Back-End Developer Tools and Skills

Back-End Developer Tools

• Programming Languages:
  • Python, PHP, JavaScript, Ruby, Java, C#
• Frameworks:
  • Laravel, Django, Spring, Ruby on Rails, Meteor, Node.js
• Databases:
  • MongoDB, MySQL, Oracle

Back-End Developer Technical Skills

• Programming Languages:
  • Skill in Python, Java, and PHP is essential
  • Python is favored for its AI/ML compatibility and clear, logical code
  • Basic knowledge of front-end languages (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) is beneficial
• Frameworks:
  • Frameworks are libraries for back-end programming languages that aid in server configuration.
  • Knowledge of a framework associated with your preferred language is recommended
• Databases and Servers:
  • Understanding data storage and retrieval from databases is crucial
  • Popular database programs: MongoDB and MySQL
  • The database organizes and stores client data, similar to cloud storage
  • Data is accessed through a server.
• Application Programming Interface (API):
  • APIs are sets of rules and definitions for developing application software.
  • Knowledge of JavaScript is valuable for building mobile apps (iOS & Android)

Client-Side vs Server-Side JavaScript

• Client-Side JavaScript:
  • Executed within the user's web browser
• Server-Side JavaScript:
  • JavaScript code executed on the server
  • Enables interaction between server and client
  • Node.js is a widely used server-side JavaScript environment

Introduction to Node.js

• Node.js:
  • Open-source, cross-platform JavaScript runtime environment
  • Leverages the V8 JavaScript engine (Google Chrome's core)
  • Handles I/O operations efficiently, allowing it to manage numerous concurrent connections with a single server.
  • Provides a unified platform for front-end and back-end JavaScript development.
  • Offers control over ECMAScript versions and enables experimental features through flags.
  • Primarily utilized for running real-time server applications.

Node.js Features and Modules

• Node.js Features:
  • Extremely Fast: Built on Google Chrome's V8 JavaScript Engine, resulting in fast code execution.
  • Single-Threaded: Utilizes a single-threaded model with event looping.
  • Highly Scalable: The event mechanism enables non-blocking server responses, enhancing scalability.
  • No Buffering: Streamlines processing time for audio and video files by avoiding buffering, delivering data in chunks.
  • Open Source: Benefits from a vibrant open-source community offering numerous modules to extend functionality.

Node.js Modules

• Modules:
  • Comparable to JavaScript libraries, providing sets of functions for use in applications.
• Built-in Modules:
  • Node.js provides a collection of pre-installed modules.
  • Access modules using the require() function: var http = require('http');

Creating and Including Your Own Modules

• Creating Modules:
  • Create custom modules by defining properties and methods using the exports keyword.
  • Save the code in a .js file (e.g., myfirstmodule.js).
• Including Modules:
  • Include your own module in other Node.js files using require() and a relative path: var dt = require('./myfirstmodule');

Node.js HTTP Module

• HTTP Module:
  • A built-in module for data transfer over the Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP).
  • Include via require('http').
• Node.js as a Web Server:
  • The HTTP module creates an HTTP server to listen to ports and respond to client requests.
  • Use createServer() to establish the server.

Creating a Web Server with Node.js

• Basic Hello World Example:
  • Includes the http module and defines a server function that handles requests.
  • Sets the response status code, content type, and sends a 'Hello World' response.
  • Starts the server on a specified port and hostname.
• Run the Example:
  • Save the code as server.js and run node server.js in the terminal.

Node.js and Databases

• Connecting to a Database:
  • Establish a connection to a database using modules like mysql.
  • Create a connection object with database credentials.
  • Connect to the database using the connect() method.
• Querying a Database:
  • Use SQL statements to retrieve data from the database (querying).
  • The connection object provides a query() method to execute SQL statements.
  • Handle results and errors returned by the query.

Creating and Managing Databases in Node.js

• Creating a Database:
  • Use the CREATE DATABASE SQL statement to create a new database.
• Creating a Table:
  • Use the CREATE TABLE SQL statement to create a table within a database.