Node.js: Build Your First Server & CLI
Master Node.js from scratch — build your first server & cli.
What you'll learn
By the end you can confidently apply Node.js at a beginner level: build your first server & cli, with real, working code.
Who it's for
Developers learning Node.js at a beginner level.
Prerequisites
JavaScript fundamentals.
A structured, hands-on beginner course on Node.js, taking you from scratch by building a REST API with Express and a database.
Curriculum
- 1
Understanding the Node.js Architecture
4 min - 2
Setting Up Your Environment with NVM
4 min - 3
The REPL and Running Scripts
4 min - 4
Initializing Projects with NPM
4 min - 5
Managing Dependencies
4 min - 6
Introduction to Modules
4 min - 7
CommonJS vs ES Modules
4 min - 8
Working with Path Module
4 min - 9
Synchronous File I/O
4 min - 10
Asynchronous File I/O
3 min - 11
The OS and Process Modules
4 min - 12
Handling CLI Arguments
4 min - 13
Introduction to CLI Tooling
4 min - 14
Interactive CLI Prompts
4 min - 15
Building a File Management CLI
4 min - 16
The HTTP Request-Response Cycle
4 min - 17
Initializing Express.js
4 min - 18
Routing in Express
4 min - 19
Handling HTTP Methods
4 min - 20
Understanding Middleware
3 min - 21
Request Body Parsing
4 min - 22
JSON Responses
4 min - 23
Introduction to Databases
4 min - 24
Connecting to MongoDB with Mongoose
3 min - 25
Defining Data Schemas
4 min - 26
Implementing Create Operations
4 min - 27
RESTful API Patterns
4 min - 28
Advanced Error Handling
4 min - 29
Organizing Project Structure
4 min - 30
Environment Variables
4 min - 31
Testing with Postman
4 min - 32
API Documentation Basics
4 min - 33
Implementing Input Validation
4 min - 34
Adding Logging
4 min - 35
CORS Configuration
4 min - 36
Working with Query Parameters
3 min - 37
Advanced Mongoose Queries
4 min - 38
Security Basics for APIs
4 min - 39
Deployment Preparation
4 min - 40
Deploying to Render
4 min - 41
Monitoring Deployed APIs
4 min - 42
Integrating External APIs
4 min - 43
Asynchronous Patterns (Promises)
3 min - 44
Handling File Uploads
4 min - 45
Database Seeding
4 min - 46
Data Transformation
4 min - 47
Handling Timeouts and Retries
4 min - 48
Global Error Handler Refinement
4 min