Backend Development

Backend development is the server-side work behind an application: APIs, business logic, databases, queues and background jobs. Backend engineers pick languages such as Java, Python, Node.js or C#, decide how data is stored and how services talk to each other, and keep it all fast and correct under load. Most of the hard calls are trade-offs, such as SQL against NoSQL or a monolith against microservices.

178 articles

16/10/2022 10 min read

The Java Exception Hierarchy: Checked, Unchecked, and Error Handling by Design

Executive Summary: Every Java exception descends from Throwable, split into Errors, checked exceptions, and unchecked RuntimeExceptions. I cover…
05/10/2022 15 min read

Pytest Tutorial: Python Testing with Fixtures and Parametrize

Go from a first assert to fixtures, parametrized cases, temporary files, environment patching, and coverage, with complete files…
18/09/2022 11 min read

Generics in Java: Type Safety, Bounded Types, and Wildcards

Executive Summary: Java generics give you type-safe, reusable code with no casts. Here I cover generic classes and…
17/09/2022 4 min read

How to Embed a PDF in WordPress

Sharing PDFs on your WordPress website is an effective way to provide resources, reports and other valuable documents…
07/09/2022 16 min read

Python Logging Tutorial: Best Practices and Examples

Nine logging practices ranked by impact, each with a wrong example, a right example, and a way to…
14/08/2022 8 min read

Choosing the Right Collection: Performance and Trade-offs

Executive Summary: Choosing a Java collection comes down to access pattern, ordering needs, key types, and data size.…
03/08/2022 12 min read

Python Project Structure and pyproject.toml: A Practical Layout

A layout that works from the first commit: src directory, one pyproject.toml, an installable package, tests, and a…
10/07/2022 10 min read

Collections Framework Part 2: Map and Queue

Executive Summary: Java Maps store values by unique keys and Queues control processing order. I cover HashMap, LinkedHashMap,…
06/07/2022 13 min read

Python Type Hints and mypy: A Practical Guide

Type hints document what your code expects, and mypy checks them before anything runs. Learn the syntax, the…
11/06/2022 11 min read

Collections Framework Part 1: List and Set

Executive Summary: The Collections Framework separates interfaces like List and Set from their implementations. I explain when to…
08/06/2022 12 min read

Python Decorators Explained with Practical Examples

A decorator wraps a function to add behavior such as timing, retries, or caching. Learn how they work,…
22/05/2022 13 min read

Practice: Model a Library System with OOP (Part 2: Behavior and Persistence)

Executive Summary: Part 2 of the library system project adds behavior and persistence to the Java domain model.…
22/05/2022 10 min read

What is PostgreSQL and Why It Matters

PostgreSQL is more than just a database; it's a powerful, open-source engine trusted by developers worldwide. Here's why…
18/05/2022 13 min read

Python Try Except and Context Managers: Error Handling Guide

Catch specific exceptions, keep the original cause with raise from, and let context managers handle cleanup. A practical…