Backend Software Engineering
I'll give you the exact skills you need to be a skilled software engineer who can confidently build backend systems
This is your step-by-step guide to databases, APIs, and backend services that power modern applications
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Launch Bonus - During Launch sale ONLY!
Join this week and unlock:
- Launch BONUS - CodeBreakthrough Vault (60+ hours of mentorship recordings from senior engineers)
- Future Bonuses and Discounts through the CodeBreakthrough Vault
- Backend - LEVEL 1 (60 Complete Lessons) - JavaScript, TypeScript, Node & APIs
- Backend - LEVEL 2 (50 Complete Lessons) - Databases, SQL, NoSQL & ORMs
- Backend - LEVEL 3 (40 Complete Lessons) -Validation, Authentication & Deployments
The material is complete and available instantly after purchase.
The Vault is a bonus only available to join during limited time launches. After the launch week the vault becomes unavailable.
Why Backend Software Engineering?
There's a lot of hype around web development, but too often training resources focus almost entirely on frontend with a little backend sprinkled in. Let's flip this. I decided to create a course to focus on what I believe is the most valuable skill in software engineering... backend.
This is a comprehensive course that will get you where you want to go and help you level up. I'll guide you through building server applications and APIs, mastering databases, and applying everything with real world examples.
Backend Engineering guides you through every critical topic you need to know to be an effective backend engineer, full stack engineer, or any other type of software engineer. I teach you software design principles that help you understand how to build high quality applications that go beyond the basics. I show you the exact skills needed to be a successful software engineer.
Unsure what to focus on? Look no Further!
You may be overwhelmed with paths to take in software engineering. Let me tell you, focusing on the backend will never be a bad choice. It is by far one of the highest paying specializations and gives you skills that are valuable across all types of engineering. Consider this a skill that makes you better at every other topic in software.
Maybe you feel like you've been struggling, wasting time, or have no clear focus. This has prevented you from seeing the results you want, but now you're ready to make a change.
Without a guide, you may stay on this hopeless path forever.
That's why I've given you everything you need - The exact steps nicely packaged.
These lessons contain the MOST IMPORTANT TOPICS of backend engineering that I've picked up in my 10+ years in tech.
I’m confident that if you follow the plan and curriculum I provide, you will achieve your goal.
You will have a completely new mindset and approach to solving problems and coding.
The path is laid out right in front of you—all you have to do is commit.
Will you commit to improving yourself and your abilities?
Backend Software Engineering in a nutshell:
Level 1
Backend Fundamentals
- Advanced JavaScript Concepts
- JavaScript Interview Questions
- Objects and JSON
- Scripting and Web Servers
- Working with Files
- Integrating with other Software
- Child processes
- Environment Variables
- Publishing Software Packages
- API foundations
- URL Parameters and Query Parameters
- Error Handling
- Middleware
- CRUD and Database Interactions
- Postman API Collections
- Building SDKs
- Connecting from React
- Automated API testing
- TypeScript
Level 2
Database Design and SQL
- Database Design and ERDs
- Relationships
- Lookup Tables and Subqueries
- Cardinality and Modality
- Check Constraints
- Normalization Forms
- Joins and Views
- Transactions
- Stored Procedures
- ORMs
- Migrations
- Relationships and Nested Queries
- Nesting Data and Arrays
- NoSQL
- ORMs with NoSQL
- Designing NoSQL Schemas
- Queries and Aggregation
- Nested Data and References
- Schema Validation with NoSQL
Level 3
Applied Backend
- API Code Architecture
- Applied MVC pattern for APIs
- Data Validation Libraries
- XSS and other Security Concerns
- How to design an API
- Real world debugging
- E2E Project Building
- Stateless Auth with JWTs
- Database Seeding
- Cookies vs Local Storage
- Cloud Services
- Log Streaming
- IAM and User Permissions
- EC2, S3, RDS
- Load Balancers
- Custom Domains
- Frontend and Backend Integration
- CORS and Security
- HTTPS and Certificates
Let's explore each level
Level 1
Backend FundamentalsLevel 2
Database Design, SQL & NoSQLLevel 3
Applied Backend EngineeringBonus
CodeBreakthrough VaultLevel 1 - Backend Engineering Fundamentals
Start with the Language
- Conquer the depths of JavaScript and ace JavaScript interviews
- Build the skills to get the most out of the rest of the course: things like arrow functions, functional programming, closures, and important operators
- learn to debug software so you don't get stuck
- Convert your apps to TypeScript and get type safety with minimal effort
Write and Publish Packages
- Learn how to publish your own packages for reusability or for building a portfolio
- Use these skills later to publish your own libraries, frameworks, SDKs, or even TypeScript types
- Understand package versioning (semver) as well as dependencies and version control
Build Scripts and CLIs
- Use JavaScript + Node to build desktop applications that interact with other languages (such as a C++) or other installed apps (such as launching web browser)
- Experience building a cross platform desktop application from scratch that utilizes Node and SQLite to save bookmarks and launch them in your favorite web browser.
