Node.js Backend - One Project At A Time

Introduction

Welcome to the Node.js Backend project series! In this series of projects, you will learn how to build various Node.js applications by tackling one project at a time. Each project focuses on a specific topic or feature, allowing you to gradually gain a deeper understanding of Node.js and its capabilities. Let's get started!

After some thought processes and thinking back to how I got better at coding, I have decided to come up with a strategy that I have been working on for a while now. I think I will help every one of us become backend developers with solid knowledge in either PHP & Laravel stack or JavaScript & Node.js stack. And good knowledge of Databases.

We will call it Node.js Backend - One Project At A Time. This program comprises 10 projects with user stories, descriptions, and concepts. This is an opportunity for you to leverage your front-end strengths with the backend you are learning.

Duration

The estimated duration for completing all 10 projects is approximately 30 days - 60 days.

Technologies

You can use any frontend framework or technologies, such as HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript (ES6, ES5, ES7), Bootstrap, Tailwind, SCSS, Saas, TypeScript, React, Vue, etc. However, our main focus will be on the backend technologies.

For those who selected PHP:

• Main Target: PHP, Laravel, MySQL, PostgreSQL, APIs.
  PHP Backend Project Guide: https://github.com/programmify-workspace/PHP-Backend-one-project-at-a-time

For those who selected Node.js:

• Main Target: Node.js, JavaScript, TypeScript, Express, MySQL, PostgreSQL, APIs.

Project Structure

The projects are designed to help you gain practical experience in building real-world applications. Each project will have a user story, description, and concepts that you will learn as you build them. Feel free to choose a frontend template that suits the specific project you are working on, allowing you to focus primarily on the backend development.

Projects Overview

1. Understanding how Node.js MVC Frameworks Work
2. Data Import/Export
3. PDF Generation
4. Shopping Cart
5. Email Sending
6. CRUD with Sorting, Filtering, Pagination
7. QR Code Generator
8. Working with cURL
9. Customer Registration
10. Event Management

Projects

Project 1: Understanding How Node.js MVC Frameworks Work

User Story: As a developer, I want to understand how Node.js MVC (Model-View-Controller) frameworks work, so I can leverage their benefits in my future projects.

Steps:

1. Learn the basic concepts of the MVC design pattern.
2. Choose a Node.js MVC framework (e.g., Express.js, Adonis.js, Nest.js).
3. Set up the framework and create a simple "Hello, World!" application.
4. Explore the directory structure and understand the role of each component (models, views, controllers).
5. Build a basic CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) functionality for a sample entity.

Project 2: Data Import/Export

User Story: As a user, I want to import data from a CSV file into my application and export it in various formats for analysis or sharing.

Steps:

1. Create a web form to upload a CSV file.
2. Parse the CSV file and extract the data

. 3. Validate and sanitize the data. 4. Store the data in a database. 5. Implement an export functionality to generate CSV, JSON, or Excel files from the stored data.

Project 3: PDF Generation

User Story: As a user, I want to generate PDF documents dynamically based on specific data or templates.

Steps:

1. Install and configure a Node.js library for PDF generation (e.g., pdfkit, Puppeteer).
2. Design a basic template for the PDF document.
3. Fetch data from a database or an API.
4. Populate the template with the fetched data.
5. Generate and download the PDF document with the populated data.

Project 4: Shopping Cart

User Story: As a shopper, I want to add products to a cart, view the cart contents, and complete the checkout process.

Steps:

1. Create a product listing page with add-to-cart buttons.
2. Implement session management to store the cart items.
3. Build a cart page to display the selected products and allow quantity adjustments or removal.
4. Develop a checkout process with billing and shipping information.
5. Integrate a payment gateway for order processing (optional).

Project 5: Email Sending

User Story: As a user, I want to send emails from my application to notify users, share updates, or communicate information.

Steps:

1. Set up an email service provider or use a local mail server for sending emails.
2. Create an email template with placeholders for dynamic content.
3. Design an interface to compose and send emails.
4. Implement email validation and security measures.
5. Send test emails and handle any delivery errors or exceptions.

Project 6: CRUD with Sorting, Filtering, Pagination

User Story: As a user, I want to perform CRUD operations (Create, Read, Update, Delete) on a set of records and apply sorting, filtering, and pagination for better data management.

Steps:

1. Create a database table to store the records.
2. Build a user interface with forms for creating, updating, and deleting records.
3. Implement listing functionality with sorting options.
4. Add filtering capabilities based on specific criteria or search terms.
5. Enable pagination to display a limited number of records per page.

Project 7: QR Code Generator

User Story: As a user, I want to generate QR codes for various purposes, such as URLs, contact information, or product details.

Steps:

1. Install a Node.js library for generating QR codes (e.g., qrcode).
2. Design an interface to input the data for QR code generation.
3. Validate the input data and generate the QR code image.
4. Display the generated QR code to the user for download or usage.
5. Test the QR code to ensure it scans correctly.

