Full Stack Academy
Full Stack Academy Overview
The software industry has begun the transformation to full stack development, giving merit to the idea of creating development teams that are flexible and versatile. Training your developers to take on the full range of tasks across your applications will only increase productivity and remove bottlenecks. It can also serve to improve communications between the team and with your product representatives.
This comprehensive academy will empower engineers to build test-driven front end and back end applications as they progress toward becoming an effective full stack developer. Software engineers will learn skills across the entire development stack, including front end technology, automation tools and back end programs.
Ideal participants will have a working knowledge of Java and JavaScript prior to attending. The focus of the academy is to develop engineers into proficient full stack developers.
Your Path to Success
We understand the technical tug of war: developers want to learn and grow, and employers want their developers to be productive. With a custom DeveloperAcademy™, both sides win! Our DeveloperAcademy™ programs are structured to allow for classroom time and application time, giving developers an immersive opportunity to learn while doing and providing employers with a way to ensure knowledge is being integrated into daily work life. Programs include a number of weeks for classroom time, with off weeks in between. Students can continue their learning during off weeks through self study, project work and collaborating with peers. Based on our experience, this combination of knowledge transfer and application creates more effective training outcomes.
Full Stack Academy Curriculum
The following is an example Full Stack Academy. All organizations use different development technologies, so we can customize a Full Stack Academy specifically to meet the needs of your team.
The first step in mastering web development is to learn how to code a basic website. Your team will begin by learning about important development tools and how web servers and web browsers work. Your team will complete the module by focusing on the details of the HTML and CSS markup languages. This module can be customized to include any front end framework or design methodology.
Topics include:
- Source Control
- Node.js + NPM
- HTTP Server
- Editor Configuration
- Browser Developer Tools
- HTML
- CSS
Extend your team’s web development skills by including JavaScript. In this module, your team will explore JavaScript techniques and put them into practice with hands-on activities. In addition, your team will learn how to use JavaScript APIs to access a REST service. This module can be customized to include any web scripting language.
Topics include:
- JavaScript
- Web Browser APIs (DOM, fetch, Web Sockets, Web Workers, Geolocation)
- Browser Extensions (esp. Postman)
- JSON Server (or similar tool)
Fresh, modern user interfaces can be created with a popular JavaScript-based UI framework or library. In this module, your team will learn key principles, concepts, and best practices of web development. Your team will also explore development and debugging techniques. This module can be customized to include Webpack or Rollup, Babel or TypeScript transpiling, Angular or React, and multiple browser extensions.
Topics include:
- Webpack + Webpack Development Server
- Babel Javascript Transpiling
- React
- Browser Extensions
Now that your team is familiar with the basic UI Framework, they can build on that knowledge and explore additional libraries. In particular, your team will learn advanced CSS using a transpiler. The module will review how application state management is applied to real applications. This module can be customized to include SASS or Less, Redux or MobX, and GraphQL or Apollo or Relay.
Topics include:
- Less
- Redux
- Browser Extensions
- RxJS
- GraphQL/(Apollo/Relay)
Testing is a critical part of modern application. In this module, both unit testing and end-to-end testing are thoroughly explored. In addition to the tools and APIs needed to perform such testing, your team will learn best practices and patterns to ensure your team knows what to test and how to properly test it. As an option, this module utilizes third-party services to demonstrate automated testing.
Topics include:
- Unit Testing Frameworks
- Assertions, Spies and Mocks
- Code Coverage
- End-To-End Testing
- Web Driver and Selenium
- Hosted Environments with BrowserStack
Designing and deploying applications into the cloud requires and understanding of what “cloud” really means and the business drivers behind it. In addition, develop familiarity with key cloud services and terminology. In this module, you will gain a breadth of understanding of common AWS or Azure cloud services and the cloud mindset.
Topics include:
The “Cloud” Defined
Cloud Business Drivers
IaaS, PaaS, SaaS
Elasticity – Pets vs Cattle
Services as Building Blocks
Public, Private and Hybrid Clouds
Programmable Everything
AWS or Azure Services Overview
Containers like Docker can be a key way for developers to package their applications for deployment. Get familiar with the benefits and implications of using containers and simplifying deployments. In this module, you will learn how to capture configuration into containers to support microservices. This module will be customized for the containerization technology within your stack, whether that is Docker or rkt.
