NodeJS : Beginner

Outline

Javascript

• Overview of the Javascript language
• Data types, asserting and checking
• Collections, arrays and objects
• Functions, Control Flow and Loops
• Object Orientated Programming
• Revealing Module and other common design patterns

Node Basics

• Downloading and installing Node
• Create a simple node application
• The Node Terminal
• Node Package Manager NPM
• Creating a package for managing your application

Node Modules

• What is a module
• Require and Module Exports
• Using Core modules
• Creating modules
• Design patterns for organising modules
• Look at useful core modules

File System

• Node apps and managing a file system
• Creating and deleting files and directories
• Copying and managing files
• Scanning directories

Process

• What is a process
• Managing processes
• Creating background process
• Task runners and recovering from failure

HTTP and HTTPs

• Making a simple server
• When to use HTTP and HTTPs
• Server ports and listening
• HTTP Requests and Responses
• Request and Response headers and body
• Creating a response to incoming requests
• Building a simple HTTP server with static files

NET (TCP) and WebSockets

• How do socket servers differ with HTTP
• Using TCP and WebSockets
• Server and Clients
• Native applications vs web applications
• Making a simple chatroom app with HTML5 and WebSockets

Socket.IO

• Why socket.IO over other WebSocket modules
• Client side and Server side
• Data persistence options

Express

• What is the express framework
• How it differs to using HTTP and other core modules
• Creating an Express application

Express Server

• Making an HTTP internal server
• Attaching Express to an external server
• The role of semantic requests
• USE, GET, POST, PUT, DELETE etc

Routing, static routes and data routes

• Routes explained
• Defining routes with paths and URL
• Defining route parameters for data input
• URL Encoded variables
• The use of Route Parameters and URL variables
• Regular Expressions
• External Routing
• Static Routing

RESTful APIs

• What does RESTful mean?
• Manipulating data via a route
• Typical semantic requests for routing an API
• Persisting data through JSON
• The role of database technology
• MongoDB and Comparison to MySQL

MongoDB

• Using MongoDB locally or via online service
• Downloading and installing MongoDB
• Running a MongoDB Server Locally
• Data location and paths
• Running the MongoDB Terminal
• Principles of NoSQL Database

MongoDB CRUD

• Creating Databases and Collections
• Documents
• Difference between traditional Databases
• Collections verses Tables
• Documents verses Rows
• Using Models with DB
• Simple queries to read and sort data
• Updating data
• Deleting data
• Further learning of MongoDB

MongoDB Modules

• How to use MongoDB with Ex[ress
• Native MongoDB module
• MongoJS and Mongoose
• Using Schemas to control RESTful APIs

Online DB Services

• Why use application data solutions?
• MongoLAB
• Firebase, DerbyJS, Meteor, FeatherJS, Parse.com

Express and Rendering Data

• What is a renderer?
• Jade, EJS, Mustache and Handlebars
• Rendering your pages with data bindings
• Using partials
• Creating a fully dynamic website

Unit Testing

• What is unit testing
• How to plan for unit testing
• Working with popular solutions like Jasmine and Mocha
• Testing your app with Mocha

Node for native apps

• Using node for working with desktop and mobile applications
• Making fast servers for games
• Socket servers for realtime communication

MEAN Stack Web Apps

• What is a MEAN Stack app?
• Rendering dynamic user interfaces
• Front end frameworks: AngularJS and ReactJS

Building a real world app

• Creating a full real-world application using Node and Express
• Planning and designing
• Using object graphs
• Creating Restful APIs and testing with PostMan
• Building a simple app with partials using Bootstrap3
• Differentiating static routes from data routes

Publishing your Apps and Modules

• Running your own Node Server
• Using a hosting company
• Publishing modules on NPM and Github

The future of NodeJS

• Changes to the javascript language
• ES6 Harmony and ES7