karamad10/node.js

This repository contains all the material for the HackYourFuture module "Understand backend: creating web servers with JavaScript using Node.js"

If you are following the HackYourFuture curriculum we recommend you to start with module 1: HTML/CSS/GIT. To get a complete overview of the HackYourFuture curriculum first, click here.

Please help us improve and share your feedback! If you find better tutorials or links, please share them by opening a pull request.

Module #5 - Understand backend: creating web servers with JavaScript using Node.js (Backend)

So far you've learned about the fundamentals of what makes up a webpage in your browser. We call this frontend: the HTML that gives structure to our pages, the CSS that give it a nice look, and the JavaScript that makes our page interactive. Everything you can "see" and "interact" with is made out of these technologies.

However, there is a whole part of applications that you might not be aware of. Have you ever wondered how data moves from one place to another, from one page to another?

This is where backend comes into play: all the parts of an application that can't directly be accessed by the user, but happen "behind the screen". Well here's the secret: there is code that tells the computer how to move and manipulate data. This code is hidden away from the user, because there is no need for them to know about it.

During the following 3 weeks you'll be learning all about this. As a tool to illustrate these concepts we will be using Node.js: software that allows us to use the language of JavaScript to write backend applications.

Learning goals

In this module you will get familiar with the world of backend development. By the end of it you have learned:

• What is meant by the term backend
• The client-server model
• What HTTP and REST mean
• How to create your own web servers with Node.js, using Express.js
• What a templating engine is.
• How to use the Node Package Manager (NPM).
• How to use Express.js to make a RESTful API
• How to build a small full-stack application

Before you start

Before you start you need to install a very important software: Node.js! We're going to use the latest stable version of it, which is v10.x. Click on the following link to download it to your computer:

• For Ubuntu
• For macOS
• For Windows

Verify the installation by running node -v (-v is short for version) from the Command Line. It should say: v12.13.0 or a later version than that.

How to use this repository

This repository consists of 3 essential parts:

1. Reading materials: this document contains all the required theory you need to know while you're coding. It's meant as both study material and as a reference to understand what you're doing.
2. Homework: this document contains the instructions for each week's homework.
3. Lesson Plans: this part is meant for teachers as a reference. However, as a student don't be shy to take a look at it as well!

After your first class you should start off with checking the reading materials for that week. At the beginning that would be the Week 1 Reading. Study all the concepts and try to get the gist of everything. After, you can get started with the homework for that week.

Before you start with the homework, make sure you've made a fork of the right repository: HackYourHomework/Node.js. Once you've cloned it to your computer you can proceed by making GIT branches for each week. Start at the master branch and execute the following (note that they're 3 different commands):

foo@bar:~$ git branch week1-YOURNAME
foo@bar:~$ git branch week2-YOURNAME
foo@bar:~$ git branch week3-YOURNAME

Then execute git checkout week1-YOURNAME and you can get started!

If you have any questions or if something is not entirely clear ¯\_(ツ)_/¯, please ask/comment on Slack!

Planning

Week	Topic	Readings	Homework	Lesson Plan
1.	Client-server model, HTTP & Express	Readings W1	Homework W1	Lesson Plan W1
2.	REST, CRUD & API	Readings W2	Homework W2	Lesson Plan W2
3.	Templating engines, API calls	Readings W3	Homework W3	Lesson Plan W3

Finished?

Did you finish the module? You're a rockstar!

If you feel ready for the next challenge, click here to go to Databases!

The HackYourFuture curriculum is subject to CC BY copyright. This means you can freely use our materials, but just make sure to give us credit for it :)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.