Software Architecture & Technology of Large-Scale Systems from Udemy

Architecting software systems is a skill that is in huge demand, but it is not a readily available skill. To understand why this skill is rare to find, let's go through a few lines from Martin Fowler's blog on architecture.

He says: Architecture is about the important stuff. Whatever that is. It means that the heart of thinking architecturally about software is to decide what is important, (i.e. what is architectural), and then expend energy on keeping those architectural elements in good condition. For a developer to become an architect, they need to be able to recognize what elements are important, recognizing what elements are likely to result in serious problems should they not be controlled.

It takes a number of years for a developer to learn enough to become an architect. This learning largely depends on the kind of opportunities that you get in your career. Often these opportunities are limited to specific areas of work only. However, to be an architect, you must possess extensive technical knowledge of as many areas as possible. You must understand all the complexities and challenges in different parts of a system. You need the ability to make upfront decisions by understanding various trade-offs. You should be able to foresee or anticipate critical problems that a system can face during its evolution.

This is where the 'Developer To Architect' course can be very useful for you. It assumes that you already have great development skills, and it builds from there. It extensively covers architecting non-functional properties of a system, handling of large-scale deployments, and internal working of popular open-source products for building software solutions.

To give you some details of what is specifically covered:

Architecting non-functional properties like Performance, Scalability, Reliability, Security.
Large-scale deployment and operations using Docker containers and Kubernetes.
Internal working of popular open-source products like Node.js, Redis, Kafka, Cassandra, ELK stack, Hadoop, etc for confidently architecting software solutions.

In short, this course will help you learn everything you need to become a 'true' architect in a very short period of time.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Architecting software systems and solutions: we will start with a basic three tier application architecture which we will enhance as we move along.
How to build a technical stack by getting architectural insights into products like nodejs, redis, cassandra, kafka, hadoop, elastic search, .. and many more

Non-functional requirements: how to design architecture considering performance, scalability, reliability, and security
Deployment of large scale production systems using tools like docker & kubernetes

Architecting software systems and solutions: we will start with a basic three tier application architecture which we will enhance as we move along.
How to build a technical stack by getting architectural insights into products like nodejs, redis, cassandra, kafka, hadoop, elastic search, .. and many more
Non-functional requirements: how to design architecture considering performance, scalability, reliability, and security
Deployment of large scale production systems using tools like docker & kubernetes

Syllabus

Overview of the course

Developer To Architect

This video is a short overview of what is covered as part of the 'Developer To Architect' course.

Performance Module - Contents

Course slides for Performance section

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Teaches about a topic that is highly relevant in industry

Develops technical skills that are core for working in this field

Develops strong professional development skills

Involves hands-on practice and interactive materials

Increases learners' edge in understanding this topic

Reviews summary

Software architecture for large-scale systems

According to learners, this course offers a comprehensive and practical deep dive into software architecture for large-scale systems. Students highly praise its coverage of critical non-functional requirements like performance, scalability, reliability, and security, along with practical insights into modern technologies such as Docker, Kubernetes, and Kafka. While it's considered highly valuable for experienced developers aiming for architectural roles, some note its demanding nature and suggest it's less suited for beginners due to its depth and assumed prior knowledge. The instructor's expertise is frequently highlighted as a major positive, making it a strong choice for career advancement.

Best suited for developers with strong technical backgrounds.

"As a senior developer, this course was exactly what I needed to elevate my architectural thinking."

"If you're already proficient in development, this will help you transition to architecture effectively."

"I wouldn't recommend this for beginners; it assumes significant prior knowledge and experience in development."

Instructor demonstrates deep knowledge and clear explanations.

"The instructor's real-world experience truly shines through in the lectures, providing valuable context."

"I found the explanations of complex architectural concepts very clear and easy to follow."

"Their ability to simplify intricate topics and provide practical examples made learning enjoyable and effective."

Offers practical insights into key modern technologies.

"The sections on Docker and Kubernetes were extremely useful; I can immediately apply these at work."

