MERN Stack Development Course

MERN Stack Development Course Outline for M-Tech IT Institute (Basic to Advanced)

This comprehensive course outline ensures that students gain a thorough understanding of the MERN stack, starting from basic web development concepts and progressing to full-stack applications with advanced features and deployment. By the end of the course, students will be ready to develop and deploy modern web applications using the MERN stack.

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Module 1: Introduction to Web Development & JavaScript Basics
– Objective: To provide students with a solid foundation in web development and JavaScript programming, which is essential for working with the MERN stack.

1. Overview of Web Development
– Understanding Front-End, Back-End, and Full-Stack development
– Introduction to MERN Stack (MongoDB, Express.js, React.js, Node.js)
– Role of each technology in the MERN stack

2. HTML & CSS Basics
– Structure of HTML documents (tags, elements, attributes)
– Styling with CSS (selectors, properties, box model, flexbox, grid)
– Introduction to Responsive Design with Media Queries

3. JavaScript Basics
– Variables, data types, operators, and expressions
– Functions, conditionals (if, else, switch)
– Loops (for, while, do-while)
– Arrays and Objects in JavaScript
– Introduction to ES6+ features (let, const, arrow functions, template literals, destructuring, spread/rest operators)

4. JavaScript Advanced Topics
– Understanding asynchronous JavaScript (callbacks, promises, async/await)
– Introduction to JavaScript events and event handling
– Closures, scope, and context (this)
– Error handling and debugging techniques

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Module 2: Introduction to Node.js and Express.js
– Objective: To introduce back-end JavaScript development using Node.js and Express.js, building a strong foundation for server-side programming.

1. Introduction to Node.js
– What is Node.js and how it works (non-blocking I/O, event-driven model)
– Installing and setting up Node.js and npm (Node Package Manager)
– Creating a basic Node.js application (using http module)
– Introduction to Node.js modules (built-in modules: fs, path, os, etc.)

2. Working with npm (Node Package Manager)
– Installing third-party packages (express, lodash, etc.)
– Managing dependencies in package.json
– Using npm scripts for running tasks

3. Introduction to Express.js
– Setting up an Express.js application
– Routing in Express (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE)
– Middleware in Express (using built-in middleware, creating custom middleware)
– Handling HTTP requests and responses in Express
– Error handling and debugging in Express

4. Building RESTful APIs with Express.js
– REST architecture and principles (CRUD operations)
– Creating API endpoints and connecting routes
– Understanding JSON and API responses
– API documentation using tools like Postman or Swagger

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Module 3: Working with MongoDB & Mongoose
– Objective: To introduce students to MongoDB, a NoSQL database, and Mongoose, an ODM (Object Data Modeling) tool, for managing data in a MERN stack application.

1. Introduction to NoSQL and MongoDB
– What is MongoDB and why it’s used
– Understanding databases, collections, and documents
– Setting up MongoDB locally or using a cloud service (e.g., MongoDB Atlas)
– CRUD operations in MongoDB (using Mongo shell or MongoDB Compass)

2. Introduction to Mongoose
– What is Mongoose and its role in MERN stack
– Installing Mongoose and setting up database connection
– Defining schemas and models in Mongoose
– Querying MongoDB with Mongoose methods (find, save, update, delete)

3. Data Validation and Relationships
– Data validation in Mongoose schemas
– Setting up relationships between collections (references and embedded documents)
– Handling MongoDB aggregation and indexing for performance

4. Connecting MongoDB with Express.js
– Integrating Mongoose with Express to create RESTful APIs
– Creating routes for interacting with MongoDB (CRUD operations)
– Error handling for MongoDB operations

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Module 4: Introduction to React.js
– Objective: To introduce front-end development with React.js, focusing on building interactive user interfaces.

1. Introduction to React.js
– What is React.js and why it’s popular (Declarative, Component-Based UI)
– Setting up a React application using Create React App
– Understanding JSX (JavaScript XML) and rendering React components

2. React Components and Props
– Functional components vs Class components
– Passing data to components using Props
– Managing component state with useState hook
– Component lifecycle (class components vs hooks)

3. Handling Events and Forms
– Handling user inputs and events (onClick, onChange)
– Managing form inputs and validations in React
– Conditional rendering in React components

4. State Management and useEffect Hook
– Managing state across multiple components
– useEffect for side effects (fetching data, subscriptions, etc.)
– Optimizing performance with React hooks (memoization, lazy loading)

5. Routing in React with React Router
– Introduction to client-side routing
– Setting up React Router for navigation (Routes, Links, Switch)
– Passing props to components through routing
– Handling nested routes and route parameters

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Module 5: Integrating MERN Stack
– Objective: To integrate MongoDB, Express.js, React.js, and Node.js into a full-stack application and work with real-world use cases.

