Full Stack Software Development: Building Scalable Cloud Applications

Designed by leading software developers, the curriculum gives you the exposure you need to build full-fledged software solutions with front-end, back-end, and dev-ops capabilities.

Prework: Introduction to Programming [4 Weeks]

Overview of web development

Here, you will learn the foundational concepts of full stack program, including web development and the differences between web and app development. You will explore how webpages serve as the essential building blocks of the internet. Additionally, you will gain an understanding of the evolution from traditional to modern web applications, and the various server-side technologies that power dynamic content on websites.

Server-Side Coding Technologies

Here, you will learn the importance of server-side coding technologies in web development. You will explore how these technologies manage data, handle user requests, and create dynamic web experiences. Understanding the role of server-side code is essential to becoming proficient in full stack software development.


Introduction to MERN Stack

Here, you will learn about the MERN stack, a powerful combination of MongoDB, Express.js, React, and Node.js. You will understand how these technologies work together to create scalable and efficient full-stack JavaScript applications, giving you a comprehensive understanding of modern web development.

Setting up development environment (Node.js, VS Code)

Here, you will learn how to create a productive development environment for full stack software development using tools like Node.js and VS Code for web development. These tools are essential for writing, managing, and testing your code. You will configure your environment to ensure you're ready to start building projects effectively


Installation of VS Code, Github, MongoDB Compass

Here, you will learn how to install essential software, including VS Code for coding, GitHub for version control, and MongoDB Compass for managing your NoSQL database. These tools are critical for modern development workflows, from coding to version control and database management.


Version control with Git and GitHub

Here, you will learn how to use Git for version control and GitHub for collaboration. You will practice key Git operations, such as initializing a repository, pulling changes, committing updates, and pushing your code to GitHub. These skills are fundamental to working efficiently in teams and managing code over time.


Module 1: Basic Web Development and JavaScript Fundamentals [3 Weeks]

HTML, CSS and Bootstrap

Here, you will learn how to build the foundation of a website using HTML, CSS, and Bootstrap. You will discover how to structure content with HTML, style it effectively with CSS, and create responsive, modern layouts using the Bootstrap framework. These skills are essential for any web developer.

Introduction to JavaScript

Here, you will learn the basics of JavaScript, the core programming language for adding interactivity to websites. You will understand fundamental concepts such as variables, data types, and operators, essential for writing functional code and building dynamic web pages.

DOM manipulation with JavaScript

Here, you will learn how to interact with and modify the Document Object Model (DOM) using JavaScript. You will explore techniques for dynamically updating and manipulating HTML elements, which is crucial for building interactive web applications.

Module 2: Deep Dive into JavaScript Essentials [4 Weeks]

Introduction to Node.js and its ecosystem

Here, you will learn about Node.js, an open-source, server-side JavaScript runtime. You will explore how Node.js enables JavaScript to be used for backend development, and how its package ecosystem offers tools to help you build scalable applications quickly and efficiently.

String, arrays and objects

Here, you will learn how to work with essential JavaScript data structures, such as strings, arrays, and objects. These structures are crucial for handling data in your applications, and you will learn how to manipulate them effectively for different use cases.

Functions

Here, you will learn how to define and use functions in JavaScript. You will understand different types of functions, such as function declarations and expressions, and explore concepts like scope and closures, which are important for organizing and optimizing your code.

ES6 features

Here you will learn about the new features introduced in JavaScript ES6 (ECMAScript 2015), such as arrow functions, destructuring, template literals, and more. These modern syntax improvements help make your code cleaner, more concise, and easier to read.


Asynchronous JavaScript

Here you will learn about asynchronous JavaScript and how to handle operations that take time, such as network requests. You will explore callbacks, promises, and async/await to manage asynchronous code and avoid blocking the execution of your program.


JavaScript array methods

Here you will learn about powerful array methods in JavaScript, such as map(), filter(), and reduce(). These methods allow you to process and transform arrays more effectively, making your code more concise and efficient.


Object-oriented programming in JavaScript

Here you will learn the principles of object-oriented programming (OOP) in JavaScript. You will understand how to use classes and inheritance to structure your code, enabling you to create reusable, modular, and scalable applications.


Module 3: Introduction to Node.js [2 Weeks]

Creating a basic server with Node.js

Here you will learn how to set up a basic HTTP server using Node.js. You will understand how to handle incoming requests and send responses to clients, forming the foundation of server-side development.

Handling form data and file uploads

Here you will learn how to process form submissions and handle file uploads on the server side using Node.js. This is an essential skill for building web applications that allow users to interact with the server through form inputs and file uploads.

Module 4: Frontend Development with ReactJS [4 Weeks]

Introduction to React.js and its core concepts

Here you will learn the core concepts of React.js, including its component-based architecture and virtual DOM. You will understand how React allows you to efficiently update the user interface by re-rendering only the components that have changed.

Setting up a React development environment

Here you will learn how to set up a development environment for React applications using tools like Node.js, npm, and create-react-app. This environment will enable you to start building React applications quickly and efficiently.

JSX syntax and component-based architecture

Here you will learn JSX, a syntax extension for JavaScript that allows you to write HTML-like code within JavaScript. You will also explore React’s component-based architecture, which lets you create reusable UI components that manage their own state and behavior.

State and props in React

Here you will learn how to manage data in React using state and props. You will understand how to pass data between components using props and how to manage internal component state to make your app interactive and dynamic.


React Hooks

Here you will learn how to use React Hooks, such as useState and useEffect, to manage state and handle side effects in functional components. Hooks simplify code and eliminate the need for class components in many cases.


Handling events and forms in React

Here you will learn how to handle user input and form submissions in React applications. You will gain the skills to manage event listeners, capture form data, and trigger state updates based on user interactions.


