Welcome to Learn Backend

Startup·7 min read·Jan 27, 2026

Hey friend 👋

If you're reading this, I suspect you probably want the same thing most aspiring backend developers want: the ability to build real backend apps from scratch.

See, most people who try to learn backend development fail — not because they aren't motivated, curious, or capable, but because they don't have a clear path. They jump between tutorials, blogs, and videos, hoping it will all click one day… but it never really does.

That's why I created: Master Building CLI Apps & APIs in Node.js — a practical, project-driven program that takes you from JavaScript fundamentals all the way up to building real CLI tools and backend services with Node.js.

About this program

This program is delivered as text-based lessons and hands-on projects.

It follows a logical skill progression, with a gradual and manageable increase in complexity, giving you enough room to easily understand, digest, and integrate each new concept.

The lessons are grouped into focused modules designed to teach you one specific aspect of the JavaScript / Node.js language at a time.

Each lesson is designed to explain one concept, show runnable examples in the form of code snippets, and give you the mental model you need to move forward.

Every few lessons, you'll find hands-on projects that will help you apply and reinforce what you learned to build a complete script, tool or API with real input and real output.

Additionally, each project comes with a commented, ready-to-study walkthrough of the solution, allowing you to discover and learn additional software development patterns, tips, and tricks you can reuse over and over again.

👉 Feel free to explore the program's content by clicking on the lessons and projects on the left hand side menu!

What you'll build

Along the way, you'll learn how to build a wide variety of scripts, tools, and apps that cover every single aspect of backend programming in Node.js

Here's a shortlist of some of the projects you'll find in the program:

  • lb_imdb: In this project, you'll write a script that recommends a movie title based on a genre and a decade.
  • lb_for_honor: In this project, you'll write a script that simulates a turn-based PvP fight between two heroes.
  • lb_tictactoe: In this project, you'll write a script that simulates and outputs a game of Tic-Tac-Toe play-by-play.
  • lb_vigenere: In this project, you'll write a script that implements a polyalphabetic substitution cipher that encrypts plain text strings.
  • lb_markup: In this project, you'll write a script that converts plain text from the Markdown to the HTML format.
  • lb_blockchain: In this project, you'll write a script that implements a simple blockchain that simulates the exchange of cryptocurrency between users.
  • lb_cron: In this project, you'll write a task scheduler script that periodically executes asynchronous functions at fixed intervals.
  • lb_loadenv: In this project, you'll write a script that loads and formats environment variables from a configuration file.
  • lb_ls: In this project, you'll write a script that lists, orders, and outputs the contents of directories.
  • lb_csv2json: In this project, you'll write a script that streams a CSV file, parses each row, and outputs the equivalent JSON format.
  • lb_bc: In this project, you'll write a script that evaluates arithmetic expressions and output their result to the standard output.
  • lb_lorem: In this project, you'll write an API that generates and returns lorem ipsum text using query parameters to control length and format.
  • lb_tinyurl: In this project, you'll write a URL shortener API that creates short codes and redirects clients to the original URLs.
  • lb_pastebin: In this project, you'll write a pastebin API that stores text snippets and lets clients retrieve them later by a unique id.

How to use the program effectively

Here's how to get the most out of this program.

Read and practice every lesson of every module in order, from first to last.

👉 Each lesson builds on the concepts and patterns of the previous one.

For every lesson:

  1. Read the lesson from top to bottom.
  2. Run each example on your machine.
  3. Modify the variables and inputs.
  4. Break the code on purpose.
  5. Fix it and re-run it.

👉 This loop is where the learning happens. If you only read, you will recognize concepts but you will not be able to use them under pressure.

For every project:

  1. Read the requirements from top to bottom.
  2. Read the usage examples several times to build a mental model of its expected behaviour.
  3. Write the most simple, straightforward solution that solves the problem, even if it's "ugly".
  4. Test the robustness of your solution with invalid or improbable inputs, and handle edge cases.
  5. Clean it up and rewrite it to improve its readability.

👉 Keep in mind that code is just a tool used to solve a problem. Unnecessary complexity is what turns code into a problem itself.

When you feel stuck:

  • Reproduce the issue consistently.
  • Read the error message from top to bottom.
  • Print intermediate values to the console to verify assumptions.
  • If you are still blocked, step back to the closest prerequisite lesson, or take the recommended lesson above the one you're currently on.

👉 You do not need to be fast. You need to be consistent.

Getting help and updates

If you find a typo, a broken link, or an unclear instruction, report it. Small issues compound quickly in a roadmap program, and fixing them benefits everyone.

This program is also updated iteratively. Lessons can be clarified, examples can be improved, and projects can be refined based on feedback.

You can reach out to us via email at: support@learnbackend.dev

Next lesson