Full-Stack in 1 Month
An accelerated 4-week plan to build full-stack apps with React, APIs, databases, and auth. Mapped to BigDevSoon's full-stack flagship projects: FoodieGo, Find Movies, and Any Chat.
Week-by-week plan
1 Week 1: React + REST APIs
React fundamentals (hooks, state, effects) · Data fetching with React Query / SWR · REST API consumption — GET, POST, PUT, DELETE · Loading, error, and optimistic UI states
Week 1: React + REST APIs
React fundamentals (hooks, state, effects) · Data fetching with React Query / SWR · REST API consumption — GET, POST, PUT, DELETE · Loading, error, and optimistic UI states
Goals
- • React fundamentals (hooks, state, effects)
- • Data fetching with React Query / SWR
- • REST API consumption — GET, POST, PUT, DELETE
- • Loading, error, and optimistic UI states
Projects
- → Find Movies — /projects/find-movies/ (start: REST API consumption)
Challenges
- → Job Board — /challenges/job-board/
- → Movie Ticket — /challenges/movie-ticket/
Practice Problems
- → Two Sum — /problems/two-sum/
- → Merge Intervals — /problems/merge-intervals/
2 Week 2: Backend basics + databases
Build a Node.js / Express API or use Supabase · Schema design, migrations, indexes · CRUD endpoints with validation · Auth basics (JWT or session-based)
Week 2: Backend basics + databases
Build a Node.js / Express API or use Supabase · Schema design, migrations, indexes · CRUD endpoints with validation · Auth basics (JWT or session-based)
Goals
- • Build a Node.js / Express API or use Supabase
- • Schema design, migrations, indexes
- • CRUD endpoints with validation
- • Auth basics (JWT or session-based)
Projects
- → Find Movies — /projects/find-movies/ (continue: build the backend)
Challenges
- → Sign Up Page — /challenges/sign-up-page/
- → Create Account — /challenges/create-account/
Practice Problems
- → Group Anagrams — /problems/group-anagrams/
- → Three Sum — /problems/three-sum/
3 Week 3: Real-time + state management
WebSockets or Server-Sent Events · Optimistic UI with rollback on error · Global state (Zustand / Jotai / Redux) · Realtime DB subscriptions (Supabase realtime / Firebase)
Week 3: Real-time + state management
WebSockets or Server-Sent Events · Optimistic UI with rollback on error · Global state (Zustand / Jotai / Redux) · Realtime DB subscriptions (Supabase realtime / Firebase)
Goals
- • WebSockets or Server-Sent Events
- • Optimistic UI with rollback on error
- • Global state (Zustand / Jotai / Redux)
- • Realtime DB subscriptions (Supabase realtime / Firebase)
Projects
- → Any Chat — /projects/any-chat/ (full-stack chat with realtime)
Challenges
- → Messages — /challenges/messages/
- → Notifications — /challenges/notifications/
Practice Problems
- → Top K Frequent Elements — /problems/top-k-frequent-elements/
4 Week 4: Ship a flagship full-stack app
Take a complex Figma design and build front + back · Deploy frontend to Vercel, backend to Railway/Fly/Render · Add auth, file uploads, payments (optional) · Write a case study README + deploy with custom domain
Week 4: Ship a flagship full-stack app
Take a complex Figma design and build front + back · Deploy frontend to Vercel, backend to Railway/Fly/Render · Add auth, file uploads, payments (optional) · Write a case study README + deploy with custom domain
Goals
- • Take a complex Figma design and build front + back
- • Deploy frontend to Vercel, backend to Railway/Fly/Render
- • Add auth, file uploads, payments (optional)
- • Write a case study README + deploy with custom domain
Projects
- → FoodieGo — /projects/foodiego/ (flagship — full-stack food delivery app)
Challenges
- → Restaurant Reservation — /challenges/restaurant-reservation/
Practice Problems
- → Best Time Buy Sell Stock — /problems/best-time-buy-sell-stock/
One month to go from “I can build a React app” to “I shipped a full-stack product.” This plan assumes you already know React fundamentals — if not, complete Frontend in 1 Month first.
Who this is for
- You can already build React apps comfortably (state, props, effects, fetch)
- You want to learn the backend half of the stack
- You have 3–4 hours per day for the next 4 weeks
- You want to ship a deployed full-stack product by the end
If you’re new to React, start with Frontend in 1 Month and come back here.
What you’ll build
By Week 4 you’ll have two full-stack apps deployed with custom domains:
- Find Movies — REST API consumption + your own backend
- Any Chat — realtime messaging with WebSockets / Supabase realtime
- FoodieGo (flagship) — full e-commerce flow with auth, cart, checkout, and order tracking
Tech stack recommendations
You can use any backend stack — these are popular choices that work well with BDS projects:
- Easiest: React + Supabase (Postgres + auth + realtime + storage in one)
- Most flexible: React + Node.js/Express + PostgreSQL + Auth0
- Modern: Next.js + Prisma + tRPC + Clerk
The plan assumes you’ll pick one and stick with it for the month. Don’t switch stacks mid-week.
How to use this plan
- Build a real backend. Don’t fake it with localStorage. The whole point is learning the backend half.
- Ship to production every week. Each project should be at a real public URL by Sunday.
- Use Merlin AI for code review. Open the editor and paste your tricky bits — ask AI to review.
- Save your migration scripts and seed data. Treat your DB schema like real code.
After Week 4
- Move to Full-Stack in 3 Months for depth
- Read Frontend Interview Playbook 2026 to prep for full-stack interviews
- Keep building — the difference between a junior and a senior is shipped products, not knowledge
Ready to start Week 1? Open Find Movies and let’s go.