Backend Development Training

Building real systems that handle actual traffic and solve genuine problems

We're running our next cohort starting October 2025. This isn't about watching tutorials—it's about writing code that breaks, debugging production issues at 2 AM, and understanding why databases suddenly refuse to cooperate.

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Backend development workspace with multiple monitors showing code and terminal windows

What Actually Happens Here

Where We Start

Most people show up knowing some Python or JavaScript. Maybe they've built a few things that work on their laptop. Then they try to deploy something and realize their local environment is basically a fantasy land.

The Uncomfortable Middle

Around week six, everyone hits this wall. Your API suddenly needs to handle 1,000 requests per second instead of ten. Your database queries that took 50ms now take 8 seconds. Nothing you learned from tutorials prepared you for this—and that's exactly the point.

1

Months 1-2: Build Something That Works

REST APIs, database design, authentication systems. We're not reinventing the wheel, just making sure you understand why wheels are round.

2

Months 3-4: Break It and Fix It

Load testing, caching strategies, query optimization. This is where you learn that "it works on my machine" is not a deployment strategy.

3

Months 5-6: Ship Something Real

Final project deployed to actual servers, monitored with real tools, handling genuine user traffic. Some projects fail spectacularly—those are often the most valuable.

Common Questions We Get

People ask us the same things repeatedly. Here's what we actually tell them.

I've never written backend code before. Can I start here?

Probably not yet. You should be comfortable with at least one programming language and understand basic concepts like functions, loops, and data structures. If you're still Googling "what is a variable," spend another few months with fundamentals first.

What you actually need: Ability to write a simple program without constant hand-holding. Understanding of how data moves through an application. Comfort with the command line—at least enough that it doesn't terrify you.

Will this guarantee me a job afterward?

No. Anyone promising that is lying to you. What we can say is that our 2024 cohort had people land positions within 3-8 months—but they put in serious work, built portfolios, and networked like their futures depended on it.

What you'll have after six months: A deployed project you can show in interviews. Experience debugging real problems. The ability to talk intelligently about system design. Whether that translates to employment depends on you.

Can I do this part-time while working full-time?

Technically yes, realistically it's brutal. Expect 15-20 hours per week outside of scheduled sessions. Some people manage it, but they're usually the ones who've stopped sleeping and abandoned all hobbies.

The honest assessment: If you've got a demanding job and family commitments, this might not be the right time. We've seen people burn out trying to balance everything. Better to wait until you can actually focus.

What if I fall behind or don't understand something?

That happens to everyone at some point. We run weekly office hours and have a private community where people help each other. But you need to be comfortable with confusion—backend development means constantly encountering things you don't understand yet.

Support structure: Direct access to instructors via scheduled sessions. Peer learning groups that form naturally. Documentation and resources for self-guided exploration. But ultimately, you're responsible for your own learning pace.

Stories From People Who've Done This

These are real experiences from our 2024 cohort. Not everyone's journey looked like this, but these capture what the process actually felt like.

Portrait of Kasper Vinterberg

Kasper Vinterberg

Former Mechanical Engineer

Starting Point

Had been teaching myself Python for about a year through online courses. Could build small scripts but had zero clue how to structure anything larger or deploy it anywhere.

The Turning Point

Week eight, my API kept crashing under load testing. Spent an entire weekend debugging before realizing I'd created an accidental infinite loop in my database queries. Felt like an idiot, but that's when database optimization finally clicked.

Now working as a junior backend developer at a fintech startup in Taipei. Still Googling things constantly, but at least I know what questions to ask.

Portrait of Diarmuid Rafferty

Diarmuid Rafferty

Career Switcher from Finance

Initial Struggle

First month was genuinely overwhelming. Everyone else seemed to understand things faster. Almost quit around week five when I couldn't figure out why my authentication system kept failing.

What Changed

Started attending every office hour and asking what I thought were stupid questions. Turned out half the cohort had the same confusion. Once I stopped pretending to understand things, learning got exponentially easier.

Still job hunting after finishing in December 2024, but getting actual interview callbacks now. Built a personal project that handles user authentication and payment processing—something I couldn't have imagined six months ago.

Next Steps If You're Interested

Our October 2025 cohort starts on the 6th. We're capping enrollment at 24 people because that's the maximum we can support effectively.

Applications open June 2025. We'll ask about your programming background, what you're hoping to build, and why you think this timing makes sense for you. Not looking for perfect answers—just honest ones.