Introduction to Development with Node.js 

Course Overview

Duration: 5 days
Level: Intermediate (requires JavaScript fundamentals)
Prerequisites: Solid JavaScript knowledge, basic command line familiarity, HTML/CSS basics

Day 1: Node.js Fundamentals & Environment Setup

What is Node.js?

• Understanding Node.js runtime and V8 engine

• Server-side JavaScript vs client-side JavaScript

• Event-driven, non-blocking I/O model

• Node.js ecosystem and NPM overview

• Use cases: when to choose Node.js

Environment Setup & Core Concepts

• Installing Node.js and NPM

• Node Version Manager (NVM) introduction

• Understanding package.json and project structure

• Global vs local package installation

• Node.js REPL and running scripts

Hands-on Lab:

• Set up development environment

• Create first Node.js application

• Practice with REPL and basic scripts

Core Modules Introduction

• File System (fs) module

• Path module for file path manipulation

• OS module for system information

• Process object and environment variables

• Understanding synchronous vs asynchronous operations

Hands-on Lab:

• Build a file organizer tool

• Create system information display

• Practice reading/writing files

Daily Project

Build a "Development Environment Checker" that validates Node.js setup, checks versions, and creates project templates

Day 2: NPM, Modules & Package Management

NPM Deep Dive

• Understanding semantic versioning (SemVer)

• Package.json configuration and scripts

• Dependencies vs devDependencies vs peerDependencies

• NPM scripts for task automation

• Lock files and reproducible builds

Module System Mastery

• CommonJS vs ES6 modules in Node.js

• Creating and exporting custom modules

• Module resolution and require() mechanics

• Global vs local modules best practices

• Understanding module.exports vs exports

Hands-on Lab:

• Create reusable utility modules

• Set up automated testing with NPM scripts

• Build a custom logging module

Popular NPM Packages

• Lodash for utility functions

• Moment.js/Date-fns for date handling

• Chalk for terminal styling

• Nodemon for development workflow

• Dotenv for environment configuration

Hands-on Lab:

• Enhance projects with third-party packages

• Create colorful CLI applications

• Set up environment-based configuration

Daily Project

Build a "Task Runner CLI Tool" that uses multiple NPM packages and custom modules to perform file operations

Day 3: Building Web Servers & APIs

HTTP Fundamentals in Node.js

• Built-in HTTP module

• Creating basic web servers

• Understanding requests and responses

• HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE)

• Status codes and headers

• URL parsing and query parameters

Hands-on Lab:

• Build basic HTTP server from scratch

• Handle different routes and methods

• Parse request data and send responses

Introduction to Express.js

• Why use Express.js framework

• Setting up Express applications

• Routing and route parameters

• Middleware concept and implementation

• Static file serving

• Template engines overview (EJS, Handlebars)

Hands-on Lab:

• Convert HTTP server to Express

• Create RESTful API endpoints

• Implement middleware for logging and errors

API Development Best Practices

• RESTful API design principles

• Request/response data formats (JSON)

• Error handling and status codes

• Input validation and sanitization

• CORS (Cross-Origin Resource Sharing)

Hands-on Lab:

• Build complete CRUD API

• Implement proper error handling

• Add input validation middleware

Daily Project

Build a "Personal Library API" with full CRUD operations for managing books, including search and filtering

Day 4: Database Integration & Data Persistence

Database Concepts for Node.js

• SQL vs NoSQL databases

• Database drivers vs ORMs

• Connection management and pooling

• Environment-based database configuration

• Data modeling considerations

Working with MongoDB & Mongoose

• MongoDB basics and document structure

• Installing and connecting to MongoDB

• Mongoose ODM introduction

• Schema definition and validation

• Model creation and basic operations

Hands-on Lab:

• Set up MongoDB connection

• Create data models with Mongoose

• Implement basic CRUD operations

Advanced Database Operations

• Query building and filtering

• Population and relationships

• Aggregation pipeline basics

• Indexing for performance

• Error handling and validation

Hands-on Lab:

• Build complex queries

• Implement data relationships

• Add comprehensive validation

Alternative: Working with PostgreSQL

• Setting up PostgreSQL connection

• Using node-postgres (pg) library

• SQL query building

• Connection pooling

• Migration concepts

Hands-on Lab:

• Connect to PostgreSQL database

• Execute SQL queries programmatically

• Handle database transactions

Daily Project

Enhance the Personal Library API with database persistence, user accounts, and advanced querying capabilities

Day 5: Authentication, Testing & Deployment

Authentication & Security

• Understanding JWT (JSON Web Tokens)

• Password hashing with bcrypt

• Session vs token-based authentication

• Implementing login/register endpoints

• Protecting routes with middleware

• Basic security best practices

Hands-on Lab:

• Add user registration and login

• Implement JWT authentication

• Create protected routes

Testing Node.js Applications

• Testing pyramid and strategies

• Unit testing with Jest

• API testing with Supertest

• Test-driven development basics

• Mocking and stubbing

• Test coverage analysis

Hands-on Lab:

• Write unit tests for utility functions

• Create API endpoint tests

• Set up automated testing pipeline

Deployment Preparation

• Environment configuration management

• Process management with PM2

• Basic Docker containerization

• Environment variables and secrets

• Logging and monitoring basics

Deployment Options Overview:

• Traditional VPS deployment

• Platform-as-a-Service (Heroku, Vercel)

• Cloud providers (AWS, Google Cloud, Azure)

• Containerized deployment

Hands-on Lab:

• Prepare application for production

• Configure environment variables

• Set up basic monitoring

Performance & Best Practices

• Asynchronous programming patterns

• Error handling strategies

• Code organization and project structure

• Security considerations checklist

• Performance monitoring basics

Hands-on Lab:

• Refactor code for better performance

• Implement comprehensive error handling

• Add request logging and monitoring

Final Project Integration

Complete the Personal Library API with:

• User authentication and authorization

• Comprehensive testing suite

• Production-ready configuration

• API documentation

• Deployment preparation