{"id":6257,"date":"2024-03-21T16:11:19","date_gmt":"2024-03-21T10:41:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/blog\/?p=6257"},"modified":"2026-10-25T17:09:34","modified_gmt":"2026-10-25T11:39:34","slug":"sde-roadmap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/blog\/sde-roadmap\/","title":{"rendered":"SDE Roadmap 2026: How to Become a Software Engineer (Step-by-Step)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The SDE Roadmap<\/strong> (often searched as the software engineer roadmap or software developer roadmap) is structured to help students, freshers, and professionals enter the software world and secure roles at top tech companies and high-growth startups. In 2026, the bar for cracking SDE roles has shifted: companies now prioritize problem-solving patterns, system design basics, CS fundamentals, and a curated sheet of<\/strong> about 150<\/strong> problems<\/strong> over random coding practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This SDE roadmap takes 9\u201312 months for a beginner in 4 phases: programming + DSA \u2192 CS fundamentals + OOP \u2192 system design + projects \u2192 interview prep. The phase table below breaks these into weekly timelines with a milestone for each step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This guide provides a phased, timeline-backed learning path for SDE-1, SDE-2, and SDE-3 aspirants. Whether you are aiming for FAANG, product-based startups, or enterprise tech roles, this roadmap tells you exactly what to learn, in what order, and how to build a portfolio that gets you shortlisted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>What Is an SDE? Role and Levels at a Glance<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

An SDE (Software Development Engineer) designs, builds, tests and maintains software. “SDE” is the title Amazon, Microsoft and many Indian product companies use; “SWE” (Software Engineer) means the same job at Google and others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most companies use three levels before staff or principal roles:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Level<\/strong><\/td>Typical experience<\/strong><\/td>What you own<\/strong><\/td>What interviews focus on<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
SDE-1<\/td>0\u20132 years<\/td>Features within a module, with guidance<\/td>DSA plus basics of OOP and CS fundamentals<\/td><\/tr>
SDE-2<\/td>2\u20135 years<\/td>Whole modules or services, end to end<\/td>DSA, low-level design (LLD) and some high-level design (HLD)<\/td><\/tr>
SDE-3<\/td>5+ years<\/td>Systems, architecture decisions and mentoring<\/td>HLD, trade-offs and leadership<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Phases 1\u20133 of this roadmap get you SDE-1 ready. Phase 5 (system design) is what separates SDE-2 and SDE-3 candidates. For a deeper breakdown of responsibilities and pay, read our guide to the differences between SDE-1, SDE-2 and SDE-3<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nScaler Carousel<\/title>\n\n<!-- Plus Jakarta Sans Font -->\n<link href=\"https:\/\/fonts.googleapis.com\/css2?family=Plus+Jakarta+Sans:wght@400;500;600;700&display=swap\" rel=\"stylesheet\">\n<!-- Swiper CSS -->\n<link rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.jsdelivr.net\/npm\/swiper@11\/swiper-bundle.min.css\">\n\n<style>\n.scaler-carousel {\n font-family: 'Plus Jakarta Sans', sans-serif;\n max-width: 900px;\n margin: 24px auto;\n padding: 0;\n box-sizing: border-box;\n}\n.scaler-carousel *,\n.scaler-carousel *::before,\n.scaler-carousel *::after {\n box-sizing: border-box;\n}\n\n\/* Header *\/\n.scaler-header {\n text-align: center;\n margin-bottom: 20px;\n}\n.scaler-header-title {\n font-size: 22px;\n font-weight: 700;\n color: #1a1a2e;\n margin: 0 0 6px;\n line-height: 1.2;\n}\n.scaler-header-subtitle {\n font-size: 14px;\n color: #6b7280;\n margin: 0;\n font-weight: 500;\n}\n\n\/* Swiper *\/\n.swiper.scaler-swiper {\n padding-bottom: 48px;\n}\n.scaler-swiper .swiper-slide {\n height: auto;\n display: flex;\n align-items: stretch;\n}\n\/* Navigation arrows \u2014 styled to match the topics HorizontalScroll controls *\/\n.scaler-swiper .swiper-button-next,\n.scaler-swiper .swiper-button-prev {\n width: 46px;\n height: 46px;\n border-radius: 8px;\n background: #ffffff;\n box-shadow: 0 8px 16px 0 rgba(50, 71, 102, 0.16);\n top: calc(50% - 24px); \/* centre on the cards, ignoring the pagination space below *\/\n transform: translateY(-50%);\n margin-top: 0;\n}\n.scaler-swiper .swiper-button-prev { left: 10px; }\n.scaler-swiper .swiper-button-next { right: 10px; }\n\/* hide Swiper's default font-icon arrow and draw the topics chevron via a mask *\/\n.scaler-swiper .swiper-button-next::after,\n.scaler-swiper .swiper-button-prev::after {\n content: \"\";\n width: 20px;\n height: 20px;\n background-color: #61738e;\n -webkit-mask: url(\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 32 32'%3E%3Cpath d='M5.313 16l10.688-10.688 10.688 10.688-1.938 1.875-7.438-7.438v16.25h-2.625v-16.25l-7.5 7.438z'\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\") no-repeat center \/ contain;\n mask: url(\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 32 32'%3E%3Cpath d='M5.313 16l10.688-10.688 10.688 10.688-1.938 1.875-7.438-7.438v16.25h-2.625v-16.25l-7.5 7.438z'\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\") no-repeat center \/ contain;\n}\n.scaler-swiper .swiper-button-prev::after { transform: rotate(-90deg); }\n.scaler-swiper .swiper-button-next::after { transform: rotate(90deg); }\n.scaler-swiper .swiper-button-disabled {\n opacity: 0.35;\n pointer-events: none;\n}\n.scaler-swiper .swiper-pagination-bullet-active {\n background: #255aad;\n}\n\n\/* Card *\/\n.scaler-card {\n display: flex;\n flex-direction: column;\n gap: 14px;\n width: 100%;\n background: #ffffff;\n border: 1px solid #e5e7eb;\n border-radius: 16px;\n padding: 24px;\n box-shadow: 0 2px 8px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.06);\n transition: box-shadow 0.2s ease;\n}\n.scaler-card:hover {\n box-shadow: 0 6px 16px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.10);\n}\n\n\/* NSDC badge *\/\n.scaler-badge {\n display: inline-flex;\n align-items: center;\n align-self: flex-start;\n background: #f3f4f6;\n color: #111827;\n font-size: 12px;\n font-weight: 600;\n padding: 4px 10px;\n border-radius: 20px;\n white-space: nowrap;\n letter-spacing: 0.1px;\n}\n\n\/* Top: icon + title + description *\/\n.scaler-card-top {\n display: flex;\n align-items: flex-start;\n gap: 12px;\n min-height: 100px;\n}\n.scaler-icon-wrap {\n display: flex;\n align-items: center;\n justify-content: center;\n width: 64px;\n height: 64px;\n border-radius: 12px;\n background: #f3f4f6;\n color: #374151;\n flex-shrink: 0;\n}\n.scaler-icon-wrap svg {\n width: 26px;\n height: 26px;\n}\n.scaler-card-top-content {\n flex: 1;\n min-width: 0;\n display: flex;\n flex-direction: column;\n gap: 5px;\n}\n.scaler-title {\n font-size: 16px;\n font-weight: 700;\n color: #111827;\n margin: 0;\n line-height: 1.35;\n}\n.scaler-desc {\n font-size: 13px;\n color: #6b7280;\n margin: 0;\n line-height: 1.45;\n}\n\n\/* Stats row *\/\n.scaler-stats {\n display: flex;\n border-top: 1px solid #e5e7eb;\n border-bottom: 1px solid #e5e7eb;\n padding: 12px 0;\n}\n.scaler-stat {\n display: flex;\n flex-direction: column;\n align-items: center;\n gap: 2px;\n flex: 1;\n min-width: 0;\n text-align: center;\n}\n.scaler-stat:not(:last-child) {\n border-right: 1px solid #d1d5db;\n}\n.scaler-stat-value {\n font-size: 14px;\n font-weight: 700;\n color: #111827;\n white-space: nowrap;\n}\n.scaler-stat-label {\n font-size: 12px;\n color: #9ca3af;\n}\n\n\/* Company logos *\/\n.scaler-logos {\n display: flex;\n align-items: center;\n gap: 12px;\n flex-wrap: nowrap;\n}\n.scaler-company-logo {\n height: 20px !important;\n width: auto !important;\n max-width: 70px;\n object-fit: contain;\n display: inline-block;\n}\n.scaler-logo-more {\n font-size: 12px;\n color: #9ca3af;\n white-space: nowrap;\n}\n.scaler-logo-strip {\n display: block;\n width: 100% !important;\n max-width: 100%;\n min-width: 0;\n height: auto !important;\n object-fit: contain;\n}\n\n\/* CTA *\/\n.scaler-card-btns {\n margin-top: auto;\n}\n.scaler-card-btns button {\n display: flex;\n align-items: center;\n justify-content: center;\n gap: 8px;\n width: 100%;\n padding: 12px 16px;\n border: none;\n border-radius: 10px;\n background-color: #255aad;\n color: #ffffff;\n font-family: 'Plus Jakarta Sans', sans-serif;\n font-size: 14px;\n font-weight: 600;\n cursor: pointer;\n text-decoration: none;\n transition: opacity 0.15s ease;\n}\n.scaler-card-btns button:hover,\n.scaler-card-btns button:focus {\n opacity: 0.88;\n color: #ffffff;\n}\n.scaler-card-btns button svg {\n flex-shrink: 0;\n}\n\n@media (max-width: 1000px) {\n .scaler-carousel { max-width: 96vw; }\n}\n<\/style>\n\n\n<div class=\"scaler-carousel\">\n <div class=\"scaler-header\">\n <h2 class=\"scaler-header-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"transform-your-career\"><\/span>Transform Your Career<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n <p class=\"scaler-header-subtitle\">Choose from our industry-leading programs designed for career success<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <div class=\"swiper scaler-swiper\">\n <div class=\"swiper-wrapper\">\n\n <!-- CARD 1 -->\n <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\n <div class=\"scaler-card\">\n <div class=\"scaler-badge\">NSDC Certified<\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-card-top\">\n <div class=\"scaler-icon-wrap\">\n <svg width=\"26\" height=\"26\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><polyline points=\"16 18 22 12 16 6\"><\/polyline><polyline points=\"8 6 2 12 8 18\"><\/polyline><\/svg>\n <\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-card-top-content\">\n <h3 class=\"scaler-title\">Modern Software and AI Engineering Program<\/h3>\n <p class=\"scaler-desc\">Master full-stack development with AI integration<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-stats\">\n <div class=\"scaler-stat\"><span class=\"scaler-stat-value\">12 Months<\/span><span class=\"scaler-stat-label\">Duration<\/span><\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-stat\"><span class=\"scaler-stat-value\">AI-Led<\/span><span class=\"scaler-stat-label\">Curriculum<\/span><\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-stat\"><span class=\"scaler-stat-value\">Career Support<\/span><span class=\"scaler-stat-label\">Support<\/span><\/div>\n <\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-logos\">\n <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"scaler-company-logo\" src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/2\/2f\/Google_2015_logo.svg\" alt=\"Google\" loading=\"lazy\">\n <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"scaler-company-logo\" src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/a\/a9\/Amazon_logo.svg\" alt=\"Amazon\" loading=\"lazy\">\n <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"scaler-company-logo\" src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/4\/42\/Paytm_logo.png\" alt=\"Paytm\" loading=\"lazy\">\n <span class=\"scaler-logo-more\">+1000 more<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-card-btns\">\n <button onclick=\"window.open('https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/academy\/', '_blank')\">\n Go to Program\n <svg width=\"14\" height=\"14\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"none\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M3 8H13M13 8L9 4M13 8L9 12\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><\/svg>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <!-- CARD 2 -->\n <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\n <div class=\"scaler-card\">\n <div class=\"scaler-badge\">NSDC Certified<\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-card-top\">\n <div class=\"scaler-icon-wrap\">\n <svg width=\"26\" height=\"26\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><polyline points=\"16 18 22 12 16 6\"><\/polyline><polyline points=\"8 6 2 12 8 18\"><\/polyline><\/svg>\n <\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-card-top-content\">\n <h3 class=\"scaler-title\">AI Forward Deployed Engineer with Specialisation in AI applications<\/h3>\n <p class=\"scaler-desc\">Build and deploy AI solutions for real-world business problems<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-stats\">\n <div class=\"scaler-stat\"><span class=\"scaler-stat-value\">12 Months<\/span><span class=\"scaler-stat-label\">Duration<\/span><\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-stat\"><span class=\"scaler-stat-value\">AI-Led<\/span><span class=\"scaler-stat-label\">Curriculum<\/span><\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-stat\"><span class=\"scaler-stat-value\">Career Support<\/span><span class=\"scaler-stat-label\">Support<\/span><\/div>\n <\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-logos\">\n <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"scaler-company-logo\" src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/2\/2f\/Google_2015_logo.svg\" alt=\"Google\" loading=\"lazy\">\n <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"scaler-company-logo\" src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/a\/a9\/Amazon_logo.svg\" alt=\"Amazon\" loading=\"lazy\">\n <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"scaler-company-logo\" src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/4\/42\/Paytm_logo.png\" alt=\"Paytm\" loading=\"lazy\">\n <span class=\"scaler-logo-more\">+1000 more<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-card-btns\">\n <button onclick=\"window.open('https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/ai-forward-deployed-engineer-course\/', '_blank')\">\n Go to Program\n <svg width=\"14\" height=\"14\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"none\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M3 8H13M13 8L9 4M13 8L9 12\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><\/svg>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <!-- CARD 3 -->\n <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\n <div class=\"scaler-card\">\n <div class=\"scaler-badge\">NSDC Certified<\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-card-top\">\n <div class=\"scaler-icon-wrap\">\n <svg width=\"26\" height=\"26\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><ellipse cx=\"12\" cy=\"5\" rx=\"9\" ry=\"3\"><\/ellipse><path d=\"M3 5v14c0 1.66 4.03 3 9 3s9-1.34 9-3V5\"><\/path><path d=\"M3 12c0 1.66 4.03 3 9 3s9-1.34 9-3\"><\/path><\/svg>\n <\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-card-top-content\">\n <h3 class=\"scaler-title\">Modern Data Science and ML with specialisation in AI<\/h3>\n <p class=\"scaler-desc\">Advanced data science techniques with AI specialization<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-stats\">\n <div class=\"scaler-stat\"><span class=\"scaler-stat-value\">12 Months<\/span><span class=\"scaler-stat-label\">Duration<\/span><\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-stat\"><span class=\"scaler-stat-value\">AI-Led<\/span><span class=\"scaler-stat-label\">Curriculum<\/span><\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-stat\"><span class=\"scaler-stat-value\">Career Support<\/span><span class=\"scaler-stat-label\">Support<\/span><\/div>\n <\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-logos\">\n <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"scaler-company-logo\" src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/2\/2f\/Google_2015_logo.svg\" alt=\"Google\" loading=\"lazy\">\n <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"scaler-company-logo\" src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/a\/a9\/Amazon_logo.svg\" alt=\"Amazon\" loading=\"lazy\">\n <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"scaler-company-logo\" src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/4\/42\/Paytm_logo.png\" alt=\"Paytm\" loading=\"lazy\">\n <span class=\"scaler-logo-more\">+1000 more<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-card-btns\">\n <button onclick=\"window.open('https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/data-science-course\/', '_blank')\">\n Go to Program\n <svg width=\"14\" height=\"14\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"none\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M3 8H13M13 8L9 4M13 8L9 12\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><\/svg>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <!