Backend Developer

Julien Danjou Portfolio

Blog with 280+ posts by a longtime Python backend engineer and OpenStack contributor, covering Python internals, distributed systems, and running engineering teams. Also the author of published books on Python performance and the Python event-driven programming model.

PythonOpenStackBackend EngineeringOpen Source

What makes it work

A breakdown of the choices that make this portfolio stand out.

1

A large, consistently maintained archive

280+ posts over more than a decade demonstrates the kind of sustained writing habit that's rare and valuable — a portfolio built through years of regular output, not a handful of showcase posts.

2

Topic breadth anchored in real engineering work

Posts move between Python internals, startups, and open-source maintenance, but all trace back to his actual work building OpenStack components and running engineering orgs — breadth that stays credible because it's lived, not aspirational.

3

Books as a complement to the blog, not a replacement

Self-published technical books on Python performance sit alongside the free blog content, showing a path from blog writing to a more substantial, monetizable body of work.

What Backend Developers can take from this

Specific, actionable tips to apply to your own portfolio — no generic advice.

  • Consistency over years matters more than any single viral post — a large, dated archive is itself evidence of expertise.

  • Let your writing range across topics you've actually worked in, rather than narrowly restating one framework's documentation.

  • Consider turning a cluster of related blog posts into a short book or guide once you have enough material — it's a natural next step from a mature blog.

Ready to build your portfolio?

Follow the Backend Developer roadmap — skills, projects, and timeline to get hired.

Backend Developer Roadmap