The Roadmap
Click any station to see skills, free resources, common mistakes, and realistic time estimates. Use arrow keys to move between stations.
Pick a station
Take the quiz to find your starting point.
Your progress
Take the quiz to find your starting point.
Worked example: Maya, 6 hrs/week
Maya is a career switcher studying evenings and weekends. Here is her computed timeline per stage at six focused hours per week.
| Stage | Effort | Maya's weeks |
|---|
Self-assessment quiz
Ten quick questions. Your weakest topic becomes your recommended starting station on the map.
FAQ
Do I need a CS degree?
No. Most hiring teams care about demonstrated ability: real projects, clean Git history, and passing technical interviews. A degree helps, but a strong portfolio plus fundamentals gets self-taught developers hired every day.
How long until I am job-ready?
At 10 to 15 hours per week, most beginners reach job-ready in 9 to 18 months. Fewer hours simply stretch the timeline; consistency matters more than intensity.
Which language should I start with?
Python or JavaScript. Both have gentle syntax, huge communities, and cover every stage of this roadmap. Pick one and stay with it until Stage 5.
Frontend, backend, or DevOps?
Frontend if you enjoy visual, user-facing work. Backend if you like data, logic, and systems. DevOps if infrastructure and automation excite you. Try a small project in each before choosing.