Application foundations

Frontends, backends and APIs; databases in an app; configuration and secrets outside the code; Git and GitHub; a first architecture.

Modules in this path

1. 1. Frontend, backend and the browserWhat runs where
   1. What runs in the browser, and what runs on a server Reading, 6 min
   2. Static sites, server-rendered apps and APIs Reading, 6 min
   3. How ComputeSphere maps these: static site, web service, background worker, cron job Reading, 6 min
   4. Check: frontend and backend Knowledge check, 5 min
   4 open
2. 2. APIsREST, JSON and status codes
   1. What an API is Video and reading, 8 min
   2. REST and JSON Reading, 6 min
   3. Status codes in practice Reading, 6 min
   4. Try it: call a public API, then a local one Reading, 15 min
   5. Check: APIs Knowledge check, 5 min
   5 open
3. 3. Databases in an appSchemas, migrations, connections
   1. Schemas, tables and relationships Reading, 6 min
   2. Migrations: changing a schema safely Reading, 6 min
   3. ORMs, and when to write SQL Reading, 6 min
   4. Connection pools and limits Reading, 6 min
   5. Try it: run a migration locally Reading, 15 min
   6. Check: databases in an app Knowledge check, 5 min
   6 open
4. 4. ConfigurationEnvironment variables, one build for every environment
   1. Configuration belongs outside the code Reading, 6 min
   2. Environment variables Reading, 6 min
   3. One build, many environments Reading, 6 min
   4. On ComputeSphere: service variables and when a change needs a redeploy Reading, 6 min
   5. Check: configuration Knowledge check, 5 min
   5 open
5. 5. Git essentialsSet-up, commits, branches, merges
   1. Set up Git Reading, 5 min
   2. Commits and history Reading, 6 min
   3. Branches and merges Reading, 6 min
   4. Try it: branch, commit, resolve a conflict Reading, 20 min
   5. .gitignore and what never goes in a repo Reading, 5 min
   6. Check: Git Knowledge check, 5 min
   6 open
6. 6. SecretsWhat counts as a secret and how they leak
   1. What counts as a secret Reading, 5 min
   2. How secrets leak: git, logs, images, screenshots Reading, 6 min
   3. Try it: find a secret in git history, then remove it properly Reading, 20 min
   4. On ComputeSphere: secret variables Reading, 5 min
   5. Check: secrets Knowledge check, 5 min
   5 open
7. 7. GitHubPull requests, reviews, Actions
   1. Repositories and pull requests on GitHub Reading, 6 min
   2. Reviews and protected branches Reading, 5 min
   3. Try it: open and merge a pull request Reading, 15 min
   4. GitHub Actions at a glance, and connecting GitHub to ComputeSphere Reading, 6 min
   5. Check: GitHub Knowledge check, 5 min
   5 open
8. 8. Architecture 101Web, API, database, worker
   1. Monolith or services Reading, 6 min
   2. Web, API, database, worker: a reference architecture Reading, 6 min
   3. What scales and what doesn't Reading, 5 min
   4. Check: architecture Knowledge check, 5 min
   4 open