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Jarrod Parkes and Nic Jackson

Take Udacity's free Server-Side Swift course and learn how to use Swift as a server-side language for building end-to-end applications. Learn online with Udacity.

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What's inside

Syllabus

In this lesson, you'll build Swift servers that can run on macOS and Linux. You'll also utilize the Swift Package Manager as you build a simple end-to-end app entirely in Swift!
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Explores using Swift as a server-side language, which is a popular choice for developing end-to-end applications
Provides hands-on practice by building end-to-end apps solely in Swift
Covers essential concepts such as microservices, data persistence, CRUD operations, JSON web tokens, and image processing
Utilizes SwiftyJSON for simplified JSON parsing
Leverages industry-standard tools like Docker for server-side Swift environment setup
Taught by experienced instructors Jarrod Parkes and Nic Jackson, who are recognized for their work in server-side Swift
Offered through Udacity, a reputable platform known for providing high-quality online education
Stresses practical application with deployment practices on platforms like Heroku, Bluemix, and AWS

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Reviews summary

Swift backend: foundation & deployment

According to learners, this course provides a strong foundation in server-side Swift, particularly for iOS developers transitioning to backend work. Students appreciate its practical, hands-on projects and clear lectures from a knowledgeable instructor. The deployment lessons are invaluable, empowering them to build full-stack Swift applications. However, a recurring challenge is the course's timeliness, with many noting outdated code examples and a need for frequent updates due to Swift's rapidly evolving ecosystem. Some find the pace fast or wish for deeper coverage on advanced topics. The Docker setup can also be cumbersome.
Pace can be fast; some desire deeper advanced topics.
"I did find some parts a bit fast-paced, especially if you're completely new to backend concepts."
"While the course provides a great foundation, I do feel like it could go deeper into advanced topics..."
"The pace was inconsistent, sometimes too fast, sometimes too slow. It's a decent starting point but don't expect it to make you an expert."
"While it covers a breadth of topics, the depth is lacking."
Instructor excels at explaining complex technical concepts.
"The lectures are clear and the instructor is knowledgeable. Highly recommend..."
"The instructor does a good job explaining complex topics. I particularly liked the module on securing endpoints with JWTs."
"The course explains things clearly from the ground up for Swift developers."
"The core concepts are well explained, and it's a good starting point."
Valuable projects, labs, and deployment focused lessons.
"The projects are hands-on and very practical. The lectures are clear and the instructor is knowledgeable."
"The hands-on labs were fantastic, reinforcing concepts. The section on Docker was a great addition."
"The exercises really consolidate the learning. Deployment lessons were invaluable."
"The focus on microservices and practical deployment options was very strong. Highly valuable content."
Course provides a robust base for server-side Swift.
"This course gives you a strong foundation and covers a lot of ground, from databases to authentication to deployment."
"Excellent course! As an iOS developer, this course bridged the gap for me to full-stack development using Swift."
"I finally got to understand how to leverage my existing skills on the backend. The course structure is logical..."
"This course truly empowers you to build full-stack Swift apps. Highly recommended!"
Setup process with Docker is cumbersome and error-prone.
"I struggled with the Docker setup being a nightmare."
"The setup process with Docker was a bit cumbersome and prone to errors."
"This course desperately needs an update to be relevant... The Docker setup was a nightmare."
Code examples are outdated, requiring manual fixes.
"I struggled with many parts due to outdated code examples that simply wouldn't run. Debugging these issues took more time..."
"This course is outdated and unusable in its current state. I spent more time trying to fix broken code and adapt to new Swift versions..."
"The rapid changes in the Swift server ecosystem mean that some of the specific frameworks or libraries taught here are already superseded..."
"Some minor outdated libraries were mentioned but easily updated. ... Some parts of the course felt a little behind the curve..."

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 Server-Side Swift with these activities:
Attend a Swift meetup or conference
Connect with other Swift developers and learn about the latest trends in Swift development.
Browse courses on Swift
Show steps
  • Find a Swift meetup or conference near you.
  • Attend the event.
  • Network with other Swift developers.
Review Server-Side Swift Basics
Reinforce your understanding of the fundamentals of Server-Side Swift before starting the course.
Browse courses on Swift
Show steps
  • Review the Swift language syntax and semantics.
  • Explore the basics of server-side programming concepts.
  • Practice writing simple Swift programs.
Review "The Swift Programming Language" by Apple
Gain a solid foundation in the Swift programming language.
Show steps
  • Read the book.
  • Complete the exercises in the book.
  • Build a small project using Swift.
Eight other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all 11 activities
Learn About Microservices Architecture
Gain a solid understanding of the microservices architecture and its benefits before diving into the course content.
Browse courses on Microservices
Show steps
  • Follow online tutorials on microservices architecture.
  • Explore case studies of real-world microservices implementations.
  • Experiment with building simple microservices using Swift.
Follow a tutorial on building a CRUD API with Swift
Gain practical experience in building a data-driven application using Swift.
Browse courses on Swift
Show steps
  • Find a tutorial on building a CRUD API with Swift.
  • Follow the steps in the tutorial to build your own CRUD API.
  • Test your API to make sure it works.
Practice writing Swift code for server-side development
Develop proficiency in writing Swift code for building end-to-end applications.
Browse courses on Swift
Show steps
  • Find a Swift coding challenge or exercise.
  • Write code to solve the challenge or exercise.
  • Test your code to make sure it works.
Develop a Simple End-to-End Swift Application
Test your understanding of Swift by building a complete application from scratch.
Browse courses on Full-stack Development
Show steps
  • Design and plan the application's architecture.
  • Implement the backend using Server-Side Swift.
  • Create a frontend using a suitable framework.
  • Integrate the backend and frontend.
  • Test and deploy the application.
Create a microservices architecture diagram
Visualize how microservices interact with each other and with the rest of the system.
Browse courses on Microservices
Show steps
  • Identify the different components of your system.
  • Draw a diagram that shows how the components interact.
  • Label the diagram with the names of the components and their functions.
Build a simple end-to-end application using Swift
Demonstrate your understanding of the full software development lifecycle by building a complete application from scratch.
Browse courses on Swift
Show steps
  • Plan your application.
  • Design the database.
  • Write the Swift code.
  • Test your application.
  • Deploy your application.
Contribute to an open-source Swift project
Make a meaningful contribution to the Swift community.
Browse courses on Swift
Show steps
  • Find an open-source Swift project to contribute to.
  • Fix a bug or add a feature to the project.
  • Submit a pull request to the project.
Mentor a junior Swift developer
Share your knowledge and experience with a less experienced Swift developer.
Browse courses on Swift
Show steps
  • Find a junior Swift developer to mentor.
  • Meet with your mentee regularly.
  • Share your knowledge and experience with your mentee.

