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Back-end Application Development Capstone Project

IBM Skills Network Team

This is the final course in the IBM Backend Development Professional Certificate. This capstone project course will give you the chance to practice the work that back-end developers do in real life when working with applications.

In this course, you will assume the role of a real-life developer working to develop and deploy back-end microservices and applications.

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This is the final course in the IBM Backend Development Professional Certificate. This capstone project course will give you the chance to practice the work that back-end developers do in real life when working with applications.

In this course, you will assume the role of a real-life developer working to develop and deploy back-end microservices and applications.

You will be tasked to develop, deploy, and integrate an application composed of several microservices, and integrating them seamlessly. You will use various back-end tools and technologies, including Flask, Django, NoSQL, and Mongo DB, to accomplish this project while applying coding best practices. You will also deploy and scale and update each of the application’s microservices independently using Cloud Native technologies: Kubernetes, OpenShift and serverless (Code Engine).

In this course, you’ll mostly focus on hands-on work to demonstrate and apply what you have learnt in previous courses. By successfully completing this Capstone you will have added a project to your programming portfolio to showcase to employers.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Module 1: Getting Started
In the first module, you will learn about Flask, a lightweight python-based web application framework. The module will teach you how to create a Flask application that responds to user requests at specific URLs. You will also learn about handling both server and user errors. You will learn how to make external API calls from Flask. You will apply these lessons to create a service that produces pictures from past events.
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Emphasizes hands-on practice, allowing learners to apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios
Covers a comprehensive range of back-end tools and technologies, providing learners with a solid foundation in the field
Guided by instructors from the IBM Skills Network Team, who are recognized for their expertise in back-end development
Provides learners with an opportunity to develop a portfolio project to showcase their skills to potential employers
Focuses on applying coding best practices, ensuring that learners develop high-quality code

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Reviews summary

Hands-on backend capstone for professionals

According to learners, this course is a highly practical capstone project that serves as an excellent portfolio builder for aspiring backend developers. Students appreciate the opportunity for hands-on application development, integrating various technologies like Flask, Django, and MongoDB. The course also dives into cloud-native deployment using tools such as Kubernetes, OpenShift, and Code Engine, which learners find highly relevant for industry roles. However, some students note a steep learning curve, particularly with environment setup and cloud configurations, which can be challenging. While it covers a broad range of topics, some learners feel that the depth of coverage can be limited, often requiring additional self-study. Be aware that some course materials may feel outdated.
The peer review system has mixed effectiveness and consistency.
"The peer review process was surprisingly helpful for seeing different approaches and getting feedback."
"Sometimes the peer review felt like a chore, and the quality of feedback varied greatly among peers."
"The grading can be inconsistent depending on who reviews your submission, which can be frustrating."
Introduces a wide array of relevant backend and cloud technologies.
"The course covers Flask, Django, MongoDB, Kubernetes, and OpenShift, giving a great overview."
"I appreciated learning about both traditional backend frameworks and modern cloud-native deployment strategies."
"It touches upon all major components of a modern backend setup, which is valuable for understanding the ecosystem."
Excellent for building a strong portfolio with real-world application.
"This capstone was incredibly practical; it made concepts tangible for my portfolio."
"The hands-on coding and projects are the strongest part of the course for me, a real resume booster."
"I can now confidently discuss microservices deployment in interviews after completing this project."
Some course materials or tools may be outdated, causing issues.
"Some parts felt outdated, or the specific versions of tools presented led to compatibility issues."
"I found several broken links and deprecated methods during the labs, which needed external research."
"The labs could use an update to align with the latest versions of the technologies and avoid unnecessary debugging."
Not suitable for beginners; requires foundational understanding.
"This course is not for beginners; it assumes a strong foundation in backend development."
"I felt completely overwhelmed without prior extensive coding experience, especially with the cloud parts."
"Learners should have a solid grasp of Python and database concepts before attempting this capstone."
Covers many topics but some may lack in-depth explanation.
"The course attempts to cover too much in a short time; depth is often lacking for advanced topics."
"Be prepared to do a lot of self-learning for a deeper understanding of specific technologies."
"It's a good introduction to a wide stack, but don't expect mastery from this course alone."
Environment setup and cloud configurations can be frustrating.
"Setting up Kubernetes and OpenShift was the most frustrating part; instructions could be clearer."
"I spent a significant amount of time troubleshooting environment issues rather than coding."
"The deployment process felt overly complex, and better guidance for common setup errors would be helpful."

