From PHP to JavaScript: Daniel’s Web Development Bootcamp Journey

Daniel Prince Cyubahiro, an experienced web developer, wanted to level up his JavaScript skills in order to find better opportunities. Graduating from our Web Development bootcamp in May 2025, Daniel was kind enough to talk to us and share his story.

My name is Daniel Cyubahiro. I'm originally from Rwanda. I'm 27 years old, and I moved to Berlin about 10 months ago. I was living in Italy before coming here. That's where I did University, and my wife got a job offer here, and we just moved here.

What bootcamp did you do?

I was part of the web development bootcamp. From early morning till late afternoon.

How was your experience at the bootcamp?

It was very good, very challenging. I had a bit of experience before coming to the bootcamp, but my experience was in a whole different programming language and framework, so I was looking forward to learning JavaScript and frameworks around it.

So yeah, it was pretty challenging, but pretty rewarding as well. After three months, I felt very comfortable in JavaScript. So yeah, I’d say it's a success.

What did you do before the bootcamp?

I was an API developer, so web developer, more or less, but I was working primarily in PHP, so similar, but yet pretty different, because it's a whole different language.

And then when I moved here, I was trying to find work, and mostly they were asking for JavaScript frameworks, basically. And that's how I got to this academy. I was looking forward to learning JavaScript.

What were the most interesting parts of the bootcamp?

I really liked the ambience, like just the vibe coming here. Everyone is kind of coding, so you're just surrounded with a productivity vibe, energy, I don't know how to say.

Also, just the support of the teachers, regardless of if it's on topic or not, if you ask something relevant, they'll be willing to give you answers and kinda explain how things work. So I appreciate that a lot.

Also just polishing things like CVS and LinkedIn, things you would not normally think about, they help you do that, and also making connections with other colleagues. And you know… it's a world of connections. So it's pretty cool.

What made you want to do a bootcamp in this specific field?

So I moved here about 10 months ago, more or less, and I struggled to find work for a bit, and I was looking around, and there weren't many opportunities, some I got, and because I wasn't competitive in JavaScript, I didn't get so far.

And then I found out about this bootcamp and how the government helps you pay for it. And you get a lot of knowledge, you get a lot of connections.

I was referred to by a friend of mine, actually, who did a bootcamp here maybe eight years ago, or maybe six, I can't remember, but a while ago. He referred me here, and he told me about it, and that the government helps you pay for it, because at the time, to be honest, I couldn't afford it. Yeah, so that's how I got to know about the academy.

What did you like most about the bootcamp?

So another big thing I was thinking about with the bootcamp was the prospect of getting work afterwards. On the website, they promoted your chances of finding a job after it, which was very attractive to me.

Also, the connections, because I was new here. I could learn through YouTube and so on. But you know, also the qualification, everyone can say you know things, but it's nice to have a diploma that shows your skills, and that's also recognized in the country itself, and neue fische is one of the organizations that are known in Germany. So I think that was a plus.

How did you hear about the bootcamp?

There were ads on YouTube that I had seen. And I joke about this all the time with my wife, like, the moment I didn't have work, I saw ads every second of “unemployed in Berlin?”. You know, if you need employment in Berlin, things like that.

So that's one of the ways I heard about the academy, mainly through my friend. When he referred it, I recognized it and didn't think too much about other possibilities.

What job would you like to have now that you’ve graduated?

It's difficult for sure, in these times. I'd hope to find something web development, API development, back end, front end development - anything around that, to me would be good.

Big company or a start-up?

Not a startup, preferably. I'm not too picky, to be honest, but I know that startups are harder. I worked with a startup just a few months ago. That was not a great experience, so that kind of turned me off of startups.

But again, if it's a startup, it's not a total no like. I’d love to talk to the CEO and just see what the culture is like, you know. But preferably bigger companies, but at the same time, not too big. I would rather find someplace where I can still grow.