Career center

Learners who complete Server-Side Swift will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Software Engineer
Server-Side Swift is a course designed to teach students how to build end-to-end applications using Swift as a server-side language. As a Software Engineer, you will be responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining software systems. This course will provide you with the skills you need to build robust and scalable server-side applications using Swift.
Web Developer
The Server-Side Swift course will be very helpful for Web Developers who want to learn how to use Swift to build web applications. This course will teach you how to build and deploy microservices, create RESTful APIs, and work with databases. These are all essential skills for Web Developers who want to build modern web applications.
Mobile Developer
Many mobile applications require a server-side component to function properly. The Server-Side Swift course will teach Mobile Developers how to build these server-side components using Swift. This course will help you build the skills you need to develop full-stack mobile applications.
Data Scientist
Data Science is a field that is becoming increasingly important in many industries. The Server-Side Swift course will teach Data Scientists how to use Swift to build data pipelines and perform data analysis. This course will help you build the skills you need to succeed in this growing field.
Cloud Architect
Cloud Architects are responsible for designing and managing cloud computing systems. The Server-Side Swift course will teach Cloud Architects how to use Swift to build cloud-native applications. This course will help you build the skills you need to succeed in this growing field.
Systems Administrator
Systems Administrators are responsible for maintaining and managing computer systems. The Server-Side Swift course will teach Systems Administrators how to use Swift to automate system tasks. This course will help you build the skills you need to succeed in this important role.
DevOps Engineer
DevOps Engineers are responsible for bridging the gap between development and operations teams. The Server-Side Swift course will teach DevOps Engineers how to use Swift to automate build and deployment processes. This course will help you build the skills you need to succeed in this growing field.
Product Manager
Product Managers are responsible for managing the development and launch of new products. The Server-Side Swift course will teach Product Managers how to use Swift to build prototypes and demonstrate product concepts. This course will help you build the skills you need to succeed in this important role.
Technical Writer
Technical Writers are responsible for creating documentation for software and hardware products. The Server-Side Swift course will teach Technical Writers how to use Swift to create code samples and other technical content. This course will help you build the skills you need to succeed in this important role.
Quality Assurance Engineer
Quality Assurance Engineers are responsible for testing and ensuring the quality of software products. The Server-Side Swift course will teach Quality Assurance Engineers how to use Swift to write automated tests. This course will help you build the skills you need to succeed in this important role.
Business Analyst
Business Analysts are responsible for gathering and analyzing business requirements. The Server-Side Swift course will teach Business Analysts how to use Swift to create prototypes and demonstrate business concepts. This course will help you build the skills you need to succeed in this important role.
Project Manager
Project Managers are responsible for planning and managing software development projects. The Server-Side Swift course will teach Project Managers how to use Swift to create project plans and track project progress. This course will help you build the skills you need to succeed in this important role.
Sales Engineer
Sales Engineers are responsible for selling software and hardware products. The Server-Side Swift course will teach Sales Engineers how to use Swift to create demos and presentations. This course will help you build the skills you need to succeed in this important role.
Software Architect
Software Architects are responsible for designing and developing software systems. The Server-Side Swift course will teach Software Architects how to use Swift to create software architectures. This course will help you build the skills you need to succeed in this important role.
Computer Science Teacher
Computer Science Teachers are responsible for teaching computer science to students. The Server-Side Swift course will teach Computer Science Teachers how to use Swift to teach object-oriented programming and other computer science concepts. This course will help you build the skills you need to succeed in this important role.

Reading list

We've selected eight 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 Server-Side Swift.
Comprehensive guide to Kubernetes, a popular container orchestration platform. It is suitable for both beginners and experienced Kubernetes users.
Provides a comprehensive overview of server-side Swift development using the Vapor framework. It covers topics such as routing, middleware, databases, and authentication.
Provides a comprehensive overview of microservices architecture and how to implement it using Swift. It covers topics such as service discovery, load balancing, and fault tolerance.
Provides a comprehensive overview of server-side Swift development. It covers topics such as routing, middleware, databases, and authentication.
Is an advanced guide to iOS development. It covers topics such as Swift concurrency, working with Core Data, and building advanced iOS applications.
Provides a comprehensive guide to design patterns in Swift. It covers topics such as creational patterns, structural patterns, and behavioral patterns.

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