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University of Helsinki

Full Stack Open

University of Helsinki via Independent

Overview

Learn React, Redux, Node.js, MongoDB, GraphQL and TypeScript in one go! This course will introduce you to modern JavaScript-based web development. The main focus is on building single page applications with ReactJS that use REST APIs built with Node.js.

Syllabus

Part 0
  • Fundamentals of Web apps
In this part, we will familiarize ourselves with the practicalities of taking the course. After that we will have an overview of the basics of web development, and also talk about the advances in web application development during the last few decades.Part 1
  • Introduction to React
In this part, we will familiarize ourselves with the React-library, which we will be using to write the code that runs in the browser. We will also look at some features of JavaScript that are important for understanding React.Part 2
  • Communicating with server
Let's continue our introduction to React. First, we will take a look at how to render a data collection, like a list of names, to the screen. After this, we will inspect how a user can submit data to a React application using HTML forms. Next, our focus shifts towards looking at how JavaScript code in the browser can fetch and handle data stored in a remote backend server. Lastly, we will take a quick look at a few simple ways of adding CSS styles to our React applications.Part 3
  • Programming a server with NodeJS and Express
In this part our focus shifts towards the backend, that is, towards implementing functionality on the server side of the stack. We will implement a simple REST API in Node.js by using the Express library, and the application's data will be stored in a MongoDB database. At the end of this part, we will deploy our application to the internet.Part 4
  • Testing Express servers, user administration
In this part, we will continue our work on the backend. Our first major theme will be writing unit and integration tests for the backend. After we have covered testing, we will take a look at implementing user authentication and authorization.Part 5
  • Testing React apps
In this part we return to the frontend, first looking at different possibilities for testing the React code. We will also implement token based authentication which will enable users to log in to our application.Part 6
  • State management with Redux
So far, we have placed the application's state and state logic directly inside React components. When applications grow larger, state management should be moved outside React components. In this part, we will introduce the Redux library, which is currently the most popular solution for managing the state of React applications.Part 7
  • React router, custom hooks, styling app with CSS and webpack
The seventh part of the course touches on several different themes. First, we'll get familiar with React router. React router helps us divide the application into different views that are shown based on the URL in the browser's address bar. After this, we'll look at a few more ways to add CSS styles to React applications. During the entire course, we've used create-react-app to generate the body of our applications. This time, we'll take a look under the hood: we'll learn how Webpack works and how we can use it to configure the application ourselves. We shall also have a look at hook functions and how to define a custom hook.Part 8
  • GraphQL
This part of the course is about GraphQL, Facebook's alternative to REST for communication between browser and server.Part 9
  • TypeScript
This part is all about TypeScript: an open-source typed superset of JavaScript developed by Microsoft that compiles to plain JavaScript.In this part, we will be using the tools previously introduced to build end-to-end features to an existing ecosystem with linters predefined and an existing codebase writing TypeScript. After doing this part, you should be able to understand, develop and configure projects using TypeScript.This part is created by Tuomo Torppa, Tuukka Peuraniemi and Jani Rapo, the awesome developers of Terveystalo, the largest private healthcare service provider in Finland. Terveystalo’s nationwide network covers 300 locations across Finland. The clinic network is supplemented by 24/7 digital services.Part 10
  • React Native
In this part, we will learn how to build native Android and iOS mobile applications with JavaScript and React using the React Native framework. We will dive into the React Native ecosystem by developing an entire mobile application from scratch. Along the way, we will learn concepts such as how to render native user interface components with React Native, how to create beautiful user interfaces, how to communicate with a server, and how to test a React Native application.Part 11
  • CI/CD
So you have a fresh feature ready to be shipped. What happens next? Do you upload files to a server manually? How do you manage the version of your product running in the wild? How do you make sure it works, and roll back to a safe version if it doesn’t?Doing all the above manually is a pain and doesn’t scale well for a larger team. That’s why we have Continuous Integration / Continuous Delivery systems, in short CI/CD systems. In this part, you will gain an understanding of why you should use a CI/CD system, what can one do for you, and how to get started with GitHub Actions which is available to all GitHub users by default.This module was crafted by the Engineering Team at Smartly.io. At Smartly.io, we automate every step of social advertising to unlock greater performance and creativity. We make every day of advertising easy, effective, and enjoyable for more than 650 brands worldwide, including eBay, Uber, and Zalando. We are one of the early adopters of GitHub Actions in wide-scale production use. Contributors: Anna Osipova, Anton Rautio, Mircea Halmagiu, Tomi Hiltunen.Part 12
  • Containers
In this part, we will learn how to package code into standard units of software called containers. These containers can help us develop software faster and easier than before. Along the way, we will also explore a completely new viewpoint for web development outside of the now-familiar Node.js backend and React frontend.We will utilize containers to create immutable execution environments for our Node.js and React projects. Containers also make it easy to include multiple services with our projects. With the flexibility, we will explore and experiment with many different and popular tools by utilizing containers.This section has been created by Jami Kousa in collaboration with the Helsinki-based Services Foundation team at Unity. The Services Foundation team works on providing platforms for other teams at Unity to succeed in their mission of building great services for their customers. The team is passionate about improving Unity’s developer experience and works on tools like the Unity Dashboard, the Unity Editor, and Unity.com.Part 13
  • Using relational databases
In the previous sections of the course we used MongoDB for storing data, which is a so called NoSQL database. NoSQL databases became very common just over 10 years ago, when the scaling of the internet started to produce problems for relational databases that utilized the older generation SQL query language.Relational databases have since then experienced a new beginning. Problems with scalability have been partially resolved and they have also adopted some of the features of NoSQL databases. In this section we explore different NodeJS applications that use relational databases, we will focus on using the database PostgreSQL which is the number one in the open source world.English translation of this part is by Aarni Pavlidi.