-- CARD 4 -->\n <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\n <div class=\"scaler-card\">\n <div class=\"scaler-badge\">NSDC Certified<\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-card-top\">\n <div class=\"scaler-icon-wrap\">\n <svg width=\"26\" height=\"26\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><path d=\"M12 2L13.5 8.5L20 10L13.5 11.5L12 18L10.5 11.5L4 10L10.5 8.5L12 2Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n <\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-card-top-content\">\n <h3 class=\"scaler-title\">Advanced AIML with Specialisation in Agentic AI<\/h3>\n <p class=\"scaler-desc\">Deep dive into AIML with focus on Agentic systems<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-stats\">\n <div class=\"scaler-stat\"><span class=\"scaler-stat-value\">12 Months<\/span><span class=\"scaler-stat-label\">Duration<\/span><\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-stat\"><span class=\"scaler-stat-value\">AI-Led<\/span><span class=\"scaler-stat-label\">Curriculum<\/span><\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-stat\"><span class=\"scaler-stat-value\">Career Support<\/span><span class=\"scaler-stat-label\">Support<\/span><\/div>\n <\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-logos\">\n <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"scaler-company-logo\" src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/2\/2f\/Google_2015_logo.svg\" alt=\"Google\" loading=\"lazy\">\n <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"scaler-company-logo\" src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/a\/a9\/Amazon_logo.svg\" alt=\"Amazon\" loading=\"lazy\">\n <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"scaler-company-logo\" src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/4\/42\/Paytm_logo.png\" alt=\"Paytm\" loading=\"lazy\">\n <span class=\"scaler-logo-more\">+1000 more<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-card-btns\">\n <button onclick=\"window.open('https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/ai-machine-learning-course\/', '_blank')\">\n Go to Program\n <svg width=\"14\" height=\"14\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"none\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M3 8H13M13 8L9 4M13 8L9 12\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><\/svg>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <!-- CARD 5 -->\n <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\n <div class=\"scaler-card\">\n <div class=\"scaler-badge\">NSDC Certified<\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-card-top\">\n <div class=\"scaler-icon-wrap\">\n <svg width=\"26\" height=\"26\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\">\n <path d=\"M17.5 19H9a7 7 0 1 1 6.71-9h1.79a4.5 4.5 0 1 1 0 9Z\"><\/path>\n <path d=\"M9.2 15.2a3 3 0 1 0 4.24-4.24\"><\/path>\n <\/svg>\n <\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-card-top-content\">\n <h3 class=\"scaler-title\">DevOps, Cloud & AI Platform Engineering<\/h3>\n <p class=\"scaler-desc\">Build and manage AI-powered cloud infrastructure<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-stats\">\n <div class=\"scaler-stat\"><span class=\"scaler-stat-value\">12 Months<\/span><span class=\"scaler-stat-label\">Duration<\/span><\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-stat\"><span class=\"scaler-stat-value\">AI-Led<\/span><span class=\"scaler-stat-label\">Curriculum<\/span><\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-stat\"><span class=\"scaler-stat-value\">Career Support<\/span><span class=\"scaler-stat-label\">Support<\/span><\/div>\n <\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-logos\">\n <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"scaler-company-logo\" src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/2\/2f\/Google_2015_logo.svg\" alt=\"Google\" loading=\"lazy\">\n <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"scaler-company-logo\" src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/a\/a9\/Amazon_logo.svg\" alt=\"Amazon\" loading=\"lazy\">\n <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"scaler-company-logo\" src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/4\/42\/Paytm_logo.png\" alt=\"Paytm\" loading=\"lazy\">\n <span class=\"scaler-logo-more\">+1000 more<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-card-btns\">\n <button onclick=\"window.open('https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/devops-course\/', '_blank')\">\n Go to Program\n <svg width=\"14\" height=\"14\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"none\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M3 8H13M13 8L9 4M13 8L9 12\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><\/svg>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <!-- CARD 6 -->\n <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\n <div class=\"scaler-card\">\n <div class=\"scaler-badge\">NSDC Certified<\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-card-top\">\n <div class=\"scaler-icon-wrap\">\n <svg width=\"26\" height=\"26\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\">\n <line x1=\"3\" y1=\"22\" x2=\"21\" y2=\"22\"><\/line>\n <line x1=\"6\" y1=\"18\" x2=\"6\" y2=\"11\"><\/line>\n <line x1=\"10\" y1=\"18\" x2=\"10\" y2=\"11\"><\/line>\n <line x1=\"14\" y1=\"18\" x2=\"14\" y2=\"11\"><\/line>\n <line x1=\"18\" y1=\"18\" x2=\"18\" y2=\"11\"><\/line>\n <polygon points=\"12 2 20 7 4 7\"><\/polygon>\n <\/svg>\n <\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-card-top-content\">\n <h3 class=\"scaler-title\">AI Engineering Advanced Certification by IIT-Roorkee<\/h3>\n <p class=\"scaler-desc\">Premier AI engineering certification from IIT-Roorkee<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-stats\">\n <div class=\"scaler-stat\"><span class=\"scaler-stat-value\">3 Months<\/span><span class=\"scaler-stat-label\">Duration<\/span><\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-stat\"><span class=\"scaler-stat-value\">AI-Led<\/span><span class=\"scaler-stat-label\">Curriculum<\/span><\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-stat\"><span class=\"scaler-stat-value\">Career Support<\/span><span class=\"scaler-stat-label\">Support<\/span><\/div>\n <\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-logos\">\n <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"scaler-logo-strip\" src=\"https:\/\/scaler-blog-prod-wp-content.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/08135139\/iitr-icons-strip.png\" alt=\"Program highlights\" loading=\"lazy\">\n <\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-card-btns\">\n <button onclick=\"window.open('https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/iit-roorkee-advanced-ai-engineering-course\/', '_blank')\">\n Go to Program\n <svg width=\"14\" height=\"14\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"none\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M3 8H13M13 8L9 4M13 8L9 12\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><\/svg>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <!-- Continue for remaining cards (6\u20138) using same pattern -->\n\n <\/div>\n <div class=\"swiper-button-next\"><\/div>\n <div class=\"swiper-button-prev\"><\/div>\n <div class=\"swiper-pagination\"><\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<!-- Swiper.js -->\n<script src=\"https:\/\/cdn.jsdelivr.net\/npm\/swiper@11\/swiper-bundle.min.js\"><\/script>\n<script>\ndocument.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function () {\n const pathParts = window.location.pathname.split(\"\/\").filter(Boolean);\n const slug = pathParts[pathParts.length - 1] || \"\";\n const readableSlug = encodeURIComponent(slug);\n const buttons = document.querySelectorAll(\".scaler-card-btns button\");\n\n buttons.forEach((btn) => {\n const baseURL = btn.getAttribute(\"onclick\").match(\/'(.*?)'\/)[1];\n if (!baseURL.includes(\"utm_source=\")) {\n const separator = baseURL.includes(\"?\") ? \"&\" : \"?\";\n const updatedURL = `${baseURL}${separator}utm_source=blog&utm_medium=program_carousel&utm_content=${readableSlug}`;\n btn.setAttribute(\"onclick\", `window.open('${updatedURL}', '_blank')`);\n }\n });\n\n new Swiper(\".scaler-swiper\", {\n slidesPerView: 1,\n spaceBetween: 28,\n grabCursor: true,\n navigation: { nextEl: \".swiper-button-next\", prevEl: \".swiper-button-prev\" },\n pagination: { el: \".swiper-pagination\", dynamicBullets: true, clickable: true },\n breakpoints: { 1000: { slidesPerView: 2 } },\n keyboard: { enabled: true },\n });\n});\n<\/script>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"sde-roadmap-2026-phases-and-timelines\"><\/span><strong>SDE Roadmap 2026: Phases and Timelines<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The six phases below add up to about 7\u20139 months of focused study. With revision, mock interviews and the odd bad week, most beginners need 9\u201312 months in total. Each phase includes a clear milestone so you can track your progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Phase<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Duration<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>What to Learn<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Tools\/Topics<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Milestone<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>1: Programming Fundamentals<\/strong><\/td><td>4\u20136 weeks<\/td><td>One language deeply + OOP concepts<\/td><td>C++ \/ Java \/ Python<\/td><td>Build 3 CLI programs solving real-world problems<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>2: DSA (The SDE Sheet)<\/strong><\/td><td>12\u201316 weeks<\/td><td>Work the curated SDE Sheet topic-by-topic<\/td><td>Arrays, Trees, Graphs, DP, Greedy<\/td><td>All 147 problems solved with optimal time\/space complexity<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>3: CS Fundamentals<\/strong><\/td><td>4\u20136 weeks<\/td><td>OS, DBMS, Computer Networks, OOP theory<\/td><td>Threads, SQL, TCP\/IP, Design Patterns<\/td><td>Clear 50+ Q&A mock tests on core CS topics<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>4: Development & Projects<\/strong><\/td><td>6\u20138 weeks<\/td><td>Web\/backend basics, Git, APIs, Databases<\/td><td>React\/Node.js, Django, PostgreSQL<\/td><td>1\u20132 deployed projects on GitHub\/Vercel\/Render<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>5: System Design Basics<\/strong><\/td><td>3\u20134 weeks<\/td><td>Scalability, caching, load balancing, HLD\/LLD<\/td><td>Redis, Docker, Microservices, CAP theorem<\/td><td>Design a URL shortener or chat app architecture<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>6: Interview Prep<\/strong><\/td><td>Ongoing<\/td><td>Mock interviews, behavioral prep, resume polish<\/td><td>LeetCode, Pramp, STAR method<\/td><td>10+ timed mocks + polished 1-page resume<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Software Engineer Roadmap for 2026 | DSA, System Design & AI | @SCALER\" width=\"1170\" height=\"658\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/91-w0xaVcIE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"the-scaler-sde-sheet-curated-ordered-problem-list\"><\/span><strong>The Scaler SDE Sheet: Curated, Ordered Problem List<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In India, the dominant SDE-prep resource is <strong>Striver\u2019s SDE Sheet<\/strong> (~190 problems, 26,000\/mo searches) and the <strong>GeeksforGeeks SDE Sheet<\/strong>. These sheets work because they force pattern recognition over random problem-solving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To serve the same intent with mentorship-backed structure, we\u2019ve compiled the <strong>Scaler SDE Sheet<\/strong>: an ordered list of 147 high-yield problems grouped by topic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>How to use this sheet:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       Solve topics in order (Arrays \u2192 DP). Do not skip ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       Spend 30\u201345 minutes per problem before checking hints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       Track wrong answers and revisit them weekly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       Aim for optimal solutions, not just AC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Topic<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Problems<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Difficulty Split<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Sample Problems<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Practice Link<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Arrays & Strings<\/strong><\/td><td>25<\/td><td>Easy\u2013Hard<\/td><td>Two Sum, Kadane\u2019s, Trapping Rain Water, KMP<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/topics\/data-structures\/\">Scaler Topics<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Linked Lists<\/strong><\/td><td>15<\/td><td>Easy\u2013Med<\/td><td>Reverse LL, Detect Cycle, LRU Cache, Merge K Lists<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/topics\/data-structures\/\">Scaler Topics<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Stacks & Queues<\/strong><\/td><td>12<\/td><td>Easy\u2013Med<\/td><td>Valid Parentheses, Next Greater Element, Min Stack<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/topics\/data-structures\/\">Scaler Topics<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Trees<\/strong><\/td><td>22<\/td><td>Med\u2013Hard<\/td><td>Traversals, LCA, Diameter, Serialize\/Deserialize<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/topics\/data-structures\/\">Scaler Topics<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Graphs<\/strong><\/td><td>20<\/td><td>Med\u2013Hard<\/td><td>BFS\/DFS, Topological Sort, Dijkstra, Union-Find<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/topics\/data-structures\/\">Scaler Topics<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Binary Search<\/strong><\/td><td>10<\/td><td>Med<\/td><td>Rotated Array, Koko Eating Bananas, Median of Two<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/topics\/data-structures\/\">Scaler<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Two Pointers \/ Sliding Window<\/strong><\/td><td>10<\/td><td>Easy\u2013Med<\/td><td>Container With Most Water, Longest Substring w\/o Repeats<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/topics\/data-structures\/\">Scaler Topics<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Dynamic Programming<\/strong><\/td><td>25<\/td><td>Med\u2013Hard<\/td><td>Knapsack, LCS, Edit Distance, Matrix Chain<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/topics\/data-structures\/\">Scaler Topics<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Greedy<\/strong><\/td><td>8<\/td><td>Med<\/td><td>Activity Selection, Huffman Coding, Job Sequencing<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/topics\/data-structures\/\">Scaler Topics<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>TOTAL<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>147<\/strong><\/td><td><\/td><td>Solve in order; revisit wrong answers weekly<\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Note:<\/strong> Striver\u2019s sheet and GFG\u2019s sheet are excellent free resources. The Scaler SDE Sheet complements them by adding mentorship review, pattern tags, and company-specific problem mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"sde-skills-checklist-2026\"><\/span><strong>SDE Skills Checklist (2026)<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Use this tiered checklist to self-assess your readiness and map to the roadmap phases above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Tier<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Skills to Master<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Maps to Phase<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Foundation<\/strong><\/td><td>Proficiency in 1 language (C++\/Java\/Python), Git\/GitHub workflows, basic math\/logic<\/td><td>Phase 1<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Core DSA<\/strong><\/td><td>Arrays, Strings, LLs, Trees, Graphs, Hashing, Two Pointers, Sliding Window, Recursion<\/td><td>Phase 2<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>CS Fundamentals<\/strong><\/td><td>OS (Threads, Memory, Deadlocks), DBMS (SQL, Indexing, Normalization), CN (HTTP, TCP\/IP, DNS), OOP (SOLID, Design Patterns)<\/td><td>Phase 3<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Development<\/strong><\/td><td>REST APIs, Database design, 1 web framework (React\/Node\/Django), CI\/CD basics, Docker<\/td><td>Phase 4<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>System Design<\/strong><\/td><td>HLD (Load Balancing, Caching, CDN, DB Sharding), LLD (Class diagrams, State machines, Concurrency)<\/td><td>Phase 5<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Interview-Ready<\/strong><\/td><td>Mock interviews (DSA + Behavioral), STAR format, Resume polished, 2\u20133 well-documented deployed projects<\/td><td>Phase 6<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n<meta charset=\"UTF-8\">\n <meta name=\"viewport\" content=\"width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0\">\n\n <!