How to get from Beginner to Next Level
Posted by Kanishk06@reddit | learnprogramming | View on Reddit | 12 comments
so i am at a level that i can create an crud based application using react and express with postgres, i have created a web socket (socket.io) based application. in feeling i feel like i should learn something like cloud or system design , i was also feeling like i should learn a battery included framework i am very confused currently please help and i dont feel like i have energy to learn machine learning
Travaches@reddit
It’d widely depend on how you finished those projects (just following along tutorial videos as an example), but honestly I’d say it’s a good phase to start learning more into foundation like DSA and OS.
Sea-Film6715@reddit
Maybe try building something without following tutorials first? Like take your CRUD app and add some feature nobody showed you how to do. That way you know if you actually understand the concepts or just good at copying code
Cloud stuff is useful but system design gets pretty theoretical until you have real problems to solve. DSA is good foundation though especially for job interviews later
Kanishk06@reddit (OP)
i have some 50 question solved experience in dsa nd i m in 6th sem with 9 cgpa and remember basic of cs field subjects, as for how i have watched only express tutorial on yt other than that i have done most of first project by myself (i had used ai to learn ts , tailwind but that was very simple i didnt even knew that we use dependencies in react like client state management or something like tanstack which i learned later on second project ) with react konva socket io but tbh for second project i was on it for a month but later i got a project for college to solve so i used my older idea to further tweak but i needed to do it somewhat early so i used ai a lot for react konva managemnt and syncing related work
Kanishk06@reddit (OP)
so i was thinking of going further in development and kinda going along with dsa 1 day 1 day development
Travaches@reddit
It’s really difficult to keep putting constant effort into DSA (mentally exhausting) but would be the most rewarding thing especially if you want to go to next level like your question. Anything you will learn is all built on top of DSA. Keep learning!
Kanishk06@reddit (OP)
Placement season is coming too. So what do u suggest should I keep this much development and go to dsa or do that split work just ur personal opinion is fine
Travaches@reddit
Honestly if your end goal is employment just focus on DSA. We don’t really expect juniors to be proficient in tech stacks but have strong foundations to learn fast
Kanishk06@reddit (OP)
Ok ok sir thanks for ur time I'll keep grinding on dsa nonetheless of anything else
Dry-Hamster-5358@reddit
You’re actually at a really solid stage already
The confusion you’re feeling is mostly because there are too many directions, not because you’re lacking skill
Instead of jumping to something new, like ML or another framework, go deeper with what you already know
Take one project and improve it end to end
add auth, caching, better db design, error handling, deployment, monitoring
That’s basically how you learn system design in practice
Cloud concepts also make more sense when you have a real project to apply them to, not in isolation
Most people level up not by learning more tools, but by going deeper into one and making it production ready
Kanishk06@reddit (OP)
Sir as far as I understand from ur comment please correct me if I am wrong should I create a basic project but make it efficient and something like industry grade?
Dry-Hamster-5358@reddit
Yeah, exactly, not about making something huge, just making something solid
Start with a simple project, but focus on making it reliable and complete
like handling edge cases, proper error handling, auth, clean structure, deployment
“industry level” usually just means it works well, is maintainable, and doesn’t break easily
Even a basic app can feel professional if you take it all the way instead of leaving it half done
Kanishk06@reddit (OP)
Thanks for ur help sir/mam