JAMStack: The Complete Guide from Udemy

Learn to build fast, reliable & secure sites using the JAM stack architecture.

A comprehensive start to finish guide with practical lessons suited to both beginners and experienced developers alike.

Learn JAMStack-specific concepts
Understand each layer of the stack and how they fit together
Learn the fundamentals of Static Site Generators
Integrate a Headless CMS into a static site
Automate builds & deploys using CI / CD

An invaluable skill for any Web Developer

JAMStack is modern web stack that solves many of the problems associated with traditional server-side (monolithic) architectures used for most web-based projects.

Learning to shift from traditional stacks to a modern stack, like JAMStack, is an essential skill for any developer working on web-based projects.

This course will provide a very practical and concise approach to understanding every aspect of the JAMStack and will enable you to start creating custom solutions for any given project, or incrementally migrate existing projects to a JAMStack.

Content & Overview

With dedicated sections for each part of the JAM stack, this course aims to teach you how to think and work in terms of a JAMStack.

The focus of the course is the architecture itself, rather than focusing on specific solutions and is suitable for anyone with basic web-development and Git knowledge.

The course starts by covering all the concepts specific to a JAMStack and demonstrates the function of each layer of the stack.

Thereafter the “Markup” part of the stack is covered with some in-depth explanations and an introduction to the HUGO static site generator. Teaching you how to install, configure and compile static sites.

The course then builds on this by explaining how to add dynamic functionality to a static site by means of JavaScript APIs. Including the use of cloud functions and self-hosted API services.

Next you’ll learn to create a completely automated build and deploy process using either GitHub Actions or an all-in-one solution like Netlify.

With finally a dedicated section on how to integrate a headless CMS into a static site.

Upon completion of this course, you will not only understand the specific solutions covered in the lessons, but also have a broad understanding of how to build sites and apps using the core principles of a JAMStack.

The entire course is to the point and will teach you the entirety of the JAMStack architecture in the shortest amount of time possible.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Jamstack architecture
Static site generators (hugo)

Headless cms (netlify cms)
Continuous integration & continuous delivery

Jamstack architecture
Static site generators (hugo)
Headless cms (netlify cms)
Continuous integration & continuous delivery

Syllabus

A brief overview of the JAMStack and what to expect from the course.

Course Introduction.

A short overview of the problems a JAMStack aims to solve and the benefits it brings to modern web projects.

An explanation of lesson structure and tools used.

Learn JAMStack-specific concepts and what the stack comprises of. Demonstrates various ways a JAMStack might be configured to solve different project requirements.

Learn the 3 principles of a JAMStack comprises of - JavaScript, APIs & Markup - and how they fit together.

A practical lesson to demonstrate a viable minimal JAMStack comprising of all 3 parts, JavaScript, APIs & Markup.

Learn the various ways a JAMStack can be configured to solve specific project requirements.

Learn the basics of using a static site generator to build static markup for a JAMStack site. This section will teach the fundamentals of HUGO.

A short overview of static site generators and why we'll use HUGO.

Learn to install the HUGO build tools on Mac, Windows & Linux.

Learn the basics of the HUGO command line tools by creating and compiling a new project.

An overview of HUGO Archetypes and how to use them.

Learn how HUGO projects are structured with an overview of basic template inheritance and lookup orders.

An introduction to the fundamentals of templating HUGO layouts. Covers template context, partials, loops and conditionals.

Short lesson teaching how to access template variables for various contexts.

An explanation of HUGO's "Content Types" and "Page Kinds", showing how to disable specific kinds of pages.

Learn to create and modify custom template-level variables.

Learn the syntax for using HUGO template functions.

Shows how to integrate dynamic templating into content by means of shortcodes.

A concept very similar to that of other CMSs like WordPress.

Learn to use asset processors like SASS, minification and more.

Learn to access local and remote data sources for use within the site build.

Learn to add dynamic functionality to a static site, using third-party APIs, JavaScript libraries & self-hosted API services.

An overview of how dynamic functionality can be added to a static site by means of JavaScript and APIs.

This lesson also demonstrates a very simple implementation of a self-hosted contact form service.

Learn add a full-text search functionality to a static site, using a third-party JavaScript library.

Learn how to use cloud function services like Google Cloud Functions to add server-side processing to your static app.