Build an API and Test Suite
- Build a complete API with Express and Node with database persistence. error handling. and middleware
- Learn to test your API with client software and run automated testing.
- Build an SDK from scratch - Learn to wrap an API and expose easy-to-use functions for clients to consume
Level 2 - Database Design, SQL and NoSQL
Learn Database Design In Depth
- Go through extensive practice with various relationship types
- Learn how to convert business decisions and domain logic in to proper database diagrams and constraints
- Turn data structure concepts in to in to real systems with SQL and code
Not Just Concepts...Real Systems
- Learn the ins and outs of DDL and DML, primary and foreign keys, constraints, indexes, and more
- Every design gets paired with real SQL allowing you to apply what you learn
- Explore common tradeoffs between simplicity and normalization and know what to choose
- Learn complex joins and how to retrieve the data you need
- Make your database easier to work through views, subroutines, and stored procedures
- Become proficient in PostgreSQL, SQLite, and MongoDB. Additionally, 99% of what we learn will transfer to other database systems
- learn to convert common SQL design patterns to NoSQL patterns for MongoDB
Work with Databases in Code
- Work with databases directly in JavaScript AND through an ORM
- Learn how to use ORMs (object relational mappers) to manage the interactions with the database so you can focus on your API and backend, not SQL
- Learn to structure your models properly for relationships, nested data, and easy data retrieval
- Understand migrations and how they're used to adjust the structure of relational databases. We will use Primsa, but the ORM concepts will hold true for any ORM
Work with NoSQL and SQL
- Go beyond SQL with a NoSQL document database: MongoDB
- Work with MongoDB directly with MQL (MongoDB Query Language) for CRUD and aggregation pipelines
- Use both Prisma and Mongoose for connecting to MongoDB in code
- In-depth MongoDB training reviewed by a staff engineer at MongoDB
Level 3 - Applied Backend Engineering
Proper Code Design Made Simple
- Code structure made simple. I will show you the proper file structure and organization structure to build scalable apps
- Understand how to take business requirements and convert them in to API endpoints and custom types
- Follow a real world example from conception to deployment
- Gain extensive experience in project planning, design, and proper structure to prevent redesigns down the road
Spec out a Full Backend Project
- Given a project spec, construct a proper database design and plan out the needed interactions (endpoints)
- Define an API interface in Postman suitable for test-driven development
- Implement custom error handling middleware to keep our endpoint logic lean and adhering to DRY principles (don't repeat yourself).
- Implement authentication and authorization with JSON Web Tokens for multi-user apps
- Fully implement the API including all models, endpoints, and errors
Protect Your API with Validation
- Filter data to protect against cross-site-scripting
- Type your API with TypeScript for predictable requests and response
- Validate data against your types with Zod to protect against bad data (we explore additional validation libraries in this course as well).
- Understand validation levels and which to use (Frontend vs Backend vs Database)
- Give back clear error messages to clients so they can correctly use your API and fix data issues
Deploy your (Full Stack) Project
- Most courses stop at localhost. Here we will bring the application all the way through to a cloud deployment with Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- Gain experience with a plethora of service types. whether you use Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform, Microsoft Azure, or any other major cloud provider, these will be critical to understand
- Gain experience with EB and EC2, EB CLI, AWS CLI, S3, RDS, ELB, IAM, Route 53, ACM, CloudWatch, and more (If this means nothing to you, you need the course)
- Go farther than Vercel, Railway, or Render. These are nice but hide the underlying details. This process is not for the faint of heart, but the reward makes it worth it
Introducing the CodeBreakthrough Vault
$11,000 software engineering mentorship program now in course form
The best part? It's FREE for all launch week customers.
Vault Member for Life
Exclusive launch bonus!
We're Raising the Bar for Software Courses
Meet... the CodeBreakthrough Vault.
- 60+ Hours of recorded engineering mentorship calls with senior engineers (ex-FAANG)
- Real-world Q&A for software engineers
- Training on core software engineering mindset, skills, and career development.
- A roadmap showing your path to success
- Top resources, websites, and books mandatory for every engineer
- and more!
