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Caio Sousa

In this course you will learn the fundamentals of layered software architecture. A review of the Clean Architecture concepts will be given, and you will implement an application without the use of Clean Architecture. You will then gradually refactor the software in a step-by-step tutorial to grasp and understand Clean Architecture. This step-by-step guide will allow you to understand Clean Architecture at its core and not focus on the details such as database, frameworks, or any third-party library. One should easily replicate this knowledge with any object-oriented language.

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In this course you will learn the fundamentals of layered software architecture. A review of the Clean Architecture concepts will be given, and you will implement an application without the use of Clean Architecture. You will then gradually refactor the software in a step-by-step tutorial to grasp and understand Clean Architecture. This step-by-step guide will allow you to understand Clean Architecture at its core and not focus on the details such as database, frameworks, or any third-party library. One should easily replicate this knowledge with any object-oriented language.

Frequently, students find it difficult to understand Clean Architecture in a more fundamental approach. Many courses will focus on combining Clean Architecture with other frameworks and design patterns such as DDD, Microservices, Entity Framework, Repositories, CQRS, etc. That is not the objective of this course.

The goal of this course is for students to gain a clear understanding of Clean Architecture from basic theory to a practical implementation. Learning by doing is goal here, you will learn how to implement all layers that comes with this approach such as the core, application, and infrastructure. Also, the reason why the separation of concerns is important with layering and the benefits this type of architecture can bring to software applications.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Clean architecture concepts
  • Solid theory
  • Software architecture design
  • Layers and abstractions

Syllabus

Introduction
What you will learn in this course.
SOLID Principles
S — Single Responsibility Principle
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Provides a practical, step-by-step guide to refactoring existing software using Clean Architecture principles, which is valuable for developers working with legacy code
Focuses on the core principles of Clean Architecture without getting bogged down in specific frameworks or libraries, allowing learners to apply the concepts across different technologies
Covers SOLID principles, which are fundamental to object-oriented design and essential for creating maintainable and scalable software applications
Uses a .NET project for demonstration, which may require learners unfamiliar with .NET to invest time in understanding the basics of the framework
Teaches Clean Architecture by implementing layers such as core, application, and infrastructure, which are standard components in modern software design

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Reviews summary

Foundational clean architecture concepts and implementation

According to learners, this course provides a solid foundation in Clean Architecture fundamentals and SOLID principles. Many find the step-by-step refactoring approach to be highly effective for grasping core concepts without being overwhelmed by frameworks. The focus on theory and basic implementation is seen as a key strength, particularly for understanding the separation of concerns. While the use of .NET is central to the practical demonstrations, students feel the principles taught are broadly applicable to other object-oriented languages. Some mention the course is best suited for those with at least some programming experience and may require further study for applying the concepts in complex real-world scenarios.
Refresher on core design principles.
"The review of SOLID principles at the beginning was a great refresher and helps lay the groundwork for Clean Architecture."
"I appreciated the clear explanation of each SOLID principle and how they relate to the architecture later on."
"Having the SOLID principles covered first makes understanding the subsequent architectural concepts much easier."
Concepts transferable beyond .NET.
"Although the examples are in .NET, the principles taught are universal and applicable to any object-oriented language."
"As a Python developer, I found the core concepts highly relevant despite the code examples being in C#."
"The instructor makes it clear that the focus is on architecture, not the specific language or framework used for the demos."
Hands-on coding reinforces theoretical understanding.
"The hands-on coding and projects are the strongest part of the course for me. Implementing the layers made it click."
"It's not just theory, the practical implementation part is very helpful to see how the layers interact."
"I liked implementing the layers in the course, it shows how to structure a simple application with Clean Architecture principles."
Learn by gradually refactoring code to Clean Architecture.
"The step-by-step refactoring of an application is a brilliant way to demonstrate the transformation into clean architecture."
"Learning by doing through the gradual refactoring example really helped solidify my understanding."
"Watching the application evolve through the refactoring process made the concepts much easier to follow and implement myself."
Explains fundamental theory without complex frameworks.
"This course focuses on the fundamental principles of clean architecture. It does not get bogged down in framework-specific details or complex patterns like CQRS or DDD."
"If you are looking for a good understanding of Clean Architecture fundamentals this is an excellent course for you. It keeps things simple and concise."
"I appreciate that the course stripped away the complexities of frameworks and focused purely on the core principles of layers and separation."
Best for those with some programming experience.
"This course assumes you have some basic programming background, it's not really for absolute beginners."
"You should be familiar with object-oriented concepts and maybe some basic web API structure before taking this."
"While it's 'fundamentals', it's probably best suited for someone with a year or two of coding under their belt."

