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Java Backend Career TrackFounding cohort applications open

Learn Java backend the way real engineers work.

Start from zero. Write code, get it reviewed, build projects, defend your decisions — and ship a backend that actually runs.

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Add endpoint to create orders#14

feature/create-order → main

Training example

  1. student · a1f3c2e · Add create-order endpoint

    OrderController.java

    @PostMapping("/orders")
    OrderDto create(@RequestBody OrderRequest req) {
    Added: if (req.quantity() <= 0) {
    Added: throw new BadRequestException("quantity");
    Added: }
    Added: Order order = repository.save(new Order(req));
    return OrderDto.from(order);
    }

  2. MentorChanges requested

    This is a business rule — it shouldn't live in the controller. Move it into OrderService and add a test, so the rule holds however an order gets created.

  3. student · 9c27e1b · Move the rule into OrderService

    Removed: if (req.quantity() <= 0) { … }
    Removed: Order order = repository.save(new Order(req));
    Added: Order order = orderService.place(req);
    • Tests passed
    • Build succeeded

Approved · merged into main

Training example: an assignment is submitted as a Pull Request, reviewed, fixed — and only then accepted. Not real student work.
Duration
24 weeks
about 6 months
Format
Online
Language
Azerbaijani / English
separate cohorts; material in both languages
Cohort
Small cohort
Taught by the founder

Coming soonStart date and schedule for the founding cohort will be announced shortly. Applicants hear first.

One academy — every stage of growth

Learn, measure, plan. For your team too.

From people starting at zero to architects and companies: a clear next step for everyone — and an honest label on what exists now and what is planned.

Who it's for

You don't need to code to start.

  1. 01

    Complete beginners

    You've never written code, but you think logically and can practise consistently.

  2. 02

    Students and recent graduates

    You've studied the theory, but you haven't built a real backend project yet.

  3. 03

    Course graduates who lack confidence

    You know the syntax, but building a project on your own — and explaining it in an interview — is still hard.

  4. 04

    Career switchers

    You're coming from another field and making a serious, deliberate move into software.

Who it's not for

  • Anyone looking for a certificate in a few weeks.
  • Anyone who can't make time to practise every week.
  • Anyone looking for a job guarantee — we do not guarantee employment.

AI Advisor

Not sure where to start?

A few short questions to work out whether the program fits you. If it doesn't, we'll tell you that too.

Find my path

Answers only from approved information. People make admission decisions.

Engineering evidence

This is what real engineering looks like.

Three short training examples: a code review, an engineering decision and getting code to a running state. Every assignment in the program goes through this.

PR #27 · Find an order by id

OrderService.java

public Order findOrder(Long id) {
Removed: return repository.findById(id).get();

Mentor

`.get()` throws NoSuchElementException when the order doesn't exist, and the user sees a 500. Throw a clear exception so the API can return a 404.

Added: return repository.findById(id)
Added: .orElseThrow(() -> new OrderNotFoundException(id));
}

OrderServiceTest.java

Added: @Test
Added: void throwsWhenOrderIsMissing() {
Added: assertThrows(OrderNotFoundException.class,
Added: () -> service.findOrder(42L));
Added: }

Mentor

Good. This test protects the behaviour the next time someone changes this method.

Why this change was requested

  1. The user gets a clear answer: 404, not 500.
  2. The exception name explains the problem on its own.
  3. The test protects this behaviour from future changes.

Training example · not real student work

First program

Applications open

Java Backend Career Track

From programming fundamentals to a backend project that runs, is tested and has passed review.

Program detailsApply

By the end you'll be able to

  • Write readable, tested Java code
  • Design a data model in PostgreSQL and write SQL queries
  • Design and build REST APIs with Spring Boot
  • Work in a team with Git and Pull Requests
  • Give and receive code review, and improve code from feedback
  • Explain and justify your technical decisions
  • Run and present a project with Docker

From code to system

From a one-line program to a running backend system.

  1. Hello World

    System.out.println("Hello");

    How programs work: variables, conditions, loops.

    System.out.println("Hello");

  2. Java application

    class Order { … }

    A well-structured console app with OOP, collections and exceptions.

    class Order { … }

  3. REST API

    GET /api/orders

    Endpoints, validation and error handling with Spring Boot.

    GET /api/orders

  4. PostgreSQL

    SELECT * FROM orders

    A data model, SQL and persistence with JPA.

    SELECT * FROM orders

  5. Authentication

    POST /auth/login

    User login and security fundamentals.

    POST /auth/login

  6. Tests

    @Test void placesOrder()

    Protecting behaviour with automated tests.

    @Test void placesOrder()

  7. Docker

    docker compose up

    Running the app and its database the same way everywhere.

    docker compose up

  8. Running backend

    GET /health → UP

    A tested, reviewed and running capstone project.

    GET /health → UP

Method

Every topic goes through the same five steps.

How we teach
  1. 01

    Learn

    You learn the topic from an instructor — the “why” before the “how”.

