Modern meta-frameworks blur the line between frontend and backend: Server Components, Server Actions, and route handlers are server code. Many companies, especially startups, want frontend developers who can touch the backend. And with AI writing more code, understanding the backend is what lets you review it.
A small REST API with Express or Hono: routing, middleware, validation, and error handling. Enough to mock a backend or build a side project.
SQL vs NoSQL, PostgreSQL basics (tables, relations, joins, indexes), and a type-safe ORM like Prisma or Drizzle.
Reading and discussing API contracts (OpenAPI), pagination and error conventions, and how sessions, JWTs, and OAuth work on the server side.
Supabase or Firebase for auth, database, storage, and real-time without running a server. Ideal for freelancing and side projects.
You can build a small full-stack app alone and hold your own in API discussions with backend engineers.
Stage project
A small full-stack product (for example a habit tracker or bookmark manager) with your own API, database, and auth.
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