-- Source Sans Pro (topics font) -->\n <link href=\"https:\/\/fonts.googleapis.com\/css2?family=Source+Sans+3:wght@400;600;700&display=swap\" rel=\"stylesheet\">\n <link rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.jsdelivr.net\/npm\/swiper@11\/swiper-bundle.min.css\">\n <script src=\"https:\/\/cdn.jsdelivr.net\/npm\/swiper@11\/swiper-bundle.min.js\"><\/script>\n\n <style>\n :root {\n \/* topics design tokens (variables.scss) *\/\n --scaler-primary: #005bb3; \/* primary-color-80 *\/\n --scaler-primary-30: #8acaff; \/* primary-color-30 *\/\n --scaler-brand-blue: #255aad;\n --scaler-live: #ee001d; \/* accent-v5-60 *\/\n --scaler-live-bg: #ffe6e9; \/* accent-v5-10 *\/\n --scaler-card-bg: #ffffff; \/* neutral-scale-0 *\/\n --scaler-surface: #f4f6f9; \/* neutral-scale-2 *\/\n --scaler-text-primary: #1a2c47; \/* neutral-scale-12 *\/\n --scaler-text-secondary: #61738e; \/* neutral-scale-9 *\/\n --scaler-border: #d6dee5; \/* neutral-scale-4 *\/\n --scaler-radius: 16px;\n --scaler-radius-sm: 8px;\n --scaler-shadow: 0 8px 16px 0 rgba(50, 71, 102, 0.16);\n }\n\n .scaler-events-carousel * { box-sizing: border-box; }\n\n .scaler-events-carousel {\n font-family: \"Source Sans 3\", \"Source Sans Pro\", \"Roboto\", Arial, sans-serif;\n padding: 24px;\n position: relative;\n width: 100%;\n }\n .scaler-events-carousel__inner {\n max-width: 1000px;\n margin: 0 auto;\n position: relative;\n width: 100%;\n }\n\n \/* Header \u2014 calendar icon + \"Live Masterclasses\" *\/\n .scaler-events-header {\n display: flex;\n align-items: center;\n gap: 8px;\n margin-bottom: 8px;\n padding: 8px 0;\n }\n .scaler-events-header__icon { display: inline-flex; color: var(--scaler-text-primary); }\n .scaler-events-header__icon svg { width: 24px; height: 24px; }\n .scaler-events-header__title {\n font-size: 18px;\n font-weight: 700;\n color: var(--scaler-text-primary);\n line-height: 1.3;\n margin: 0;\n }\n\n \/* Swiper wrap (holds side arrows) *\/\n .scaler-events-swiper-wrap { position: relative; }\n .scaler-events-carousel .swiper { width: 100%; padding: 4px; }\n .scaler-event-swiper .swiper-slide {\n width: 296px; \/* topics card_container width *\/\n height: auto;\n display: flex;\n }\n\n \/* Event Card \u2014 matches topics EventCard *\/\n .scaler-event-card {\n background: var(--scaler-card-bg);\n border: 1px solid var(--scaler-border);\n border-radius: var(--scaler-radius);\n padding: 16px;\n display: flex;\n flex-direction: column;\n height: 100%;\n width: 100%;\n cursor: pointer;\n }\n\n \/* Header row: headshot + title\/name *\/\n .scaler-event-card__header { display: flex; align-items: flex-start; }\n .scaler-event-card__image-wrapper {\n position: relative;\n width: 88px;\n height: 88px;\n min-width: 88px;\n border-radius: var(--scaler-radius-sm);\n overflow: hidden;\n background: var(--scaler-primary-30);\n }\n .scaler-event-card__image {\n position: absolute;\n top: 0; left: 0;\n width: 100%; height: 100%;\n object-fit: cover;\n }\n \/* attendee-count footer (default) *\/\n .scaler-event-card__img-footer {\n position: absolute;\n left: 0; right: 0; bottom: 0;\n display: flex;\n align-items: center;\n justify-content: center;\n gap: 4px;\n padding: 1px 8px;\n background: var(--scaler-surface);\n color: var(--scaler-text-primary);\n font-size: 13px;\n line-height: 22px;\n }\n .scaler-event-card__img-footer svg { width: 14px; height: 14px; }\n \/* live chip (shown when status === current) *\/\n .scaler-event-card__live-badge {\n position: absolute;\n left: 0; right: 0; bottom: 0;\n display: flex;\n align-items: center;\n justify-content: center;\n gap: 5px;\n padding: 1px 8px;\n background: var(--scaler-live-bg);\n color: var(--scaler-live);\n font-size: 12px;\n line-height: 22px;\n text-transform: uppercase;\n letter-spacing: 0.18em;\n }\n .scaler-event-card__live-badge::before {\n content: \"\";\n width: 6px; height: 6px;\n background: var(--scaler-live);\n border-radius: 50%;\n }\n .scaler-event-card__text { margin-left: 16px; min-width: 0; }\n .scaler-event-card__title {\n font-size: 20px;\n font-weight: 600;\n color: var(--scaler-text-primary);\n margin: 0;\n line-height: 1.4;\n display: -webkit-box;\n -webkit-line-clamp: 2;\n -webkit-box-orient: vertical;\n overflow: hidden;\n }\n .scaler-event-card__speaker {\n margin-top: 8px;\n font-size: 14px;\n line-height: 1.4;\n color: var(--scaler-text-primary);\n }\n\n \/* Takeaways *\/\n .scaler-event-card__takeaways {\n margin-top: 12px;\n min-height: 50px;\n max-height: 50px;\n overflow: hidden;\n }\n .scaler-event-card__takeaway-item {\n display: flex;\n align-items: flex-start;\n gap: 6px;\n }\n .scaler-event-card__dot {\n width: 4px; height: 4px;\n min-width: 4px;\n border-radius: 50%;\n background: var(--scaler-text-secondary);\n margin-top: 11px;\n }\n .scaler-event-card__takeaway-text {\n flex: 1;\n min-width: 0;\n font-size: 14px;\n line-height: 24px;\n color: var(--scaler-text-primary);\n white-space: nowrap;\n overflow: hidden;\n text-overflow: ellipsis;\n }\n .scaler-event-card__knowmore,\n .scaler-event-card__knowmore:link,\n .scaler-event-card__knowmore:visited {\n flex-shrink: 0;\n font-size: 14px;\n line-height: 24px;\n color: var(--scaler-primary) !important;\n text-decoration: none;\n white-space: nowrap;\n }\n .scaler-event-card__knowmore:hover { text-decoration: underline; }\n\n \/* Date + duration *\/\n .scaler-event-card__meta {\n display: flex;\n align-items: center;\n justify-content: space-between;\n margin-top: 20px;\n font-size: 13px;\n line-height: 24px;\n color: var(--scaler-text-primary);\n }\n .scaler-event-card__duration {\n display: flex;\n align-items: center;\n gap: 4px;\n }\n .scaler-event-card__duration svg { width: 15px; height: 15px; }\n\n .scaler-event-card__spacer { flex-grow: 1; min-height: 4px; }\n\n \/* CTA \u2014 outlined \"Register with 1-Click\" *\/\n .scaler-event-card__cta,\n .scaler-event-card__cta:link,\n .scaler-event-card__cta:visited {\n display: flex;\n align-items: center;\n justify-content: center;\n width: 100%;\n margin-top: 16px;\n padding: 8px;\n background: transparent;\n color: var(--scaler-primary) !important;\n font-family: inherit;\n font-size: 14px;\n font-weight: 600;\n line-height: 24px;\n text-decoration: none;\n border: 1px solid var(--scaler-primary);\n border-radius: var(--scaler-radius-sm);\n cursor: pointer;\n transition: background 0.2s ease, color 0.2s ease;\n }\n .scaler-event-card__cta:hover,\n .scaler-event-card__cta:focus {\n background: var(--scaler-primary);\n color: #fff !important;\n }\n\n \/* Side navigation arrows *\/\n .scaler-events-nav__btn {\n position: absolute !important;\n top: 50% !important;\n transform: translateY(-50%) !important;\n z-index: 2;\n width: 46px !important;\n height: 46px !important;\n min-width: 46px;\n display: flex !important;\n align-items: center;\n justify-content: center;\n padding: 0 !important;\n background: var(--scaler-card-bg) !important;\n border: none !important;\n border-radius: var(--scaler-radius-sm) !important;\n box-shadow: var(--scaler-shadow) !important;\n color: var(--scaler-text-secondary) !important;\n cursor: pointer;\n transition: opacity 0.2s ease, visibility 0.2s ease;\n }\n .scaler-nav-prev { left: 8px !important; }\n .scaler-nav-next { right: 8px !important; }\n .scaler-events-nav__btn svg {\n width: 20px !important;\n height: 20px !important;\n fill: var(--scaler-text-secondary) !important;\n }\n .scaler-events-nav__btn.swiper-button-disabled {\n opacity: 0;\n visibility: hidden;\n pointer-events: none;\n }\n\n \/* View All Events *\/\n .scaler-events-viewall,\n .scaler-events-viewall:link,\n .scaler-events-viewall:visited {\n display: flex;\n align-items: center;\n justify-content: center;\n gap: 6px;\n margin-top: 12px;\n font-size: 14px;\n font-weight: 600;\n color: var(--scaler-brand-blue) !important;\n text-decoration: none;\n }\n .scaler-events-viewall:hover { text-decoration: underline; }\n .scaler-events-viewall svg { width: 16px; height: 16px; fill: var(--scaler-brand-blue); }\n\n \/* hide swiper defaults *\/\n .scaler-events-pagination { display: none; }\n .scaler-events-carousel .swiper-button-prev,\n .scaler-events-carousel .swiper-button-next { display: none; }\n\n \/* Skeleton & Empty States *\/\n .scaler-event-card--skeleton { pointer-events: none; }\n .scaler-event-card--skeleton .scaler-event-card__image-wrapper,\n .scaler-event-card--skeleton .scaler-event-card__title,\n .scaler-event-card--skeleton .scaler-event-card__speaker,\n .scaler-event-card--skeleton .scaler-event-card__takeaways,\n .scaler-event-card--skeleton .scaler-event-card__meta,\n .scaler-event-card--skeleton .scaler-event-card__cta {\n background: linear-gradient(90deg, var(--scaler-border) 25%, var(--scaler-surface) 50%, var(--scaler-border) 75%);\n background-size: 200% 100%;\n animation: shimmer 1.5s infinite;\n color: transparent !important;\n border-color: transparent !important;\n border-radius: 4px;\n }\n .scaler-event-card--skeleton .scaler-event-card__title { min-height: 44px; }\n .scaler-event-card--skeleton .scaler-event-card__speaker { min-height: 16px; }\n .scaler-event-card--skeleton .scaler-event-card__meta { min-height: 24px; }\n .scaler-event-card--skeleton .scaler-event-card__cta { min-height: 40px; }\n .scaler-event-card--skeleton .scaler-event-card__image,\n .scaler-event-card--skeleton .scaler-event-card__img-footer,\n .scaler-event-card--skeleton .scaler-event-card__live-badge { display: none; }\n\n @keyframes shimmer {\n 0% { background-position: 200% 0; }\n 100% { background-position: -200% 0; }\n }\n\n .scaler-events-empty {\n text-align: center;\n padding: 40px 20px;\n color: var(--scaler-text-secondary);\n font-size: 15px;\n }\n\n @media (max-width: 768px) {\n .scaler-events-carousel { padding: 16px; }\n .scaler-event-swiper .swiper-slide { width: calc(100vw - 52px); }\n .scaler-events-nav__btn { display: none; }\n }\n <\/style>\n\n\n\n <div class=\"scaler-events-carousel js-scaler-carousel\">\n\n <template class=\"js-event-card-template\">\n <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\n <article class=\"scaler-event-card\">\n <div class=\"scaler-event-card__header\">\n <div class=\"scaler-event-card__image-wrapper\">\n <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"\" class=\"scaler-event-card__image\" loading=\"lazy\">\n <div class=\"scaler-event-card__img-footer\">\n <svg fill=\"currentColor\" viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M11.199 7.957c-3.086 0-5.588 2.502-5.588 5.588s2.502 5.588 5.588 5.588c3.086 0 5.588-2.502 5.588-5.588s-2.502-5.588-5.588-5.588zM3.611 13.545c0-4.191 3.397-7.588 7.588-7.588s7.588 3.397 7.588 7.588c0 4.191-3.397 7.588-7.588 7.588s-7.588-3.397-7.588-7.588z\"\/><path d=\"M21.090 6.369h0.003c1.989 0 3.897 0.79 5.303 2.197s2.197 3.314 2.197 5.303-0.79 3.897-2.197 5.303c-1.406 1.407-3.314 2.197-5.303 2.197-0.552 0-1-0.448-1-1s0.448-1 1-1c1.459 0 2.858-0.579 3.889-1.611s1.611-2.43 1.611-3.889c0-1.459-0.58-2.858-1.611-3.889s-2.429-1.611-3.888-1.611c-0.507 0.002-1.013 0.070-1.502 0.203-0.533 0.145-1.082-0.17-1.227-0.703s0.17-1.082 0.703-1.227c0.659-0.179 1.339-0.27 2.021-0.272z\"\/><path d=\"M10.906 21.364c-1.605 0-3.186 0.386-4.61 1.126s-2.649 1.811-3.572 3.124c-0.318 0.452-0.941 0.561-1.393 0.243s-0.561-0.941-0.243-1.393c1.107-1.576 2.577-2.862 4.286-3.749s3.606-1.351 5.532-1.351 3.823 0.463 5.532 1.351c1.709 0.888 3.179 2.174 4.286 3.749 0.318 0.452 0.209 1.076-0.243 1.393s-1.076 0.209-1.393-0.243c-0.923-1.313-2.148-2.385-3.572-3.124s-3.005-1.126-4.61-1.126z\"\/><\/svg>\n <span class=\"js-event-count\"><\/span>\n <\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-event-card__live-badge\" style=\"display: none;\">Live<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-event-card__text\">\n <h3 class=\"scaler-event-card__title\"><\/h3>\n <div class=\"scaler-event-card__speaker js-event-speaker\"><\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <div class=\"scaler-event-card__takeaways js-event-takeaways\"><\/div>\n\n <div class=\"scaler-event-card__spacer\"><\/div>\n\n <div class=\"scaler-event-card__meta\">\n <span class=\"js-event-date\"><\/span>\n <span class=\"scaler-event-card__duration\">\n <svg fill=\"currentColor\" viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M16 6.333c6.443 0 11.667 5.223 11.667 11.667s-5.223 11.667-11.667 11.667c-6.443 0-11.667-5.223-11.667-11.667v0c0.008-6.44 5.226-11.659 11.666-11.667h0.001zM16 28.333c5.707 0 10.333-4.626 10.333-10.333s-4.626-10.333-10.333-10.333c-5.707 0-10.333 4.626-10.333 10.333v0c0.007 5.704 4.629 10.326 10.333 10.333h0.001z\"\/><path d=\"M16 18.667c-0 0-0.001 0-0.001 0-0.184 0-0.35-0.074-0.471-0.195v0c-0.121-0.121-0.195-0.287-0.195-0.471s0.075-0.351 0.195-0.471l4.951-4.952c0.121-0.121 0.287-0.195 0.471-0.195s0.351 0.075 0.471 0.195v0c0.121 0.121 0.195 0.287 0.195 0.471s-0.075 0.351-0.195 0.471l-4.949 4.951c-0.121 0.121-0.288 0.196-0.472 0.196v0z\"\/><path d=\"M19 3.667h-6c-0.368 0-0.667-0.298-0.667-0.667v0c0-0.368 0.298-0.667 0.667-0.667v0h6c0.368 0 0.667 0.298 0.667 0.667v0c0 0.368-0.298 0.667-0.667 0.667v0z\"\/><\/svg>\n <span class=\"js-event-duration\"><\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n\n <a href=\"#\" class=\"scaler-event-card__cta js-event-cta\">Register with 1-Click<\/a>\n <\/article>\n <\/div>\n <\/template>\n\n <div class=\"scaler-events-carousel__inner\">\n <header class=\"scaler-events-header\">\n <span class=\"scaler-events-header__icon\">\n <svg fill=\"currentColor\" viewBox=\"0 0 33 32\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M6.406 6.8c-0.11 0-0.2 0.090-0.2 0.2v20c0 0.11 0.090 0.2 0.2 0.2h20c0.11 0 0.2-0.090 0.2-0.2v-20c0-0.11-0.090-0.2-0.2-0.2h-20zM4.606 7c0-0.994 0.806-1.8 1.8-1.8h20c0.994 0 1.8 0.806 1.8 1.8v20c0 0.994-0.806 1.8-1.8 1.8h-20c-0.994 0-1.8-0.806-1.8-1.8v-20z\"\/><path d=\"M22.406 3.2c0.442 0 0.8 0.358 0.8 0.8v4c0 0.442-0.358 0.8-0.8 0.8s-0.8-0.358-0.8-0.8v-4c0-0.442 0.358-0.8 0.8-0.8z\"\/><path d=\"M10.406 3.2c0.442 0 0.8 0.358 0.8 0.8v4c0 0.442-0.358 0.8-0.8 0.8s-0.8-0.358-0.8-0.8v-4c0-0.442 0.358-0.8 0.8-0.8z\"\/><path d=\"M4.606 12c0-0.442 0.358-0.8 0.8-0.8h22c0.442 0 0.8 0.358 0.8 0.8s-0.358 0.8-0.8 0.8h-22c-0.442 0-0.8-0.358-0.8-0.8z\"\/><path d=\"M21.488 16.451c0.303 0.322 0.288 0.828-0.034 1.131l-5.838 5.5c-0.309 0.291-0.791 0.29-1.099-0.002l-3.162-3c-0.321-0.304-0.334-0.81-0.030-1.131s0.81-0.334 1.131-0.030l2.614 2.48 5.287-4.981c0.322-0.303 0.828-0.288 1.131 0.034z\"\/><\/svg>\n <\/span>\n <h2 class=\"scaler-events-header__title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"live-masterclasses\"><\/span>Live Masterclasses<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n <\/header>\n\n <div class=\"scaler-events-swiper-wrap\">\n <div class=\"swiper scaler-event-swiper\">\n <div class=\"swiper-wrapper scaler-events-wrapper\"><\/div>\n <div class=\"swiper-pagination scaler-events-pagination\"><\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <button class=\"scaler-events-nav__btn scaler-nav-prev\" aria-label=\"Previous slide\">\n <svg fill=\"currentColor\" viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" style=\"transform: rotate(-90deg);\"><path d=\"M5.313 16l10.688-10.688 10.688 10.688-1.938 1.875-7.438-7.438v16.25h-2.625v-16.25l-7.5 7.438z\"\/><\/svg>\n <\/button>\n <button class=\"scaler-events-nav__btn scaler-nav-next\" aria-label=\"Next slide\">\n <svg fill=\"currentColor\" viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" style=\"transform: rotate(90deg);\"><path d=\"M5.313 16l10.688-10.688 10.688 10.688-1.938 1.875-7.438-7.438v16.25h-2.625v-16.25l-7.5 7.438z\"\/><\/svg>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n <a class=\"scaler-events-viewall\" href=\"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/events\/\">\n <span>View All Events<\/span>\n <svg fill=\"currentColor\" viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" style=\"transform: rotate(90deg);\"><path d=\"M5.313 16l10.688-10.688 10.688 10.688-1.938 1.875-7.438-7.438v16.25h-2.625v-16.25l-7.5 7.438z\"\/><\/svg>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <script>\n document.