Build Your Own X - Comprehensive Programming Tutorials

GitHub - danistefanovic/build-your-own-x: 🤓 Build your own (insert technology here)

Curated collection of tutorials for building complex software systems from scratch:

What Makes It Special:

  • Learn by Building: Hands-on approach to understanding complex systems
  • Comprehensive Coverage: Everything from simple tools to operating systems
  • Multiple Languages: Tutorials in various programming languages
  • Deep Understanding: Go beyond using tools to understanding how they work

Categories Covered:

System-Level Programming:

  • 3D Renderer: Graphics programming and computer graphics theory
  • Blockchain/Cryptocurrency: Distributed systems and consensus algorithms
  • Database: Storage engines, indexing, query processing
  • Docker: Containerization and OS-level virtualization
  • Emulator/Virtual Machine: CPU emulation and virtualization
  • Operating System: Kernel development, memory management, scheduling

Network and Web:

  • BitTorrent Client: Peer-to-peer networking protocols
  • Bot: Automated systems and AI agents
  • Command-Line Tool: System utilities and developer tools
  • Git: Version control systems and distributed algorithms
  • Network Stack: TCP/IP implementation and networking protocols
  • Web Server: HTTP servers and web application architecture

Programming Languages and Tools:

  • Compiler: Lexical analysis, parsing, code generation
  • Game: Game engines, physics simulation, graphics
  • Neural Network: Machine learning and artificial intelligence
  • Physics Engine: Simulation and computational physics
  • Programming Language: Language design and implementation
  • Regex Engine: Pattern matching and automata theory
  • Search Engine: Information retrieval and indexing
  • Shell: Command interpreters and system interfaces
  • Template Engine: Text processing and code generation
  • Text Editor: User interfaces and text manipulation

Learning Benefits:

Deep Technical Understanding:

I Y I Y n o n o s u s u t t e g e g a e a e d t d t : : o o f f : : " " q " " a I I u I I n e d c u r c u a n y a n c n d n d o e o e n u r p d r t s s t e s a e t i p t i a m l a n P n i o n e o d z y d r s a t h t w c r g o i i g u r w o t r n e n h o t S B , u i Q - D p m L t a o s e " r n c , e d k a e e n r s s r a c t " m h w o e i o r s t r a p e k g a c , e c t e u A e s r C n , e I g s D i u " n n t e i r s o a " n n s f a i c l t e i s o y n s s t , e m s ,

Problem-Solving Skills:

  • System Design: Understanding trade-offs and architectural decisions
  • Debugging: Low-level debugging and performance analysis
  • Optimization: Performance tuning and resource management
  • Testing: System-level testing and validation strategies

Example Projects:

Build Your Own Database:

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// Simple key-value storage engine
typedef struct {
    char* key;
    char* value;
    uint32_t key_size;
    uint32_t value_size;
} kv_pair_t;

// B-tree node structure
typedef struct btree_node {
    kv_pair_t* pairs;
    struct btree_node** children;
    uint32_t num_keys;
    bool is_leaf;
} btree_node_t;

Topics Covered:

  • Storage engines and file formats
  • B-tree indexing and query optimization
  • Transaction handling and ACID properties
  • Concurrency control and locking
  • Recovery and durability guarantees

Build Your Own Git:

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# Basic git commands to implement
git init        # Repository initialization
git add         # Staging area management
git commit      # Object storage and references
git branch      # Branch management
git merge       # Three-way merge algorithm
git log         # History traversal

Concepts Learned:

  • Content-addressable storage with SHA-1 hashing
  • Directed acyclic graphs for version history
  • Delta compression and pack files
  • Merge algorithms and conflict resolution
  • Distributed version control protocols

Career Impact:

Interview Advantages:

  • Technical Depth: Demonstrate deep understanding of fundamental concepts
  • System Design: Better equipped for system design interviews
  • Problem Solving: Experience with complex, multi-faceted problems
  • Communication: Ability to explain complex systems clearly

Professional Development:

  • Architecture Skills: Better software architecture and design decisions
  • Debugging Ability: Understanding systems from first principles
  • Innovation: Foundation for creating new tools and solutions
  • Leadership: Technical depth enables better technical leadership

Web Dev Junkie - Modern Web Development

Web Dev Junkie - YouTube

YouTube channel focused on modern web development practices and tutorials:

Content Focus:

Modern JavaScript:

  • ES6+ Features: Arrow functions, destructuring, async/await
  • Framework Deep Dives: React, Vue, Angular, Svelte
  • Build Tools: Webpack, Vite, Rollup, Parcel
  • Testing: Jest, Cypress, Testing Library

Full-Stack Development:

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// Modern React with Hooks
import React, { useState, useEffect } from 'react';
import { useMutation, useQuery } from '@apollo/client';

const UserProfile = ({ userId }) => {
  const { data, loading, error } = useQuery(GET_USER, {
    variables: { id: userId }
  });
  
  const [updateUser] = useMutation(UPDATE_USER);
  
  if (loading) return <Spinner />;
  if (error) return <ErrorMessage error={error} />;
  
  return (
    <div className="user-profile">
      <h1>{data.user.name}</h1>
      <EditForm user={data.user} onSave={updateUser} />
    </div>
  );
};

Backend Technologies:

  • Node.js: Express, Fastify, NestJS
  • Database Integration: MongoDB, PostgreSQL, Redis
  • API Design: REST, GraphQL, tRPC
  • Authentication: JWT, OAuth, Auth0

Teaching Approach:

Project-Based Learning:

  • Real-World Applications: Build actual applications, not just demos
  • Best Practices: Industry-standard coding practices and patterns
  • Production Ready: Deployment, monitoring, and maintenance
  • Code Reviews: Analysis of code quality and optimization

Modern Tooling:

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{
  "scripts": {
    "dev": "vite",
    "build": "vite build",
    "test": "vitest",
    "test:e2e": "playwright test",
    "lint": "eslint . --ext .js,.jsx,.ts,.tsx",
    "format": "prettier --write ."
  },
  "devDependencies": {
    "@vitejs/plugin-react": "^4.0.0",
    "vitest": "^0.32.0",
    "playwright": "^1.35.0",
    "eslint": "^8.45.0",
    "prettier": "^2.8.8"
  }
}

Key Topics:

Performance Optimization:

  • Core Web Vitals: LCP, FID, CLS optimization
  • Bundle Analysis: Code splitting and lazy loading
  • Caching Strategies: Service workers and browser caching
  • Database Optimization: Query optimization and caching

Developer Experience:

  • Hot Module Replacement: Fast development feedback loops
  • TypeScript Integration: Type safety in JavaScript projects
  • Error Handling: Proper error boundaries and logging
  • Debugging Tools: Browser dev tools and debugging strategies

Learning Path:

  1. JavaScript Fundamentals: ES6+, asynchronous programming
  2. React Ecosystem: Hooks, context, state management
  3. Build Tools: Bundlers, transpilers, development servers
  4. Backend Integration: APIs, databases, authentication
  5. Testing: Unit tests, integration tests, e2e tests
  6. Deployment: CI/CD, hosting platforms, monitoring

Both resources represent excellent approaches to learning programming - the “Build Your Own X” repository focuses on fundamental computer science concepts through hands-on implementation, while Web Dev Junkie provides practical, modern web development skills for current industry needs.