From QA to Backend Developer: My Self‑Learning Journey with Python and Flask

Introduction The author, a QA tester, shares how curiosity about coding led to exploring Python web development with Flask as a practical path into web development.

Background Born in October 1987, holding a modest associate degree, basic computer skills, no professional network, and a generic résumé.

Timeline - 2015‑09‑03: Began self‑learning. - 2016‑02‑18: Submitted 10 resumes, secured 3 interviews. - 2016‑02‑24‑25: Interviewed. - 2016‑02‑25: Received two offers and accepted one.

Self‑Learning Process

September 2015 : Completed Coursera’s introductory Python programming course, writing simple GUI games with basic conditionals and object‑oriented concepts.

October 2015 : Resigned to focus on Python web development, built a personal blog with Flask using Miguel Grinberg’s book and the "Explore Flask" guide; faced many errors, gradually understood the MVT framework, and deployed the blog on SAE.

November 2015 – January 2016 : Practised problem solving by solving 100 CheckiO challenges, completing the first 28 levels of PythonChallenge, solving various LeetCode tags, exploring front‑end and data tutorials on Codecademy, reading "Problem Solving with Algorithms and Data Structures", "Deep Python 3", most of the Python 3.5 standard library, and many high‑voted StackOverflow answers.

February 2016 : Briefly studied Django, built a simplified Todoist clone, and resumed job applications.

Thoughts on Procrastination Self‑learning can lead to distraction; the author combats it with planning, using Todoist and a Pomodoro‑style timer, breaking tasks into tiny steps to trigger action.

English Language Advice Instead of formal study, the author suggests immersing oneself by reading English‑language forums, Q&A sites, and comics.

Approach to Asking Questions The author rarely asks questions publicly, preferring to search for answers; when a question is well‑described yet unsolvable, they may abandon it rather than seek help.

Future Outlook Acknowledging current status as a modest web‑app developer, the author aims to become a mature programmer by age 38.

Recommended Book Strongly recommends "Flask Web Development: Developing Web Applications with Python" and offers a PDF copy via a QR‑code link.

Readers are invited to comment, share, and join the "Software Testing QA" discussion group (QQ 25398297) for further conversation.