Self-Taught Developer Roadmap: Zero to Job-Ready in 6 Months

The 6-Month Roadmap Overview

This roadmap assumes 20-25 hours/week. Adjust timeline based on your availability. Consistency beats intensity.

Month 1: Foundations

Week 1-2: HTML, CSS, Git

• Build 3 static websites (portfolio, landing page, blog)
• Learn Git: init, add, commit, push, pull, branch, merge
• Deploy to Netlify/Vercel

Week 3-4: JavaScript Fundamentals

• Variables, functions, objects, arrays
• DOM manipulation, events
• Build: Todo app, Calculator, Weather app

Month 2: React & TypeScript

Week 5-6: React Basics

• Components, props, state, hooks
• useState, useEffect, useContext
• Build: Movie search app, GitHub user finder

Week 7-8: TypeScript & Advanced React

• Types, interfaces, generics
• Custom hooks, Context API
• React Router, form handling

Month 3: Backend & Database

Week 9-10: Node.js & Express

• REST APIs, middleware
• JWT authentication
• Error handling, validation

Week 11-12: PostgreSQL & Prisma

• Database design, relationships
• Prisma ORM, migrations
• Build full-stack: Task manager with auth

Month 4: Advanced Topics

Week 13-14: Testing & Quality

• Unit tests (Vitest), integration tests
• E2E tests (Playwright)
• CI/CD pipelines

Week 15-16: Next.js & Full-Stack

• App Router, Server Components
• Server Actions, API routes
• Build: E-commerce or SaaS starter

Month 5: Portfolio & Specialization

Week 17-18: Build 3 Portfolio Projects

• Project 1: CRUD app with auth
• Project 2: Real-time feature (chat, collab)
• Project 3: Your choice - show passion

Week 19-20: Polish & Deploy

• Write READMEs, add screenshots
• Deploy all projects
• Optimize performance, accessibility

Month 6: Job Search

Week 21-22: Preparation

• LeetCode: 100 problems (focus on patterns)
• System design basics
• Prepare STAR stories

Week 23-24: Apply & Interview

• Apply to 10-15 roles/week
• Track applications in spreadsheet
• Follow up, network on LinkedIn
• Mock interviews 2x/week

Free Resources

• MDN Web Docs, freeCodeCamp
• The Odin Project, CS50
• JUGNO free tier courses
• YouTube: Fireship, Web Dev Simplified

Success Metrics

• 3 deployed portfolio projects
• 100+ LeetCode problems solved
• Active GitHub (green squares)
• Technical blog (5+ posts)
• LinkedIn optimized