavaScript is used to create dynamic and interactive web pages. JavaScript’s simple syntax allows multiple ways to define a variable using the var, let, and const keywords, define responsive buttons, or animate objects on the page.

Usually, a frontend developer should have a detailed knowledge of the above components, but a backend developer only needs basic information about the above details.

Who is the backend developer?

As you might have guessed, building a web application requires a backend developer. A backend developer is a person who manages servers, databases, underlying site code, and APIs. In short, it is the person responsible for storing and organizing data. He must write codes that can interact with the frontend developer’s user interface and finally manage the server side.

For example, if you visit an e-commerce website such as Amazon, you will see a long list of products displayed by the user interface. A list whose information must be stored in a place.

This data is stored in a database provided by the backend are managed When you click on a product to view its details, all the required information is fetched and displayed on the screen through the backend API. In addition, when you enter a text in the site’s search box, the data is processed on the server side, and the result is provided to you in the form of a web page. Backend developers code all these administrative processes.

Skills needed to become a backend developer

When it comes to the skills required of a backend developer, people should think about gaining experience in various specialties, the most important of which are the following:

1. Knowledge of web server

Web servers are responsible for running websites, storing web pages, processing them, and responding to user requests. When a user sends a request to a web server, the server receives and processes the demand in the form of an HTTP structure and sends the content to the browser via HTTP. We should mention Apache and NGINX among this field’s main open-source web servers. We should say Apache and NGINX among servers consist of various components.

2. Programming languages ​​and related frameworks

You are all familiar with the term programming language. A programming language is a structured pattern that allows us to speak to computers. Frameworks are collections of libraries that work together to make programming more straightforward and accessible.

Programming languages ​​are the backbone of a web page. Today there are many programming languages that you can learn one or more with a bit of research. Without in-depth knowledge of programming languages, you won’t be able to use frameworks properly, and as a result, you won’t become a proficient backend developer.

JavaScript with NodeJS

JavaScript is one of the most widely used languages ​​in the world of information technology, and it is not harmful to know that it is one step above Python in terms of popularity. If you are interested in learning this language, it is better to start with the basic concepts and try to create small websites based on them. In general, JavaScript is used to build interactive and dynamic websites.

If you are interested in learning JavaScript, I suggest learning the Node.JS framework to develop applications based on real-time architecture. NodeJS allows you to run JavaScript on the server.

Python with Django

If combined with Django, Python becomes the most efficient tool for developing websites. Python allows you to write efficient and scalable web applications with the most minor and readable coding. Django is the most secure and scalable framework available to a backend developer.

PHP with Laravel

PHP is a general-purpose programming language suitable for web development. This language is fast, flexible, and pragmatic, and it can build complex websites or simply blogs. Laravel is an open-source framework used to create various web applications.

It should be explained that Laravel is a server-side framework that manages data and is based on the Model, View, and Controller (MVC) architecture, which can break the backend architecture of an application into different logical parts.

3. Gate version control system

Version control systems are software tools that help manage changes to source code over time. A version control system helps maintain and track changes, as it follows any code changes and allows team members to be fully informed of the changes being made to a project. Git is a free and open-source tool known as the best version control system due to its secure, flexible, and easy editing features.

Employing a version control system is the best way for any developer to track changes in the development process of a project. Git is helpful for small projects, especially constantly updating and changing tasks.

When you use a version control system, you quickly edit the source code and create a backward-compatible version whenever you want to update a feature or add new functionality. In general, Git is preferred by developers for the following reasons.

•  It is the most common version control system.
•  Tracks changes made to files.
•  The process of creating branches or merging them in Git is straightforward.
•  You can access specific versions of the project whenever you want.

4. Awareness of web security

Today, there are various threats surrounding websites that disrupt their performance. Hackers are people who can infiltrate websites or web programs and inject malicious codes into them and prevent the normal functioning of websites. They steal valuable data to control the activities of the business from running their ordinary course. To avoid such problems, a backend developer must understand security well.

Web security generally refers to the set of protective measures and protocols developers must follow to build an optimal and effective website. This involves scanning a website to identify vulnerabilities and fix security breaches. Websites face various threats, such as malware, buffer overflow, and information leakage. To prevent such problems, different techniques can be used as follows:

Using HTTPS: The HTTPS protocol is the secured version of the HTTP protocol. When data is sent using HTTPS, it is shipped and protected over the TLS protocol.