Learn to configure fully automated builds and deploys for a static site using Continuous Integration & Continuous Deployment (CI/CD).

Create an automated build and deployment process using GitHub Pages and GitHub Actions. Teaches the basic principles of CI/CD for a JAMStack.

See the benefits of using a simpler all-in-one hosting service built for JAMStack projects.

Learn to integrate a full-featured headless content management system into a static site.

An overview of the 2 main types of headless CMSs and why you'd choose either.

Learn to install and configure Netlify CMS. This lesson demonstrates adding content collections and configuring a local development backend for the CMS.

Learn how to configure an authentication backend using GitHub Oauth with Netlify, and integrate a headless CMS with the CI/CD for the project.

Course outro with some final thoughts and JAMStack resources.

Some helpful resources for taking your JAMStack knowledge further.

Bonus Lecture

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Builds a strong foundation for beginners

Deepens understanding of modern web architectures

Taught by an instructor recognized in the industry

Makes use of an in-demand web development framework

May not fully prepare learners for higher level development roles

Does not offer a certificate upon completion

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 JAMStack: The Complete Guide with these activities:

Review the JAMstack architecture

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This activity will help you refresh your knowledge of the JAMstack architecture.

Browse courses on JAMstack

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Review the JAMstack documentation.
Read articles and blog posts about JAMstack.
Watch videos about JAMstack.

Create a collection of resources on JAMstack

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This activity will help you compile references and documentation for future projects and learning.

Browse courses on JAMstack

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Gather resources on JAMstack.
Organize your resources in a central location.
Review your resources regularly.

Code a simple static site using HUGO

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This activity will help you practice coding a static site using HUGO.

Browse courses on Hugo

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Install HUGO on your computer.
Create a new HUGO project.
Add content to your HUGO project.
Compile your HUGO project.

Five other activities

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Build a JAMStack website from scratch

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This activity will help you understand the JAMstack architecture and how to use it to build a website.

Browse courses on JAMstack

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Choose a static site generator and headless CMS.
Set up your development environment.
Create a simple website skeleton.
Add content to your website.
Deploy your website.

Write a blog post about your experience building a JAMstack website

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This activity will help you reflect on your experience building a JAMstack website and share your knowledge with others.

Browse courses on JAMstack

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Choose a topic for your blog post.
Write your blog post.
Publish your blog post.

Build a JAMstack website for a client

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This activity allow you to build a JAMstack website for a real-world client and gain experience working on a professional project.

Browse courses on JAMstack

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Find a client who needs a JAMstack website.
Plan the project with your client.
Develop the JAMstack website.
Deploy the JAMstack website.

Build a portfolio website using JAMstack

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This activity will help you demonstrate your skills in using JAMstack to build a website.

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Plan your portfolio website.
Choose a design template.
Develop your portfolio website.
Deploy your portfolio website.

Participate in a JAMstack hackathon

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This activity will help you gain experience in building JAMstack websites in a competitive environment and provides motivation to complete a project.

Browse courses on JAMstack

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Find a JAMstack hackathon to participate in.
Form a team (optional).
Develop a winning JAMstack website.
Submit your website to the hackathon judges.

Career center

Learners who complete JAMStack: The Complete Guide will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Web Developer

Web Developers create and maintain websites. They are responsible for the design, development, and implementation of websites. This course may be useful for Web Developers who want to learn more about the JAMStack architecture. The course covers the basics of static site generators, headless CMSs, and continuous integration and continuous delivery. This knowledge can help Web Developers build faster, more reliable, and more secure websites.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Developer

Full-Stack Developer

Full-Stack Developers are responsible for both the front-end and back-end of a website. This course may be useful for Full-Stack Developers who want to learn more about the JAMStack architecture. The course covers the basics of static site generators, headless CMSs, and continuous integration and continuous delivery. This knowledge can help Full-Stack Developers build faster, more reliable, and more secure websites.

See salaries and explore the career path for Full-Stack Developer

Front-End Developer

Front-End Developers are responsible for the design and implementation of the user interface of a website. This course may be useful for Front-End Developers who want to learn more about the JAMStack architecture. The course covers the basics of static site generators, headless CMSs, and continuous integration and continuous delivery. This knowledge can help Front-End Developers build faster, more reliable, and more secure websites.

