Working Notes

Learner profile, teaching preferences & strategy

Notes doc · the running record behind the roadmap

Learner profile (set 2026-06-19)

• Background: PHP, jQuery, CSS, some JavaScript, a little React. Knows web fundamentals.
• New ground: Python, FastAPI, Postgres/SQL (modern), RAG/AI, Next.js App Router, DevOps.
• Pace: 3–4 hrs/day, 6–8 week runway. Serious daily push.
• Target: Full-stack developer role, UAE (Dubai/Abu Dhabi).

Teaching preferences

• Wants 2026-current material, not 2025. Always frame resources/tools as latest.
• Concise and ordered. Minimum theory; teach only what's needed for the next build step.
• Learns fast (experienced dev) — skip beginner padding, lean on PHP→Python analogies.
• Motivated by tangible, demoable wins (interview/portfolio framing).

Strategy

• ONE capstone project ("DocChat" — upload docs, ask questions via RAG) threaded through all 8 weeks. Every lesson should add a piece to it where possible.
• Each lesson = one tangible win, completable in a single 3–4 hr session.
• Interview-align: end each phase with "how to talk about this in an interview."

TODO / ideas for future lessons

• Daily light coding-challenge habit (LeetCode easy / Python) — interleave.
• Glossary reference doc (build incrementally as terms appear). See Glossary.
• Find a UAE-specific dev community (Reddit r/dubai tech, local meetups, LinkedIn groups).