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", () => {\n\n const monthNames = [\"January\",\"February\",\"March\",\"April\",\"May\",\"June\",\"July\",\"August\",\"September\",\"October\",\"November\",\"December\"];\n\n function formatTime(st) {\n const t = new Date(st);\n const date = t.getDate();\n const month = monthNames[t.getMonth()];\n const year = t.getFullYear();\n const h = t.getHours();\n const m = String(t.getMinutes()).padStart(2, \"0\");\n let time;\n if (h === 0) time = `12:${m} AM`;\n else if (h === 12) time = `12:${m} PM`;\n else if (h > 12) time = `${h - 12}:${m} PM`;\n else time = `${h}:${m} AM`;\n return `${date} ${month} ${year} | ${time}`;\n }\n\n const carouselInstances = document.querySelectorAll('.js-scaler-carousel');\n\n carouselInstances.forEach(container => {\n\n if(container.dataset.initialized === \"true\") return;\n container.dataset.initialized = \"true\";\n\n const swiperElement = container.querySelector(\".scaler-event-swiper\");\n const swiperWrapper = container.querySelector(\".scaler-events-wrapper\");\n const template = container.querySelector(\".js-event-card-template\");\n const nextBtn = container.querySelector(\".scaler-nav-next\");\n const prevBtn = container.querySelector(\".scaler-nav-prev\");\n const paginationEl = container.querySelector(\".scaler-events-pagination\");\n\n if (!swiperWrapper || !template) {\n console.error(\"Scaler Carousel: Missing required elements inside container\");\n return;\n }\n\n const swiper = new Swiper(swiperElement, {\n slidesPerView: \"auto\",\n spaceBetween: 16,\n grabCursor: true,\n observer: true,\n observeParents: true,\n pagination: {\n el: paginationEl,\n clickable: true,\n dynamicBullets: true\n },\n navigation: {\n nextEl: nextBtn,\n prevEl: prevBtn\n },\n });\n\n function showSkeletons(count = 4) {\n swiperWrapper.innerHTML = \"\";\n for (let i = 0; i < count; i++) {\n const clone = template.content.cloneNode(true);\n const card = clone.querySelector(\".scaler-event-card\");\n card.classList.add(\"scaler-event-card--skeleton\");\n swiperWrapper.appendChild(clone);\n }\n swiper.update();\n }\n\n function renderEvents(events) {\n swiperWrapper.innerHTML = \"\";\n\n if (events.length === 0) {\n swiperWrapper.innerHTML = `<div class=\"scaler-events-empty\">No upcoming masterclasses found.<\/div>`;\n return;\n }\n\n const pathParts = location.pathname.split(\"\/\").filter(Boolean);\n const currentSlug = pathParts.length > 0 ? pathParts[pathParts.length - 1] : \"homepage\";\n\n events.forEach(event => {\n const attr = event.attributes;\n const cd = attr.custom_data || {};\n const clone = template.content.cloneNode(true);\n const joinUrl = `\/event\/${attr.slug}\/?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=master_class&utm_content=${currentSlug}`;\n\n \/\/ Instructor headshot\n const instructor = (cd.instructors && cd.instructors[0]) || {};\n const img = clone.querySelector(\".scaler-event-card__image\");\n img.src = instructor.media_url || attr.image_url ||\n \"https:\/\/images.unsplash.com\/photo-1531891437562-4301cf35b7e4?w=200&h=200&fit=crop\";\n img.alt = instructor.name || attr.instructor_name || attr.title;\n\n \/\/ Title + speaker\n clone.querySelector(\".scaler-event-card__title\").textContent = attr.title;\n clone.querySelector(\".js-event-speaker\").textContent = instructor.name || attr.instructor_name || \"\";\n\n \/\/ Live chip vs attendee count\n const isLive = attr.status === \"current\";\n const footer = clone.querySelector(\".scaler-event-card__img-footer\");\n const liveBadge = clone.querySelector(\".scaler-event-card__live-badge\");\n if (isLive) {\n footer.style.display = \"none\";\n liveBadge.style.display = \"flex\";\n liveBadge.textContent = \"Live\";\n } else if (attr.registration_count) {\n clone.querySelector(\".js-event-count\").textContent = attr.registration_count;\n } else {\n footer.style.display = \"none\";\n }\n\n \/\/ Takeaways (up to 2, Know More on the last)\n const takeaways = (cd.takeaways || []).slice(0, 2);\n const listEl = clone.querySelector(\".js-event-takeaways\");\n listEl.innerHTML = \"\";\n takeaways.forEach((t, idx) => {\n const item = document.createElement(\"div\");\n item.className = \"scaler-event-card__takeaway-item\";\n const dot = document.createElement(\"span\");\n dot.className = \"scaler-event-card__dot\";\n const txt = document.createElement(\"span\");\n txt.className = \"scaler-event-card__takeaway-text\";\n txt.textContent = t;\n item.appendChild(dot);\n item.appendChild(txt);\n if (idx === takeaways.length - 1) {\n const km = document.createElement(\"a\");\n km.className = \"scaler-event-card__knowmore\";\n km.textContent = \"Know More\";\n km.href = joinUrl;\n item.appendChild(km);\n }\n listEl.appendChild(item);\n });\n\n \/\/ Date + duration\n clone.querySelector(\".js-event-date\").textContent = formatTime(attr.start_time);\n let hrs = \"\";\n if (attr.duration) {\n hrs = (attr.duration \/ 60).toFixed(2);\n } else if (attr.end_time) {\n hrs = (Math.abs(new Date(attr.start_time) - new Date(attr.end_time)) \/ 3600000).toFixed(2);\n }\n clone.querySelector(\".js-event-duration\").textContent = hrs ? `${hrs} Hrs` : \"\";\n\n \/\/ CTA\n clone.querySelector(\".js-event-cta\").href = joinUrl;\n\n swiperWrapper.appendChild(clone);\n });\n\n swiper.update();\n swiper.slideTo(0);\n }\n\n async function fetchEvents() {\n try {\n showSkeletons();\n const res = await fetch(\n \"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/api\/v4\/events?event_type[]=company&distributor=scaler&type=upcoming&serializer_mode=L2&limit=8&program[]=software_development&program[]=data_science&program[]=devops&program[]=ai_ml\"\n );\n const json = await res.json();\n const events = json.data || [];\n renderEvents(events);\n } catch (error) {\n console.error(\"Failed to load events:\", error);\n if(swiperWrapper) swiperWrapper.innerHTML = `<div class=\"scaler-events-empty\">Failed to load events.<\/div>`;\n }\n }\n\n fetchEvents();\n });\n });\n <\/script>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1-pick-one-programming-language-and-learn-it-deeply\"><\/span><strong>1. Pick One Programming Language and Learn It Deeply<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pick a programming language of your choice and start learning basic concepts of it. Once you think you are pretty much familiar with the basics, you can start learning advanced topics of that language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can choose any programming language, there are so many to choose from C++, C, Java, Python, Kotlin, Swift, etc. At the beginning of your career choose a low-level language like C, C++, or Java. Automated languages like Python and Kotlin are easy to learn initially but don\u2019t help you with important concepts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Knowing a language is not always about knowing the syntax of the code. As you learn more about a language, you learn how it is working internally, which operations are costly, what are the conversions involved, how it optimizes, etc. Although you don\u2019t always move to these details, initially learn how to code and later after a few months explore its working. Refer to the official documentation for learning advanced topics for programming languages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Learn time and space complexity calculation for a given code or the code you are writing. Understand best case, average case, and worst case complexity. This will be helpful when in later stages you try to optimize your code.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2-building-a-strong-foundation-on-dsa\"><\/span><strong>2. Building a Strong Foundation on DSA<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">DSA stands for data structures and algorithms. Once you are familiar with the language of your choice, you are required to know the data structures and algorithms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Data Structures are used to store, retrieve, process, and organize data. Choosing the right data structure and algorithm can make a program considerably efficient. Most of the time, we are dealing with data product-based companies who have multiple technical rounds where they ask DSA questions of varying complexity to find candidates having a good grasp on these.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Data Structures<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Start with core <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/topics\/data-structures\/\">data structures<\/a> such as arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees and graphs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       Master common data structures \u2013 Arrays, Stack, Queue, LinkedLists, Set, HashMap, Tree, Graph, Heap, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       Know the purposes of each data structure, and use them a few times in your code.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       Learn the workings and try to implement these data structures in your code.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Algorithms<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       Learn basic sorting and searching algorithms like Binary search, Insertion sort, Selection sort, Quick sort, Merge sort, Count sort, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       Practice advanced algorithms such as Backtracking, Bit Manipulation, Dynamic Programming, Graph algorithms, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Various YouTube channels provide complete playlists for DSA, and books such as \u201cIntroduction to Algorithms\u201d, \u201cAlgorithms\u201d, \u201cAdvanced Data Structures\u201d, etc. can be helpful.  Also, some of the creators have provided a <a href=\"https:\/\/450dsa.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DSA sheet<\/a> consisting of 100 to 400 frequently asked questions or you can refer to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.interviewbit.com\/courses\/programming\/?utm_source=Ib&utm_medium=programming&utm_campaign=webstories\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Interviewbit DSA track<\/a> which broadly covers almost all the topics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By the end of this module, you should be extremely confident in implementing the basic and advanced data structures and algorithms. Apply time and space complexity concepts to these.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A complete list of data structures and algorithms along with practice problems asked in interviews with popular companies can be found on InterviewBit. Leetcode is also a popular platform to learn coding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Questions on these platforms are marked Easy, Medium, and Hard\/Difficult. In the interviews of SDE1 Easy and Medium questions are asked most of the time, Medium and Hard questions are for SDE2 and SDE3 interviews. Still, it is suggested to solve all types of questions as there are only a few Hard types of problems that are difficult to solve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3-master-core-computer-science-subjects\"><\/span><strong>3. Master Core Computer Science Subjects<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Knowledge of basic computer science subjects will help in interviews as well as professional work. They help in understanding the complete flow and working of application development. By mastering these topics you will be able to solve complex problems, be able to create robust software, indulge in technical discussions, etc. Thus, take some time and have a good understanding of these. Reference books, courses, college projects, etc. can prove to be helpful while learning these.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>DBMS<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Database Management Systems are used to organize the data in a structured way. Data is present in ample amounts within the company. This needs to be stored, used, and applied appropriately for the company\u2019s benefit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For SDE1 learn the basics of DBMS, and know the CRUD operations with a basic DBMS like SQL. Create projects that use a database and are dynamically interacting with the database.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For SDE2 and SDE3 read books on Database Management, and learn architectural designing of Databases, Normalization, etc. especially for the one\u2019s aiming for an administrator role. Some of the famous books are \u201cFundamentals of Database Systems\u201d, \u201cDatabase System Concepts\u201d, and \u201cFundamentals of Database Management Systems\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Computer Networks<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Computer Networks also known as CN is the study of interconnected computing devices for the exchange and sharing of data and resources. It comprises interconnected and interconnected networks. Learn how <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/topics\/computer-network\/\">computer networks<\/a> move data, from the OSI model to TCP and HTTP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Possibly, you will hardly need it at the SDE1 level but as your experience grows you will see a bigger picture of the product and will be required to apply concepts like Computer Networks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Books are the best resource to learn such complex topics. Refer to \u201cComputer Networking \u2013 Top Down Approach by Kurose, Ross\u201d, \u201cComputer Networks by Tanenbaum\u201d, \u201cTCP\/IP illustrated by Richard Stevens\u201d, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Operating Systems<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Operating Systems is the most important topic for all the roles. You must know the architecture and the System you are working on. Linux, MacOS, and Windows are widely used, they are the interface between the hardware and the software. If you learn operating systems you will realize how beautifully these are implemented and how our code is executed optimally in fractions of seconds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Interviewers focus on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/topics\/operating-system\/\">operating system concepts<\/a> like processes, threads and deadlocks. These are the most-asked OS topics in SDE interviews:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       <strong>Processes vs threads:<\/strong> What each one owns (memory, stack, resources) and why threads are cheaper to switch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       <strong>CPU scheduling:<\/strong> FCFS, shortest job first, round robin and priority scheduling, and their trade-offs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       <strong>Synchronisation and deadlock:<\/strong> Mutexes, semaphores, the four conditions for deadlock and how to prevent it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       <strong>Memory management:<\/strong> Paging, segmentation, virtual memory and page replacement (LRU, FIFO).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are several ways to learn operating systems, you can refer to books, articles, courses, YouTube, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Computer Architecture<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Computer architecture is a set of components that form components of a computer system. It consists of system design, instruction set architecture, and microarchitecture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Computer architecture is an advanced topic and is useful, especially for SDE3 or SDE2. Online courses on platforms like Udemy or Coursera can surely help in learning these concepts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Software Engineering Basics: SDLC, Testing and Agile<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Explore the basics of software engineering like engineering principles, processes, architecture, tools, stacks, etc. Also, learn soft skills like good listening, communication, teamwork, documentation, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Start with the software development life cycle (SDLC): plan, design, build, test, deploy and maintain. The 7 SDLC models you’ll hear about most are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">1. <strong>Waterfall:<\/strong> Each phase finishes before the next starts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">2. <strong>Agile (Scrum):<\/strong> Short sprints with working software at the end of each one. Most product companies work this way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">3. <strong>Spiral:<\/strong> Repeated cycles with a risk analysis in each loop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">4. <strong>V-model:<\/strong> Every development phase is paired with a matching test phase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">5. <strong>Iterative:<\/strong> Build a basic version, then improve it in rounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">6. <strong>Incremental:<\/strong> Ship the product in working pieces, one feature set at a time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">7. <strong>RAD (Rapid Application Development):<\/strong> Quick prototypes and user feedback over heavy upfront planning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Also learn the basics of testing (unit tests for single functions, integration tests for components working together) and how code review works. Interviewers often ask how you test your projects, so have a real answer ready.