  2. 02

    Build

    You turn it into working code straight away. Assignments look like real requirements.

  3. 03

    Review

    Your code is reviewed as a Pull Request. You get specific feedback and improve it.

  4. 04

    Defend

    You explain your decisions: why this structure, this name, this approach. We discuss the alternatives.

  5. 05

    Ship

    You hand in work that is finished, tested and running — not “almost done”.

Rusif Budagov

Founder & lead instructor · Solution Architect

Founder

This path was built from experience.

Rusif Budagov has spent 12+ years building and designing production software for banking, payments, telecom and enterprise platforms. The career path at the academy is the one he walked himself.

Rusif's path

  1. Java Developer

    You start here

  2. Senior Engineer

  3. Technical Lead

  4. Solution Architect

12+ years
Production systems in banking, payments, digital lending and telecom.
Baku → Málaga
From Azerbaijani companies to international, remote teams.
Architecture
Decisions across microservices, Kafka, event-driven systems, AWS and Kubernetes.

Rusif will personally teach the founding cohort.

Rusif's story

International experience

From Baku to international teams.

Rusif's career took shape in Azerbaijani banking and payment systems. He relocated to Málaga while at EPAM and has worked across international, remote teams. Students learn to work to those standards.

Location

  1. Baku

    Azerbaijan

    Where the career started

  2. Málaga

    Spain

    Relocated while at EPAM

  3. International

    remote teams

    Teams and clients across countries

Companies

Azerbaijan

  • GoldenPay
  • Expressbank
  • Bank Respublika
  • Unibank
  • ABB Innovation
  • Payriff

International

  • EPAM Systems
  • Intellias
  • Zazmic
  • Banfico
  • Kodly
  • Stark Network

Selected client engagements

  • Telefónica Germany

    via Intellias · Germany

  • Raiffeisen Bank

    via Zazmic

  • Deutsche Telekom / T-Systems

    via Stark Network · Germany

Markets

  • Azerbaijanlived & worked
  • Spainlived & worked
  • United Kingdomcompany: Banfico
  • Portugalcompany: Kodly · remote
  • Germanyclient engagements
  • Lived & worked
  • Company
  • Client engagement

Company and client names describe Rusif's professional experience and do not imply endorsement of, or partnership with, DevScallix.

Tutorials vs real engineering

A tutorial asks “does it work?”. An engineer asks more.

We don't overload beginners. But from day one we teach you to ask the right questions.

Requirements
Tutorial: Repeat the steps
Real engineering: Understand the problem, clarify the requirements
Trade-offs
Tutorial: There's one right answer
Real engineering: Compare options, justify the choice
Clean Code
Tutorial: If it runs, it's fine
Real engineering: Someone else must be able to read and change it
Testing
Tutorial: Check it by hand once
Real engineering: Protect behaviour with automated tests
Code Review
Tutorial: Nobody looks
Real engineering: Every change is read and discussed
Architecture
Tutorial: Everything in one file
Real engineering: Separate responsibilities, draw boundaries
Deployment
Tutorial: Works on my machine
Real engineering: Runs the same way everywhere
Observability
Tutorial: Guess when it breaks
Real engineering: Use logs and metrics to see what's happening

Admission

How admission works

You don't need to know how to code. We look at motivation, logical thinking and your readiness to practise consistently. Applicants must be 18 or older.

  1. Apply

    A short online form. No coding required.

  2. Review

    We read every application personally and get in touch the way you asked.

  3. Intro or assessment

    Where it helps, we may set up a short intro conversation or an extra assessment. Not everyone needs one.

  4. Admission decision

    You hear the outcome, plus the founding cohort's dates, schedule and price.

  5. Onboarding

    We set up your tools together and agree how we work.

Apply

What comes next

This is the first step of a longer path.

Programs for the next career stages are being planned. They are directions, not promises — each opens only when it's ready.

See the career path

  1. L1

    Junior Backend

    First program's target

  2. L2

    Backend Engineer

    Upcoming

  3. L3

    Senior Engineer

    Upcoming

  4. L4

    Tech Lead

    Planned

  5. L5

    Solution Architect

    Planned

Ecosystem

From one academy to a larger engineering ecosystem.

Today only the Academy is open, starting with the Java Backend program. The rest are planned and future directions — not promises.

  1. Now

    DevScallix Academy

    Engineering education. First program: Java Backend Career Track.

  2. Planned

    DevScallix Residency

    Structured project experience for graduates and selected external candidates. Not employment and not work experience.

  3. Future

    DevScallix Pro

    Advanced Senior, Lead and architecture development.

  4. Future

    DevScallix Labs

    Engineering, AI and technical experiments.

  5. Future

    DevScallix Products & Engineering

    Software products, SaaS, engineering delivery and consulting.

Learn. Build. Scale.

Apply to the founding Java Backend cohort.

The founding cohort will be small and taught by the founder. Applying creates no payment obligation.

Apply nowQuestions & answers