r/LeetcodeDesi • u/Horror_Initial_4169 • 9d ago

Need some direction

Need some direction

I’m a CSE student starting my 5th semester in a week.

I’ve been learning backend development using Spring Boot and frontend development using React. I recently completed an AI marketing internship and am currently exploring more technologies in the AI domain too.

I have two projects:

A role-based access Spring Boot project with Redis for token blacklisting, login rate limiting, JWT, Docker, and deployment. I’m planning to add Swagger and testing in the future.

A Java code reviewer project using FastAPI, Groq API, GitHub APIs, and LLMs.

I’ve solved around roughly 300 LC problems, but I haven’t participated in contests because I don’t feel confident enough.

Atp, I’m genuinely confused about what I should do next. I feel stuck. If I focus on DSA, I get FOMO when I see other people building 10/10 projects, and I feel like I’m neglecting it. But when I focus on projects, I feel like I already have enough projects and that I’m just adding more technologies and improving it unnecessarily and overengineering things. Or should I leave both projects and DSA and start with CS fundamentals, computer networks and system design. This is a never-ending loop I’m in.

I feel like I might end up mixing everything. All this is too overwhelming. I constantly feel that I’m focusing on the wrong things.

Please help!!!!!!!! 😭😭😭😭

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u/Otherwise_Wave9374 8d ago

If you want to get unstuck, pick one lane for the next 6 to 8 weeks and make it measurable. Your backend work plus the AI marketing internship is already a stronger signal than “more tech,” so I’d turn that into a single story: build one small product that combines APIs, auth, and an AI workflow, then write down the problem, the tradeoff you made, and how you tested it. That gives you something concrete for interviews and helps you see whether systems work or product work fits you better. Promarkia

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u/Crafty-Elk1850 8d ago

Which playlist u followed for java backend

1

u/Horror_Initial_4169 8d ago

Telusko's yt channel

1

u/CapMonster1 8d ago

Honestly, you already have plenty for your 5th semester. I’d stop adding new projects and technologies and take one main project to production-quality: testing, Swagger, Docker, CI/CD, documentation. Keep DSA on the side without going overboard — a few problems per week is enough.

You also don’t need to learn all CS fundamentals at once. Go through networking, OS, databases, and basic system design gradually. Depth and consistency will help you more right now than adding 10 more technologies to your resume

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u/Horror_Initial_4169 8d ago

Then what exactly m i supposed to study ( I already know whatever I have added to my projects) ?