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 Back-end Application Development Capstone Project with these activities:
Practice Flask Commands
Improve your understanding of Flask commands by practicing them regularly.
Browse courses on Flask
Show steps
  • Create a new Flask project.
  • Run the Flask development server.
  • Create a simple route and handle requests.
Organize and review course materials
Review and organize course materials regularly to enhance understanding and retention.
Show steps
  • Gather and organize notes, assignments, and study materials
  • Create summaries and mind maps to reinforce key concepts
  • Regularly review and update the organized materials
Participate in a study group
Join a study group to collaborate with peers, discuss course materials, and strengthen your understanding.
Show steps
  • Find or form a study group
  • Set regular meeting times and locations
  • Prepare for meetings by reviewing materials and preparing questions
  • Actively participate in discussions and share insights
Eight other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all 11 activities
Build a Simple Django App
Enhance your Django skills by following guided tutorials that demonstrate the creation of a simple application.
Browse courses on Django
Show steps
  • Set up a Django project and environment.
  • Create a Django model and database table.
  • Create a Django view and template.
  • Test the functionality of your Django app.
Discuss Microservices Architecture
Engage in peer-to-peer discussions to exchange insights and deepen your understanding of microservices architecture.
Browse courses on Microservices
Show steps
  • Join or create a study group.
  • Prepare talking points on a specific aspect of microservices architecture.
  • Actively participate in group discussions, sharing your perspectives and seeking feedback.
Practice writing Flask apps
Practice writing Flask applications to reinforce your understanding of the framework and gain hands-on experience.
Browse courses on Flask
Show steps
  • Create a new Flask project
  • Add routes and views to the application
  • Handle user input and server errors
  • Deploy the application to a local server
Create a MongoDB database and integrate it with Flask
Create a MongoDB database and integrate it with a Flask application to gain practical experience with NoSQL databases.
Browse courses on MongoDB
Show steps
  • Install MongoDB
  • Create a MongoDB database and collection
  • Connect Flask to the MongoDB database
  • Perform CRUD operations on the database
Explain MongoDB Aggregation Concepts
Solidify your comprehension of MongoDB aggregation concepts by creating a written explanation or presentation.
Browse courses on MongoDB
Show steps
  • Research MongoDB aggregation pipeline stages.
  • Compose a logical sequence of aggregation stages.
  • Illustrate your explanation with code examples.
Build a Django application
Develop a Django application to gain hands-on experience with the framework and learn about its features.
Browse courses on Django
Show steps
  • Create a new Django project
  • Add models and views to the application
  • Handle user input and server errors
  • Deploy the application to a local server
Write a blog post on Docker and Kubernetes for microservices
Write a blog post to share your knowledge and understanding of Docker and Kubernetes in the context of deploying microservices.
Browse courses on Docker
Show steps
  • Research and gather information on Docker and Kubernetes
  • Write the blog post, explaining the concepts and providing examples
  • Share the blog post with others
  • Engage with feedback and comments on the blog post
Build a complete microservices application
Develop a comprehensive microservices application to integrate your knowledge and skills in backend development.
Browse courses on Microservices
Show steps
  • Design the architecture of the application
  • Create individual microservices for different functionalities
  • Implement communication and data exchange between microservices
  • Deploy and manage the application on a cloud platform