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is not possible and necessary to read all the books at a time, but when you are in college, or your initial years start reading these books. You are only expected to know the basics and you are not expected to read but it will surely help you stand out at times. These topics are taught in university education as courses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4-learn-object-oriented-programming-oop-concepts\"><\/span><strong>4. Learn Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) Concepts<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">OOP paradigm features such as Abstraction, Encapsulation, Inheritance, and Polymorphism with real-life relation. C, C++, and Java are object-oriented programming languages. Everything in OOP languages is seen as classes and objects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">OOP is a very elementary topic it is really easy to understand as it relates a lot to the real world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Questions on OOP are asked in the initial coding test in MCQs or during interviews. Some of the features are language-specific like Java doesn\u2019t provide multiple inheritance, so such cases must be clear as well. Features of OOPs, their real-life example, types, etc are common interview questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Four Pillars of OOP With Examples<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       <strong>Encapsulation:<\/strong> Bundling data with the methods that use it, and hiding the internals. A BankAccount class exposes deposit() but keeps the balance private.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       <strong>Abstraction:<\/strong> Showing what an object does, not how. You call car.start() without knowing how the ignition works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       <strong>Inheritance:<\/strong> A class reusing another class’s behaviour. A SavingsAccount inherits from BankAccount.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       <strong>Polymorphism:<\/strong> One interface, many behaviours. A draw() call works differently for a Circle and a Square.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       Have in-depth knowledge of inheritance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       Implementation of inheritance and its various types such as hybrid, multiple, etc. in your code.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       Understand how real-world analogy. See how this interface is used in the real-world industry. What is a handler, provider, helper, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/whimsical.com\/object-oriented-programming-cheatsheet-by-love-babbar-YbSgLatbWQ4R5paV7EgqFw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Refer<\/a> to this sheet for all the resources and study material.<\/p>\n\n\n<meta charset=\"UTF-8\">\n <meta name=\"viewport\" content=\"width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0\">\n\n <!-- Source Sans Pro (topics font) -->\n <link href=\"https:\/\/fonts.googleapis.com\/css2?family=Source+Sans+3:wght@400;600;700&display=swap\" rel=\"stylesheet\">\n <link rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.jsdelivr.net\/npm\/swiper@11\/swiper-bundle.min.css\">\n <script src=\"https:\/\/cdn.jsdelivr.net\/npm\/swiper@11\/swiper-bundle.min.js\"><\/script>\n\n <style>\n :root {\n --cl-primary: #005bb3;\n --cl-brand-blue: #255aad;\n --cl-card-bg: #ffffff;\n --cl-surface: #f6f7f8;\n --cl-border: #d6dee5;\n --cl-text-primary: #1a2c47; \/* neutral-scale-12 *\/\n --cl-text-secondary: #61738e; \/* neutral-scale-9 *\/\n --cl-radius: 16px;\n --cl-radius-sm: 8px;\n --cl-shadow: 0 8px 16px 0 rgba(50, 71, 102, 0.16);\n }\n\n .scaler-courses * { box-sizing: border-box; }\n\n .scaler-courses {\n font-family: \"Source Sans 3\", \"Source Sans Pro\", \"Roboto\", Arial, sans-serif;\n padding: 24px;\n width: 100%;\n }\n .scaler-courses__inner {\n max-width: 1000px;\n margin: 0 auto;\n position: relative;\n width: 100%;\n }\n\n \/* Header *\/\n .scaler-courses__header {\n display: flex;\n align-items: center;\n gap: 8px;\n margin-bottom: 8px;\n padding: 8px 0;\n }\n .scaler-courses__header-icon { display: inline-flex; color: var(--cl-text-primary); }\n .scaler-courses__header-icon svg { width: 24px; height: 24px; }\n .scaler-courses__title {\n font-size: 18px;\n font-weight: 700;\n color: var(--cl-text-primary);\n line-height: 1.3;\n margin: 0;\n }\n\n \/* Swiper *\/\n .scaler-courses__swiper-wrap { position: relative; }\n .scaler-courses .swiper { width: 100%; padding: 4px; }\n .scaler-courses-swiper .swiper-slide {\n width: 296px;\n height: auto;\n display: flex;\n }\n\n \/* Card *\/\n .scaler-course-card {\n display: flex;\n flex-direction: column;\n width: 100%;\n height: 100%;\n min-height: 336px;\n background: var(--cl-card-bg);\n border: 1px solid var(--cl-border);\n border-radius: var(--cl-radius);\n overflow: hidden;\n text-decoration: none;\n cursor: pointer;\n transition: box-shadow 0.2s ease;\n }\n .scaler-course-card:hover { box-shadow: 0 2px 12px rgba(50, 71, 102, 0.12); }\n\n .scaler-course-card__image {\n width: 100%;\n height: 128px;\n min-height: 128px;\n object-fit: cover;\n background: var(--cl-surface);\n display: block;\n }\n\n .scaler-course-card__detail {\n display: flex;\n flex-direction: column;\n flex: 1 1 auto;\n padding: 16px 16px 8px;\n }\n .scaler-course-card__heading,\n .scaler-course-card__heading:link,\n .scaler-course-card__heading:visited {\n font-size: 20px;\n font-weight: 600;\n line-height: 1.4;\n color: var(--cl-text-primary) !important;\n margin: 0 0 8px;\n white-space: nowrap;\n overflow: hidden;\n text-overflow: ellipsis;\n }\n .scaler-course-card__instructor {\n font-size: 14px;\n line-height: 1.86;\n color: var(--cl-text-primary);\n white-space: nowrap;\n overflow: hidden;\n text-overflow: ellipsis;\n }\n .scaler-course-card__instructor b { font-weight: 700; }\n .scaler-course-card__desc {\n flex-grow: 1;\n margin-top: 8px;\n margin-bottom: 12px;\n font-size: 16px;\n line-height: 1.5;\n color: var(--cl-text-secondary);\n display: -webkit-box;\n -webkit-line-clamp: 2;\n -webkit-box-orient: vertical;\n overflow: hidden;\n }\n\n .scaler-course-card__footer {\n display: flex;\n align-items: center;\n justify-content: space-between;\n width: 100%;\n }\n .scaler-course-card__stat {\n display: flex;\n align-items: center;\n gap: 4px;\n font-size: 14px;\n color: var(--cl-text-primary);\n }\n .scaler-course-card__stat svg { width: 18px; height: 18px; flex-shrink: 0; }\n .scaler-course-card__stat img { width: 20px; height: 20px; flex-shrink: 0; }\n\n \/* Side arrows *\/\n .scaler-courses__nav {\n position: absolute !important;\n top: 50% !important;\n transform: translateY(-50%) !important;\n z-index: 2;\n width: 46px !important; height: 46px !important; min-width: 46px;\n display: flex !important; align-items: center; justify-content: center;\n padding: 0 !important;\n background: var(--cl-card-bg) !important;\n border: none !important;\n border-radius: var(--cl-radius-sm) !important;\n box-shadow: var(--cl-shadow) !important;\n color: var(--cl-text-secondary) !important;\n cursor: pointer;\n transition: opacity 0.2s ease, visibility 0.2s ease;\n }\n .scaler-courses__nav--prev { left: 8px !important; }\n .scaler-courses__nav--next { right: 8px !important; }\n .scaler-courses__nav svg { width: 20px !important; height: 20px !important; fill: var(--cl-text-secondary) !important; }\n .scaler-courses__nav.swiper-button-disabled { opacity: 0; visibility: hidden; pointer-events: none; }\n\n .scaler-courses .swiper-button-prev,\n .scaler-courses .swiper-button-next,\n .scaler-courses .swiper-pagination { display: none; }\n\n \/* Skeleton *\/\n .scaler-course-card--skeleton { pointer-events: none; }\n .scaler-course-card--skeleton .scaler-course-card__image,\n .scaler-course-card--skeleton .scaler-course-card__heading,\n .scaler-course-card--skeleton .scaler-course-card__instructor,\n .scaler-course-card--skeleton .scaler-course-card__desc,\n .scaler-course-card--skeleton .scaler-course-card__footer {\n background: linear-gradient(90deg, var(--cl-border) 25%, var(--cl-surface) 50%, var(--cl-border) 75%);\n background-size: 200% 100%;\n animation: cl-shimmer 1.5s infinite;\n color: transparent !important;\n border-radius: 4px;\n }\n .scaler-course-card--skeleton .scaler-course-card__heading { height: 24px; margin: 0 0 8px; }\n .scaler-course-card--skeleton .scaler-course-card__instructor { height: 16px; }\n .scaler-course-card--skeleton .scaler-course-card__footer { height: 20px; }\n @keyframes cl-shimmer { 0% { background-position: 200% 0; } 100% { background-position: -200% 0; } }\n\n .scaler-courses__empty { display: none; }\n\n @media (max-width: 768px) {\n .scaler-courses { padding: 16px; }\n .scaler-courses-swiper .swiper-slide { width: 260px; }\n .scaler-courses__nav { display: none !important; }\n }\n <\/style>\n\n\n <div class=\"scaler-courses js-scaler-courses\">\n\n <template class=\"js-course-card-template\">\n <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\n <a class=\"scaler-course-card js-course-link\" href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"scaler-course-card__image js-course-image\" src=\"\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\">\n <div class=\"scaler-course-card__detail\">\n <div class=\"scaler-course-card__heading js-course-title\"><\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-course-card__instructor js-course-instructor\"><\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-course-card__desc js-course-desc\"><\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-course-card__footer\">\n <span class=\"scaler-course-card__stat js-course-star\">\n <svg fill=\"currentColor\" viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M14.83 2.868c0.342-0.239 0.75-0.368 1.168-0.368s0.826 0.128 1.168 0.368c0.338 0.236 0.596 0.569 0.741 0.955l2.759 6.936c0.003 0.007 0.007 0.013 0.013 0.017s0.013 0.007 0.020 0.007l7.402 0.476c0.411 0.036 0.802 0.194 1.124 0.452s0.559 0.607 0.683 1 0.127 0.815 0.011 1.211c-0.116 0.396-0.347 0.748-0.664 1.013l-5.655 4.714c-0.013 0.011-0.022 0.025-0.028 0.040s-0.006 0.032-0.002 0.047l1.821 7.163c0.107 0.395 0.094 0.812-0.037 1.2-0.133 0.391-0.38 0.734-0.71 0.983s-0.727 0.393-1.14 0.413c-0.413 0.020-0.822-0.084-1.175-0.3l-0.015-0.009-6.307-4.005c-0.004-0.003-0.009-0.004-0.014-0.004s-0.009 0.001-0.013 0.004l-5.876 3.721c-0.389 0.235-0.839 0.347-1.292 0.323s-0.889-0.184-1.251-0.459c-0.361-0.275-0.632-0.652-0.777-1.082-0.143-0.426-0.157-0.885-0.038-1.319l1.684-6.629c0.004-0.016 0.003-0.033-0.002-0.049s-0.015-0.030-0.027-0.040l-5.653-4.714c-0.317-0.264-0.548-0.617-0.664-1.013s-0.112-0.817 0.011-1.211c0.124-0.394 0.361-0.742 0.683-1s0.713-0.416 1.124-0.452l0.023-0.002 7.38-0.476c0.007-0 0.014-0.003 0.020-0.007s0.010-0.010 0.013-0.017l0.008-0.020 2.746-6.913c0.145-0.386 0.403-0.719 0.741-0.956z\"\/><\/svg>\n <span class=\"js-course-star-val\"><\/span>\n <\/span>\n <span class=\"scaler-course-card__stat\">\n <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/d19zaobb0foqu6.cloudfront.net\/topics\/images\/user-check-dark.svg\" alt=\"Enrolled\" loading=\"lazy\">\n <span class=\"js-course-reg\"><\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/template>\n\n <div class=\"scaler-courses__inner\">\n <div class=\"scaler-courses__header\">\n <span class=\"scaler-courses__header-icon\">\n <svg fill=\"currentColor\" viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M26.259 23.289h-20.518c-1.193 0-2.16-0.967-2.16-2.16v0-14.588c0-1.193 0.967-2.16 2.16-2.16v0h20.518c1.193 0 2.16 0.967 2.16 2.16v0 14.588c0 1.193-0.967 2.16-2.16 2.16v0zM5.741 5.501c-0.574 0-1.040 0.466-1.040 1.040v0 14.588c0 0.574 0.466 1.040 1.040 1.040v0h20.518c0.574 0 1.040-0.466 1.040-1.040v0-14.588c0-0.574-0.466-1.040-1.040-1.040v0z\"\/><path d=\"M19.764 27.619h-7.53c-0.309 0-0.56-0.251-0.56-0.56v0c0-0.309 0.251-0.56 0.56-0.56h7.53c0.309 0 0.56 0.251 0.56 0.56v0c0 0.309-0.251 0.56-0.56 0.56v0z\"\/><path d=\"M14.023 9.322c0.116 0 0.223 0.035 0.312 0.096l-0.002-0.001 5.93 3.953c0.151 0.102 0.249 0.272 0.249 0.466s-0.098 0.364-0.247 0.465l-0.002 0.001-5.93 3.953c-0.087 0.059-0.195 0.094-0.31 0.094-0.309 0-0.56-0.25-0.56-0.559v-7.906c0-0.309 0.251-0.56 0.56-0.56v0zM18.943 13.835l-4.36-2.906v5.813z\"\/><\/svg>\n <\/span>\n <h2 class=\"scaler-courses__title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"free-courses-by-top-scaler-instructors\"><\/span>Free Courses by top Scaler instructors<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n <\/div>\n\n <div class=\"scaler-courses__swiper-wrap\">\n <div class=\"swiper scaler-courses-swiper\">\n <div class=\"swiper-wrapper js-courses-wrapper\"><\/div>\n <div class=\"swiper-pagination\"><\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <button class=\"scaler-courses__nav scaler-courses__nav--prev js-courses-prev\" aria-label=\"Previous\">\n <svg fill=\"currentColor\" viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" style=\"transform: rotate(-90deg);\"><path d=\"M5.313 16l10.688-10.688 10.688 10.688-1.938 1.875-7.438-7.438v16.25h-2.625v-16.25l-7.5 7.438z\"\/><\/svg>\n <\/button>\n <button class=\"scaler-courses__nav scaler-courses__nav--next js-courses-next\" aria-label=\"Next\">\n <svg fill=\"currentColor\" viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" style=\"transform: rotate(90deg);\"><path d=\"M5.313 16l10.688-10.688 10.688 10.688-1.938 1.875-7.438-7.438v16.25h-2.625v-16.25l-7.5 7.438z\"\/><\/svg>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <script>\n document.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", () => {\n const EXTRA_COUNT_ADDED = 1000;\n\n \/\/ Mirrors getInstructorStar(): first token of the headline.\n function getInstructorStar(headline) {\n return (headline || \"\").toString().split(\" \")[0] || \"\";\n }\n\n document.querySelectorAll(\".js-scaler-courses\").forEach(container => {\n if (container.dataset.initialized === \"true\") return;\n container.dataset.initialized = \"true\";\n\n const swiperElement = container.querySelector(\".scaler-courses-swiper\");\n const wrapper = container.querySelector(\".js-courses-wrapper\");\n const template = container.querySelector(\".js-course-card-template\");\n const nextBtn = container.querySelector(\".js-courses-next\");\n const prevBtn = container.querySelector(\".js-courses-prev\");\n\n if (!wrapper || !template) return;\n\n const swiper = new Swiper(swiperElement, {\n slidesPerView: \"auto\",\n spaceBetween: 16,\n grabCursor: true,\n observer: true,\n observeParents: true,\n navigation: { nextEl: nextBtn, prevEl: prevBtn },\n });\n\n const pathParts = location.pathname.split(\"\/\").filter(Boolean);\n const currentSlug = pathParts.length > 0 ? pathParts[pathParts.length - 1] : \"homepage\";\n\n function showSkeletons(count = 4) {\n wrapper.innerHTML = \"\";\n for (let i = 0; i < count; i++) {\n const clone = template.content.cloneNode(true);\n clone.querySelector(\".scaler-course-card\").classList.add(\"scaler-course-card--skeleton\");\n wrapper.appendChild(clone);\n }\n swiper.update();\n }\n\n function renderCourses(courses) {\n wrapper.innerHTML = \"\";\n if (!courses.length) { container.style.display = \"none\"; return; }\n\n courses.forEach(item => {\n const a = item.attributes || {};\n const clone = template.content.cloneNode(true);\n const instructor = (a.instructors_data && a.instructors_data[0]) || {};\n\n clone.querySelector(\".js-course-link\").href =\n `https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/topics\/course\/${a.slug}\/?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=free_courses&utm_content=${currentSlug}`;\n\n const img = clone.querySelector(\".js-course-image\");\n img.src = a.cover_image_thumbnail || a.featured_image || \"\";\n img.alt = a.title || \"\";\n\n clone.querySelector(\".js-course-title\").textContent = a.title || \"\";\n\n const instrEl = clone.querySelector(\".js-course-instructor\");\n if (instructor.name) {\n instrEl.innerHTML = \"A Course by <b><\/b>\";\n instrEl.querySelector(\"b\").textContent = instructor.name;\n } else {\n instrEl.style.display = \"none\";\n }\n\n clone.querySelector(\".js-course-desc\").textContent = a.description || \"\";\n\n \/\/ Star\n const star = getInstructorStar(instructor.star_headline);\n const starWrap = clone.querySelector(\".js-course-star\");\n if (star && star !== \"0\") clone.querySelector(\".js-course-star-val\").textContent = star;\n else starWrap.style.display = \"none\";\n\n \/\/ Enrolled count (+1000 like topics)\n clone.querySelector(\".js-course-reg\").textContent =\n ((a.user_registration_count || 0) + EXTRA_COUNT_ADDED).toLocaleString(\"en-US\");\n\n wrapper.appendChild(clone);\n });\n\n swiper.update();\n swiper.slideTo(0);\n }\n\n async function fetchCourses() {\n try {\n showSkeletons();\n \/\/ Public same-origin endpoint (topics course search). Returns 6 free courses.