This matrix outlines the expected hard and soft skills, sample tasks, and recommended English-language learning resources for fullstack developers working with React (frontend) and Node.js (backend). It also includes DevOps, database, and AI-powered tooling skills.
Hard Skills | Soft Skills |
---|---|
- Basic HTML/CSS (semantic markup, form elements) - JavaScript fundamentals (types, loops, conditionals, arrays, objects) - Basic Git (clone, commit, push) - Intro to Node.js (can set up Express server from tutorial) - REST API basics (GET/POST) - Basic terminal usage - Simple queries in MongoDB or PostgreSQL (insert/find/select) - Familiar with VS Code extensions (Prettier, ESLint) - May have tried GitHub Copilot |
- Open to feedback - Eager to learn and ask questions - Basic time management - Able to follow guidance - Can communicate blockers to mentors |
- Build a static HTML/CSS webpage (e.g., login page)
- Add a button that makes a
fetch()
call to a test REST API - Clone a repo and make a minor code edit or styling fix
- Follow tutorial to build basic Express API with one route
- JavaScript.info
- MDN Web Docs: HTML & CSS
- Node.js for Beginners – freeCodeCamp YouTube
- Git Handbook – GitHub Docs
Hard Skills | Soft Skills |
---|---|
- Proficient in HTML/CSS (responsive layout with Flexbox/Grid) - JS ES6+ (destructuring, arrow functions, spread/rest, async/await) - React basics: components, props, useState/useEffect - Intro to TypeScript: basic types, interfaces - Build simple CRUD API using Express - Integrate frontend and backend (fetch data) - Connect Node to MongoDB/PostgreSQL - Docker basics (Dockerfile, docker-compose) - Understand CI/CD concepts (GitHub Actions basics) - Using Copilot to scaffold basic code |
- Takes initiative in solving tasks - Asks better questions, reads docs - Able to write clear commit messages - Begins reviewing PRs from peers - Communicates assumptions and suggestions |
- Create a basic CRUD app (e.g., todo list with backend storage)
- Deploy a Node/React app to Vercel or Render
- Set up Docker Compose to run Node and Mongo locally
- Build a responsive form that validates user input
- Use GitHub Actions to run tests on PR
- React Docs (Beta)
- TypeScript Handbook
- MongoDB University – Basics
- PostgreSQL for Beginners – Codecademy
- Docker Curriculum
- GitHub Actions: Hello World
Hard Skills | Soft Skills |
---|---|
- React with Hooks and Context API - State management (Redux, Zustand, or React Query) - Full TypeScript adoption in frontend/backend - Component design patterns (composition, containers/presentational) - Advanced Express or NestJS (middleware, services) - RESTful API design principles - PostgreSQL joins, indexes, transactions - MongoDB schema design & aggregations - GraphQL (Apollo client/server) - End-to-end Docker setup for local dev - GitHub Actions with multiple workflows - Basic AWS usage (S3, EC2) - Unit testing (Jest, Supertest, React Testing Library) - Copilot as part of daily workflow |
- Takes ownership of features - Provides constructive feedback in PRs - Collaborates cross-functionally (design, QA) - Communicates tradeoffs in implementations - Begins mentoring junior devs |
- Add a new feature with full stack: frontend React page, API route, DB model
- Migrate a legacy JS module to TypeScript
- Build GraphQL endpoint with custom resolvers
- Add CI pipeline that runs tests, lints, and builds on push
- Optimize slow PostgreSQL query with proper indexing
- Epic React by Kent C. Dodds
- Fullstack Open
- NestJS Documentation
- GraphQL Tutorials by HowToGraphQL
- TypeORM or Prisma Docs / https://www.prisma.io/
- Testing JavaScript
Hard Skills | Soft Skills |
---|---|
- Architecting scalable React applications - Code splitting, lazy loading, performance tuning - SSR & SEO with Next.js - Backend design with Nest.js or Express + modules - Advanced database tuning (query plan, denormalization, migrations) - API security (JWT, OAuth2, rate limiting) - GraphQL federation & schema stitching - CI/CD pipelines with staging/production flows - AWS services integration (S3, RDS, CloudWatch, Secrets Manager) - Kubernetes basics (helm, manifests) - Monitoring (Prometheus, Grafana) - Implements security best practices (OWASP Top 10) - Uses Copilot for code generation, focuses on refactoring/validation |
- Leads large features or epics - Mentors team members - Facilitates architecture discussions - Writes clear technical documentation - Communicates business value of tech work to stakeholders |
- Architect and lead development of a multi-tenant admin panel
- Optimize React app performance (bundle size, memoization)
- Set up multi-stage CI/CD for production with canary releases
- Refactor legacy Node.js monolith to modular services
- Implement OAuth2 login with external provider
- The Pragmatic Programmer
- Advanced React Patterns – Kent C. Dodds
- AWS Cloud Architecture Center
- NestJS Patterns Repo
- PostgreSQL Performance Optimization Guide
- CI/CD with GitHub Actions
Hard Skills | Soft Skills |
---|---|
- System design and domain-driven architecture - Establishes tech strategy and patterns - Leads adoption of scalable frontend/backend patterns - Deep knowledge of performance, security, observability - Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, CDK) - AWS architecture design (VPC, SQS, Lambda, API Gateway, Fargate) - Owns deployment, monitoring, rollback strategies - Implements org-wide testing strategies - AI integration (ChatGPT API, Copilot API) - Maintains internal libraries or design systems |
- Cross-team leadership - Influences product direction - Drives technical vision - Coaches engineers and team leads - Communicates complex ideas to non-tech stakeholders - Evaluates build vs buy, cost vs performance decisions |
- Design architecture for greenfield product (e.g., B2B SaaS platform)
- Lead migration of core app to microservices
- Audit security posture of fullstack system
- Propose and implement internal design system or component library
- Champion developer productivity tools, set AI tooling policy
- Designing Data-Intensive Applications by Martin Kleppmann
- Software Architecture: The Hard Parts – Neal Ford
- AWS Well-Architected Framework
- Google SRE Book
- StaffEng.com – Career guides for Staff+ engineers
- [AI Engineering Blogs – OpenAI, Hugging Face, LangChain]
Let me know if you'd like this exported to PDF or converted into a visual career map!