"I found the deep dive into Kafka and Cassandra's internal workings incredibly insightful for large-scale systems."

"It bridges the gap between theoretical architecture and actual implementation with popular tools like Redis and Hadoop."

Provides in-depth coverage of essential architectural principles.

"This course is a really comprehensive look at software architecture and non-functional requirements. I learned so much!"

"It provides a fantastic foundation in architecting for scalability, reliability, and performance. Truly invaluable for my career."

"I appreciate the detailed breakdown of various architectural styles and concepts needed for large systems."

High information density requires significant dedication.

"The amount of information covered is immense, requiring a lot of focused study time to absorb it all."

"I felt the pace was quite fast, and I had to re-watch lectures multiple times to grasp everything completely."

"While comprehensive, it can be overwhelming for those not fully prepared for the depth and speed of content delivery."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Software Architecture & Technology of Large-Scale Systems with these activities:

Organize your notes, assignments, and resources

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This activity will help you to stay organized and focused throughout the course, and it will make it easier to review your materials later.

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Create a system for organizing your notes, assignments, and resources.
Regularly review and update your notes.
Keep all of your materials in one place.

Read "Building Microservices" by Sam Newman

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This book provides an in-depth look at the principles and practices of microservices architecture, which is a key topic covered in the course.

View Building Microservices: Designing Fine-Grained... on Amazon

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Read the book thoroughly.
Take notes and highlight important passages.
Discuss the book with other students or professionals.

Follow a tutorial on how to build a RESTful API using Node.js and Express

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This activity will provide you with hands-on experience in building a RESTful API, which is a common task in software development.

Browse courses on RESTful APIs

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Find a reputable tutorial on how to build a RESTful API.
Follow the tutorial step-by-step.
Test your API to make sure it works as expected.

Four other activities

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Show all seven activities

Practice building small applications with the tools discussed in the course

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This activity will help you develop hands-on experience and solidify your understanding of the tools and principles covered in the course.

Browse courses on Application Development

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Choose a simple application idea to work on.
Research the tools and technologies needed for your application.
Build your application.
Test and debug your application.

Attend a workshop on cloud computing

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This activity will provide you with a deeper understanding of cloud computing, which is becoming increasingly important in software development.

Browse courses on Cloud Computing

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Find a reputable workshop on cloud computing.
Attend the workshop and participate actively.
Apply the knowledge and skills you learned in the workshop to your own projects.

Design and implement an architectural solution for a real-world problem

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This activity will challenge you to apply the concepts learned in the course to a practical problem.

Browse courses on Architectural Design

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Identify a real-world problem that you would like to solve with a software solution.
Design an architectural solution for your problem.
Implement your solution using the tools and technologies covered in the course.
Test and evaluate your solution.

Contribute to an open source project related to software architecture

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This activity will give you practical experience in working on real-world software architecture problems.

Browse courses on Open Source

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Find an open source project related to software architecture.
Identify an issue or feature that you can contribute to.
Fork the project and create a pull request.
Collaborate with the project maintainers to get your contribution merged.

Career center

Learners who complete Software Architecture & Technology of Large-Scale Systems will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Software Architect

As a Software Architect, you will design and develop software systems. You will also integrate new technologies into existing systems and provide technical guidance to other members of your team. This course will help you build a foundation in software architecture and design. You will learn about different architectural patterns and how to apply them to real-world problems. You will also learn about the latest trends in software development, such as cloud computing and big data.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Architect

Lead Software Engineer

As a Lead Software Engineer, you will lead a team of software engineers in the development of software systems. You will also be responsible for ensuring that your team's work meets the highest standards of quality and efficiency. This course will help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Lead Software Engineer. You will learn about software architecture, design, and development. You will also learn about project management and team leadership.

See salaries and explore the career path for Lead Software Engineer

Senior Software Engineer

As a Senior Software Engineer, you will work on complex software development projects. You will be responsible for designing, developing, and testing software systems. You will also be responsible for mentoring junior engineers and providing technical guidance to your team. This course will help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Senior Software Engineer. You will learn about software architecture, design, and development. You will also learn about advanced programming techniques and algorithms.

