A dedicated repository where I implement and practice everything I learn from the "100 Days Java Backend – Zero to Hero" course by Faisal Memon.
This repo captures my journey from Core Java fundamentals to building REST APIs with Spring Boot, with a strong focus on writing clean, production-ready backend code.

• Build a solid Core Java foundation tailored for backend development
• Understand Spring Framework internals (IoC, DI, Beans, Auto-wiring) before diving into Spring Boot
• Develop real REST APIs with Spring Boot, following best practices like DTOs, exception handling, pagination, and API versioning
• Create a portfolio-worthy backend showcase that reflects consistency, curiosity, and problem-solving skills

I've been actively following the 100 Days Java Backend playlist and have completed content up to Spring Boot – Day 15

Core Java for Backend Development

• Control flow, methods, classes, and objects
• Object-oriented programming (OOP) concepts
• Collections framework and Streams for data handling
• Functional programming basics

Spring Framework Fundamentals

• Why Spring Framework exists and what problems it solves
• Inversion of Control (IoC) and Dependency Injection (DI)
• Understanding Beans and Auto-wiring
• How Spring Boot simplifies configuration while knowing what happens "behind the scenes"

Spring Boot – Building REST APIs

• Creating controllers and REST endpoints
• Working with DTOs (Data Transfer Objects)
• Layered architecture and separation of concerns
• Introduction to exception handling concepts
• Understanding pagination, sorting, and API versioning principles

• Consistency & Discipline
  Following a structured 100-day backend roadmap and tracking progress through actual code, not just notes

• Strong Backend Fundamentals
  Not just "making things work" but understanding why Spring and Spring Boot behave the way they do, and how to design maintainable APIs

• Clean Code & Best Practices

  • Separation of layers (Controller, Service, Repository)
  • DTO usage to avoid exposing internal models
  • Adopting patterns used in real production systems

• Self-Driven Learning
  Treating this repo as a personal lab to experiment, refactor, and learn through hands-on practice

Language: Java

Frameworks:

• Spring Framework (Core concepts - IoC, DI, Beans)
• Spring Boot (REST APIs, Auto-configuration)

Build Tools:

• Maven / Gradle

IDE: IntelliJ IDEA

Note: Adjust folder names based on your actual structure

Spring-and-Spring-Boot/ ├─ core-java/ # Practice code for Java fundamentals & OOP ├─ spring-basics/ # Spring Framework concepts (IoC, DI, Beans) ├─ spring-boot/ # Spring Boot REST API projects └─ notes/ # Personal notes and learnings

Each folder represents a step in my learning journey. As I progress through the course, this will expand with database integration, advanced features, and real-world projects.

General steps (may vary per module):

1. Clone the repository git clone https://github.com/mustaalikanchwala/Spring-and-Spring-Boot.git cd Spring-and-Spring-Boot

2. Navigate to the desired module cd spring-boot/

3. Build & run with Maven or Gradle

• Maven:

  mvn spring-boot:run
  

• Gradle:

  ./gradlew bootRun
  

4. Access the API

• Default: http://localhost:8080
• Check controller mappings in each project for specific endpoints

As I continue with the playlist beyond Day 15, this repo will grow with:

• Full CRUD operations with proper validation
• Global exception handling using @RestControllerAdvice
• Database integration with JPA/Hibernate
• More advanced Spring Boot features and real-world API design patterns.

This repo is both a learning log and a portfolio piece .
If you have suggestions or feedback on code structure, best practices, or topics to explore, feel free to open an issue or reach out.

"Learning backend development is a marathon, not a sprint – and this repository is proof that consistent, focused effort builds real skills."

Course Reference: 100 Days Java Backend Free Course by Faisal Memon