A clear, step-by-step system for building modern .NET applications:

Confidently architect and build production-ready .NET apps from scratch

Imagine being asked to start a brand-new .NET project next week… and knowing exactly how to structure it.  

No more Googling “best folder structure” or stitching together random GitHub code examples.

Just a clear, modern setup that leads to production-ready apps, promotions, and higher-paying roles.

This practical course shows you how to structure, test, and secure real .NET apps using a combination of Clean and Vertical Slice architectures, trusted by teams building professional backend systems.

With step-by-step video lessons, full source code, and a reusable structure, you’ll finally stop guessing and start building backend apps the right way.

Quiz: Is Backend Brilliance for you?

  1. Are you stuck working on legacy .NET projects and unsure how to build a modern application from scratch?
    This course shows you exactly how today’s best .NET developers structure, test, and secure real-world backend systems.

  2. Do you want to step into a senior or architect role, but feel like you're missing hands-on experience?
    You’ll learn how to architect production-ready apps so you can confidently make and explain your decisions in interviews or team meetings.

  3. Are you overwhelmed by Clean Architecture, CQRS, MediatR, Vertical Slice, DDD… and unsure which patterns matter in real projects?
    I cut through the noise and show you how to combine proven patterns to structure your app the right way, from day one.

If any of these sound familiar… then Backend Brilliance was made for you.

Excellent course!
It provided clear insights into backend architecture, API security, and testing. The practical approach made it easy to apply concepts in real projects.
Highly recommended for developers looking to build scalable and secure applications!

Senior .NET Developer, 8 Years of Experience

Your Backend Brilliance Instructor

Kristijan Kralj

Senior .NET developer. 13+ years of experience. I’ve worked across the full spectrum: from WinForms and Web Forms, to building modern .NET cloud applications for enterprise systems that generate millions annually.


A few data points to show, when it comes to delivering production .NET apps (and teaching about it), I know what I’m talking about!

43,000+ LinkedIn followers.

13+ years in .NET development.

Led and mentored 2 .NET teams.

My past courses have reached students from 128 different countries.

Worked on 5 enterprise systems that generate 7 figures in annual recurring revenue.

No more fragmented information...
Finally, a roadmap for building production-ready apps you can follow.

7 problems most mid-senior developers with 5+ years of experience struggle with:

“I don’t know how to structure new projects from zero in a scalable way.”

“I’m overwhelmed by Clean Architecture, DDD, Onion, CQRS, Vertical Slices.. and all other options.”

“I still work with .NET Framework, and it’s hard to keep up with all the cool new stuff in .NET.”

“It’s not clear to me how to test complex features.”

“Security is always an afterthought… and I know that’s a risk.”

“I feel like a parrot: copying what my workplace does without truly understanding it.”

“I don’t feel confident explaining my architectural decisions.”

And in Backend Brilliance, I show you how to demolish all these - one by one.

Build scalable .NET apps without sinking into layers

The biggest mistake developers make when starting a project from scratch?

Enterprise overengineering.

Some devs think they're building the next Amazon. So they put CQRS, event buses, mediators, and five service layers into a simple CRUD app.

The result?

Every change requires going through:

  • 3 interfaces,
  • 17 files,
  • across 5 different projects

Just to return an additional field from your database.

Meanwhile, productivity tanks. Features that should take hours now take weeks. And all because someone thought "more layers" meant "more professional."

Inside the course, you will architect and structure solutions that are simple to start with and can easily scale when requirements become more complex.

Make architecture decisions with confidence and progress to more senior and architect roles

The second biggest mistake .NET developers make?

They are parrot-mimicking:

  1. In existing projects where they inherited the codebase - they copy the structure, patterns and practices and how features are done. But they mimic the existing practices rather than understanding why things are done that way.

  2. In new projects - they are not confident that they could architect a clean, modern API from scratch. So they use an existing Clean Architecture template found online. That feels productive. But without understanding the underlying principles, you're just copy-pasting someone else's decisions.