•  Encryption: It is a method to secure data. In this case, you must have the corresponding key to decrypt the information. The TLS protocol is based on the following three layers of protection:
•  Data integrity: When data integrity is guaranteed, the information stored in the database is complete, accurate, and reliable.
•  Authentication: This method is used to deal with impersonation attacks. The above solution ensures that only known and trusted people can access organizational resources.

Implement secure backup and recovery mechanisms: Data loss is the biggest threat any website faces. To prevent such a problem from occurring, you must ensure that you implement a thorough backup process. Also, as a backend developer, you should have sufficient knowledge about XSS attacks and SQL code injection.

5. Application programming interfaces

An API is a set of functions that enable data access and interaction with components in development kits, microservices, and the operating system. In short, the API delivers user responses to the design and sends the answers back to the user.

BBackenddevelopers use APIs to communicate services or applications and improve user experience. More precisely, APIs act like a bridge, allowing two programs to talk to each other. Express is a good choice for servers as it provides APIs to be built and published for clients and servers to communicate. You should consider learning REST, JSON, SOAP, GSON, XML-RPC, and AES APIs.

6. Containers and testing

Containerization refers to packaging software code with all essential elements, such as frameworks, libraries, and other dependencies, in a single concept. Containers are used to provide different services. BBackenddevelopers use containers extensively. Docker and Kubernetes should be mentioned among efficient containers in this field.

Docker is an open-source containerization platform that allows developers to package applications in containers. The hyper-mechanism has similar functionality to a virtual machine but is more efficient. The primary use of the above technology is to allow programs to run in different environments. Kubernetes, often called K8s, automates and simplifies the deployment and management of cloud-native applications using public cloud platforms.

A mandatory task you must do as a backend developer is to test, evaluate and validate the code you write. Testing shows whether the Software you’ve developed works best or needs tweaking. Testing is done to prevent errors and improve the performance of websites.

Among the crucial tests in this field, the following should be mentioned:

•  Unit testing: evaluates and confirms the performance of each unit as the minor component of an application.
•  Functional testing: Checks the performance of various components so that if any bugs or the codes need optimization, the developers can take the necessary actions.
•  Usability testing: It is an efficient method that shows that it is possible to use a web application to perform a specific task.
•  Performance testing: The application is tested in different conditions to determine how it will react when a significant traffic load is applied.
•  Regression testing: refers to the point that whenever new functionality is added to the codes, it should not negatively affect the performance of other parts of the website.

7. Establishment

This process includes five stages: planning, development, testing, deployment, and monitoring. Once the testing process is complete, developers enter the deployment phase. Where they can see the performance of the program in the real world,t

• Planning: A deployment plan is essential when multiple developers work on a project. Using this step will ensure that there are no conflicts between changes that might negatively affect the deployment process. In addition, it makes the development process faster and more efficient.
• Development: After planning, the actual product is done. This is the stage where ideas and requirements are collected and prioritized. Next, you can test the program.
• Testing: Application testing is essential to ensure no bugs before moving the application to production. Testing is only possible when the application is deployed in different environments. After testing, the program enters the deployment phase. You will only know if the program aligns with the strategies at this stage. At this stage, the problems will be checked and ensured that they are all fixed.
• Deployment: It shows the performance of the program in live form. The app should not have bugs at this stage and provide the best performance.
• Monitoring: Its To check whether the website is working well or not, it should be continuously monitored. There may be a possibility that problems may occur after deployment, so you should check the performance of the website and make changes to the application modules if necessary.

8. Cloud providers

Almost all large applications are moving to the cloud; this cloud and web-based computing allow businesses and individuals to access the computing resources they need, such as virtual machines, databases, processing power, services, storage, etc., most simply. Have access to the amount of money they pay. Cloud computing can be divided into three main categories, Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). The cloud offers the following significant benefits:

•  Full-time accessibility to services.
•  Ability to maintain and automatically update Software, operating systems, and databases.
•  We are reducing IT costs.
•  No need for physical equipment within the information technology organization for data storage.
•  Its Ability to access applications anytime and anywhere.
•  Its Data protection against various types of threats; Because a backup copy of the data is always kept in a reliable and safe place.

last word

As you can see, a good backend developer must know about cross-disciplinary technologies to do his job correctly. More specifically, mastering programming languages ​​and frameworks is not enough to become an expert backend developer; you need to be familiar with the underlying technologies that make up the web.