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 Clean Architecture Fundamentals with these activities:
Review SOLID Principles
Reinforce your understanding of SOLID principles, which are fundamental to Clean Architecture and will be heavily relied upon in this course.
Browse courses on SOLID Principles
Show steps
  • Read articles and blog posts explaining each principle (SRP, OCP, LSP, ISP, DIP).
  • Review code examples demonstrating the application of each principle.
  • Try to identify violations of SOLID principles in existing codebases.
Read 'Clean Code: A Handbook of Agile Software Craftsmanship'
Deepen your understanding of clean coding practices, which are essential for implementing Clean Architecture effectively.
View CLEAN CODE on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the book cover to cover, paying close attention to the examples.
  • Reflect on how the principles in the book relate to Clean Architecture.
  • Apply the principles to your own code.
Implement Dependency Injection Containers
Practice implementing dependency injection containers to manage dependencies between layers in a Clean Architecture application.
Show steps
  • Choose a dependency injection container (e.g., Autofac, Ninject, Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection).
  • Create a new project and configure the container.
  • Register dependencies for different layers of your application.
  • Resolve dependencies and test the container.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Refactor an Existing Project to Clean Architecture
Apply the concepts learned in the course by refactoring an existing project to adhere to Clean Architecture principles.
Show steps
  • Choose a small to medium-sized project that you are familiar with.
  • Identify the core business logic and separate it into the 'Core' layer.
  • Create 'Application' and 'Infrastructure' layers, defining clear boundaries.
  • Implement dependency injection to manage dependencies between layers.
Blog Post: My Clean Architecture Journey
Solidify your understanding by documenting your experience learning and applying Clean Architecture.
Show steps
  • Outline the key concepts of Clean Architecture.
  • Describe your initial understanding and challenges.
  • Explain how the course helped you overcome those challenges.
  • Share your insights and lessons learned.
Create a Presentation on Clean Architecture
Prepare and deliver a presentation on Clean Architecture to reinforce your understanding and share your knowledge with others.
Show steps
  • Research and gather information on Clean Architecture.
  • Create a presentation outline and slides.
  • Practice your presentation and refine your delivery.
  • Present your presentation to a group of peers or colleagues.
Read 'Domain-Driven Design: Tackling Complexity in the Heart of Software'
Explore Domain-Driven Design principles to enhance your understanding of how to model complex business domains within a Clean Architecture.
Show steps
  • Read the book and understand the core concepts of DDD.
  • Identify opportunities to apply DDD principles in your Clean Architecture projects.
  • Experiment with different DDD patterns, such as aggregates, entities, and value objects.

