Should I Focus on Backend Development or Cloud Services Next?

It sounds like backend is the logical next step, especially since you already have some experience with Node. If you're also interested in cloud, remember that understanding how to deploy your applications will require a good grasp of backend systems. Learning cloud can come naturally as you build and deploy your applications, so don’t feel pressured to dive deep into that just yet.

I'd recommend starting with backend development first. Once you understand how the backend works, you'll find that many cloud services are built to enhance backend functionality. You'll get a lot out of understanding how the server and your application interact before diving into cloud infrastructure.

It’s a bit unclear what you mean by 'learning cloud.' If you're referring to the different services provided by cloud platforms, my take would be to focus on mastering a backend programming language first. Most cloud features complement backend processes, so having a solid backend foundation will really help you when you start integrating cloud tech. Plus, since you already know Node.js, that's a great starting point for backend work!