I’ll demystify how to use Clean Architecture + Vertical Slice combination so you can design from scratch. Not just follow along.

Apply auth best practices from start

The third biggest mistake .NET developers make?

Reinventing the wheel when it comes to auth.

They invest time and energy into creating a register and login features. The same auth features that have already been developed, tested, and widely used within the community.

And in the end? They left with something that barely works. And they constantly need to improve, maintain, and test.

Value and protect your time.

Use proven solutions. I’ll show you how to implement authentication and authorization at production grade.

It is a complete course with a lot of relevant information. If you want to update your knowledge in .NET Backend development from architecture to testing and security, surely you will find that piece that you are missing for your career.

Senior .NET Developer, 15 Years of Experience

What will you learn inside?

1. Software Architecure Workshop (€100 value)

Confidently structure a new .NET project using a combination of Clean Architecture, Vertical Slice, and the CIA solution structure.

You’ll actually enjoy revisiting it months later.

Without dealing with attribute spaghetti.

Discover when to abstract - and when to keep things concrete.

2. Automated Testing Workshop (€100 value)

Write maintainable unit and integration tests, even if you have no previous experience with writing tests.

3. Web API Security Workshop (€100 value)

Don't reinvent the wheel. Secure your Web API with real-world Auth, Role-based access control, and best practices.

And the secure plug-and-play approach top .NET devs use instead.

With the real-world best practices and rock-solid role management.

And the simple auth trick that blocks bad users.

Here's what students are saying about the course...

More Than Just Theory

Backend Brilliance includes more than just video lessons.

I built the course with bonus resources to make sure you apply what you learn.

✅ Bonus #1: Full Source Code (Minimal API + Controllers) - €100 value

Reference the entire course app in two flavors. Ready to explore, copy, and build on.

✅ Bonus #2: Stay Sharp C# Checklist (C# 9–13) -
€19 value

Quickly catch up on new C# features with clear explanations and real code examples.

✅ Bonus #3: C# Unit Testing Essentials in One Afternoon -
€27 value

Start writing maintainable tests that enable safe refactoring and reduce bugs found by clients.

Total Backend Brilliance Value:
€446

But you can get INSTANT lifetime access to these materials as well as all future course upgrades for just €97.

However, if you’d prefer additional one-to-one support, you might consider the Backend Brilliance Coaching package.

This is for you if you want to accelerate your skills by working closely with me. You get the same material, but also coaching to help quickly find your weak spots and improve how you develop professional apps.

Backend Brilliance Course

Backend Brilliance - Standard

97 EUR

446 EUR


3 workshops

42 video lessons

Bonus: Full source code

Bonus: Stay Sharp Checklist

Bonus: C# Unit Testing Essential in One Afternoon

Lifetime access

Lifetime updates

Covered by my 14-day guarantee

Backend Brilliance - Coaching

597 EUR

946 EUR


3 workshops

42 video lessons

Bonus: Full source code

Bonus: Stay Sharp Checklist

Bonus: C# Unit Testing Essential in One Afternoon

Lifetime access

Lifetime updates

Covered by my 14-day guarantee

1-on-1 support: 5x 1-hour calls where we work together to improve your .NET skills

100% Satisfaction, No-Questions- Asked, Money-Back Guarantee!

Join Backend Brilliance, explore the materials, and watch the lessons.

If you’re not 100% satisfied with the Backend Brilliance course or the support after 14 days, feel free to email me for a full refund.

Make your payment today, and decide later if this is a good fit for you!

Take the full 14 days to explore the materials and experience the Backend Brilliance course and THEN... make a decision using the information YOU HAVE, rather than the information you don’t.