Career center

Learners who complete Clean Architecture Fundamentals will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Software Architect
A software architect is responsible for making high-level design choices and dictating technical standards, including software coding standards, tools, and platforms, for an organization. This course helps software architects understand and implement Clean Architecture in projects. You will learn how to design software with a focus on layers and abstractions. This is particularly useful for architects who need to ensure maintainability, testability, and scalability in software systems. The course's practical implementation of Clean Architecture and the review of SOLID principles may be helpful to refine your architectural approach.
Software Engineer
A software engineer analyzes, designs, develops, and tests software systems. This course helps software engineers learn the fundamentals of layered software architecture, including the core, application, and infrastructure layers. The hands-on approach to implementing Clean Architecture and the review of SOLID principles may be helpful for software engineers who want to write maintainable and scalable code. The course emphasizes the separation of concerns and the benefits of layering, which may be useful in improving your skills as a software engineer.
Application Developer
An application developer designs, codes, tests, and analyzes application software. This course helps application developers improve their understanding of software architecture, design principles, and layering techniques. The course's step-by-step guide to refactoring software into Clean Architecture is particularly beneficial for application developers who want to create robust and maintainable applications. You may find the detailed exploration of Clean Architecture concepts and their practical application valuable in your development work.
Technical Lead
A technical lead is responsible for guiding a team of developers and making key technical decisions. This course helps technical leads understand and implement Clean Architecture, which is crucial for maintaining code quality and architectural integrity across the team. You will learn how to explain the benefits of separation of concerns and layering, which can improve team collaboration. The course's step-by-step guide to refactoring software into Clean Architecture is helpful for guiding your team through architectural improvements.
Backend Developer
A backend developer focuses on the server-side logic, databases, and APIs that power applications. This course helps backend developers create well-structured, maintainable, and scalable backend systems. The course's exploration of Clean Architecture and SOLID principles ensures that the backend code is decoupled, testable, and easy to modify. The practical implementation of Clean Architecture, without focusing on specific frameworks or databases, allows backend developers to apply these principles to a variety of projects.
Principal Engineer
A principal engineer is a senior-level engineer who influences the technical direction of an organization. This course helps principal engineers deepen their understanding of Clean Architecture and its benefits. The emphasis on layers, abstractions, and separation of concerns may be helpful when guiding architectural decisions and developing technical strategies. The practical implementation of Clean Architecture, especially the step-by-step refactoring, is helpful for leading large-scale software projects.
Full-Stack Developer
A full stack developer works on both the frontend and backend of applications. This course may be useful for full stack developers who need to understand the architectural aspects of building scalable and maintainable applications. The course's focus on Clean Architecture provides a solid understanding of layering, separation of concerns, and SOLID principles. The practical implementation of these concepts is applicable to both frontend and backend development, leading to a more cohesive and well-designed application architecture.
Systems Analyst
As systems analyst, your time will be spent researching problems and planning solutions for software systems. This course may be useful for systems analysts who need to understand the architectural implications of software design. It also provides a clear understanding of layered software architecture, which is beneficial when specifying system requirements and evaluating different software solutions. The course's step-by-step guide to implementing Clean Architecture and its separation of concerns will help improve decision-making when analyzing software systems.
Software Consultant
A software consultant advises organizations on software development strategies, architectures, and best practices. This course may be useful for software consultants who need to recommend and implement Clean Architecture in their clients' projects. The course's focus on layering, separation of concerns, and SOLID principles provides a solid foundation for understanding and justifying architectural decisions. You may also find the practical implementation helpful for guiding clients through the process of adopting Clean Architecture.
DevOps Engineer
A DevOps engineer focuses on automating and streamlining the software development lifecycle. This course may be useful for DevOps engineers who need to understand the architectural implications of software design. The understanding of modular design, separation of concerns, and layering is useful when automating deployment processes and ensuring that applications are easily maintainable and scalable. The practical implementation of Clean Architecture, without relying on specific frameworks, is helpful for designing deployment pipelines that work across different technology stacks.
Quality Assurance Engineer
A quality assurance engineer tests software to ensure it meets quality standards. This course may be useful for quality assurance engineers who need to understand the architectural aspects of software. The understanding of layers and abstractions is useful when designing test plans and identifying potential areas of concern. The course's emphasis on SOLID principles, particularly the Single Responsibility Principle and Dependency Inversion Principle, is helpful for ensuring code testability.
Data Engineer
Data engineers design, build, and maintain data pipelines and infrastructure. Data engineers who understand Clean Architecture principles can build more maintainable and scalable data processing systems. This course may be useful by providing a solid understanding of layered software architecture. The focus on separation of concerns is particularly relevant for data engineering, where decoupling data ingestion, transformation, and storage is crucial for building robust data pipelines.
Machine Learning Engineer
Machine learning engineers develop and deploy machine learning models. While this role heavily involves machine learning algorithms, understanding software architecture principles is important for deploying models in a scalable and maintainable way. This course may be useful to machine learning engineers looking to improve their software design skills. The concepts of layering, separation of concerns, and SOLID principles are valuable when building and deploying machine learning models in complex systems.
Database Administrator
A database administrator manages and maintains database systems. Although this course does not focus on databases, the principles of Clean Architecture can be applied to database design and management, particularly in terms of separation of concerns and layering. Database administrators may find this course useful in understanding how to integrate databases into larger software systems in a more maintainable and scalable way. It also enhances overall system architecture knowledge.
Technical Writer
A technical writer creates documentation for software systems. This course may be useful for technical writers who need to understand software architecture to create accurate and comprehensive documentation. The understanding of Clean Architecture principles, such as layering and separation of concerns, is useful when documenting system design and functionality. The course's practical implementation of Clean Architecture provides insights that can be translated into clear and helpful documentation.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Clean Architecture Fundamentals.
Focuses on writing clean, readable, and maintainable code. While not specifically about Clean Architecture, the principles discussed in this book are essential for building well-structured software. It provides practical advice on naming, formatting, and structuring your code to make it easier to understand and maintain. It is commonly used as a textbook at academic institutions.
Domain-Driven Design (DDD) is often used in conjunction with Clean Architecture to create robust and maintainable software. introduces the concepts of DDD, including strategic and tactical design patterns, and explains how to model complex business domains effectively. While the course focuses on Clean Architecture itself, understanding DDD can significantly enhance your ability to design well-structured and meaningful applications. This book adds more depth to the course.

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