Introduction to engineering
On this page 8 topics
Overview
Topics
- Developer vs software engineer
- frontend vs backend vs full-stack
- QA, DevOps, SRE, architect
- how teams collaborate
Learn first
91 min of reading · 1 h of practice (estimate)
Learning outcomes
- Explain how a software engineer's responsibilities extend beyond writing code (design, testing, operation, collaboration).
- Describe the roles of frontend, backend, full-stack, QA, DevOps, SRE, and architect, and how they hand off work.
- Describe the path this curriculum follows from Beginner to Solution Architect and what each level adds.
Lessons
Lab and exercises
Lab
BEG-004-LAB1 · Read job posts
Outcomes: 1, 2, 3 · Time: ~1 h Collect three real junior backend job posts. List the required skills and map each to a module in this curriculum. Acceptance: a mapping table with at least 15 skills.
Exercises
| ID | Outcome | Task |
|---|---|---|
| BEG-004-EX01 | 1 | List four tasks an engineer does besides writing code. |
| BEG-004-EX02 | 1 | Why is readable code more valuable than clever code? One sentence. |
| BEG-004-EX03 | 2 | Match each role to its job: frontend, backend, QA, DevOps, SRE, architect. |
| BEG-004-EX04 | 2 | Who hands work to whom when a feature is released? Draw the hand-offs. |
| BEG-004-EX05 | 3 | Name the eight levels of this curriculum in order. |
| BEG-004-EX06 | 3 | Pick the level you want to reach and write two sentences on what it adds. |
Show solutions
- EX01 Design, testing, code review, fixing production issues, talking to teammates.
- EX02 Code is read far more often than written, so teammates must be able to understand it.
- EX03 Frontend: what users see. Backend: hidden service and data. QA: finds bugs. DevOps: automates build and release. SRE: keeps production reliable. Architect: how big pieces fit.
- EX04 Design → code → review → test → release → operate.
- EX05 Beginner, Junior, Mid, Senior C, Senior B, Senior A, Staff, Solution Architect.
- EX06 Any reasoned answer that matches the level descriptions in the README.
Quiz
Outcomes: O1 engineering beyond code · O2 roles · O3 career map.
A self-check for you: nothing is graded, saved or sent anywhere. Choose an answer, then check it. You can try again as often as you like.
Practical part
A short written reflection: which role interests you and what it requires (about 150 words). Pass: names the role, two responsibilities, and two skills to learn.
Common mistakes
Assuming seniority means only deeper technical knowledge; ignoring operation and collaboration.
Assessment
Short written reflection: which role interests you and what it requires.
Career relevance
Sets expectations; revisited in MID-065 and STF-001.