Web Application Development with JavaScript and MongoDB

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/web-application-development

Introduction

## Course Review: Web Application Development with JavaScript and MongoDB on Coursera ### Overview In today's tech-driven world, mastering web application development is essential for aspiring developers. The **Web Application Development with JavaScript and MongoDB** course on Coursera presents a fantastic opportunity to build and enhance your programming skills through a comprehensive curriculum. Taught by Matthew, this course equips learners with the knowledge to create sophisticated web applications using the Meteor framework, along with MongoDB as the underlying database management system. ### Course Content The course is structured into four main modules, allowing participants to progress step-by-step through various critical aspects of web application development: 1. **MongoDB, Meteor, and Reactive Data** This module opens with a focus on the command line interface for MongoDB. Students learn about executing valid queries, understanding reactive data sources within Meteor, and leveraging the Session object to store user information—a vital skill for any web application developer. 2. **User Accounts, Packages, and Methods** The second module delves into user account management and the customization of the user interface using various third-party packages. This will help students grasp how to manipulate MongoDB collections and learn to control data access through methods, an essential skill for developing secure applications. 3. **Publish and Subscribe Model and MongoDB Filters** Here, learners will explore the concepts of asynchronous execution and how to use the publish and subscribe model to manage data read access. This module also covers the implementation of in-place content editing and complex MongoDB filters, which are crucial for creating dynamic web applications. 4. **SimpleSchemas, Autoform, and Code Re-organization** The final module ties everything together by focusing on best practices for organizing a Meteor application structure. Students will learn to generate data entry forms automatically and validate user input using SimpleSchema, an extremely useful feature that enhances data integrity. ### Strengths - **Hands-on Learning**: The course promotes active learning through real-world applications, as evidenced by the project of building TextCircle, a collaborative code editing environment. - **Comprehensive Coverage**: Each module is thoughtfully designed to cover significant aspects of web application development, providing a solid foundation for both beginners and intermediate learners. - **Instructor Expertise**: Matthew’s knowledgeable insight and engaging teaching style make complex topics more digestible and manageable. - **Focus on Best Practices**: The course emphasizes proper coding practices, ensuring students not only learn how to build applications but also how to write clean and maintainable code. ### Recommendations I highly recommend the **Web Application Development with JavaScript and MongoDB** course for several reasons: 1. **For Beginners**: If you're new to web development, this course serves as a great entry point. The structured approach allows you to gradually build your skills without feeling overwhelmed. 2. **For Experienced Developers**: If you've worked with JavaScript before but are looking to expand into more advanced web application frameworks, this course will elevate your understanding and capability. 3. **Career Opportunities**: Completing this course can enhance your employability, as companies increasingly look for developers skilled in full-stack development using JavaScript and MongoDB. ### Conclusion In conclusion, the **Web Application Development with JavaScript and MongoDB** course on Coursera is a well-rounded, engaging, and informative program that will enrich your web application development skills. Whether you are just getting started or looking to deepen your knowledge in JavaScript and database management, this course is a worthy investment in your professional development. Embrace the opportunity to learn, and you’ll find yourself well-equipped to tackle exciting challenges in the field of web development!

Syllabus

Web Application Development with JavaScript and MongoDB: Course overview

Welcome to 'Web Application Development with JavaScript and MongoDB'! In this course we will be creating native mobile apps using Meteor.js, implementing social media features, such as following as well as writing and running unit tests on your JavaScript code. Finally you will set up your own server environment to run Meteor applications and you will implement the publish and subscribe data control model. I hope you enjoy the course! -Matthew

Welcome to the first module of 'Web Application Development with JavaScript and MongoDB!' In this module we will look at accessing MongoDB on the command line, we will understand how to check for valid returns from find queries and identify reactive data sources within the Meteor framework. Finally we learn how to use the Session object to store user data, understand variable scope and use iframes to create separate DOMs. Enjoy!

Welcome to the second module of 'Web Application Development with JavaScript and MongoDB!' In this module we will learn how to use the core user accounts packages, customise the user accounts UI using third party packages and search for and add packages to an application. We will also look at how to query MongoDB collections from the command line and learn how to control data write access using methods. Enjoy!

Welcome to the third module of 'Web Application Development with JavaScript and MongoDB!' In this module we will use bootstrap icons and use the publish and subscribe model to control data read access. We will understand the concept of asynchronous execution and work with template data contexts and helper functions. Finally we will use packages to implement in-place content editing and use complex MongoDB filters. Enjoy!

Welcome to the final module of 'Web Application Development with JavaScript and MongoDB!' In this module we will create a well organised application using special Meteor folders and we will organise templates into multiple files. We will also learn how to use the iron:router package to create multiple page applications and we will generate data entry forms automatically using SimpleSchema and autoform. Finally, we will validate user data automatically using SimpleSchema. Enjoy!