See salaries and explore the career path for Front-End Developer

Back-End Developer

Back-End Developers are responsible for the server-side logic of a website. This course may be useful for Back-End Developers who want to learn more about the JAMStack architecture. The course covers the basics of static site generators, headless CMSs, and continuous integration and continuous delivery. This knowledge can help Back-End Developers build faster, more reliable, and more secure websites.

See salaries and explore the career path for Back-End Developer

Software Engineer

Software Engineers design, develop, and maintain software applications. This course may be useful for Software Engineers who want to learn more about the JAMStack architecture. The course covers the basics of static site generators, headless CMSs, and continuous integration and continuous delivery. This knowledge can help Software Engineers build faster, more reliable, and more secure software applications.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Site Reliability Engineer

Site Reliability Engineers are responsible for the reliability and performance of websites and web applications. This course may be useful for Site Reliability Engineers who want to learn more about the JAMStack architecture. The course covers the basics of static site generators, headless CMSs, and continuous integration and continuous delivery. This knowledge can help Site Reliability Engineers build faster, more reliable, and more secure websites and web applications.

See salaries and explore the career path for Site Reliability Engineer

DevOps Engineer

DevOps Engineers are responsible for the development and operation of software systems. This course may be useful for DevOps Engineers who want to learn more about the JAMStack architecture. The course covers the basics of static site generators, headless CMSs, and continuous integration and continuous delivery. This knowledge can help DevOps Engineers build faster, more reliable, and more secure software systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for DevOps Engineer

Cloud Engineer

Cloud Engineers are responsible for the design, implementation, and management of cloud computing systems. This course may be useful for Cloud Engineers who want to learn more about the JAMStack architecture. The course covers the basics of static site generators, headless CMSs, and continuous integration and continuous delivery. This knowledge can help Cloud Engineers build faster, more reliable, and more secure cloud computing systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cloud Engineer

Product Manager

Product Managers are responsible for the planning, development, and launch of new products. This course may be useful for Product Managers who want to learn more about the JAMStack architecture. The course covers the basics of static site generators, headless CMSs, and continuous integration and continuous delivery. This knowledge can help Product Managers build faster, more reliable, and more secure products.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Data Scientist

Data Scientists are responsible for the analysis and interpretation of data. This course may be useful for Data Scientists who want to learn more about the JAMStack architecture. The course covers the basics of static site generators, headless CMSs, and continuous integration and continuous delivery. This knowledge can help Data Scientists build faster, more reliable, and more secure data analysis and interpretation pipelines.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Machine Learning Engineer

Machine Learning Engineers are responsible for the design, development, and maintenance of machine learning models. This course may be useful for Machine Learning Engineers who want to learn more about the JAMStack architecture. The course covers the basics of static site generators, headless CMSs, and continuous integration and continuous delivery. This knowledge can help Machine Learning Engineers build faster, more reliable, and more secure machine learning models.

See salaries and explore the career path for Machine Learning Engineer

Business Analyst

Business Analysts are responsible for the analysis of business needs and the development of solutions to meet those needs. This course may be useful for Business Analysts who want to learn more about the JAMStack architecture. The course covers the basics of static site generators, headless CMSs, and continuous integration and continuous delivery. This knowledge can help Business Analysts build faster, more reliable, and more secure solutions to business needs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Project Manager

Project Managers are responsible for the planning, execution, and completion of projects. This course may be useful for Project Managers who want to learn more about the JAMStack architecture. The course covers the basics of static site generators, headless CMSs, and continuous integration and continuous delivery. This knowledge can help Project Managers build faster, more reliable, and more secure projects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Data Engineer

Data Engineers are responsible for the design, development, and maintenance of data pipelines. This course may be useful for Data Engineers who want to learn more about the JAMStack architecture. The course covers the basics of static site generators, headless CMSs, and continuous integration and continuous delivery. This knowledge can help Data Engineers build faster, more reliable, and more secure data pipelines.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Engineer

Technical Writer

Technical Writers are responsible for the creation and maintenance of technical documentation. This course may be useful for Technical Writers who want to learn more about the JAMStack architecture. The course covers the basics of static site generators, headless CMSs, and continuous integration and continuous delivery. This knowledge can help Technical Writers create faster, more reliable, and more secure technical documentation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer