Which Backend Framework Should I Learn First?

Hold on a second! Are you thinking about diving into a framework without first mastering the language? It’s super important to have a solid understanding of the fundamentals before you get into frameworks. You should know the ins and outs of the language you choose—things like dependency injection or building SQL queries. Learn those basics first, and then tackle the frameworks afterward—otherwise, you might find them tough to handle!

If you're still in college, definitely try to get your hands on some of the O'Reilly series books! They can seem daunting at first, but they're packed with the fundamentals of whichever language you decide to pick. I suggest reading the book that corresponds with the language you choose while you explore its framework. It can really help you understand what the framework is aiming to do. And if you do start with a framework, pause when you hit unfamiliar terms and look them up in the book to deepen your understanding.

If you're familiar with Python, I would recommend starting with Django. It's a fully-featured framework similar to Ruby on Rails, and it can help you grasp backend concepts really well. Laravel is also a solid choice if you go down the PHP route. Just a heads-up, I'd suggest staying away from the JavaScript/TypeScript side for now—it can get overwhelming with all the libraries and frameworks you need to juggle.