The Full Curriculum

Course Introduction
Software Architecture Workshop
  • Workshop introduction
  • Software Architecture Basics
  • CIA Solution Structure
  • Create New Solution and Projects
  • Introduction to Minimal API
  • Docker Explanation and Setup
  • Setup Database Layer [FREE PREVIEW]
  • Setup PostgreSQL Database
  • Create Category Table
  • Implement Category Creation Feature
  • API Validation
  • Retrieve Category
  • Update and Delete Category
  • Product Module CRUD Operations [FREE PREVIEW]
  • How to Isolate and Manage External Dependencies
  • Workshop Source Code
Automated Testing Workshop
  • Workshop Introduction
  • Introduction to Unit Testing - eBook
  • Setup Unit Tests With EF Core [FREE PREVIEW]
  • Unit Tests for Product Creation
  • Unit Tests for Product Import
  • Setup Integration Tests Using Testcontainers
  • API Tests for Category Module
  • API Tests for Product Module
  • Refactor and Reorganize Program.cs
  • Workshop Source Code
Web API Security Workshop
  • Workshop Introduction
  • What Is Authentication and Authorization
  • Add ASP.NET Core Identity Support
  • Implement Register Functionality
  • Use JSON Web Tokens (JWT) for Authentication
  • Implement Login Functionality
  • Add Tests for User Module
  • Protect Endpoints
  • Apply Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) to API Endpoints
  • Update Tests
  • Shopping Cart and Order Module
  • Securing Endpoints With UserContext [FREE PREVIEW]
  • Workshop Source Code

Still got questions? I’m here to help!

What will I learn in the course?

You’ll learn to build well-structured, maintainable, scalable, testable, and secure production-ready .NET applications. These are the same principles I’ve used in many enterprise projects I’ve worked on in the last 13 years:

  • Software Architecture Fundamentals
  • Minimal API
  • Project Structure
  • Unit & Integration testing
  • Authentication, Authorization, JWT, Role-Based Access Control
How long is the course?

I’ve spent 200+ hours over 5 months refining the course material and put a lot of value inside 5 hours and 16 minutes. The course is designed to be easy to follow with a step-by-step guide.

Will this work for my current job?

I’ve used many of the techniques from the course in existing enterprise apps. For example, I’ve used the CIA solution structure (from Software Architecture Workshop) to reorganize 2 existing .NET applications. So that the feature code has high cohesion. And it’s separated from the infrastructure code.

What’s the investment?

The course comes with 3 workshops (€300 value): Software Architecture Workshop, Automated Testing Workshop, and Web API Security Workshop. In addition, it has 3 bonuses with a total value of €146. That brings the total course value to the €446.

With that said, the course is only €97. That’s it. No recurring payments. And no real risk since you have a 14-day money-back guarantee.

This is too expensive.

Using the skills inside the course, I was more confident to apply for another, higher-paying job in 2021, and got raises due to good work while using these skills.

Compared to my salary in 2021, my salary now is 59% higher.

I can’t guarantee you’ll achieve the same, but that’s what I was able to do in the last 4 years despite the ongoing crisis in the IT sector.

What if I don’t have time right now?

When you purchase today, you get access to everything.

Plus, each lesson averages just 8:19 minutes, making it easy to fit learning into even the busiest schedule.

What kind of support can I get if I get stuck?

If you have any questions, you can reach out to me at any time. Just send an email to kristijan@blueinvader.com.

How long will I have access to the content?

Your enrollment includes unlimited lifetime access and free updates for life.

Backend Brilliance Course

Backend Brilliance - Standard

97 EUR

446 EUR


3 workshops

42 video lessons

Bonus: Full source code

Bonus: Stay Sharp Checklist

Bonus: C# Unit Testing Essential in One Afternoon

Lifetime access

Lifetime updates

Covered by my 14-day guarantee

Backend Brilliance - Coaching

597 EUR

946 EUR


3 workshops

42 video lessons

Bonus: Full source code

Bonus: Stay Sharp Checklist

Bonus: C# Unit Testing Essential in One Afternoon

Lifetime access

Lifetime updates

Covered by my 14-day guarantee

1-on-1 support: 5x 1-hour calls where we work together to improve your .NET skills