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Backend Skills Outline

· 3 min read
Kyeongsup Choi

1. Beginner​

Skills:​

  • Basic understanding of server-side programming languages (e.g., Python, Node.js, Java, Ruby).
  • Familiarity with HTTP protocols, request/response cycles, and basic client-server architecture.
  • Ability to set up a simple server using frameworks like Flask, Express, or Django.
  • Basic understanding of databases (SQL or NoSQL) and how to perform CRUD operations (Create, Read, Update, Delete).
  • Awareness of RESTful API concepts and how to create simple endpoints.

Example Tasks:​

  • Setting up a simple web server that responds to HTTP requests.
  • Writing API endpoints that interact with a database.
  • Implementing basic user authentication and handling form data.

2. Intermediate​

Skills:​

  • Proficient in designing and implementing RESTful APIs with CRUD functionality.
  • Understanding of relational databases (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL) and NoSQL databases (e.g., MongoDB, Redis), including schema design, relationships, and indexing.
  • Familiar with middleware, routing, and handling file uploads.
  • Knowledge of authentication methods like OAuth, JWT, and sessions.
  • Experience with version control systems (e.g., Git) and basic knowledge of continuous integration and deployment (CI/CD).

Example Tasks:​

  • Developing an API for user management (e.g., authentication, authorization).
  • Designing a relational database schema and optimizing queries.
  • Setting up middleware for logging, error handling, and security in a web application.
  • Connecting your backend with external services via APIs (e.g., payment gateways, third-party APIs).

3. Advanced​

Skills:​

  • Expertise in building scalable and secure APIs, including complex query optimization, advanced authentication/authorization (e.g., SSO, RBAC).
  • Knowledge of microservices architecture and ability to design and develop microservices-based applications.
  • Proficient in using messaging queues (e.g., RabbitMQ, Kafka) for asynchronous processing and communication.
  • Experience with cloud infrastructure (e.g., AWS, Google Cloud, Azure), containerization (Docker), and orchestration tools (Kubernetes).
  • Understanding of caching strategies, load balancing, and scaling backend systems to handle high traffic.

Example Tasks:​

  • Designing and deploying a microservices-based architecture with services that communicate asynchronously.
  • Setting up continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines for automated testing and deployment.
  • Implementing caching strategies (e.g., Redis, Memcached) to optimize API performance.
  • Designing highly available and scalable systems using cloud services and containerization.

4. Expert​

Skills:​

  • Mastery of distributed systems, including managing data consistency, eventual consistency, and CAP theorem implications.
  • Expertise in backend architecture patterns (e.g., event-driven architecture, CQRS, serverless) for complex and high-traffic systems.
  • Deep knowledge of security best practices, including encryption, secure communication, and data protection in large-scale applications.
  • Extensive experience with database replication, sharding, and high availability setups.
  • Ability to lead backend development teams, perform code reviews, and ensure code quality standards.
  • Familiarity with DevOps tools and practices, including Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and full automation of deployment pipelines.

Example Tasks:​

  • Architecting large-scale distributed systems with fault-tolerant and highly available components.
  • Implementing advanced security mechanisms like end-to-end encryption and secure API gateways.
  • Leading a backend development team, defining project architecture, and overseeing codebase and deployment strategies.
  • Optimizing backend services to handle millions of users or high-volume real-time data streams.