\n const res = await fetch(\"\/topics\/api\/v1\/search\/courses\", {\n method: \"POST\",\n headers: {\n \"Content-Type\": \"application\/json\",\n \"Accept\": \"application\/json\",\n \"X-Requested-With\": \"XMLHttpRequest\",\n },\n body: JSON.stringify({\n filters: {\n q: \"\",\n page: { limit: 6, current_page: 1 },\n sort: { key: \"user_registration_count\", order: \"desc\" },\n filter_type: null,\n tags: [],\n program: [],\n level: [],\n category_type: [],\n },\n }),\n });\n const json = await res.json();\n const courses = (json && json.data) || [];\n renderCourses(courses);\n } catch (error) {\n console.error(\"Failed to load courses:\", error);\n container.style.display = \"none\";\n }\n }\n\n fetchCourses();\n });\n });\n <\/script>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5-learn-low-level-design-lld-and-high-level-design-hld\"><\/span><strong>5. Learn Low-Level Design (LLD) and High-Level Design (HLD)<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During a Low-level Design Interview, the answers are expected based on years of experience of an individual. Your code must follow OOP principles and design patterns. There is no complete solution and therefore the choices you make the decisions you take are your thought process is analyzed think out loud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For SDE2 and SDE3 there is an interview round of System Design. Companies hire individuals who can develop robust and scalable applications and have a good understanding of the tradeoffs. HLD is mostly about the architecture that will be used to develop a system. The architecture diagram is useful to see the entire system and its components and interfaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>LLD Roadmap<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       <strong>Design Patterns:<\/strong>Learn various design patterns, you may be asked to talk about them during interviews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       <strong>OOP:<\/strong>Study Object Oriented Programming principles well and know how to apply them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       <strong>SOLID Principal:<\/strong>You can support your reasoning during the interview with the help of Solid Principals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       <strong>Previously Asked Questions:<\/strong>ALways refer to questions asked previously, it will help you have a good understanding of the problem during the interview.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       <strong>Questions:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/leetcode.com\/discuss\/interview-question\/490962\/Design-Meeting-Scheduler\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Design Meeting Scheduler<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/leetcode.com\/discuss\/interview-question\/2594594\/Amazon-Low-Level-Design-roundor-Bangalore\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Shopping Cart Service<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       <strong>Interview:<\/strong> Understand the problem, if you have questions ask. Collect all the required details and then start with basic features and functionalities. Define classes\/ objects. Establish the relationship between them. Define methods to fulfill the requirements. Apply design patterns and OOD principles. If asked to write code, write well-structured code.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>HLD Roadmap<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7      <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/NtMvNh0WFVM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> Refer<\/a> to this video to understand the process, question, and response for an HLD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       Read basic system design principles: clarify the requirements including functional and non-functional; estimate the resources required for storage, bandwidth, etc; understand the data flow; design high-level components; design the architecture of the system; identify and address the issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       Go through example questions and answers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       Pick up fresh questions and try to answer them through reasoning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Note<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You must have a good reason for each design you have made in the design. For a full learning sequence, follow our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/blog\/system-design-roadmap-2026-complete-guide-from-beginner-to-advanced\/\">system design roadmap<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6-use-ai-tools-in-your-sde-workflow\"><\/span><strong>6. Use AI Tools in Your SDE Workflow<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">AI coding tools are now part of the daily SDE job, so learn to use them well. Just don’t let them do your thinking for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Where AI tools for software engineers genuinely help:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       <strong>Boilerplate and tests:<\/strong> GitHub Copilot or Cursor can draft repetitive code and unit tests in seconds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       <strong>Understanding code:<\/strong> ChatGPT or Claude can explain an unfamiliar codebase, a stack trace or a regex you wrote six months ago and no longer recognise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       <strong>Code review:<\/strong> AI reviewers catch obvious bugs and style issues before a teammate has to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Where they don’t help:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       <strong>DSA interview rounds:<\/strong> You still solve problems on your own, usually without AI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       <strong>Owning your code:<\/strong> You must be able to explain every line you submit. “Copilot wrote it” is not an answer interviewers accept.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>A new skill worth adding:<\/strong> call an LLM API in one of your projects, for example a semantic search feature. You’ll learn to think about latency, cost per request and what data you’re sending to a third party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Practical rule:<\/strong> solve the problem yourself first, then use AI to compare approaches. That’s how you get faster without getting weaker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7-build-hands-on-projects-that-show-engineering-depth\"><\/span><strong>7. Build Hands-On Projects That Show Engineering Depth<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Learning concepts is okay, but recruiters are more interested if you can show them that you can also apply these concepts. Hands-on projects or learning by doing is a very common practice followed by engineers to expertise a skill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whatever you learn, try making a small project based on it. Also, when you complete the multiple topics apply it in a big project. This project will help in showcasing your skills to the interviewers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some of the most common projects include To-Do Lists, E-commerce websites, and Management systems. Refer to these projects, study them, and try to build your own version. You can also refer to open-source projects to get a better idea of how code is written for huge projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can also refer to famous websites, applications, or services and try to clone them as your mini version of that project. Maybe add a new feature that you wished it had and make improvements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7      <a href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/bagisto\/bagisto\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> E-commerce Website<\/a><strong>:<\/strong> It is an e-commerce website where they have used web development and a database.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7      <a href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/GorvGoyl\/Clone-Wars\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> Popular Clones:<\/a> Here they have provided clones of various websites like Amazon, Netflix, etc. It is good to explore and have a basic idea of how these would be working.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7      <a href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/The-Cool-Coders\/Project-Ideas-And-Resources\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> Project ideas and resources:<\/a> Here\u2019s a list of projects that you can explore and build your own. For beginners start with simple projects like password generator or the tic tac toe. Later you can build intermediate projects like chatbots, movie apps, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To-do apps won’t get you shortlisted on their own. Pick projects that prove a specific skill:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Level<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Project<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>What it proves to interviewers<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Beginner<\/td><td>CLI expense tracker<\/td><td>You know one language well, plus file I\/O and clean code structure<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Intermediate<\/td><td>URL shortener with a REST API, database and Redis caching<\/td><td>Backend basics, database design and caching<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Advanced<\/td><td>Rate-limited chat service or job scheduler<\/td><td>Concurrency, queues and system design thinking<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>AI add-on<\/td><td>RAG-based document Q&A over your own notes<\/td><td>LLM integration, embeddings and cost\/latency trade-offs<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you’d rather specialise in building web apps end to end, see the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/blog\/full-stack-developer-roadmap\/\">full stack developer roadmap<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Building hands-on projects enhances creativity, problem-solving, self-confidence, critical thinking, etc. One learns project management and sees a clear picture of everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"8-get-certifications-optional-but-useful\"><\/span><strong>8. Get Certifications (Optional but Useful)<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Professional certifications help in personal growth and learning new concepts from industry experts. These provide the flexibility to learn from anywhere and even professionals can use certification courses to upskill and receive promotions in their current jobs. This investment of time and resources can provide specialization in one domain and enhance our skill set and understanding of that topic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Be realistic, though: product companies rarely shortlist SDEs on certifications. They help most for cloud skills or when you’re switching domains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some of the popular certifications you can rely on are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">1. IBM DevOps and Software Engineering Professional Certificate: This is perfect for beginners looking to launch their career in the industry. It provides software development skills along with DevOps, and other tools and technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">2. AWS Certified Developer \u2013 Associate: Almost every company is either already using the cloud or is shifting its resources to the cloud. Having knowledge of one of the cloud services is really important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">3. Microsoft Azure Fundamentals: Azure is again another cloud platform by Microsoft. Along with the cloud, it is beneficial to know software engineering concepts like storage, development, networking, security, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">4. IEEE Computer Society Certified Software Professional (Level 1 or Level 2): A vendor-neutral credential on software engineering fundamentals. It replaced the older Professional Software Developer certification, which was discontinued in February 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As an engineer, we are never going to work with a single technology or the same things. We need to upskill now and then to stay competitive. A certification is a useful extra; your projects and interview performance are still what get you hired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"9-sharpen-soft-skills-and-analytical-skills\"><\/span><strong>9. Sharpen Soft Skills and Analytical Skills<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Apart from technical skills, an engineer is expected to hold soft skills and analytical skills which will help them interact with clients and handle problems wisely. Engineers are needed to work in teams, communicate, be expressive while sharing their ideas as well as be willing to understand alternative approaches suggested by others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Soft Skills<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Soft skills are essential for software developers. Whether be it interpersonal skills or technical skills both are extremely important for an engineer. As a developer one is required to communicate complex technical ideas or problems to colleagues or clients. This requires a clear understanding as well as the ability to express and interpret your ideas properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Similarly, Emotional intelligence is necessary to understand one\u2019s attributes and develop empathy towards teammates, customers, and others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here are some tips to improve soft skills:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       Seek feedback<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       Communicate regularly<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       Build honest and strong relationships<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       Get outside your comfort zone<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       Be always ready to learn<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       Take leadership responsibilities whenever possible<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       Always be prepared to adapt and be flexible to work and learn new things<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Analytical Skills<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Decision-making is one of the skills that most of the recruiters look for in an individual. Analytical skills refer to one\u2019s ability to solve problems, make decisions, analyze information, etc. Simple and complex problems can be sorted by detecting patterns and integrating them with existing data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here are some of the analytical skills one should work on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       Creativity<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       Critical Thinking<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       Data Analysis<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       Organization<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"10-prepare-for-sde-1-sde-2-and-sde-3-interviews\"><\/span><strong>10. Prepare for SDE-1, SDE-2 and SDE-3 Interviews<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Solving questions will help you have a stronger understanding of the technical topics and build a problem-solving mindset. You will be able to know fundamental concepts and build confidence in interviews. Also, solving a particular type of question will help you solve similar problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       For the last few months before the interview process start solving DSA problems. Do not miss out on any data structure or algorithm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       Learn design principles to make your code follow good coding practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       Follow the following coding principles: DRY (Don\u2019t Repeat Yourself), YAGNI (You aren\u2019t gonna need it), SOLID principles and Separation of Concerns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       Know your projects well \u2013 study them properly and be prepared to answer every single detail about them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       Practice mock sessions of problem-solving as well as interview<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Soft skills questions and DSA questions are common at every level. What changes is how much design and leadership gets added on top.