Backend Engineering

About This Program

What You’ll Learn

• Design REST APIs and document them with OpenAPI
• Build services with Node.js, TypeScript and Express
• Model data and write efficient SQL for PostgreSQL
• Implement authentication and authorization securely
• Use caching, queues and background jobs
• Test, containerise and deploy back-end services

Curriculum

1. Module 1 Module 1: Server-side TypeScript (weeks 1–3) 3 topics

   • Node.js runtime and TypeScript
   • HTTP in depth
   • Express and project structure
2. Module 2 Module 2: Data (weeks 4–7) 4 topics

   • Relational modelling and normalisation
   • PostgreSQL and SQL performance
   • ORMs and migrations
   • Redis and caching
3. Module 3 Module 3: APIs and security (weeks 8–11) 4 topics

   • REST design and OpenAPI
   • Authentication with sessions and JWT
   • OWASP Top 10 for APIs
   • Payments and third-party integrations
4. Module 4 Module 4: Production (weeks 12–16) 4 topics

   • Automated testing
   • Docker and CI/CD
   • Logging and monitoring
   • Capstone project

What You’ll Build

• A documented REST API with authentication
• An e-commerce back end with payments integration in test mode
• A containerised capstone service with CI/CD

Career Outcomes

• Backend Developer
• API Developer
• Node.js Developer
• Software Engineer

Who This Program Is For

Requirements

• Basic programming experience in any language
• A laptop or desktop with at least 8 GB of RAM
• A reliable internet connection
• About 12–15 hours a week