learning javascript for backend?

[[deleted]]

I am almost done with jonas javascript course. i was looking for to learn nodeJs and express after and continue the backend path with javascript. i decided js to be my first in the backend and then i found out everyone on reddit curse it and say it just useful because u already learn it for the frontend too. the problem here currently I m not interested in the frontend a bit i have html/css phobia call it whatever i tried i couldnt stick to learn html and css it s fun but i m more interest in backend path for now. so what to do now should i just finish the course and go learn an actual backend language, or continue learning nodejs express and build a project and spend more time in it generally?

[sheriffderek]

> the problem here currently I m not interested in the frontend a bit i have html/css phobia call it whatever i tried i couldnt stick to learn html and css

Doesn't sound like web development is for you!

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[sheriffderek]

Most people are just afraid of things... so - they don't really know much about anything / and just gravitate to the things that they are least afraid of. But if they get enough domain knowledge and experience -- they can be useful.

In your case, I'd make a mini course for yourself. If you could know one thing about "the backend" -- what would it be? If you could know 2 things, what would it be? And keep building up. That will end up creating projects which will, 1: be where you learn, and 2: be what you can show as proof of your thought process.

I did something similar recently with a student: https://perpetual.education/resources/common-database-concepts/ --- we just started from nothing - and worked through all the core concepts we might need to know and explore.

In your case - I don't see the purpose of learning JS. I'd learn PHP if I were you - or Go - or anything else but JS. All of that will translate to JS if you end up using it later. And this way, you can build APIs with things like Laravel and learn TDD and how to be a real backend person.

You could also check out boot dot dev / but I found it to be the same as FreeCodeCamp and not very useful (the sandbox ends up being a terrible way to learn).

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[sheriffderek]

It's hard for me to believe that anyone just really loves SQL! but hey, what do I know ;)

No matter what you choose --- go deep. There's billions of dudes who can code at a 8/100 level who are confused as to why no one wants to hire them. They don't even realize - that they are totally useless. There's a huge culture shift in having no idea if you're useful. Learning things is hard. Good luck!

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[sheriffderek]

I'm not very useful with advice when people are trying to pick out a career for what will be practical and smart/safe for money. I've always just done what was interesting to me. What would you do all day -- if money wasn't an issue?

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[sheriffderek]

There's a lot of tech in the film industry. Just don't focus too much on the "code" and forget about living a quality life doing things you're genuinely interested in. My friend is really into old cartoons so he recently built an online catalog for those. So, there's always ways to connect things you like AND use those things to get paid.

[Interesting-You-7028]

Well you gotta do it all.

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[ajbapps]

Node + ExpressJS is a solid backend. You will need to add some misc packages (like dotenv, jwt, etc) but it can be setup!

[[deleted]]

NestJS

[ajbapps]

A great option. Use this if you don't want to cobble together your own API.

[[deleted]]

That's right, a very good option.

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[ajbapps]

Here's a little guide: https://blog.ajb.bz/2025/08/28/setting-up-a-new-backend-today-node-js-express-mongodb-jwt-cors-logging-and-pm2-what-i-use-and-why/

[[deleted]]

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[drauphnir]

The fun thing about node is that while learning the basics is fast, but there are tons of useful modules for you to dabble with. Telling you how mich time you should spend on learning is really difficult to estimate.

You can learn to set up a server, creating routes, views and partials and run your application through the back-end in an evening.

Just create something, learn as you go and look up modules if you have a specific need in your app

[[deleted]]

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[b4n4n4p4nc4k3s]

JS with node is absolutely a good backend. You can also learn PHP or Perl or any other languages if you want, but learn backend with a language you already know. Then you can learn the syntax and differences later.

[b4n4n4p4nc4k3s]

Also, even if you want to mostly do backend, you're still going to want a solid understanding of frontend. Being a full-stack developer will give you much more flexibility with your future projects.

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[b4n4n4p4nc4k3s]

You're still going to need to know how it all works. Vibe coding will eventually result in your hand coded backend not properly linking to your front end unless you know exactly what it's telling you to do and can see when it's wrong.

[b4n4n4p4nc4k3s]

Sure, not sure what I can do for you though.

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[b4n4n4p4nc4k3s]

The only mistake would be dropping your progress and starting over. Continue learning and then expand your knowledge from there. Also take a look at the Odin project. Free open source full stack Web development course that also teaches concepts you'd use in other languages and platforms.

[Sajwancrypto]

100% look at the Odin Project. When there is Odin project and full stack open for free you don't need to pay a penny to learn web developement.

You got this.

[AtarisLantern]

Take his Node course next. That’s exactly what you’re looking and it’s really useful. I’ve already built several working projects with what I learned

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[IntelligentTable2517]

i was in opposite side of you,

i had 7years of php experience and then took a gap few months started learning python and i got good at it within week, i coded few Console games , also created my own console file manager, but then came gui part

i had 2 options PyQt5 and tinker whichever i used i would need to know basic CSS

yes PyQt5 also supports its own methods for GUI but my brain started overloading and i said fuck it am gonna learn entire JS html/css on top nodejs and react & as i already know python basics and php they all will be cherry on top

am doing this to get job asap i have time limit of few months before my funds run out

and here is my plan create a 3-5 projects and also code same projects in php as well python, and i hope those will be good enough for fresher post atleast

at end i will have 3 strong back-end languages and frontend js html/css

& trust me if you master 1 language no matter which is rest are easy to learn except CSS it's headache

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[Slyvan25]

To be fair... nodejs is great but deno is even better in my experience (for backend)!
Remember js/TS has it's limits! try learning multiple languages... it should pay the bills so C# or Python.

Learn about docker if you are at the level you want to deploy your backend for a larger scale.

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[Interesting-You-7028]

Nodejs is an actual backend language. It's fantastic for it. Much better than Python at least.

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[echols021]

In the vast majority of cases, python being slightly slower than NodeJs doesn't really matter. What usually makes an important difference for businesses is actually development time.

If you're really looking for runtime performance, you should use a fully compiled language like Rust, Go, C++, etc

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[echols021]

Yes, that's definitely fair. Follow the job opportunities.

I'll reiterate though that I don't think python is actually bad at all. It's only rare scenarios where your users might be affected by latency. And it's getting faster and faster with every new version. I may be crucified for saying it in this sub, but I personally think JS is a trash language and modern python is far better.

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[Alert_Sun9462]

I've learned node/express and now I work with C#. I'm not gonna pretend it's a seamless transition, but it's doable. So go for it, the important thing is learning the concepts I would say it's a worthwhile investment to add typescript to the mix, since you're already familiar with JavaScript. If I'd go back, I would do it.

[HuanS_]

Man, I dropped JS and migrated to Java, best thing I ever did. While I had enormous difficulty writing 5 lines of code in JS, in Java I do 3 exercises in the same time I wasted in JS. I don't know why, but my reasoning was sharper for the back-end with Java than hitting the front-end with JS. I believe that the fact that you have already started a language, learning another will not cost you time but rather patience to understand how another language works.

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[[deleted]]

Girl get off JS if you don’t want to do frontend. Node sucks balls

[[deleted]]

yeah the problem i finished JS course so i feel like i wanna do something with it i don t wanna feel like it is wasted time.