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>SDE-1 Interview: Rounds and Sample Questions<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Specifically for the SDE1 interview follow these additional steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       Study Computer Science subjects like computer networks, object-oriented programming, databases, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       Refer to technical blogs as well as system design videos to tackle system design videos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       Solve problems on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.interviewbit.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">InterviewBIT<\/a> and leetcode<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       <strong>Basic DSA:<\/strong> Easy to medium questions on linked lists, stacks, queues, trees, hash tables and sorting, with the occasional hard one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       <strong>CS fundamentals:<\/strong> Operating systems, computer networks, DBMS and OOP questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       <strong>Problem-solving:<\/strong> Breaking a problem down, picking an efficient approach and writing clean code while explaining it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       <strong>Project and class design:<\/strong> Questions about your projects and simple class design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       <strong>Non-technical:<\/strong> Teamwork and communication; some companies add an aptitude round at the start and an HR round at the end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>SDE-2 Interview: Rounds and Sample Questions<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       <strong>DSA rounds (medium to hard):<\/strong> Heaps, graphs and advanced tree problems. Sample: “Find the k most frequent elements in a stream” or “Detect a cycle in a directed graph”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       <strong>LLD \/ machine coding:<\/strong> A 1.5\u20133 hour round where you build a working, tested design using the four pillars of OOP and design patterns. Sample: “Design a parking lot” or “Design snake and ladder”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       <strong>HLD round:<\/strong> Databases, caching, load balancing and basic distributed systems. Sample: “Design a URL shortener”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       <strong>Behavioural:<\/strong> Ownership, handling conflict and guiding juniors. Prepare 4\u20135 STAR stories from real projects, and check company-specific question patterns before the loop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>SDE-3 Interview: Rounds and Sample Questions<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       <strong>DSA rounds (hard):<\/strong> Fewer questions, deeper follow-ups on complexity and edge cases. Sample: “Median of a data stream”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       <strong>Machine coding:<\/strong> Harder, role-specific problems where your code must be secure, maintainable and extensible. Sample: “Design an in-memory rate limiter”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       <strong>Scalable system design:<\/strong> Architecture decisions with real cost and reliability trade-offs. Sample: “Design a chat system for 10 million users” or “Design a news feed”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       <strong>Leadership and bar-raiser:<\/strong> Leading a team, mentoring and making hard technical calls. Expect “Tell me about a design decision you reversed”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You will get interview experience articles on Medium, LinkedIn, Quora, and other similar websites which can be helpful in the preparation. You may also contact existing employees on LinkedIn to learn more about the company\u2019s interview process.<\/p>\n\n\n<style data-wp-block-html=\"css\">\n<style>\n :root {\n --sp-brand: #255aad; \/* brand blue *\/\n --sp-brand-hover: #19468c;\n --sp-card-bg: #ffffff; \/* neutral-scale-0 *\/\n --sp-surface: #f4f6f9; \/* neutral-scale-2 *\/\n --sp-pill-bg: #f8fafc;\n --sp-border: #d6dee5; \/* neutral-scale-4 *\/\n --sp-text-primary: #1a2c47; \/* neutral-scale-12 *\/\n --sp-text-secondary: #61738e; \/* neutral-scale-9 *\/\n }\n\n .scaler-placement * { box-sizing: border-box; }\n\n .scaler-placement {\n font-family: \"Source Sans 3\", \"Source Sans Pro\", \"Roboto\", Arial, sans-serif;\n width: 100%;\n max-width: 100%;\n margin: 24px auto;\n display: flex;\n flex-direction: column;\n }\n\n \/* ---- Placement report (OnlineCallout) ---- *\/\n .scaler-placement__title {\n font-size: 24px;\n font-weight: 600;\n line-height: 1.3;\n color: var(--sp-text-primary);\n margin: 0 0 16px;\n }\n\n .scaler-placement__card {\n display: flex;\n flex-direction: column;\n width: 100%;\n background: var(--sp-card-bg);\n border: 1px solid var(--sp-border);\n border-radius: 20px;\n padding: 16px;\n box-shadow: 0 8px 32px rgba(37, 90, 173, 0.04);\n overflow: hidden;\n gap: 5px;\n }\n\n .scaler-placement__top {\n display: flex;\n flex-direction: row;\n align-items: center;\n width: 100%;\n gap: 18px;\n }\n\n .scaler-placement__stat-block {\n display: flex;\n flex-direction: column;\n justify-content: center;\n align-items: center;\n width: 30%;\n min-width: 200px;\n flex-shrink: 0;\n background: var(--sp-surface);\n border: 1px solid var(--sp-border);\n border-radius: 16px;\n padding: 16px 10px;\n gap: 8px;\n }\n .scaler-placement__stat-number {\n font-size: 48px;\n font-weight: 600;\n line-height: 1;\n color: var(--sp-brand);\n text-align: center;\n }\n .scaler-placement__stat-label {\n font-size: 13px;\n font-weight: 600;\n line-height: 14px;\n color: rgba(37, 90, 173, 0.85);\n text-transform: uppercase;\n letter-spacing: 0.8px;\n }\n\n .scaler-placement__info {\n display: flex;\n flex-direction: column;\n justify-content: center;\n flex: 1;\n gap: 10px;\n }\n .scaler-placement__proof-header {\n display: flex;\n flex-direction: row;\n align-items: center;\n gap: 8px;\n }\n .scaler-placement__proof-header svg { width: 18px; height: 18px; flex-shrink: 0; }\n .scaler-placement__proof-label {\n font-size: 12px;\n font-weight: 600;\n line-height: 16px;\n color: var(--sp-brand);\n text-transform: uppercase;\n letter-spacing: 1px;\n }\n .scaler-placement__body-text {\n font-size: 16px;\n font-weight: 400;\n line-height: 24px;\n color: var(--sp-text-primary);\n margin: 0;\n }\n\n .scaler-placement__bottom {\n display: flex;\n flex-direction: column;\n align-items: flex-start;\n margin-left: calc(30% + 18px);\n width: calc(70% - 18px);\n gap: 12px;\n }\n .scaler-placement__stats-row {\n display: flex;\n flex-direction: row;\n align-items: center;\n gap: 24px;\n }\n .scaler-placement__stat-item {\n display: flex;\n flex-direction: row;\n align-items: center;\n gap: 8px;\n }\n .scaler-placement__stat-item > svg {\n color: var(--sp-brand);\n width: 18px;\n height: 18px;\n flex-shrink: 0;\n }\n .scaler-placement__stat-text {\n display: flex;\n flex-direction: row;\n align-items: center;\n gap: 4px;\n }\n .scaler-placement__stat-value {\n font-size: 16px;\n font-weight: 600;\n line-height: 24px;\n color: var(--sp-text-primary);\n }\n .scaler-placement__stat-desc {\n font-size: 14px;\n font-weight: 400;\n line-height: 20px;\n color: var(--sp-text-secondary);\n }\n\n .scaler-placement__cta,\n .scaler-placement__cta:link,\n .scaler-placement__cta:visited {\n display: inline-flex;\n align-items: center;\n align-self: flex-start;\n font-size: 14px;\n font-weight: 600;\n line-height: 20px;\n color: var(--sp-brand) !important;\n gap: 6px;\n text-decoration: none;\n cursor: pointer;\n margin-top: 2px;\n transition: color 0.25s ease;\n }\n .scaler-placement__cta:hover,\n .scaler-placement__cta:focus { color: var(--sp-brand-hover) !important; }\n .scaler-placement__cta svg {\n width: 14px;\n height: 14px;\n fill: currentColor;\n transition: transform 0.25s ease;\n }\n .scaler-placement__cta:hover svg { transform: translateX(3px); }\n\n \/* ---- Hiring Partners ---- *\/\n .scaler-hiring {\n display: flex;\n align-items: center;\n justify-content: center;\n flex-wrap: wrap;\n gap: 8px 12px;\n margin: 24px 0 8px;\n padding-top: 16px;\n border-top: 1px solid var(--sp-border);\n }\n .scaler-hiring__label {\n font-size: 14px;\n color: var(--sp-text-secondary);\n white-space: nowrap;\n }\n .scaler-hiring__pills {\n display: flex;\n align-items: center;\n flex-wrap: wrap;\n gap: 8px;\n }\n .scaler-hiring__pill {\n display: inline-flex;\n align-items: center;\n gap: 6px;\n padding: 5px 12px 5px 5px;\n background: var(--sp-pill-bg);\n border-radius: 999px;\n }\n .scaler-hiring__badge {\n display: inline-flex;\n align-items: center;\n justify-content: center;\n flex-shrink: 0;\n width: 24px;\n height: 24px;\n border-radius: 50%;\n background: #ffffff;\n }\n .scaler-hiring__logo {\n width: 16px !important;\n height: 16px !important;\n object-fit: contain;\n margin: 0 !important;\n display: block;\n }\n .scaler-hiring__name {\n font-size: 14px;\n font-weight: 600;\n color: var(--sp-text-primary);\n }\n .scaler-hiring__more {\n font-size: 14px;\n color: var(--sp-text-secondary);\n }\n\n @media (max-width: 768px) {\n .scaler-placement__title { font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 12px; }\n .scaler-placement__card { gap: 16px; border-radius: 16px; }\n .scaler-placement__top { gap: 12px; }\n .scaler-placement__stat-block { width: 35%; min-width: 110px; padding: 12px 8px; gap: 4px; }\n .scaler-placement__stat-number { font-size: 24px; }\n .scaler-placement__stat-label { font-size: 10px; }\n .scaler-placement__body-text { font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; }\n .scaler-placement__bottom { margin-left: 0; width: 100%; gap: 16px; }\n .scaler-placement__stats-row { flex-wrap: wrap; gap: 10px 16px; }\n .scaler-placement__stat-value { font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; }\n .scaler-placement__stat-desc { font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; }\n }\n<\/style>\n\n<meta charset=\"UTF-8\">\n <meta name=\"viewport\" content=\"width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0\">\n\n <!-- Source Sans Pro (topics font) -->\n <link href=\"https:\/\/fonts.googleapis.com\/css2?family=Source+Sans+3:wght@400;600;700&display=swap\" rel=\"stylesheet\">\n\n<div class=\"scaler-placement\">\n <h2 class=\"scaler-placement__title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"scaler-placement-report-and-statistics\"><\/span>Scaler Placement Report and Statistics<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n <div class=\"scaler-placement__card\">\n <div class=\"scaler-placement__top\">\n <div class=\"scaler-placement__stat-block\">\n <div class=\"scaler-placement__stat-number\">\u20b923L<\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-placement__stat-label\">AVG CTC<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-placement__info\">\n <div class=\"scaler-placement__proof-header\">\n <svg viewBox=\"0 0 21 21\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M8.64 0 0 8.683V21h12.257l8.64-8.683V0H8.64zm-.11 17.257H3.725v-4.828H8.53v4.828zm7.901-1.88-4.174 4.194V8.684H1.447l4.076-4.14h10.914l-.006 10.83v.004z\" fill=\"#255aad\"><\/path><\/svg>\n <span class=\"scaler-placement__proof-label\">SCALER PLACEMENT PROOF<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <p class=\"scaler-placement__body-text\">\n Scaler learners achieved 2.5x salary growth with average post-Scaler CTC reaching \u20b923L.\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <div class=\"scaler-placement__bottom\">\n <div class=\"scaler-placement__stats-row\">\n <div class=\"scaler-placement__stat-item\">\n <svg fill=\"currentColor\" viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M11.199 7.957c-3.086 0-5.588 2.502-5.588 5.588s2.502 5.588 5.588 5.588c3.086 0 5.588-2.502 5.588-5.588s-2.502-5.588-5.588-5.588zM3.611 13.545c0-4.191 3.397-7.588 7.588-7.588s7.588 3.397 7.588 7.588c0 4.191-3.397 7.588-7.588 7.588s-7.588-3.397-7.588-7.588z\"><\/path><path d=\"M21.090 6.369h0.003c1.989 0 3.897 0.79 5.303 2.197s2.197 3.314 2.197 5.303-0.79 3.897-2.197 5.303c-1.406 1.407-3.314 2.197-5.303 2.197-0.552 0-1-0.448-1-1s0.448-1 1-1c1.459 0 2.858-0.579 3.889-1.611s1.611-2.43 1.611-3.889c0-1.459-0.58-2.858-1.611-3.889s-2.429-1.611-3.888-1.611c-0.507 0.002-1.013 0.070-1.502 0.203-0.533 0.145-1.082-0.17-1.227-0.703s0.17-1.082 0.703-1.227c0.659-0.179 1.339-0.27 2.021-0.272z\"><\/path><path d=\"M10.906 21.364c-1.605 0-3.186 0.386-4.61 1.126s-2.649 1.811-3.572 3.124c-0.318 0.452-0.941 0.561-1.393 0.243s-0.561-0.941-0.243-1.393c1.107-1.576 2.577-2.862 4.286-3.749s3.606-1.351 5.532-1.351 3.823 0.463 5.532 1.351c1.709 0.888 3.179 2.174 4.286 3.749 0.318 0.452 0.209 1.076-0.243 1.393s-1.076 0.209-1.393-0.243c-0.923-1.313-2.148-2.385-3.572-3.124s-3.005-1.126-4.61-1.126z\"><\/path><path d=\"M25.704 22.493c-1.424-0.74-3.005-1.125-4.61-1.124-0.552 0-1-0.447-1.001-0.999s0.447-1 0.999-1.001c1.926-0.001 3.824 0.462 5.533 1.349s3.179 2.174 4.286 3.751c0.317 0.452 0.208 1.076-0.244 1.393s-1.076 0.208-1.393-0.244c-0.922-1.313-2.147-2.385-3.571-3.125z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n <div class=\"scaler-placement__stat-text\">\n <span class=\"scaler-placement__stat-value\">11,000+<\/span>\n <span class=\"scaler-placement__stat-desc\">placements<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-placement__stat-item\">\n <svg fill=\"currentColor\" viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M1.2 27.5c0-0.442 0.358-0.8 0.8-0.8h28c0.442 0 0.8 0.358 0.8 0.8s-0.358 0.8-0.8 0.8h-28c-0.442 0-0.8-0.358-0.8-0.8z\"><\/path><path d=\"M3.727 4.227c0.338-0.338 0.795-0.527 1.273-0.527h12c0.477 0 0.935 0.19 1.273 0.527s0.527 0.795 0.527 1.273v22c0 0.442-0.358 0.8-0.8 0.8s-0.8-0.358-0.8-0.8v-22c0-0.053-0.021-0.104-0.059-0.141s-0.088-0.059-0.141-0.059h-12c-0.053 0-0.104 0.021-0.141 0.059s-0.059 0.088-0.059 0.141v22c0 0.442-0.358 0.8-0.8 0.8s-0.8-0.358-0.8-0.8v-22c0-0.477 0.19-0.935 0.527-1.273z\"><\/path><path d=\"M17.2 12.5c0-0.442 0.358-0.8 0.8-0.8h9c0.477 0 0.935 0.19 1.273 0.527s0.527 0.795 0.527 1.273v14c0 0.442-0.358 0.8-0.8 0.8s-0.8-0.358-0.8-0.8v-14c0-0.053-0.021-0.104-0.059-0.141s-0.088-0.059-0.141-0.059h-9c-0.442 0-0.8-0.358-0.8-0.8z\"><\/path><path d=\"M7.2 9.5c0-0.442 0.358-0.8 0.8-0.8h4c0.442 0 0.8 0.358 0.8 0.8s-0.358 0.8-0.8 0.8h-4c-0.442 0-0.8-0.358-0.8-0.8z\"><\/path><path d=\"M9.2 17.5c0-0.442 0.358-0.8 0.8-0.8h4c0.442 0 0.8 0.358 0.8 0.8s-0.358 0.8-0.8 0.8h-4c-0.442 0-0.8-0.358-0.8-0.8z\"><\/path><path d=\"M7.2 22.5c0-0.442 0.358-0.8 0.8-0.8h4c0.442 0 0.8 0.358 0.8 0.8s-0.358 0.8-0.8 0.8h-4c-0.442 0-0.8-0.358-0.8-0.8z\"><\/path><path d=\"M21.2 22.5c0-0.442 0.358-0.8 0.8-0.8h2c0.442 0 0.8 0.358 0.8 0.8s-0.358 0.8-0.8 0.8h-2c-0.442 0-0.8-0.358-0.8-0.8z\"><\/path><path d=\"M21.2 17.5c0-0.442 0.358-0.8 0.8-0.8h2c0.442 0 0.8 0.358 0.8 0.8s-0.358 0.8-0.8 0.8h-2c-0.442 0-0.8-0.358-0.8-0.8z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n <div class=\"scaler-placement__stat-text\">\n <span class=\"scaler-placement__stat-value\">650+<\/span>\n <span class=\"scaler-placement__stat-desc\">companies<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <div class=\"scaler-placement__stat-item\">\n <svg viewBox=\"0 0 25 24\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M5.60938 18.8906C4.74688 18.0281 5.31875 16.2188 4.87813 15.1594C4.4375 14.1 2.75 13.1719 2.75 12C2.75 10.8281 4.41875 9.9375 4.87813 8.84063C5.3375 7.74375 4.74688 5.97187 5.60938 5.10938C6.47187 4.24688 8.28125 4.81875 9.34063 4.37813C10.4 3.9375 11.3281 2.25 12.5 2.25C13.6719 2.25 14.5625 3.91875 15.6594 4.37813C16.7562 4.8375 18.5281 4.24688 19.3906 5.10938C20.2531 5.97187 19.6812 7.78125 20.1219 8.84063C20.5625 9.9 22.25 10.8281 22.25 12C22.25 13.1719 20.5813 14.0625 20.1219 15.1594C19.6625 16.2562 20.2531 18.0281 19.3906 18.8906C18.5281 19.7531 16.7188 19.1812 15.6594 19.6219C14.6 20.0625 13.6719 21.75 12.5 21.75C11.3281 21.75 10.4375 20.0813 9.34063 19.6219C8.24375 19.1625 6.47187 19.7531 5.60938 18.8906Z\" fill=\"#ffffff\" stroke=\"#255aad\" stroke-width=\"1.4\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><path d=\"M16.625 9.75L11.1219 15L8.375 12.375\" stroke=\"#255aad\" stroke-width=\"1.4\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><\/svg>\n <span class=\"scaler-placement__stat-desc\">Verified