🧠 SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT ENGINEER (SDE) ROADMAP
✅ Step-by-Step Learning Path
1. Programming Foundations
Languages: C++, Java, or Python
Topics:
o Syntax & basic I/O
o Functions & recursion
o Arrays, Strings
2. DSA (Data Structures & Algorithms)
Platforms: LeetCode, GeeksforGeeks, Codeforces, InterviewBit
Important Topics:
o Arrays, Strings, Linked Lists
o Stacks, Queues, HashMaps
o Trees, Graphs, Tries
o Recursion, Backtracking, DP
o Sorting, Searching
Solve at least 300–500 problems across topics.
3. Computer Science Fundamentals
Operating Systems (OS)
o Process, Threads, Scheduling
o Memory Management, Deadlocks
DBMS
o Normalization, ER Diagrams
o Transactions, Indexing
o SQL (Joins, Subqueries, Aggregations)
Computer Networks
o OSI model, TCP/IP
o IP addressing, HTTP/HTTPS
OOPs Concepts
o Inheritance, Polymorphism, Encapsulation, Abstraction
4. Projects (on GitHub)
Build 2-3 real-world projects:
o Web applications (Flask/Django/Node + React)
o Mini systems (Chat App, ToDo with DB, Portfolio)
Use: Git, GitHub, README, Commits
5. System Design (Advanced/FAANG Prep)
Learn:
o Scalability, Load Balancing, Caching
o HLD + LLD
Resources: Grokking the System Design Interview, YouTube: System Design Primer
📌 Top Interview Questions (SDE)
Topic Sample Questions
Arrays Kadane’s Algorithm, 2 Sum
Linked List Detect cycle, Reverse in groups
Trees Level Order, Lowest Common Ancestor
Graph Dijkstra’s, Cycle Detection
DP 0-1 Knapsack, Longest Subsequence
OS Process vs Thread, Deadlock conditions
DBMS Normalization, ACID properties
CN TCP vs UDP, HTTP vs HTTPS
🧱 SDE FOUNDATION (WEEK 1–4)
✅ Week 1–2: DSA + OOPs
Languages: C++ or Java
DSA Topics:
o Arrays, Strings, Recursion, Sliding Window
Leetcode Sets:
o Blind 75
o Daily streak: 2–3 questions/day
OOPs:
o Classes, Inheritance, Polymorphism, Encapsulation
o Real-world examples
Project: Simple Portfolio website using HTML + JS or React
✅ Week 3–4: Intermediate DSA + DBMS
DSA Topics:
o Stacks, Queues, Linked Lists, Trees
DBMS:
o ER diagrams, Normalization
o SQL joins, subqueries, indexing
Leetcode Topics: Trees, LLs, Stacks
Mini Project: ToDo App with CRUD using [Link] + MongoDB
⚙️CS FUNDAMENTALS (WEEK 5–6)
Operating Systems: Processes, Threads, Deadlocks, Memory Mgmt
Computer Networks: OSI, TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP/HTTPS
Mock Interviews:
o OS/DBMS/Networking + 2 DSA rounds
System Design Intro:
o Load balancers, caching, sharding, proxies
o Design: URL Shortener, TinyURL
🔍 PRODUCT MANAGEMENT (WEEK 7–9)
✅ Week 7: Product Thinking + Metrics
Understand user needs, pain points
Read: Inspired by Marty Cagan
Learn: DAU/WAU/MAU, AARRR, Churn, NPS
Tools: Amplitude, Mixpanel
✅ Week 8: Product Design + Wireframing
Tools: Figma, Balsamiq
Case Studies:
o Design a budget tracker app
o Revamp onboarding for a social app
Learn: User journeys, prototyping
✅ Week 9: Prioritization + SQL for PMs
MoSCoW, RICE, Impact/Effort
SQL:
o SELECT, JOIN, GROUP BY, HAVING, subqueries
Build dashboards from mock datasets
🎯 MOCK + REFINEMENT (WEEK 10–12)
✅ Week 10:
Mock Interviews:
o 1 DSA round
o 1 Product Case (Exponent, or peer)
Review 50 Leetcode patterns
Revise CS Notes
✅ Week 11:
Product Case Mastery:
o "Design Uber for Women"
o "How would you improve Google Pay?"
Mock PM Interviews (record answers)
✅ Week 12:
Final Projects + Resume Polish
Prepare STAR format answers for behavioral
Apply to 10 jobs on LinkedIn, AngelList, Internshala
💼 RESUME & PORTFOLIO (DO BY WEEK 4 & 9)
🧾 SDE Resume:
2–3 projects (GitHub linked)
Leetcode/Codeforces ratings (optional)
Add open-source PRs (if any)
PM Resume:
Highlight product work, not just tech
Link case studies, wireframes
Add metrics-driven outcomes
🎯 RESOURCES MASTER LIST
📘 DSA
Leetcode + [Link]
Cracking the Coding Interview
Codeforces (for speed)
🧠 CS Fundamentals
Neso Academy (YouTube)
Operating System Notes: Stanford
DBMS Cheatsheet: GeeksforGeeks
🧭 Product
TryExponent
Product Hunt
PM Interview Books: Decode & Conquer, Lean Product Playbook
🎨 Tools
Git + GitHub (for SDE)
Figma, Balsamiq (for PM)
SQLBolt, Mode Analytics