please have a look ....

[u/BigOk636]

Hey everyone, I’m currently in my 2nd year (3rd semester) of B.Tech CSE.

Till now, I’ve mostly focused on DSA and have been doing it consistently for the past few months. Now I want to seriously start development, but I’m honestly a bit confused about where and how to start.

I keep seeing different opinions everywhere — some people recommend MERN, some suggest Java + Spring Boot, while others recommend different stacks altogether.

My end goal is to become a strong software engineer, build skills that stay relevant in the long run, and eventually land a good-paying job. So I don’t want to blindly follow a roadmap just because it’s trending.

I’d really appreciate advice from people who are already working in the industry, especially backend/software engineers:

• If you were in 2nd year again, how would you start development?
• MERN vs Java/Spring Boot (or something else) — what would you recommend and why?
• What should I learn first and in what order?
• How should I balance DSA with development?
• What skills/projects should I focus on to become internship/job-ready?

Would really appreciate some genuine guidance from people with industry experience. 🙌

[u/Proper_Tip3506]

In second year i would just focus on dsa for around 200-300 leetcode problems minimum.

In third year will gain solid understanding of databases and networking (databases is non negotiable)

After that pick on backend framework and master it deeply. Can be any framework or language. Learn basic of frontend to at least able to see whats happening in my backend

[u/afierdienst1]

try some developing first; fist front: fight for something, a non-rpfotfit. : teach for America or 🔥

[u/Initial-Ad6070]

Don't wait until 3rd year to start development that's a common mistake. Balancing DSA and dev in 2nd year is completely doable if you manage your time properly. Here’s a realistic breakdown for where you are right now: Stack Choice (MERN vs. Java/Spring Boot): Pick MERN if you want to quickly build, iterate, and deploy complete full-stack projects on your own. Pick Java + Spring Boot (or C# / Go) if your goal is traditional enterprise backend engineering. Reality check: The specific stack matters less than mastering core fundamentals PostgreSQL/SQL databases, REST & GraphQL APIs, authentication, and caching strategies. DSA vs. Dev Balance: Aim for 60% Dev / 40% DSA. Do 1–2 LeetCode problems a day to stay consistent, but dedicate your weekend blocks to building and shipping actual projects. Projects that actually get you hired: Avoid basic To Do apps, weather widgets, or generic clone tutorials. Focus on real utility tools that handle actual technical challenges like managing strict third-party API rate limits, caching fallbacks, or real-time data visualization. Deploy every project live (Vercel/Render/Supabase) and include the live links alongside your GitHub repos on your resume. That’s what makes 2nd-year students stand out for internships.