Perfect. If you're someone who loses focus without hands-on tasks, you're thinking like a real engineer.
Theory without building is wasteful . Let’s fix that now.
I'll give you:
MORE detailed checkpoints (one every few days)
Small assessment tasks + real-world example projects
Expanded topic coverage (adding missing industry must-knows)
A few fun “mini-clone” builds (like Instagram/Netflix) along the way
Expanded Roadmap: With Checkpoints & Project-Based Assessments
Each checkpoint is like a mini-internship task. You'll learn → apply → test → build → grow.
PHASE 1: Core Java + DSA (Weeks 1–2)
→ Strengthen your logic for everything else that comes later
Topics Covered:
File Handling
Java Collections (List, Set, Map)
Exception Handling
DSA Graphs, Recursion, DP
Checkpoints:
Day Task
Build a CLI-based File Reader (input/output using
Day 1
Scanner/FileReader)
Day 2 Implement a custom ArrayList class (understand internal workings)
Day 3 Solve 5 LeetCode problems: Stack/Queue only
Day 4 Implement DFS, BFS for a graph input using adjacency list
Day 5 Implement LRU Cache using LinkedHashMap or Deque
Day 6– Build: Console-based Contact Manager in Java using File I/O and
7 Map
PHASE 2: Frontend Dev with React (Weeks 3–4)
→ Build the face of your applications
Topics Covered:
HTML, CSS (Flexbox/Grid)
JavaScript (DOM, Fetch)
React.js (Components, Props, Hooks, Router)
Checkpoints:
Day Task
Day 1 Build: Responsive Portfolio using only HTML + CSS
Day 2 JavaScript: Build a real-time digital clock
Day 3 Build: To-do list using DOM + Local Storage
Day 4 React: Build Counter with useState
React: Build Weather App using OpenWeatherMap
Day 5
API
Day Task
Day 6 React Router + useEffect → create Multi-page Blog
Day 7 Build: Netflix-style homepage UI (React only, static)
⚙️ PHASE 3: Backend Node.js + Express + MongoDB (Weeks 5–6)
→ Make your app dynamic, data-driven, and secure
Topics Covered:
REST APIs
MongoDB + Mongoose
Auth with JWT
File Upload with Multer
Error handling
Checkpoints:
Day Task
Day 1 Build: CRUD API for notes (Mongo + Express)
Day 2 Build: User auth system with JWT and roles
Day 3 Build: Profile picture upload API with Multer + Cloudinary
Day 4 Error handling middleware + Environment variable usage
Day 5 Protect routes with middleware + role checks
Day 6– Project: Build "Job Posting API" with login, CRUD jobs, apply
7 route
☁️ PHASE 4: DevOps + Docker + CI/CD (Week 7)
→ Learn to automate and deploy like real-world teams do
Topics:
GitHub Actions
Docker + docker-compose
Basic Linux commands
Environment variables
Deployment to Render/Vercel
Checkpoints:
Day Task
Day 1 Dockerize your backend
Day 2 Dockerize frontend with Nginx
Day 3 Use docker-compose to run full MERN stack
Day 4 Setup GitHub Actions for backend CI
Project: Deploy full stack app using Docker to Render or
Day 5
Railway
Day 6 Add .env and use them securely
Day 7 Project: Re-deploy "Job Posting App" with Docker + CI
☸️ PHASE 5: Kubernetes + Helm + Monitoring (Week 8–9)
→ Master the modern infrastructure tools used in real companies
Topics:
K8s: Pods, Deployments, Services
Helm charts
Prometheus, Grafana
Checkpoints:
Day Task
Day 1 Setup Minikube locally and deploy a basic Node.js pod
Day 2 Add service & ingress for your pod
Day 3 Helmify your application
Day 4 Monitor app using Prometheus metrics
Day 5 Create horizontal pod autoscaler for traffic burst
Day 6– Project: Kubernetes-deploy "Job Posting App" with Helm and
7 autoscaling
PHASE 6: Microservices + Event-Driven Architecture (Week 10)
→ Build real production apps that scale like Uber or Amazon
Topics:
Microservices vs Monolith
Communication: REST, Message Queues (RabbitMQ/Kafka)
Database per service
API Gateway
Checkpoints:
Day Task
Day 1 Design: 3 microservices (User, Job, Notification)
Day 2 Set up REST communication
Setup RabbitMQ between Notification and Job
Day 3
Service
Day 4–
Add logging + centralized error tracking
5
Day 6–
Build: “Job Portal Microservice Architecture” mini app
7
PHASE 7: Software + System Design (Week 11)
→ Ace interviews + build scalable apps
Topics:
HLD + LLD
Load Balancer, Caching, CDN
Design Patterns (Singleton, Factory, Observer)
CAP Theorem, Sharding
Checkpoints:
Day Task
Design: WhatsApp backend (Messaging
Day 1
System)
Day 2 Design: Netflix architecture
Day 3 Design: URL shortener
Day 4–
Implement: LLD for E-commerce cart system
5
Day 6 Learn design patterns with examples
Write architecture docs for your deployed
Day 7
project
☁️ PHASE 8: Cloud + Serverless + Terraform (Week 12)
→ Run your app in cloud without touching a server
Topics:
AWS: EC2, S3, RDS, Lambda
IAM
Terraform (Infrastructure as Code)
Checkpoints:
Day Task
Day 1 Create an EC2 instance and deploy backend
Day 2 Upload files to S3 via Node.js
Day 3 Create a Lambda that triggers on S3 upload
Day 4 Use Terraform to spin up EC2 and S3
Day 5– Project: Fully deploy your app using Terraform + AWS
7 resources
OPTIONAL: Soft Skills + Industry Preparation
Create a GitHub Profile README
Write clean READMEs for each project
Upload project videos (Loom/Youtube unlisted)
Practice mock interviews on pramp.com or interviewing.io
Want me to generate your Week 1 Plan right now with task-by-task, day-wise study flow?
Just say “Yes, give me Week 1” — I’ll map it out immediately.