Taught by

Matti Luukkainen, Kalle Ilves, and Jami Kousa

Reviews

4.7 rating, based on 28 Class Central reviews

Start your review of Full Stack Open

  • I recently completed the Full Stack Open course offered by the University of Helsinki, and I found it to be an exceptional learning experience. The course covers a wide range of topics, including React, Node.js, and GraphQL, making it comprehensive for anyone looking to enhance their full-stack development skills. The hands-on projects are particularly beneficial, as they allow you to apply what you've learned in real-world scenarios. The course is well-structured, with clear explanations and a supportive community for assistance. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in full-stack development!
  • Really loved taking this course, even though it's in another country - it's very applicable and thorough. had a lot of fun learning react, connecting to the server, Nodejs with express, testing, graphql, typescript, react native, and even using databases!
  • very good course i learn about frontend langauge HTML5 CSS3 Javascript React js and backend with node js express js and database with mongoDB and mysql relational database its very good course
  • Profile image for SUNNY ABHISHEK
    SUNNY ABHISHEK
    Full Stack open 2022 by University of Helsinki offers an unparalleled journey into the world of full stack development, providing an extensive and well-structured curriculum that caters to both beginners and experienced developers alike. One of the…
  • What I enjoyed the most in the course: Course was very practical - it introduced many npm packages, browser extensions and Node scripts, VSCode editor plugins and programming practices that ease the development.
  • Kapadiya Shreyas M.
    The web developer course provides a comprehensive introduction to web development, covering HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and modern frameworks like React. The curriculum is well-structured, starting with the basics and gradually progressing to more advanced topics. Practical projects reinforce learning, allowing students to build real-world applications. The instructors are knowledgeable and responsive, offering clear explanations and support. However, some areas could benefit from more in-depth coverage, particularly backend development. Overall, the course is a great starting point for beginners looking to enter the field, offering a solid foundation and hands-on experience in web development.
  • Profile image for Samart Singh
    Samart Singh
    the best course yet i have learned a lot about react basic and its uses and components. this course should be recommended to all people who are searching for a good and full pack of certification course they should go through this course surely they will learn a lot of things which they might not found anywhere else. The quality they provide are best among every free course or even paid course provided all over the internet
  • Profile image for Gisa Kaze Fredson
    Gisa Kaze Fredson
    After completing Full Stack Open provided by the University of Helsinki, I gained a comprehensive understanding of modern web development. The course effectively guided me through building single-page applications using ReactJS and implementing REST APIs with Node.js. I learned to manage application state with Redux and utilize MongoDB for database management, enhancing my backend skills.
  • Shivam Goyal
    good platform for learning Really loved taking this course, even though it's in another country - it's very applicable and thorough. had a lot of fun learning react, connecting to the server, Nodejs with express, testing, graphql, typescript, react native, and even using databases!
  • Profile image for Amar
    Amar
    Full Stack Open 2022 has been a fantastic learning experience, and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn full-stack web development. The course is free and offers a wealth of knowledge and resources that can help anyone build a strong foundation in web development.
  • Profile image for Всеволод Федоров
    Всеволод Федоров
    Full Stack Open 2022 has been a fantastic learning experience, and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn full-stack web development. The course is free and offers a wealth of knowledge and resources that can help anyone build a strong foundation in web development.
  • Gayatri Kailas Bhandge
    Full Stack Open by the University of Helsinki is excellent! Comprehensive, hands-on, and well-structured.
  • Profile image for Himanshu Saini
    Himanshu Saini
    nice course it help me to understand the react js fundamentals and concept.i thgink this is the best course for the begginers
  • Anonymous
    It's very good and good helper this info will help me in my career so I learn and I'll recommend to my friends
  • Profile image for AARYA KADAM
    AARYA KADAM
    Completing the Full Stack Development course was a transformative journey. The comprehensive curriculum covered front-end and back-end technologies, databases, and frameworks, providing a holistic understanding of web development. Hands-on projects…
  • Adefuye Abayomi
    Great Course. Through examples, explanatory, easy to follow. And yes, the discord channel. Invaluable. Great course
  • Anonymous
    One of the best free courses, the content is up-to-date and of high quality. It starts from the scratch and covers almist every part of the web dev. The examples are very easy to understand and follow. Cant wait to complete it. A certificate of completion from the university and by the end of the course, you will have created an web app.
  • Gunjan
    great course, really helpful to enhance the skills of an individual. One of the course’s strengths was its emphasis on best practices in coding, such as version control with Git and collaborative workflows using GitHub. Additionally, the course included career support, with sessions on resume building and interview preparation, which I found extremely beneficial.

    However, the pace was quite intense, which could be challenging for those new to programming. Overall, this Full Stack Development course was an excellent investment in my career, equipping me with the skills and confidence needed to succeed in the tech industry.

  • Anonymous
    Amazing course! The course is divided in 13 parts, it teaches you front-end using react and back-end using node.js! There's assistance through discord and telegram! Everything for free!
  • Profile image for Rudresh Kumar
    Rudresh Kumar
    fantastic course content i just love the content of this course it helped me a lot in understanding and revising my concept of development i have keen interest in developing so i would suggest just take this course at least once .

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