1. Setting up Full-Stack Application
– Connecting React.js with Express API (Frontend and Backend communication)
– Using Axios or Fetch API to make HTTP requests from React to Express
– Managing state in React from API responses

2. Authentication and Authorization
– User authentication with JWT (JSON Web Tokens)
– Protecting routes using token-based authentication
– Role-based access control (admin, user, etc.)
– Handling user registration and login (Hashing passwords with bcrypt)

3. CRUD Operations in Full-Stack App
– Implementing CRUD operations for managing resources (e.g., users, products, etc.)
– Connecting front-end forms with Express back-end API for adding, updating, deleting data
– Handling errors and loading states in React UI

4. State Management with Context API / Redux
– Using React Context API for simple global state management
– Introduction to Redux for more complex state management
– Setting up Redux store, actions, and reducers

5. File Uploads and Cloud Storage
– Handling file uploads in Express (using multer or other middleware)
– Storing files in cloud services (e.g., AWS S3, Cloudinary)
– Displaying images or files in React from cloud storage

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Module 6: Advanced MERN Stack Topics
– Objective: To deepen knowledge of advanced concepts in MERN stack development, focusing on performance optimization and deployment.

1. Performance Optimization
– Optimizing MongoDB queries (indexing, aggregation pipelines)
– Caching API responses with Redis
– Lazy loading components and code splitting in React

2. WebSockets and Real-Time Applications
– Implementing WebSocket for real-time communication (e.g., chat application)
– Using Socket.io in Express and React

3. Testing in MERN Stack
– Unit testing and integration testing with Jest (React, Express, Node.js)
– Using Enzyme or React Testing Library for React components
– API testing with Postman and Mocha/Chai

4. Error Handling and Logging
– Implementing centralized error handling in Express
– Logging server errors with Winston or Morgan
– Monitoring application performance and health

5. Deploying MERN Stack Applications
– Deploying backend to Heroku or AWS
– Deploying React frontend with Netlify, Vercel, or AWS S3
– Setting up continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines
– Securing application with SSL certificates (HTTPS)

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Module 7: Final Project and Capstone
– Objective: To create a complete full-stack MERN application, demonstrating the integration of all technologies and real-world development skills.

1. Project Planning and Requirements
– Defining project scope and requirements
– Creating wireframes and database schema
– Setting up project structure (frontend, backend, database)

2. Building the Application
– Developing frontend using React.js (UI/UX design)
– Implementing backend API with Express.js and MongoDB
– Implementing authentication, authorization, and CRUD functionality

3. Testing and Debugging
– Writing tests for components and API endpoints
– Debugging and fixing issues (React, Express, MongoDB)

4. Deployment and Final Presentation
– Deploying the final application to cloud platforms
– Presentation of the project, highlighting key features and technologies used

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Assessment and Evaluation
– Assignments and Quizzes: Regular assignments and quizzes to assess theoretical understanding and practical application.
– Midterm Exam: A theoretical and practical exam covering basic to intermediate MERN stack topics.
– Final Exam: A comprehensive exam covering all aspects of the MERN stack, with practical assessments.
– Capstone Project: Evaluation of the final project based on functionality, design, and code quality.

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Recommended Books and Resources
– Books:
1. Fullstack React: The Complete Guide to ReactJS and Friends by Accomazzo, Murray, and Auerbach
2. Learning React: Functional Web Development with React and Redux by Alex Banks and Eve Porcello
3. Node.js Design Patterns by Mario Casciaro

– Online Resources:
1. The official documentation for React.js, Node.js, Express.js, and MongoDB
2. MDN Web Docs (JavaScript, HTML, CSS)
3. FreeCodeCamp (Web Development tutorials and challenges)
4. YouTube channels (Traversy Media, Academind, Programming with Mosh)

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