Retro’ing and Debugging 2024: A Year of Growth, Challenges, and Backend Adventures

This is a submission for the 2025 New Year Writing challenge: Retro’ing and Debugging 2024.

2024 was a year of deep exploration, growth, and relentless building. While I've been immersed in backend development since 2021, this year took my work to new heights—experimenting with fresh technologies and refining my craft with every project. Here’s a look back at what the year had in store for me.

A Year of Diverse Projects
First Half of 2024:
I dove headfirst into several projects using Node.js and TypeScript. I built a range of applications—each one a unique experiment in design, performance, and architecture. Although many of these projects didn’t make it to production (thanks to the inevitable twists and turns that come with building real-world apps), they enriched my understanding of backend systems and sharpened my technical skills.

Second Half of 2024:
Later in the year, I shifted focus (based on a new role) to working with PhalconPHP and Docker. This period was about optimizing high-load system performance—crafting efficient queries and writing robust functions under pressure. It was a challenging yet rewarding phase, pushing me to rethink strategies for performance optimization and system resilience.

Achievements Made
2024 wasn’t just about experimenting and learning—it was also about sharing my experiences with the community:

50k+ Reads on dev.to:
Reaching over 50,000 reads was a powerful affirmation that my insights and experiences resonate with fellow developers. Seeing my work help others navigate their technical challenges is incredibly fulfilling.

2k+ Followers:
Growing my community on dev.to has been both humbling and inspiring. The continuous support, feedback, and engagement have fueled my passion for sharing knowledge and pushing the boundaries of what I can build.

Highlights of My Published Work

Here are just a few of the articles I published on dev.to that reflect my journey and learnings in backend development:

• Validating Request Data in Express.js Using Zod: A Comprehensive Guide:
  
  This comprehensive guide walks through how to implement data validation in Express.js using Zod, ensuring robust and error-resistant applications. This article alone had over over 25,000 reads, with a lot of reactions as well as comments.

• Using TypeORM with TSX: A Smoother Development Experience:
  
  In this post, I shared my experiences with TypeORM and TSX, detailing how these tools can streamline development workflows and enhance productivity.

• Understanding Type Annotations in TypeScript:
  
  I explored the intricacies of type annotations in TypeScript, breaking down the concepts to help others write clearer and more maintainable code.

These articles are just a few examples of how I’ve tried to share useful insights and practical solutions with the community.

Lessons Learned

2024 reinforced some timeless truths about both development and personal growth:

• Start Small, But Start:
  
  Every project, no matter how experimental, added value to my journey. The courage to dive in and share—even imperfect experiments—proved far more rewarding than waiting for perfection.

• Writing is Learning:
  Documenting my process not only benefitted others but also deepened my own understanding of complex topics—from TypeScript intricacies to high-performance backend optimizations.

• Consistency is a Journey:
  Progress is built on showing up, experimenting, and learning from every success and setback.

Challenges Faced

The year wasn’t without its obstacles:

• Time Constraints:
  
  Balancing intensive project work, a demanding job, and personal commitments was a constant challenge.

• Imposter Syndrome:
  
  Even as a seasoned backend developer, I sometimes questioned whether my contributions were valuable enough to share with the broader community.

• Writer’s Block:
  
  There were moments when translating complex ideas into clear, engaging content was a struggle—but each block pushed me to find new ways to communicate effectively.

What’s Next in 2025?

Building on the momentum of 2024, I’m excited for the challenges and opportunities ahead:

• Expanding Technical Series:
  
  I plan to delve deeper into advanced topics, including breaking down complex topics as much as possible, sharing tips that can help developers too.

• More Personal Reflections:
  
  I’ll continue to document my journey, sharing candid insights and practical tips to help both beginners and seasoned developers navigate the evolving tech landscape.

• Enhanced Community Engagement:
  
  I’m committed to contributing more to discussions, collaborations, and challenges on dev.to, fostering a vibrant and supportive community for all.

A Message to Myself and the Community

To myself:

Thank you for continuously pushing the boundaries of what you can achieve. Every experiment, every line of code, and every shared lesson builds a stronger foundation for the future.

To the dev.to community:

Your support, feedback, and engagement mean the world to me. Let’s continue to learn from each other, innovate, and build remarkable things together. Here’s to another year of growth, collaboration, and success!

Happy New Year, and let’s make 2025 an even more inspiring journey! 🚀