Career center

Learners who complete Back-end Application Development Capstone Project will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Back-End Developer
Back-End Developers are responsible for the back-end development of software applications. They work on the server-side of applications, ensuring that data is stored and retrieved correctly, and that the application logic is implemented correctly. This course can be helpful for Back-End Developers because it teaches how to develop and deploy back-end microservices and applications using various back-end tools and technologies, including Flask, Django, NoSQL, and Mongo DB.
See salaries and explore the career path for Back-End Developer
Full-Stack Developer
Full-Stack Developers are responsible for both the front-end and back-end development of software applications. They work on both the client-side and server-side of applications, ensuring that data is stored and retrieved correctly, that the application logic is implemented correctly, and that the user interface is designed and developed correctly. This course can be helpful for Full-Stack Developers because it teaches how to develop and deploy back-end microservices and applications using various back-end tools and technologies, including Flask, Django, NoSQL, and Mongo DB.
See salaries and explore the career path for Full-Stack Developer
Web Developer
Web Developers are responsible for the development of websites and web applications. They work on the front-end and back-end of websites and web applications, ensuring that data is stored and retrieved correctly, that the application logic is implemented correctly, and that the user interface is designed and developed correctly. This course can be helpful for Web Developers because it teaches how to develop and deploy back-end microservices and applications using various back-end tools and technologies, including Flask, Django, NoSQL, and Mongo DB.
See salaries and explore the career path for Web Developer
Software Engineer
Software Engineers are responsible for the design, development, and maintenance of software applications. They work on all aspects of software development, from requirements gathering to design, coding, testing, and deployment. This course can be helpful for Software Engineers because it teaches how to develop and deploy back-end microservices and applications using various back-end tools and technologies, including Flask, Django, NoSQL, and Mongo DB.
See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer
Data Engineer
Data Engineers are responsible for the design, development, and maintenance of data pipelines. They work on all aspects of data engineering, from data collection to data storage, data processing, and data analysis. This course may be helpful for Data Engineers because it teaches how to use NoSQL databases, such as MongoDB, which are often used in data engineering.
See salaries and explore the career path for Data Engineer
Database Administrator
Database Administrators are responsible for the design, development, and maintenance of databases. They work on all aspects of database administration, from database design to database optimization, database security, and database backup and recovery. This course may be helpful for Database Administrators because it teaches how to use NoSQL databases, such as MongoDB, which are often used in database administration.
See salaries and explore the career path for Database Administrator
Cloud Architect
Cloud Architects are responsible for the design, development, and maintenance of cloud computing solutions. They work on all aspects of cloud architecture, from cloud infrastructure design to cloud application design, cloud security, and cloud cost optimization. This course may be helpful for Cloud Architects because it teaches how to deploy and scale back-end microservices and applications using Cloud Native technologies, such as Kubernetes, OpenShift, and serverless (Code Engine).
See salaries and explore the career path for Cloud Architect
DevOps Engineer
DevOps Engineers are responsible for the design, development, and maintenance of DevOps pipelines. They work on all aspects of DevOps, from continuous integration to continuous delivery, continuous testing, and continuous monitoring. This course may be helpful for DevOps Engineers because it teaches how to deploy and scale back-end microservices and applications using Cloud Native technologies, such as Kubernetes, OpenShift, and serverless (Code Engine).
See salaries and explore the career path for DevOps Engineer
Systems Engineer
Systems Engineers are responsible for the design, development, and maintenance of complex systems. They work on all aspects of systems engineering, from systems analysis to systems design, systems integration, and systems testing. This course may be helpful for Systems Engineers because it teaches how to develop and deploy back-end microservices and applications using various back-end tools and technologies, including Flask, Django, NoSQL, and Mongo DB.
See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Engineer
Technical Architect
Technical Architects are responsible for the design, development, and maintenance of technical architectures. They work on all aspects of technical architecture, from technical requirements gathering to technical design, technical implementation, and technical testing. This course may be helpful for Technical Architects because it teaches how to develop and deploy back-end microservices and applications using various back-end tools and technologies, including Flask, Django, NoSQL, and Mongo DB.
See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Architect
IT Manager
IT Managers are responsible for the planning, development, and management of IT systems. They work on all aspects of IT management, from IT strategy to IT budgeting, IT staffing, and IT security. This course may be helpful for IT Managers because it teaches how to develop and deploy back-end microservices and applications using various back-end tools and technologies, including Flask, Django, NoSQL, and Mongo DB.
See salaries and explore the career path for IT Manager
Information Security Analyst
Information Security Analysts are responsible for the planning, development, and management of information security systems. They work on all aspects of information security, from information security risk assessment to information security policy development, information security incident response, and information security training. This course may be helpful for Information Security Analysts because it teaches how to develop and deploy back-end microservices and applications using various back-end tools and technologies, including Flask, Django, NoSQL, and Mongo DB.
See salaries and explore the career path for Information Security Analyst
Business Analyst
Business Analysts are responsible for the analysis, design, and implementation of business solutions. They work on all aspects of business analysis, from business requirements gathering to business process modeling, business systems analysis, and business solution design. This course may be helpful for Business Analysts because it teaches how to develop and deploy back-end microservices and applications using various back-end tools and technologies, including Flask, Django, NoSQL, and Mongo DB.
See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst
Financial Analyst
Financial Analysts are responsible for the analysis and evaluation of financial data. They work on all aspects of financial analysis, from financial statement analysis to financial modeling, financial forecasting, and financial risk assessment. This course may be helpful for Financial Analysts because it teaches how to develop and deploy back-end microservices and applications using various back-end tools and technologies, including Flask, Django, NoSQL, and Mongo DB.
See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst
Marketing Manager
Marketing Managers are responsible for the planning, development, and execution of marketing campaigns. They work on all aspects of marketing, from market research to marketing strategy development, marketing campaign execution, and marketing campaign evaluation. This course may be helpful for Marketing Managers because it teaches how to develop and deploy back-end microservices and applications using various back-end tools and technologies, including Flask, Django, NoSQL, and Mongo DB.
See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Reading list