Styling in React

Here you will learn how to style React components using various methods, including traditional CSS, CSS-in-JS libraries, and styled-components. You will also explore how to integrate popular styling frameworks like React Bootstrap into your projects.


React Router

Here you will learn how to implement client-side routing in React applications using React Router. You will gain the skills to create multi-page apps and manage dynamic URLs with hooks like useHistory and useParams.

Redux for state management in React applications

Here you will learn how to manage complex state across large React applications using Redux. You will understand how to centralize state management and ensure consistency across various parts of your app.


Redux-thunk for asynchronous actions

Here you will learn how to handle asynchronous actions in Redux with the help of middleware like Redux-thunk. This will allow you to manage API calls and other asynchronous operations efficiently.


Context API and useContext hook

Here you will learn how to simplify state management in smaller React applications using the Context API and useContext hook. These tools allow you to share state across components without needing complex solutions like Redux.


Module 5: TypeScript and Next.js [3 Weeks]

TypeScript intro and setup

Here you will learn how to set up TypeScript in your project and explore its static typing system. TypeScript adds an extra layer of reliability to your JavaScript code by allowing you to catch errors at compile time.

Server-side rendering (SSR) with React and Next.js

Here you will learn about server-side rendering (SSR) and how to use Next.js to build applications that render content on the server before sending it to the client. SSR enhances SEO and provides faster load times, improving user experience.


Next.js performance optimization strategies

Here you will learn various performance optimization strategies for Next.js applications, including dynamic imports and image optimization. These techniques will help improve the speed and efficiency of your app.


Module 6: SQL and Relational Databases [2 Weeks]

Introduction to SQL and relational databases

Here you will learn the basics of SQL and relational databases like PostgreSQL and MySQL. You will explore how data is stored and organized in relational databases, and how to retrieve and manipulate it using SQL queries.

SQL basics

Here you will learn the foundational SQL concepts needed to work with relational databases. You will explore how to write SELECT statements, filter data using WHERE, and join tables to create meaningful relationships.

Data modeling and schema design in SQL

Here you will learn how to design efficient database schemas for storing and retrieving data. You will understand how to model relationships between tables.

Module 7: MongoDB and Mongoose (Data layer using NoSQL) [2 Weeks]

Connection Pool

Here you will learn about connection pooling in MongoDB, which allows you to efficiently manage and reuse database connections, improving the performance of your application.


Introduction to MongoDB and NoSQL databases

Here you will learn the fundamentals of MongoDB, a NoSQL database, and how it differs from traditional relational databases. You will explore how MongoDB stores unstructured data in flexible, schema-less collections.


CRUD operations in MongoDB

Here you will learn how to perform CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations in MongoDB. You will gain hands-on experience with managing data in a NoSQL database.

Mongoose ODM for MongoDB

Here you will learn how to use Mongoose, an Object Data Modeling (ODM) library, to interact with MongoDB. Mongoose provides a schema-based solution for defining models and structuring your data.

Schema design and data modeling in Mongoose

Here you will learn how to design Mongoose schemas that define the structure of your data and enforce consistency. Proper schema design is crucial for effective data storage and retrieval in NoSQL databases.

Integration of MongoDB with Express.js

Here you will learn how to integrate MongoDB with Express.js to build full-stack applications. You will learn how to connect your backend API with MongoDB to store and retrieve data.


Module 8: Backend Development, Testing, and Integration with Frontend [4 Weeks]

Creating a basic server Express.js

Here you will learn how to set up a basic backend server using Express.js. You will understand how to handle HTTP requests and route them to the correct functionality, forming the backbone of your server-side logic.


Routing in Express.js

Here you will learn how to manage routing in Express.js, organizing your application’s functionality into distinct routes. You will learn how to handle different types of HTTP requests, such as GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE.

Middleware in Express.js

Here you will learn how to use middleware functions in Express.js. Middleware functions allow you to add features to your application, such as logging, authentication, or data processing, before handling requests.


Authentication and authorization using JWT

Here you will learn how to implement authentication and authorization in your Express.js applications using JSON Web Tokens (JWT). This will allow you to secure your APIs and ensure that only authorized users can access certain resources.


Unit testing with Mocha and Chai

Here you will learn how to write unit tests for your backend code using Mocha and Chai. Unit testing ensures that your code behaves as expected and helps you catch bugs early in the development process.


Integrating React front end with Express.js backend

Here you will learn how to integrate your React frontend with your Express.js backend. You will understand how to make API calls from the frontend to the backend and handle responses in React.

API calls from React to Express using Axios or Fetch

Here you will learn how to make API calls from your React application to your Express.js backend using libraries like Axios or the Fetch API. You will practice fetching data and rendering it on the frontend.

Module 9: Deployment and Performance Optimization [3 Weeks]

Deployment strategies for MERN applications

Here you will learn how to deploy your full-stack MERN applications to cloud platforms like AWS. You will understand the best practices for deploying both the frontend and backend of your application in a production environment.

Monitoring and debugging tools

Here you will learn how to use various tools, such as Postman and Chrome DevTools, for monitoring and debugging your applications. These tools are essential for troubleshooting and optimizing the performance of your web applications.

Security best practices for web applications

Here you will learn the best practices for securing your web applications. You will explore techniques for protecting user data, securing APIs, and mitigating common security risks, such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS).

Performance optimization techniques

Here you will learn various techniques to improve the performance of your web applications. You will explore strategies like code splitting, lazy loading, and caching to ensure your applications run efficiently and provide a smooth user experience.

Capstone Project [1 Week]




MERN Stack Project: From Ideation to Implementation

Here you will work on a full-scale MERN stack project, taking it from initial planning to final implementation. You will integrate everything you've learned by building a complete application, adding features, testing your code, and documenting your work.