Comprehensive eBooks for all Levels
Engage your mind not only through video, but with detailed eBooks containing code, images, resources, and explanations. Lessons are organized nicely by video for you to follow along and use as a reference.
This is extensive. The full eBook is around 75,000 words all written by me.
"As a self taught developer I’m always searching for videos on various topics. It’s difficult to find good teachers though. That’s why I was super happy to have stumbled on Caleb. He breaks down topics in a very digestible and engaging way and I owe a lot where I am today to his videos."
Linse - Senior Software Engineer at CapitalOne
This course is for you if:
- You're tired of feeling weak when it comes to backend engineering
- You're an early career dev looking to level up
- You're ready to specialize and drastically increase your value to the market place
- You're an entrepreneur who needs to the skills to build your own apps and services
- You're a full stack dev wanting to have a thorough backend skillset
- You've tinkered with backend but haven't built full apps or deployed APIs
- You're tired of new frontend frameworks and looking for a stable skillset to build on
- You need a shortcut to advancing your software engineering career
Early Bird Launch Sale!
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With the launch Sale gain access to COMPLETE COURSE MATERIAL, the Vault, & save 33%!
Unlock access to nearly 30 hours of training and 75K word eBook instantly ➡
What Others Have to Say
Tanea Buiucli
When learning about databases, Caleb’s tutorials were the most simply-put and well-explained. He was coming up with examples in real time, which also showed his thought process. Caleb helped me visualize the material which allowed me to understand the new concepts faster. Best of all, I’ve used what I’ve learned from Caleb to land a job as a software developer 🙂
Daniel Armaganian
Caleb’s content has been a game changer for my career. Since discovering his work, I’ve gone deeper into my studies of programming languages and software development, eventually leading me to pursue a degree in software engineering. Now, as a software engineer, I can confidently say that Caleb played a significant role in my professional achievements.
Liz Ruiz
I've been studying software development as a full time x-ray tech. Caleb has guided me through this major career change and has helped me make massive progress with limited time. I highly recommend any of Caleb's courses if you wish to make the jump to code. Caleb simplifies hard to understand concepts and makes them easy to understand and learn!
Argelio Rodriguez
I’m really grateful for Caleb. Thanks to his C++ tutorials, I was able to get an internship in my first year of college.
I look forward to more lessons from him 💪
Clifford Fajardo
Caleb's SQL videos were helpful when I was learning about database design.
In fact, his videos still prove useful almost 5 years later after I first saw them as refreshers.
Drea Estefania
Caleb’s simple explanations helped me improve my understanding of code. As a marketer working in a high tech field, understanding software development helps me perform better. I’d recommend him for anyone wanting to learn.
Martina Rodic
Caleb’s content was the very first step in my C++ learning journey. I'm currently making my first game using C++ and Unreal Engine, and I'm still learning C++ daily! Caleb has an interesting way of explaining concepts and connecting them to real-world situations, making learning so much easier. You’ll love his C++ lessons. He slowly explained the lessons step by step, in a good sequence, making learning easier and more interesting.
Kyle Talley
My coding journey began when I signed up for a CS1 class at my local community college. Searching for C++ courses on YouTube, I found Caleb’s course and was immediately hooked. His approach to teaching made learning simple and enjoyable, sparking my passion for coding. I continue to watch his videos to this day, and I can honestly say that without Caleb’s guidance, I might not be coding today, more than five years later.
Michelle Hernandez
Caleb’s courses have been with me since the beginning of my journey in tech. Caleb has a special charm, making the most difficult concepts easy to understand. Caleb shows passion and a deep understanding for his craft, motivating and inspiring his viewers to become interpretive problem-solvers. I’ve really benefited from gaining his perspective anytime I feel stuck learning something new. I highly recommend any of his courses and content!
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Hi, My name is Caleb Curry
When I started my career in software there was so much I didn't know. I had no clue what to study, what to expect, or how to actually get better.
Everyone is different in what they seek in life, but I think we can all agree that a career that offers fulfilling work, high pay, and flexibility is a major win (and it's completely achievable).
What I'm Known For
Achievements unlocked:
- Personally Landed multiple offers in tech and software engineering. Latest offer was for $240K/yr ($180K base). 100% remote! (Yes, they still exist),
- Co-founded a tech company supporting thousands of users all over the world,
- Collaborated with top course publishers (Pearson, CourseCareers),
- Have worked with leading tech companies (IBM, Oracle, MongoDB),
- Speaker for conferences and universities,
- Created the best course on the internet (let me prove it 😉) .
