Hey everyone! I've spent some time working as a front-end developer, and I'm now diving into back-end development. I'm particularly interested in becoming a full stack developer, using React on the front-end and .NET on the back-end. A few years back, I created a simple CRUD app using Node and Express to understand back-end concepts, but now I'm looking to deepen my knowledge and focus on tools that are in high demand. It seems like .NET is a solid choice for job security. I'm curious about what back-end tools, frameworks, or skills I should be learning alongside .NET to boost my marketability. I've come across topics like Entity Framework Core, DTOs, and the Repository Pattern. Additionally, are there any specific databases, authentication tools, or cloud services that are expected in the industry? Any tips for transitioning from front-end development to .NET would also be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your insights!
2 Answers
As a fellow developer transitioning to .NET, you're on the right track! EF Core is essential and might be challenging at first, but it's crucial for companies using SQL Server with a .NET API. Also, consider picking up knowledge about JWT implementation for authentication; it's pretty straightforward with the right NuGet packages. Telemetry tools like Zipkin for monitoring your endpoints and cloud services like AWS or Microsoft Azure can really set you apart, especially if you get into deployment and CI/CD processes!
If you're going for .NET, definitely focus on T-SQL and Entity Framework (EF). Also, getting familiar with unit testing frameworks like xUnit is a solid move. There are tons of business applications built on .NET, so even if you're not using the latest tech, you're still bound to learn something relevant. Don't forget to brush up on design patterns and object-oriented programming since the transition from JavaScript can feel a bit different.
I recommend focusing on Azure over AWS for .NET since most Microsoft environments prefer using the entire Microsoft stack.