How to learn a tech stack? Overwhelmed with all the terms: vue, node, django, mongo, react etc.. How to choose? Ho do they work together?
I've been wanting to learn to code for a couple years now; I've done several Python courses and built simple tools to automate my workflow (Excel).
Eventually, I'd like to make a Saas so I'm well aware that I need to get serious about learning to code.
The problem is that new terms always come up and I end up doubting if I'm learning the right thing, terms such as: mongoDB, node JS, vanilla JS, react, django, vue, and many others.
I understand they are different parts of a "tech stack" but I'm having a hard time choosing a learning path and how these tools work together.
Could someone point me in the right direction? What are the essentials regardless the end use?
Thanks, I appreciate your time and sharing your knowledge
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Hi Gera,
You should learn the basics for front-end which are HTML, CSS, and Javascript. Since you're using Phython stick with it for backend. Use what you know and don't complicate yourself especially in the beginning. If you have time and want to explore other options, you can that otherwise just use what you know. You will also learn as you go when you need it.
I've been learning web development for a year now, and I decided to learn HTML, CSS, and Javascript the React.js and then choose Next.js as a framework which I saw that it simplifies many things for me to ship products faster (plus they're doing so much good work in it and through Vercel the mother company.
I used the below resources if you want to check them out for the basics:
The Odin Project (free)
Free Code Camp (free)
General Assembly's Dash (free) is great too.
Mozilla (free)
Codecademy
I also did a Udemy course for Next.js which helped me ship my first site with MongoDB and using Auth0 for authentication and Heroku for using it as a server
If you have more questions, please ask.
And all the best to you!
Wow, Ali,
Thank you for taking the time to write this answer; it's been the most helpful answer I've got ever on the internet (as well as @johnny_am's).
So what I understand is that I need:
Front-end: HTML, CSS and JS
Back-end: since I already started with Python I should stick with it, (and use Django as a framework I'm guessing?)
What would you say is the best approach? Should I learn front and back end "simultaneously" or one after another?
I'm thinking about doing The Odin Project and see what happens as I go.
Thanks again Ali, means a lot.
You're welcome and glad to be of help , Gera!
Yes, in any stack/language you should learn these three basic elements (HTML, CSS and JS)
And yes I think from what I read Django is the most popular Python framework.
I think it's better to start front-end to have focus on that part, because in any case backend doesn't work without having some front-end to it.
The Odin Project is a good start, but you don't have to read everything they state there at this stage, you can go back later when you feel that you've grasped it more.
My additional suggestion would be to do HTML first in all the resources that I stated, then move onto CSS doing the same with it. But you should finish the basics first from The Odin Project which will help you set everything you need to program on your computer.
If you have more questions, please ask.
And all the best on your learning path!
I love your advice (added to Evernote). Added to my newsletter
P.S I am mentioning the website because when I say I added it to the newsletter, most people ask what's your newsletter. https://indieletters.com/
Glad to be of help!
And all the best on your newsletter!
Hi Gera -
This is one of the biggest problems facing people learning to code.
I always tell new developers I'm helping, that it's more important what you ignore, than what you try to learn. Otherwise, you'll spend all your time getting a surface level understanding of a broad set of technologies, but no deep understanding of any. This eventually leads to more difficulty actually building things, and more anxiety about should I chose x or y. The goal should always be to learn enough to start building.
Happy to have a quick slack/email discussion to guide you in the right direction as well. Let me know If I can help in anyway.
Hey Johnny, would like to have a word regards how to get with deep understandings.
Hey Johnny,
I really appreciate you taking the time to write all this. It really means a lot to hear some advice from a real person and not some Youtuber trying to sell a course.
You got it just right "it's more important what you ignore than what you try to learn" you've described exactly how I feel. I started learning python and before really getting to understand the basics, I'd jump to some other thing because I read that its "more popular" or "employable".
I guess I just have to choose and stick to a learning path and start my own projects. I'd really like to have that discussion if you are still open to it.
Thank you again for your help,
I suggest you just use what you know right now. Since you already know python. Use it
Recommend Django for the web framework. Don't listen to all those hypes, use what's best for you and your startup. Python + Django is super powerful. Instagram is using that stack. They even wrote a blog about it!
So your final stack would be = Python(language) + Django(web framework) + MySQL(database) + Redis(Caching).
For HTML and CSS just learn enough and just buy a template for your SAAS don't build from scratch. The point is to get your product out there as soon as possible.
Once you have enough money from your SAAS startup then hire great people that could write beautiful code and handle all the infrastructure stuff.
Disclaimer: I ran an actual startup before and failed , now I'm teaching coding part time https://www.udemy.com/course/learn-how-to-build-amazon-website-using-vuejs-and-nodejs/