We've selected ten 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 Back-end Application Development Capstone Project.
Cover image
Django for Professionals
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of Django, covering everything from setting up a development environment to deploying an application to production. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about Django or use it in their projects.
Django for Professionals: Production websites with...
Paperback
$$
Cover image
Database Systems: The Complete Book
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of database systems, covering everything from data models to query processing to transaction management.
Database Systems: The Complete Book
Kindle Edition
$$$
Database Systems The Complete Book
Paperback
$$
Database Systems: The Complete Book
Hardcover
$$$$
Goal Student Access Code Card for Database Systems:...
Printed Access Code
$$
Cover image
Computer Networking [Global Edition]
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of computer networking, covering everything from network protocols to network security to network applications.
Computer Networking [Global Edition]
Paperback
Check
Computer Networking [Global Edition]
Kindle Edition
Check
Cover image
Operating System Concepts
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of operating systems, covering everything from process management to memory management to file systems.
Operating System Concepts
Paperback
Check
Operating System Concepts
Kindle Edition
Check
Cover image
Engineering Software Products: An Introduction to...
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of software engineering, covering everything from requirements gathering to design to testing.
Engineering Software Products: An Introduction to...
Paperback
Check
Engineering Software Products: An Introduction to...
Kindle Edition
Check
Cover image
Functional Design
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of agile software development, covering everything from scrum to kanban to test-driven development.
Functional Design: Principles, Patterns, and...
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
The Pragmatic Programmer
Save
Collection of practical advice for software developers, covering everything from coding to testing to project management.
The Pragmatic Programmer: Your Journey To Mastery,...
Hardcover
$$
Pragmatic Programmer, The: From Journeyman to Master
Kindle Edition
$$
(Italiano) Pragmatic Programmer - Edizione del 20°...
Kindle Edition
$$
(Italiano) Il Pragmatic Programmer: Guida per manovali del...
Kindle Edition
$$
(中文) The Pragmatic Programmer: access to the highest...
Paperback
$$
Pragmatic programmer (Korean Edition)
Paperback
$$$
Cover image
Clean Craftsmanship
Save
Provides a set of principles and practices for writing clean code, code that is easy to read, maintain, and debug.
Clean Code: A Handbook of Agile Software...
Paperback
$$
Clean Craftsmanship: Disciplines, Standards, and...
Paperback
$$
(Español) Código limpio / Clean code: Manual de estilo para...
Paperback
$$
(Italiano) Clean Craftsmanship: Guida per diventare maestri
...
Kindle Edition
$$
(Deutsch) Clean Craftsmanship: Best Practices, Standards und...
Kindle Edition
$$
The Mythical Man-month
Save
Classic in the field of software engineering, providing insights into the challenges of managing software projects.
Mythical Man-Month, The: Essays on Software...
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
The Art of Computer Programming
Save
Monumental work in the field of computer science, providing a comprehensive overview of the fundamental algorithms and data structures used in computing.
Art of Computer Programming, The: Combinatorial...
Hardcover
$$$

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Effort
18 hours to complete
Level
Advanced
Via
Coursera
Institution
IBM
Instructor
IBM Skills Network Team
Language
English
Transcripts
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Back-end Application Development Capstone Project belongs to the following collections:
  1. IBM Back-End Development
  2. IBM Back-End Development
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Emphasizes hands-on practice, allowing learners to apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios
Covers a comprehensive range of back-end tools and technologies, providing learners with a solid foundation in the field
Guided by instructors from the IBM Skills Network Team, who are recognized for their expertise in back-end development
Provides learners with an opportunity to develop a portfolio project to showcase their skills to potential employers
Focuses on applying coding best practices, ensuring that learners develop high-quality code
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