Project 8: Working with cURL

User Story: As a developer, I want to interact with external APIs using cURL (Client URL Library) to fetch data or perform actions.

Steps:

1. Learn the basics of cURL and its Node.js implementation.
2. Identify an API to interact with (e.g., weather data, social media, payment gateway).
3. Set up the necessary authentication or API keys.
4. Send cURL requests to the API endpoints and handle the responses.
5. Process the received data and display it in your application.

Project 9: Customer Registration

User Story: As a user, I want to register an account on a website to access personalized features and manage my information.

Steps:

1. Design a registration form with input fields for user details (e.g., name, email, password
2. Implement validation for the registration form data.
3. Store the user data securely in a database.
4. Send a verification email for account activation (optional).
5. Allow users to log in with their registered credentials.

Project 10: Event Management

User Story: As an event organizer, I want to create and manage events, handle attendee registrations, and provide event-related information to participants.

Steps:

1. Create a database schema to store event and attendee data.
2. Develop an interface for event creation, modification, and deletion.
3. Implement a registration system for attendees with validation and capacity management.
4. Display event details, schedules, and other relevant information to participants.
5. Provide features for event feedback or rating after the event concludes.

Recommended Tutorials:

1. Tutorial for Beginners: Learn Node in 1 Hour
   LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlB_eWDSMt4
   Learn the Baisc of Nodejs

2. How to build a REST API with Node js & Express
   LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKd0Rpw7O48
   Modern - Build a REST API with Node JS and Express | CRUD API Tutorial
   LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8WPWK9mS5M

Learn how to create RestFUL API and Express

Tools You Might Need

1. Node.js: Node.js is a JavaScript runtime built on Chrome's V8 JavaScript engine. It allows you to run JavaScript code on the server-side, making it the foundation of Node.js backend development. You need to install Node.js to run your Node.js backend projects.

2. Text Editor or Integrated Development Environment (IDE): You can use a text editor or an IDE to write your Node.js backend code. Some popular options include:

   • Visual Studio Code: Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is a lightweight and feature-rich code editor with built-in support for Node.js development. It offers features like syntax highlighting, code completion, debugging, and an integrated terminal, making it a powerful tool for Node.js programming.

   • WebStorm: WebStorm is a full-fledged IDE designed specifically for web development. It provides advanced features for Node.js development, including intelligent code completion, debugging tools, and integrated version control.

3. Git: Git is a version control system that allows you to track changes, collaborate, and manage your codebase efficiently. You can use Git to clone project repositories, create branches, and collaborate with others on your Node.js backend projects.

4. GitHub or GitLab: GitHub and GitLab are web-based platforms for hosting Git repositories. They provide features like project management, issue tracking, and collaboration tools. You can use them to host your Node.js backend projects, share your code with others, and facilitate collaboration.

5. Node Package Manager (npm): npm is the default package manager for Node.js. It allows you to install, manage, and use third-party libraries and packages in your Node.js projects. You can use npm to install dependencies required by your backend projects.

6. Express.js: Express.js is a popular web application framework for Node.js. It provides a set of robust features and utilities for building web servers and APIs. You can use Express.js to handle routing, middleware, and other backend functionalities in your Node.js projects.

7. Database Management System: Depending on your project requirements, you may need to install and set up a database management system. For this project, you can make use:

   • MongoDB: MongoDB is a NoSQL database that stores data in a flexible, JSON-like format. It is commonly used for building scalable and flexible applications.

   • MySQL: MySQL is a popular relational database management system that uses structured query language (SQL) for managing and querying data.

   • PostgreSQL: PostgreSQL is another powerful open-source relational database system known for its extensibility and advanced features.

8. API Testing Tool: For testing and interacting with APIs, you might need an API testing tool. Some popular options include:

   • Postman: Postman is a widely used API development and testing tool. It allows you to send requests, analyze responses, and automate API testing and documentation.

   • Insomnia: Insomnia is another popular REST API client that provides a clean and intuitive interface for testing and debugging APIs.

   • curl: curl is a command-line tool for making HTTP requests. It can be used for manual testing and automation of API interactions.

9. Additional Libraries and Modules: Depending on the specific requirements of your Node.js backend projects, you may need to install additional libraries or modules. For example, if you're working with PDF generation, you can use libraries like pdfkit or Puppeteer. If you need to send emails, you can use libraries like nodemailer, for email verification, you can use crypto library. The choice of libraries will vary based on your project needs.

These are some of the essential tools and software you will need to work on Node.js backend projects. Make sure to install and

These Node.js backend projects cover various aspects of backend development, such as data handling, file generation, email sending, API integration, user management, and event management. You can choose the projects that align with your learning goals and gradually work on them to gain practical experience. Remember to leverage the Node.js ecosystem and its libraries to simplify your development process.

Good luck with your Node.js backend projects, and happy coding!