5-Month Backend + Cloud Study Guide (Week-by-Week)

MONTH 1: [Link] Advanced & API Mastery (Basics to Advanced)

Week 1

• [Link] fundamentals: event loop, callbacks, async/await, streams

• Build small CLI utilities/toy apps to get hands-on

• Target: Understand how [Link] executes code, prototypes, and modularization

Week 2

• Advanced [Link]: middleware, error handling, routers

• RESTful API design: architectural best-practices

• Security basics: input validation, HTTP headers (Helmet), rate limiting

• Target: Build a small REST API (CRUD app with auth and validation)

Week 3

• Testing foundations (Jest, Mocha, Supertest)

• Add unit/integration tests to previous week’s project

• Explore API documentation: OpenAPI/Swagger

• Target: API with thorough test coverage and auto-generated docs

Week 4

• Authentication & authorization: JWT, session, OAuth2 basics

• Role-based access (RBAC) and attribute-based (ABAC) patterns

• API versioning and deployment (Heroku/Render/free-tier)

• Target: Secure, versioned API with deployed instance

MONTH 2: Databases, Caching & System Design Fundamentals

Week 5

• MongoDB advanced: queries, indexes, aggregation, transactions

• Integrate with current [Link] API for practical experience

• Target: Optimize queries, add at least one aggregation to API

• SQL database intro: Postgres or MySQL

• Compare data modeling to MongoDB; build basic CRUD in SQL

• Transactions, joins, ACID properties

• Target: Mini SQL-powered API or hybrid API with both NoSQL and SQL

Week 7

• Caching fundamentals: Redis setup with your API, basic pub/sub, session/cache storage

• Query optimization and DB scaling basics (replication/sharding concepts)

• Target: Implement Redis-based cache for an endpoint

Week 8

• Core system design: load balancing, CAP theorem, consistency, scaling

• Distributed system basics, stateless design

• Practice 1–2 mock “system design interviews” (draw on paper/whiteboard)

• Target: Present/read scalable design for “simple” systems (URL shortener, chat server)

MONTH 3: Cloud, Microservices, DevOps, Deployment

Week 9

• Cloud basics (focus on AWS): IAM, EC2, S3, RDS, VPC

• Deploy a project manually (EC2, static S3 hosting if applicable)

• Target: API deployed and running on EC2/public

Week 10

• Docker: images, Dockerfiles, Compose; run your [Link]/DB in containers locally

• Deploy a containerized app to the cloud (AWS ECS, free-tier)

• Target: Local Docker app and cloud deployment

Week 11

• Kubernetes basics: pods, deployments, services, configmaps

• Deploy micro-Dockerized app to Kubernetes (minikube/local cluster)

• Target: [Link] microservice running on local or cloud K8s (EKS optional)

• CI/CD: Set up pipelines (GitHub Actions preferred), automate linting, testing, and
deployments to cloud

• Target: Push to GitHub; code automatically tested and deployed

MONTH 4: Advanced Backend Tech, Monitoring, Real-time

Week 13

• Microservices architecture: split API into multiple services, use API gateway (simple
proxy/auth)

• Messaging: Integrate RabbitMQ or AWS SQS for async processing (queue demo)

• Target: 2+ microservices with inter-service comms

Week 14

• Real-time: Learn WebSockets, add chat/notification to your app via [Link]

• Monitoring/logging: Integrate CloudWatch, ELK, or basic Prometheus/Grafana

• Target: Real-time feature + monitoring/alert for microservice

Week 15

• Serverless: Create 1–2 endpoints on AWS Lambda (API Gateway + Lambda, possibly with S3
trigger)

• Compare cost/performance considerations

• Target: Small serverless app, with readme/deploy instructions

Week 16

• Search: Add basic Elasticsearch or alternative to index/query one data type (e.g., product or
user search)

• Prepare your “portfolio” project: detailed README, screenshots, API docs.

• Target: Capstone portfolio backend project posted on GitHub, deployed with all features
above

MONTH 5: Soft Skills, Interviews & Final Portfolio Polish

Week 17

• Data structures and algorithms: consistent LeetCode/HackerRank daily practice

• Mock coding and system design interviews (Pramp, peers, [Link])

• Target: 20+ DSA problems solved, 2–3 mock interviews

• Behavioral and HR interview prep: STAR stories, salary negotiation research

• Practice explaining projects to non-tech audience; write project “case study”

• Target: STAR framework for 5–6 experiences, elevator pitch for each project

Week 19

• Communication: Write or record explanations/blogs for your portfolio project(s)

• Networking: Update LinkedIn, GitHub, portfolio site; send messages to

• Target: Blog post live, LinkedIn updated, at least 10 outreach messages

Week 20

• Open source & collaboration: submit 1–2 small PRs, give & receive code reviews in dev
communities

• Attend 1 meetup (virtual or in-person)

• Target: At least 1 merged PR, 1 new connection from a meetup/community

Tips for Flexible Weekly Progress

• If you finish a topic early, use extra time to deepen project code or portfolio polish.

• If you get stuck or sick, shift that week’s content to the next—keep a checklist to track core
skills.

• Mix DSA/system design practice in any hard skills week as “side work.”

• Add/skip deeper topics (Kafka, advanced K8s, deep Elasticsearch) ONLY if you master basics
first.
Table: Sample Weekly Milestone

Month Week Main Focus Target/Output

1 1 [Link] Core CLI/util app + event loop mastery

1 2 REST API + [Link] Secure CRUD API

1 3 Testing/Docs Fully-tested, documented API

1 4 Auth/Deploy Deployed, secure API

2 5 MongoDB API with advanced MongoDB features

2 6 SQL Hybrid/noSQL+SQL API

2 7 Caching Redis integration

2 8 System Design Mock design interview examples

3 9 AWS Basics API on EC2/S3/RDS

3 10 Docker Local Docker & cloud deployment

3 11 Kubernetes K8s microservice on local cluster

3 12 CI/CD Automated pipeline to Cloud

4 13 Microservices/Messaging 2+ communicating services (RabbitMQ/SQS)

4 14 Real-time/Monitoring WebSocket, monitoring

4 15 Serverless AWS Lambda demo

4 16 Search/Portfolio ES demo, complete portfolio project

5 17 DSA/Mock Coding Interviews 20 problems, 2 mocks

Behavioral Interviews/Case
5 18 STAR answers, salary practice
Studies

5 19 Communication/Branding Blog post, LinkedIn polish, recruiter outreach

PR submitted/merged, 1 community/meetup
5 20 Open Source & Networking
attended