You're Not a Beginner Anymore — Now What?

So you’ve gone through the basics. You know how to write loops, use map(), create routes, connect an API. You’ve probably built a few “To-Do List” apps (we all have), maybe a blog or portfolio site. You’re done with beginner tutorials. Now you’re asking yourself:

“What’s next? How do I become a better developer?”

You're not a rookie anymore. But you're not an expert either. You're in that in-between phase — and trust me, it’s a good place to be. This is where real growth begins.

In this blog, I’m sharing what worked for me during this exact stage.
No “ultimate roadmap” or “industry best practices.”
Just real, messy, personal experience — maybe it helps you, maybe it doesn’t.

Stop Building Alone All the Time

If there’s one thing I wish I had done earlier, it’s this:
Start building with other developers.

The solo dev grind teaches you a lot, but after a point, it becomes a comfort zone. When you work on a project with other programmers, it pushes you in ways no tutorial ever will.

I like this quote a lot:

“If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.”

I’d actually go a step further:
Sometimes, be the smartest. Sometimes, be the dumbest.

When you're the best dev in the team, you get to lead. You review code, set structure, answer questions, make architectural decisions. You’re not just writing code — you’re shaping the project. And you grow by teaching others and taking ownership.

When you're the least experienced, that’s a whole different level of learning. You watch how senior devs think, how they debug, how they name variables, how they split files. You absorb everything — even the things they don’t do.

Also, let's be honest — when you're the least experienced, there’s no external responsibility... but the internal pressure is real. You want to keep up. You don’t want to be “the one who’s slowing it down.” That pressure? It pushes you.

Don’t Just Write Code — Read It

This is something nobody tells you early on.

When you’ve written enough code to feel comfortable, start reading other people’s code. Explore open-source repos. Skim through popular GitHub projects. Pick a library you use, and peek inside it.

Look at how things are structured. Look at how they handle edge cases. Try to understand a file without reading the comments first. You’ll start seeing patterns. Clean code isn’t just about writing — it’s about recognizing.

Refactor to Learn, Not Just to “Fix”

Sometimes I take old code — mine or someone else’s — and just try to improve it. Rename variables, break down functions, clean up conditionals. Not because it’s broken, but because I want to make it better.

That habit alone taught me how to think like a senior developer. It made me ask:
“Would I want to maintain this code six months from now?”

Don’t Obsess Over Perfect Roadmaps

It’s easy to get stuck looking for “what’s next” instead of actually doing it. The internet is full of roadmaps, and they’re great — but don’t let them paralyze you.

Instead, try this mindset:

• Learn just enough to build what you’re thinking about.

• Struggle a little, then go read docs or blogs.

• Build ugly first, then refactor once you know better.

Growth doesn’t look clean. It’s messy. But that’s how you improve.

Final Thought

You're past the basics. You want to get better. That’s a great place to be.

Here’s what helped me the most in this phase:

• Work on projects with others. Don’t always be the best — or the worst.

• Read good code. Not just write it.

• Refactor like it’s your job.

• Keep building. Even when it feels like you don’t know enough.

“You don’t level up by being ready. You level up by doing things you’re not ready for — yet.”

Again — this is just my take. This worked for me.
I’m still learning, still messing up, still trying to become better.

Maybe this helps you take that next step. Maybe it doesn’t.
But if you’re stuck in that “I know some stuff, now what?” stage…

This is what I’d tell you:
Find a team. Break something. Fix it. Repeat.