data<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <a class=\"scaler-placement__cta\" href=\"https:\/\/d2beiqkhq929f0.cloudfront.net\/public_assets\/assets\/000\/195\/869\/original\/Scaler_Career_Report.pdf?1778499863\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n See full placement report\n <svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" style=\"transform: rotate(90deg);\"><path d=\"M5.313 16l10.688-10.688 10.688 10.688-1.938 1.875-7.438-7.438v16.25h-2.625v-16.25l-7.5 7.438z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <div class=\"scaler-hiring\">\n <span class=\"scaler-hiring__label\">Hiring Partners:<\/span>\n <div class=\"scaler-hiring__pills\">\n <span class=\"scaler-hiring__pill\">\n <span class=\"scaler-hiring__badge\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"scaler-hiring__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/d19zaobb0foqu6.cloudfront.net\/topics\/images\/googleicon_.svg\" alt=\"Google\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/span>\n <span class=\"scaler-hiring__name\">Google<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <span class=\"scaler-hiring__pill\">\n <span class=\"scaler-hiring__badge\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"scaler-hiring__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/d19zaobb0foqu6.cloudfront.net\/topics\/images\/amazonicon_.svg\" alt=\"Amazon\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/span>\n <span class=\"scaler-hiring__name\">Amazon<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <span class=\"scaler-hiring__pill\">\n <span class=\"scaler-hiring__badge\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"scaler-hiring__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/d19zaobb0foqu6.cloudfront.net\/topics\/images\/microsoft.svg\" alt=\"Microsoft\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/span>\n <span class=\"scaler-hiring__name\">Microsoft<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <span class=\"scaler-hiring__pill\">\n <span class=\"scaler-hiring__badge\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"scaler-hiring__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/d19zaobb0foqu6.cloudfront.net\/topics\/images\/flipkarticon_.svg\" alt=\"Flipkart\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/span>\n <span class=\"scaler-hiring__name\">Flipkart<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <span class=\"scaler-hiring__pill\">\n <span class=\"scaler-hiring__badge\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"scaler-hiring__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/d19zaobb0foqu6.cloudfront.net\/topics\/images\/adobeicon_.svg\" alt=\"Adobe\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/span>\n <span class=\"scaler-hiring__name\">Adobe<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <span class=\"scaler-hiring__more\">1200+ more<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"11-build-an-ats-friendly-sde-resume\"><\/span><strong>11. Build an ATS-Friendly SDE Resume<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       Most companies run resumes through an applicant tracking system (ATS) first. Use a simple single-column layout, standard section headings (Experience, Projects, Skills, Education) and no tables or graphics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       For SDE1 you must have a 1-page Resume listing your education and experience in the recent first order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       Make sure to customize for specific companies by adding keywords mentioned in the requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       Keep it updated with projects, certifications, education, jobs, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       If the resume exceeds 1 page, remove irrelevant stuff and only include experiences that are relevant to the job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       Use a standard template, and make sure to include a cover letter wherever asked, it may be optional at places but helps increase your chances of selection. <a href=\"https:\/\/cdn-careerservices.fas.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/161\/2023\/04\/HES_resume-and-letter_2022-final.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Harvard\u2019s<\/a> resume and cover letter are ideal to use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       Some companies provide their guidelines which must also be considered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       SDE2 and SDE3 will require a CV rather than a resume as they have more stuff to showcase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"sde-salary-in-india-career-progression-2026\"><\/span><strong>SDE Salary in India + Career Progression (2026)<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Software development is still one of India's largest hiring areas. According to NASSCOM's Strategic Review 2026 (February 2026), India's tech industry was expected to reach about 59.5 lakh direct employees in FY26, adding around 1.35 lakh jobs. Globally, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/computer-and-information-technology\/software-developers.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics outlook for software developers<\/a> projects 10% job growth from 2025 to 2035. More on the Indian numbers in <a href=\"https:\/\/nasscom.in\/knowledge-center\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NASSCOM research<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Salaries vary a lot by company type and city. The figures below are for the \"SDE\" job title, which is used mostly by product companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Level<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Experience<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Salary Range India<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Top Hiring Cities<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Key Skills Premium<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>SDE-1<\/strong><\/td><td>0\u20132 years<\/td><td>\u20b918L\u201323L PA<\/td><td>Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune<\/td><td>Strong DSA + 1 deployed project<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>SDE-2<\/strong><\/td><td>2\u20135 years<\/td><td>\u20b926L\u201329L PA<\/td><td>Bangalore, Mumbai, Hyderabad<\/td><td>LLD + System Design + Ownership<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>SDE-3<\/strong><\/td><td>5\u20138 years<\/td><td>\u20b933L\u201339L PA<\/td><td>Bangalore, Remote<\/td><td>HLD + Mentorship + Arch Decisions<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Staff\/Principal<\/strong><\/td><td>8+ years<\/td><td>Varies widely (limited public data)<\/td><td>Bangalore, Remote (Global)<\/td><td>Cross-team impact + Tech Strategy<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ambitionbox.com\/profile\/sde-software-development-engineer-salary\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AmbitionBox, SDE (Software Development Engineer) salaries<\/a>, based on 5,700 reported salaries. Data checked: Oct 2026. Bands use AmbitionBox's nearest experience brackets (0\u20133, 3\u20136 and 6\u20139 years) and show typical pay, not the full range. Product companies typically pay more than IT services firms at the same level: AmbitionBox's general \"Software Engineer\" title, which is dominated by services firms, shows \u20b97.5L\u20138.3L for 1\u20133 years of experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Career Progression Note:<\/strong> SDE-1 focuses on execution. SDE-2 owns features end-to-end. SDE-3 drives architecture. The level guide linked in \"What Is an SDE?\" covers expectations at each level in depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"final-words-hear-it-from-experts\"><\/span><strong>Final Words - Hear it from Experts<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here are some tips from experts to avoid getting stuck in tutorial hell and make the most out of your learning journey:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>1. Focus on Implementation<\/strong>: Balance tutorial learning with hands-on implementation. Merely consuming tutorials doesn't guarantee learning; it's the actual implementation that solidifies your understanding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>2. Problem-Solving Over Solutions<\/strong>: Don't rush to solutions for past interview questions. Instead, hone your problem-solving skills by attempting to solve problems related to data structures and algorithms (DSA) on your own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>3. Build Strong Foundations<\/strong>: Don't rely solely on past interview questions. Ensure you have a strong foundation and problem-solving skills to tackle a variety of challenges effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>4. Avoid Premature Solutions<\/strong>: Resist the temptation to peek at solutions too soon. Invest ample time in solving problems yourself before seeking external help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>5. Write Readable Code<\/strong>: Practice writing clean, modular code with meaningful variable names. This practice not only aids in technical interviews but also enhances your coding skills overall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>6. Know Your Projects:<\/strong> Be well-versed in explaining your projects, whether they're self-initiated, part of your job, or academic endeavors. Relate project experiences to potential behavioral interview questions for better articulation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>7. Situational Questions<\/strong>: Familiarize yourself with common situational questions from resources like \"Cracking the Coding Interview.\" Be prepared to discuss challenging situations, key learnings, conflicts, and enjoyable experiences from your projects or work experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"following-this-roadmap-with-mentorship\"><\/span><strong>Following This Roadmap With Mentorship<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can follow this whole roadmap on your own. Where most self-learners lose time is in knowing what to skip, staying consistent through the DSA phase and getting honest feedback on design rounds. A structured program helps with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       <strong>A structured curriculum:<\/strong> DSA, CS fundamentals, LLD and HLD in a set order, so you're not stitching together playlists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       <strong>1:1 mentorship:<\/strong> Regular sessions with working engineers who review your code and projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       <strong>Mock interviews:<\/strong> Timed DSA, LLD and HLD mocks with feedback before the real loop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00b7       <strong>Career support:<\/strong> Resume reviews, referrals and interview scheduling help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"read-these-important-roadmaps-more-paths-to-career-success\"><\/span><strong>Read These Important Roadmaps: More Paths to Career Success<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/blog\/dsa-roadmap\/\">DSA Roadmap<\/a><\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/blog\/mlops-roadmap\/\">MLOps Roadmap<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/blog\/devops-roadmap\/\">DevOps Roadmap<\/a><\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/blog\/data-science-roadmap\/\">Data Science Roadmap<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/blog\/web-development-roadmap\/\">Web Development Roadmap<\/a><\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/blog\/data-engineer-roadmap\/\">Data Engineer Roadmap<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/blog\/full-stack-developer-roadmap\/\">Full Stack Developer Roadmap<\/a><\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/blog\/data-analyst-roadmap\/\">Data Analyst Roadmap<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/blog\/front-end-developer-roadmap\/\">Front-end Developer Roadmap<\/a><\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/blog\/machine-learning-roadmap\/\">Machine Learning Roadmap<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/blog\/backend-developer-roadmap\/\">Back-end Developer Roadmap<\/a><\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/blog\/software-architect-roadmap\/\">Software Architect Roadmap<\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"sde-roadmap-faqs\"><\/span><strong>SDE Roadmap: FAQs<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is the SDE roadmap for beginners?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Start with one language (Java, C++ or Python) and learn DSA alongside it. Then study DBMS, operating systems, networks and OOP. Next learn LLD and HLD, build 2\u20133 solid projects, and finish with mock interviews and a targeted resume. Beginners typically need 9\u201312 months, and steady daily practice matters more than speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is the difference between SDE 1, SDE 2, and SDE 3?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">SDE-1 is entry level (0\u20132 years) and builds features within a module. SDE-2 (2\u20135 years) owns modules or services and is tested on low-level design. SDE-3 (5+ years) designs systems, makes architecture trade-offs and mentors others, so interviews focus on high-level design and leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Is it too late to start coding at 25 or 27?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No. Many engineers in India start coding in their mid-to-late twenties, often switching from non-tech or service roles. Companies hire for DSA skill, projects and interview performance, not age. Plan for 9\u201312 months of consistent practice and use your earlier work experience as a strength in behavioural rounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Is a computer science degree necessary to become an SDE?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No. A CS degree helps with fundamentals, but many SDEs come from ECE, mechanical or non-engineering backgrounds. You can learn DSA, operating systems, DBMS and networks on your own. Recruiters focus on problem-solving ability, projects and how you perform in technical interviews. Open-source contributions can also help show real-world coding experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Do I need to memorise algorithms for SDE interviews?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No. Understand patterns such as two pointers, sliding window, BFS\/DFS, binary search and dynamic programming, and know why they work. Interviewers ask you to adapt patterns to new problems and explain time and space complexity, which memorisation alone cannot do. Balance theory with practice by coding every concept you learn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Are certifications necessary for an<\/strong> <strong>SDE<\/strong><strong>?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Certifications are optional. They help most for cloud skills (AWS, Azure) or when switching domains, but product companies rarely shortlist on them. Strong DSA, a well-documented GitHub and deployed projects carry more weight in SDE hiring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The SDE Roadmap (often searched as the software engineer roadmap or software developer roadmap) is structured to help students, freshers, and professionals enter the software world and secure roles at top tech companies and high-growth startups. In 2026, the bar for cracking SDE roles has shifted: companies now prioritize problem-solving patterns, system design basics, CS […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":210,"featured_media":6258,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[240],"class_list":["post-6257","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-software-development","tag-roadmap"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6257","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/210"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6257"}],"version-history":[{"count":44,"href":"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6257\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14829,"href":"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6257\/revisions\/14829"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6258"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6257"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6257"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scaler.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6257"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}