I'm a mid-level Software Engineer with a focus on Backend engineering, primarily working with application servers and some DevOps. I have a budget of $400 and I'm looking for recommendations on technology courses or certifications that can help me advance my skills. My main goal is to work on a personal project related to distributed systems, but I'm also considering certifications like AWS Solutions Architect and CKAD to enhance my job prospects. Can you recommend specific courses or certifications within this budget? Additionally, I'd love to hear about any personal experiences or insights you have regarding these certifications or technology courses. Your advice will be greatly appreciated!
Ask HN: Best Tech Courses/Certifications Under $400 for a Back End Engineer?
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Re: Ask HN: Best Tech Courses/Certifications Under $400 for a Back End Engineer?
#2Terraform Associate is $70 and a good cert for backend engineering.
Re: Ask HN: Best Tech Courses/Certifications Under $400 for a Back End Engineer?
#3I don't think tech courses or certificates have ever been a top consideration when reviewing backend engineer qualifications. Only if we're hiring for a specific technology that's niche. Most certificates just teach you how to understand/sell a specific technology stack which sometimes is helpful, but other times can make you not see simpler solutions. I'd check out what's freely available first.
Your 400 dollars is probably better spent making mistakes building your own personal project on aws/or some other cloud provider.
Re: Ask HN: Best Tech Courses/Certifications Under $400 for a Back End Engineer?
#4Mid-level backend engineer? Buy the book "Designing Data-Intensive Applications" and read it.
Re: Ask HN: Best Tech Courses/Certifications Under $400 for a Back End Engineer?
#5Certs just aren't that important anymore, but if anything, I'd do the AWS cert.
If you just want to improve your skills, a few good Udemy courses will take your far if you follow along.
Re: Ask HN: Best Tech Courses/Certifications Under $400 for a Back End Engineer?
#6Certs just aren't that important anymore, but if anything, I'd do the AWS cert. If you just want to improve your skills, a few good Udemy courses will take your far if you follow along.
Some places like to see AWS certs. Doesn't AWS cut a slight rate break based on the number of certified people you have in your org?
Re: Ask HN: Best Tech Courses/Certifications Under $400 for a Back End Engineer?
#7I don't think tech courses or certificates have ever been a top consideration when reviewing backend engineer qualifications. Only if we're hiring for a specific technology that's niche. Most certificates just teach you how to understand/sell a specific technology stack which sometimes is helpful, but other times can make you not see simpler solutions. I'd check out what's freely available first. Your 400 dollars is…
Highly depends many consulting shops have to have requisite amount of AWS certified professionals to maintain the partnership status with AWS. They highly value people who have appropriate AWS certs.
Re: Ask HN: Best Tech Courses/Certifications Under $400 for a Back End Engineer?
#8I’d recommend learning Elixir if your goal is to do a distributed systems project. For around $250 you can get a bundle with two excellent Elixir courses from PragmaticStudio.com.
Re: Ask HN: Best Tech Courses/Certifications Under $400 for a Back End Engineer?
#9Mid-level backend engineer? Buy the book "Designing Data-Intensive Applications" and read it.
Came here to say this. :)
Re: Ask HN: Best Tech Courses/Certifications Under $400 for a Back End Engineer?
#10I’d recommend learning Elixir if your goal is to do a distributed systems project. For around $250 you can get a bundle with two excellent Elixir courses from PragmaticStudio.com.
this, my startup's backend is elixir. really simplified making thing distributed from the get go. phoenix is just an amazing framework for building webapps anyway.