See salaries and explore the career path for Senior Software Engineer

Systems Engineer

As a Systems Engineer, you will design, develop, and deploy complex software systems. You will also be responsible for integrating new technologies into existing systems and providing technical support to users. This course will help you build a foundation in systems engineering. You will learn about software architecture, design, and development. You will also learn about system integration and deployment.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Engineer

DevOps Engineer

As a DevOps Engineer, you will be responsible for bridging the gap between software development and operations. You will work with developers to ensure that their code is deployable and maintainable. You will also work with operations to ensure that the infrastructure is scalable and reliable. This course will help you develop the skills you need to be a successful DevOps Engineer. You will learn about software development, operations, and continuous delivery.

See salaries and explore the career path for DevOps Engineer

Cloud Architect

As a Cloud Architect, you will design and develop cloud-based solutions. You will also be responsible for migrating existing applications to the cloud and providing technical guidance to your team. This course will help you build a foundation in cloud computing. You will learn about cloud architecture, design, and development. You will also learn about the latest trends in cloud computing, such as serverless computing and microservices.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cloud Architect

Data Architect

As a Data Architect, you will design and develop data-driven solutions. You will also be responsible for managing data assets and providing technical guidance to your team. This course will help you build a foundation in data architecture. You will learn about data modeling, data warehousing, and data analytics. You will also learn about the latest trends in data management, such as big data and machine learning.

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Security Architect

As a Security Architect, you will design and develop secure software systems. You will also be responsible for assessing the security of existing systems and providing technical guidance to your team. This course will help you build a foundation in security architecture. You will learn about security principles, security design, and security testing. You will also learn about the latest trends in security, such as cloud security and mobile security.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Architect

Software Tester

As a Software Tester, you will be responsible for testing software systems for bugs. You will also be responsible for providing feedback to developers on the quality of their code. This course will help you build a foundation in software testing. You will learn about different testing techniques and tools. You will also learn about the latest trends in software testing, such as agile testing and automation testing.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Tester

Technical Writer

As a Technical Writer, you will be responsible for creating documentation for software systems. You will also be responsible for providing training to users on how to use these systems. This course will help you build a foundation in technical writing. You will learn about different writing styles and techniques. You will also learn about the latest trends in technical writing, such as online documentation and user experience.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer

Product Manager

As a Product Manager, you will be responsible for defining the vision for a software product. You will also be responsible for working with engineers and designers to bring this vision to life. This course will help you build a foundation in product management. You will learn about different product development methodologies and tools. You will also learn about the latest trends in product management, such as agile product development and customer experience.

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Project Manager

As a Project Manager, you will be responsible for planning, executing, and controlling software development projects. You will also be responsible for working with stakeholders to ensure that the project meets their needs. This course will help you build a foundation in project management. You will learn about different project management methodologies and tools. You will also learn about the latest trends in project management, such as agile project management and risk management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Business Analyst

As a Business Analyst, you will be responsible for gathering and analyzing business requirements. You will also be responsible for working with stakeholders to define the scope of a software project. This course will help you build a foundation in business analysis. You will learn about different business analysis techniques and tools. You will also learn about the latest trends in business analysis, such as agile business analysis and user experience.

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UI/UX Designer

As a UI/UX Designer, you will be responsible for designing the user interface for software systems. You will also be responsible for ensuring that the user interface is usable and visually appealing. This course may help you build a foundation in UI/UX design. You will learn about different UI/UX design principles and tools. You will also learn about the latest trends in UI/UX design, such as responsive design and mobile design.

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Scrum Master

As a Scrum Master, you will be responsible for facilitating agile software development projects. You will also be responsible for ensuring that the team is following the Scrum process. This course may help you build a foundation in Scrum. You will learn about the different roles and responsibilities in Scrum. You will also learn about the different Scrum ceremonies and artifacts.

See salaries and explore the career path for Scrum Master