Advanced Coding Roadmap for AI Engineers
Phase 1: Python
Master syntax, OOP, file handling, exceptions, virtual environments, pip, modules, async
programming, decorators, generators, context managers, and type hints.
Phase 2: Data Structures & Algorithms
Arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees, graphs, heaps, hash tables. Learn sorting, searching,
DFS, BFS, recursion, greedy methods, and dynamic programming.
Phase 3: Version Control & Linux
Git, GitHub workflows, branching, merge conflicts, Bash scripting, SSH, Docker basics, and
command-line proficiency.
Phase 4: Databases
SQL fundamentals, joins, indexing, normalization, transactions, PostgreSQL, and basic NoSQL
concepts.
Phase 5: APIs
REST APIs, JSON, authentication, FastAPI, WebSockets, API testing, and documentation.
Phase 6: AI Development
NumPy, Pandas, PyTorch, Hugging Face Transformers, embeddings, vector databases, RAG,
LangChain, MCP, AI agents, inference optimization.
Phase 7: Deployment
Docker, cloud basics, CI/CD, monitoring, logging, security, scaling, and production deployment.
Suggested Projects
Calculator, CLI tools, web scraper, password manager, chatbot, RAG assistant, AI agent, SaaS
application, and portfolio website.
Recommended Books
Automate the Boring Stuff with Python, Fluent Python, Grokking Algorithms, Designing
Data-Intensive Applications, Hands-On Machine Learning.
Goal: Build projects continuously and maintain a GitHub portfolio. Aim for 800–1,200 hours of
deliberate practice to become job-ready for AI engineering and freelancing.