Technical Writer Roadmap
Master server-side development, databases, and APIs to become a professional backend developer
Time Estimate
6-12 months
Salary Range
$80K - $150K
Difficulty
Intermediate
1
Phase 1: Fundamentals
Build a strong foundation in programming and web development basics
Duration: 2-3 months
Skills to Learn
Programming Basics (Python/JavaScript)
Critical
~4 weeks
Git & Version Control
Critical
~1 week
Command Line/Terminal
Important
~1 week
HTTP/REST Fundamentals
Critical
~2 weeks
Learning Resources
🎯 Milestone Projects
- ✓Build a simple calculator CLI app
- ✓Create a personal website with Git version control
- ✓Make a REST API request handler
2
Phase 2: Backend Essentials
Learn core backend concepts and build your first APIs
Duration: 2-3 months
Skills to Learn
Node.js or Python Framework
Critical
~4 weeks
SQL Databases (PostgreSQL)
Critical
~3 weeks
RESTful API Design
Critical
~2 weeks
Authentication & Authorization
Important
~2 weeks
Learning Resources
🎯 Milestone Projects
- ✓Build a RESTful CRUD API
- ✓Create a user authentication system
- ✓Design a blog backend with database
3
Phase 3: Advanced Topics
Master advanced patterns and scale your applications
Duration: 2-3 months
Skills to Learn
Microservices Architecture
Important
~3 weeks
Caching (Redis)
Important
~2 weeks
Message Queues
Important
~2 weeks
Docker & Containers
Critical
~3 weeks
Learning Resources
🎯 Milestone Projects
- ✓Dockerize your API application
- ✓Implement Redis caching
- ✓Build a microservices-based system
4
Phase 4: Production Ready
Learn professional practices and deploy to production
Duration: 2-3 months
Skills to Learn
Testing (Unit & Integration)
Critical
~3 weeks
CI/CD Pipelines
Important
~2 weeks
Monitoring & Logging
Important
~2 weeks
Security Best Practices
Critical
~2 weeks
Learning Resources
🎯 Milestone Projects
- ✓Add comprehensive test coverage
- ✓Set up CI/CD pipeline
- ✓Deploy to cloud platform (AWS/Azure/GCP)
Salary Progression
Junior Backend Developer (0-2 years)
Average Market Rate
$60K - $90K
Backend Developer (2-4 years)
Average Market Rate
$80K - $120K
Senior Backend Developer (4-7 years)
Average Market Rate
$120K - $160K
Lead/Staff Backend Engineer (7+ years)
Average Market Rate
$150K - $200K+
💡 Success Tips
- • Don't rush through phases - understanding is more important than speed
- • Build real projects, not just tutorials - this is what employers want to see
- • Contribute to open source to gain practical experience
- • Network with other developers and join communities (Discord, Reddit, local meetups)
- • Keep a learning journal to track your progress
- • Update your resume and portfolio after completing each phase
- • Start applying to jobs when you're 60-70% ready - you'll learn on the job
- • Consider internships or freelance work to gain experience