Boot.dev Blog
The Best Backend for Vue: 6 Options
by Natalie Schooner - Computer science educator and technical writer
Part of being in the software development space means I’m near a lot of entrepreneurs. Code is a powerful building block, and that appeals to a lot of self-taught big thinkers.
Frontend? Gross. This is Why I've Always Preferred the Backend
by Lane Wagner - Boot.dev co-founder and backend engineer
As a kid, I always wanted to be good at drawing. I practiced drawing my favorite anime characters, but frankly, my mom was the only one who thought they were good.
Build Your First Coding Project and Avoid Tutorial Hell
by Lane Wagner - Boot.dev co-founder and backend engineer
While "real" hell may or may not exist (no need to get into religious beliefs here), tutorial hell is very real.
What’s the Best Backend For React? 5 Options to Choose From
by Natalie Schooner - Computer science educator and technical writer
"I already know React," mused my friend. "What popular backend language should I learn that will make me a useful hire to companies?"
The Boot.dev Beat. July 2023
by Lane Wagner - Boot.dev co-founder and backend engineer
June was hot. I got sunburned. What else happened... Oh yeah, I finished the new CI/CD course! It's slated to launch on July 10th, so watch out for that. We also are in the process of hiring a new Boot.dev team member to help us build harder better faster and stronger.
Awww, do I Really Need to Learn X to Get a Job as a Developer?
by Lane Wagner - Boot.dev co-founder and backend engineer
A developer's life is a never-ending saga of learning new things. It's like you're playing Diablo where every new Jira ticket can feel like the next mini boss to slay. Exciting? Absolutely. Scary? Sure. Especially at first.
Boot.dev Team Handbook
by Lane Wagner - Boot.dev co-founder and backend engineer
Our goal: To make the best place to learn to code. The most effective, the most fun, and the most thorough.
Boots, a Wizard Bear that Codes
by Lane Wagner - Boot.dev co-founder and backend engineer
Boots is the heart and soul of Boot.dev. Not only is he capable of helping you through any lesson on Boot.dev, but he's a friendly wizard bear with a charming personality. Some things you should know about Boots:
The Boot.dev Beat. June 2023
by Lane Wagner - Boot.dev co-founder and backend engineer
May was a historic month for Boot.dev. We added more students to the backend learning path than we ever have in a single month before, and we're doing everything we can to build and release new, better courses at a faster clip. Thanks for hanging out and learning with us.
Format on Save in Go with VS Code [2026]
by Lane Wagner - Boot.dev co-founder and backend engineer
Go has hard opinions about how you should style and format your code. Setting up your VS Code environment to enforce the standard linting and formatting rules can save you a ton of time.
Programming types and (incorrect) mindsets
by Lane Wagner - Boot.dev co-founder and backend engineer
DHH, the creator of Ruby on Rails, Hey, Basecamp, and a few other things, recently wrote an article titled "Programming types and mindsets", and I just have to chime in on this one.
13 Best Codecademy Alternatives in 2026 (Tried and Compared)
by Maya Chen - Computer science and programming educator at Boot.dev
Outgrew Codecademy? I compared 13 alternatives on depth, teaching style, and price, with every number verified in 2026 and real linked reviews for each platform.
The Boot.dev Beat. May 2023
by Lane Wagner - Boot.dev co-founder and backend engineer
We hit some amazing milestones in April. We now have over 40,000 registered students and over 500,000 lessons completed on the platform! I hope your learnings are going well, and that everything we're building is helping you, even if it's in a small way.
Best Places to Learn Python Online in 2026
by Natalie Schooner - Computer science educator and technical writer
Compare the best places and resources to learn Python online, including interactive courses, free tutorials, books, communities, and coding practice.
C Sharp vs Python: Which Is the Best Programming Language?
by Natalie Schooner - Computer science educator and technical writer
"You're comparing apples to oranges," Susan, a developer at my company, said when I asked her which programming language she preferred, C \# or Python. "It's like asking me if I prefer wrenches or hammers. One language is a compiled, statically typed language, the other is a ducktyped scripting language. Each is excellent in its correct context."
JavaScript? Python? Go? Which Tech Stack Should You Learn?
by Lane Wagner - Boot.dev co-founder and backend engineer
Ah, the age-old question: which tech stack should I learn? Aspiring developers often get bogged down in this dilemma, and it's not hard to see why. The tech industry is an ocean of opportunities, and the fear of diving into the wrong waters can be paralyzing.
Which is More Important: Hard or Soft Skills for Programmers?
by Lane Wagner - Boot.dev co-founder and backend engineer
You're waiting at the front-desk of Google's campus in Boulder, Colorado, waiting for your coding interview to start. Across from you in the lobby sit two other candidates:
As a Developer, What Hardware Do You Truly Need?
by Lane Wagner - Boot.dev co-founder and backend engineer
Let's be real here: we live in an age where everyone and their dog seems to think they need the latest, most expensive gadgets to get anything done. But when it comes to learning how to code, do you really need that shiny, wallet-draining powerhouse of a machine?
Do You Need to Blog to Get a Coding Job?
by Lane Wagner - Boot.dev co-founder and backend engineer
As the founder of Boot.dev, I've worked with countless students who are eager to break into the tech industry. And time and time again, I see the same question pop up: "Do I need to start a blog to get a coding job?"
Matlab vs Python: 6 Key Differences [Updated 2026]
by Natalie Schooner - Computer science educator and technical writer
This is one of those arguments where, outside of a few very specific examples, there's a clear answer. Python is better than MATLAB in (almost) every situation. But you're searching for the differences between MATLAB and Python, so clearly you're not convinced. Let's take a deeper look comparing Python vs MATLAB so you are finally persuaded.
The Boot.dev Beat. April 2023
by Lane Wagner - Boot.dev co-founder and backend engineer
We released more this last March than I think we've ever released in a single month before. I've been biting my nails waiting to share it all in this month's newsletter.
Is Computer Science Really that Hard?
by Natalie Schooner - Computer science educator and technical writer
Yes, computer science is hard, but you already know that. You don't want to know if computer science is hard. You want to know if it's too hard. You want to know if having to learn computer science is going to be a real obstacle in your way to achieving your goal.
It's Not About the Job Openings
by Lane Wagner - Boot.dev co-founder and backend engineer
I talk to boatloads of students who are starting to learn to code, and invariably they are hyper-concerned about which programming languages and technologies they should be learning.
How can I Get a Job as a Python Programmer?
by Natalie Schooner - Computer science educator and technical writer
"How much Python do I need to know to get a job? Do I need a degree?" I asked Jo, a hiring manager I'd met at a Python networking event, nervously.
How to Get a Job as a Golang Developer
by Natalie Schooner - Computer science educator and technical writer
Step 1: Learn Golang. Step 2: Apply for jobs. Step 3: Get accepted.
