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Creating web servers with Node.js: understanding backend through JavaScript

During the following 3 weeks you'll be learning about various concepts that deal with what we programmers call backend: the parts of an application that can't directly be accessed by the user, and deals with all processes related to moving and manipulating data.

As a tool to illustrate these concepts we will be using Node.js: software that allows us to use the language of JavaScript to be written and executed outside of the browser.

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

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

Node.js Setup

We're going to use the latest stable version of Node.js, 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: v10.14.2 or something similar.

A note on the homework

Every week you'll be reading about various backend concepts and then have homework that will help you practice what you've learned. Each week's homework consists of 2 parts:

1. Doing exercises to practice with the concepts
2. Building a mini full-stack application, called HackYourTemperature

Here's how it will look. It might not look like much, but a lot is happening on the backend.

Handing in homework

Take a look at this video made by Daan, he explains how your homework needs to be handed in.

Also review the Git workflow material and use it as a reference.

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 :)