Looking for a platform to learn about backend development, I found a Reddit post that mentioned boot.dev, as a website to learn about development with a "different" approach, as I entered the website I noticed it's quite different, this one is more like a League of Legends website, and not like the classical "get a job" or "best programming course according to X" type of course. I decided to give it a try and this is my first impressions after finishing a couple modules from boot.dev.

I will mention 3 main things that make me stick with this platform and even pay for my first month, maybe you will also share of this thoughts and give it a try.

Immersion

Most e-learning platforms follow the same university-like curriculum, in which linearity comes first and it's all about someone sharing screen and programming or explaining some topic. For me, this is the killer of engagement and more than often I see myself paying more for courses that help with my insomnia.

Boot.dev proposes a different approach to keep you engaged with content, but as the mention at "your own risk". Learn cryptography in Go , or hands on Kubernetes, or simply take the standard Backend route that starts with either Jaavascript or Go but first learn foundations, real tooling as GNU/Linux terminal or Git, and along the way build projects for you to apply what you've learned or even start building your personal brand.

I must confess the medieval gamyfied theme it has, it's not for everyone, many people prefer the standard white and blue platform with modules and quizzes after each sections, which is totally fine. For many others, this initiative is a fun way of support you to build consistency and use those arcane objects to keep momentum going, as well, color palette, graphical designs and course structure gives the platform a unique identity.

Content

I am just discovering the platform but on a first glance, the creators from this e-learning platform took a different approach, not going from the bare bone basics of learning programming or Linux, but assuming you got some familiarity, that you have seen something about technology, or even you got some grasp about tech, but you decided to give this platform a chance.

Exercises are brief but they go to straight to the learning objective without taking turnarounds, as well, I found amazing the Linux and Git modules, for allowing me to work directly on my PopOS machine but be able to validate my knowledge on the platform, without just plainly copying and paste commands, and installation was a bliss.

I fell in love with the Boots character just for the sake of being a magic bear, but specially because it provides a learning resource in a cool manner, as well Spellbook and Lessons I find it to be useful, most probably not in the very beginning as you are learning.

Lack of Ambition

Boot.dev doesn't promise a +100k job in 6 months