Mastering Node.js: From Beginner to Backend Pro

Your Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming a Node.js Expert


What you'll learn
NodeJs Magic: Event-Driven Architecture
Create powerful apps using Nodejs essentials like HTTP servers, file systems, paths, and event emitters.
Master the Toolbox: Install, manage, and update packages effortlessly with npm.
Callbacks, Promises, and Beyond: Unlock the secrets of asynchronous programming with Nodejs.

Requirements
Familiarity with basic programming concepts like variables, loops, and functions will be helpful.
A fundamental grasp of JavaScript is recommended since Nodejs is built on it.

Description
1. NodeJS Architecture
Event-Driven Architecture:
Understanding how NodeJS handles asynchronous operations using an event loop.
Single Threaded Nature:
Learn how NodeJS manages multiple tasks concurrently despite being single-threaded.
Non-blocking I/O:
How NodeJS uses non-blocking I/O operations to handle multiple requests efficiently.
2. Core Modules
HTTP Module:
Creating HTTP servers, handling requests and responses.
File System (fs) Module:
Reading and writing files, managing directories.
Path Module:
Working with file and directory paths.
Events Module:
Creating and handling custom events.
Stream Module:
Handling large data sets by processing data in chunks.
OS Module:
Interacting with the operating system, gathering system information.
Util Module:
Utility functions, including deprecating methods and debugging.
3. npm (Node Package Manager)
Package Management:
Installing, updating, and removing packages.
Creating and Publishing Packages:
Building your own NodeJS packages and publishing them to npm.
Semantic Versioning:
Understanding versioning in npm and how to use it.
4. Asynchronous Programming
Callbacks:
The foundation of async programming in NodeJS.
Promises:
Handling asynchronous operations more elegantly with .then() and .catch().
Async/Await:
Writing asynchronous code that looks synchronous for better readability.
Event Loop:
In-depth understanding of how the event loop processes asynchronous callbacks.
Timers:
Using setTimeout, setInterval, and setImmediate.
5. Express.js Framework
Setting Up a Server:
Creating a basic server with Express.
Routing:
Defining routes for handling HTTP requests.
Middleware:
Implementing and understanding the role of middleware in request processing.
Error Handling:
Centralized error handling in Express applications.
Template Engines:
Using engines like EJS, Pug, or Handlebars to render dynamic content.
6. Web APIs and RESTful Services
Creating REST APIs:
Building RESTful services with Express.js or other frameworks.
CRUD Operations:
Implementing Create, Read, Update, Delete operations in your API.
Authentication:
Securing APIs with JWT (JSON Web Tokens), OAuth, or other authentication methods.
API Documentation:
Using tools like Swagger to document your API.
7. Database Integration
SQL Databases:
Using libraries like pg for PostgreSQL or mysql2 for MySQL.
NoSQL Databases:
Integrating with MongoDB using Mongoose.
ORMs:
Working with ORMs like Sequelize for SQL databases.
Database Migrations:
Managing database schema changes with migration tools.
8. Real-time Applications
WebSockets:
Using libraries like socketIO to build real-time applications like chat apps.
Server-Sent Events (SSE):
Implementing unidirectional server-to-client updates.
Polling:
Understanding long polling as an alternative to WebSockets.
9. Security
Data Validation:
Ensuring incoming data is valid and secure using libraries like Joi.
Input Sanitization:
Preventing injection attacks by sanitizing input.
Authentication and Authorization:
Implementing secure authentication mechanisms.
HTTPS:
Securing your NodeJS server with HTTPS.
Rate Limiting:
Protecting your APIs from brute-force attacks with rate limiting.
10. Testing
Unit Testing:
Writing tests for individual units of code using frameworks like Mocha, Jest, or Jasmine.
Integration Testing:
Testing the interaction between different parts of your application.
Test-Driven Development (TDD):
Writing tests before code to ensure functionality.
Mocking and Stubbing:
Simulating external services or functions in tests.
11. Deployment and Scaling
Environment Management:
Using .env files and environment variables for configuration.
Process Management:
Using PM2 or forever to manage NodeJS processes in production.
Load Balancing:
Distributing traffic across multiple instances of your application.
Scaling:
Horizontal and vertical scaling techniques for NodeJS applications.
Containerization:
Using Docker to containerize your NodeJS application.
CI/CD Pipelines:
Automating the deployment process using tools like Jenkins, GitHub Actions, or CircleCI.
12. Working with Streams and Buffers
Readable and Writable Streams:
Understanding how to process data piece by piece.
Pipes:
Connecting streams together to pass data from one stream to another.
Transform Streams:
Manipulating data as it is read or written.
Buffers:
Handling binary data directly in NodeJS.
13. Error Handling and Debugging
Error Handling Best Practices:
Using try…catch and centralized error handling middleware.
Logging:
Implementing logging using libraries like Winston or Bunyan.
Debugging:
Using NodeJS built-in debugger or Chrome DevTools for debugging.
14. Build Tools and Task Runners
Gulp:
Automating tasks like minification, compilation, and linting.
Webpack:
Module bundler for handling project assets.
ESLint:
Enforcing coding standards and style guidelines.
15. Microservices and API Gateways
Microservice Architecture:
Designing and implementing microservices with NodeJS.
API Gateway:
Managing multiple microservices behind a unified interface using tools like YARP or NGINX.
Inter-service Communication:
Using protocols like HTTP, gRPC, or message queues.
16. Performance Optimization
Profiling:
Using tools like NodeJS Profiler and Clinic.js to identify performance bottlenecks.
Caching:
Implementing caching strategies with Redis or in-memory caches.
Clustering:
Utilizing NodeJS's clustering module to take advantage of multi-core systems.
17. Advanced Topics
Child Processes:
Running multiple processes from a single NodeJS script.
Worker Threads:
Leveraging multi-threading in NodeJS for CPU-intensive tasks.
Serverless:
Deploying NodeJS applications in a serverless architecture using AWS Lambda, Google Cloud Functions, etc.
Who this course is for:
If you’re new to programming or Nodejs, don’t worry! I’ll start with the basics.

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