Topics include:
Introduction to Containers
Containerizing Applications
Container Limitations and Restrictions
Running and Controlling Containers
Networking Options
Storage and Volume Options
Repositories and Image Management
Local and Swarm Deployment
Cluster Manager Overview
Deploying an application into a cloud environment using repeatable DevOps deployment tools is a key skill set for a full-stack developer. In this module, you will learn everything you need to know to deploy your web site including web server configuration, securing domain names and SSL certificates, selecting cloud tools, using a CDN, and deployment automation. This course can be customized using different web servers (nginx, S3, Apache, IIS), provisioning/configuration tools (Ansible, Terraform, Chef), and clouds (AWS, Azure, or Heroku).
Topics include:
- Configuring an nginx web server
- Registering and Configuring a Domain Name
- Setting up an SSL Certificate
- Installing the Web Application
Deploying into AWS EC2
- Exploring Content Delivery Networks
Building your infrastructure with BeanStalk and Ansible
In this module, you will understand why and how to use a version control system for DevOps. You will use Git to version, manage, merge, diff, and control your infrastructure code. This module can be customized to include the version control system within your team’s stack, whether it be Git, SVN, TFS, or CVS.
Topics include:
- Version management
- Branching and Merging
- Branching Strategies
- Configuration and Security
- Workflow – Tying it all Together
Modeling, storing, and querying data from a datastore like MongoDB is a key aspect of full stack development. In this module, your team will learn how to use typical datastore features like data insertion, querying, and updating. In addition, your team will model data using schemas and other datastore concepts, and learn how to design and manage clustering or replication strategies. This module can be customized to use the NoSQL datastore (MongoDB, Elasticsearch, Solr, Redis, or others) or SQL database (MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, SQLServer) of your choice.
Topics include:
- MongoDB compared to SQL databases
- Install and configure MongoDB
- Designing and implementing indexes and schemas
- Performing standard read, write, and update operations
- Operating MongoDB – Replication and Sharding
- Tuning for Performance
- Building and using GeoSpatial indexes
- Creating complex result sets with Aggregation
- Additional topics as appropriate for selected datastore / database.
In this module, your team will build back end services that expose data to front end applications. Your team will learn how to use GraphQL to design, model, and build data services, connect services to datastores, and perform query, mutation, and subscription operations. This module can be customized to include the paradigm (GraphQL or REST) and backend server (Apollo, Relay, or AWS App Sync) of your choice.
Topics include:
- GraphQL overview
- Designing GraphQL services
- Schemas and Types
- Querying and Mutating data
- Implementing services with Apollo server
- Using Subscriptions
- Query Validation and Errors
- Leveraging Introspection
What’s Included in Your Full Stack Academy?
DeveloperAcademy™ is an easy-to-adopt, turnkey alternative to in-house, centralized learning & development (L&D) for technical employees. Every Academy features all of the full-service components below.
- A collaborative learning platform
- Access to a world-class self-paced content library
- A dedicated Program Manager
- Custom learning paths that meet your organization’s technology needs
- Pre- and post-measurement on outcomes
- Standardized reports
- Classroom instruction led by experts
- Real-world labs
- A capstone project of your choice for all students to contribute to
Our Proven Process
Scope
DI learns more about your current technology and your desired future state. What do you do today? Where do you want to be? We ask questions so that we can uncover your needs and design a DeveloperAcademy™ that will help you accomplish your goals.
Survey
Now that we know your goals, let’s get to know your team. What do they want to learn? Where are their knowledge gaps? We know you have business objectives to meet, but your team wants to learn, and infusing your DeveloperAcademy™ with technologies that keep them inspired will help you gain buy-in.
Design
We map your program goals to your team’s technology wish list to create a customized DeveloperAcademy™. Using our best-practice template, we work with our team of SMEs and experienced content developers to create a program that delivers results.
Deliver
Your dedicated program manager takes it from here, handling the implementation of your DeveloperAcademy™: scheduling, logistics, enrollments, pre-work, class materials, instructor prep, reporting, and measurement. Throughout your Academy program, your program manager ensures that courses run smoothly, students meet expectations, and you achieve your desired results.