Back-end Application Development Capstone Project from Coursera

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.

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.

Creating Get Songs Service with Flask

With the advent of Big Data and agile development methodologies, the database landscape has evolved with NoSQL databases gaining more importance and relevance. The main benefit of using NoSQL databases is the ability to effectively handle scalability and flexibility issues presented by the latest complex applications. In this second module, you will learn various flavors of NoSQL database products and practice using them in multiple hand-on labs throughout the course. You will start by learning the history and the basics of NoSQL databases and discover their key characteristics and benefits. Then you will learn about the four NoSQL databases and how they differ from each other. You will further learn how to work with MongoDB shell. You will then get hands-on experience using MongoDB basic commands, querying, and connecting from Flask. You will create the songs microservice using MongoDB and Flask.

Module 3: Main Django Application

In the third module, you will get hands-on practice creating a Django application and connecting it to services. You will be asked to create a data model and use the Django migration tool to create the tables and relationships. You will then create controllers to implement business logic to send the appropriate data to the provided templates.

Module 4: Deploy your application and services

In Module 4, you will deploy your application and services using Code Engine, OpenShift, and Kubernetes. You will first learn about IBM Cloud code engine and how it helps in deployment of your applications. You will create a DockerFile for the Pictures and deploy it to IBM code engine. You will create a second DockerFile for the Songs microservice and deploy it to an OpenShift cluster. You will learn how to push the docker images for the microservices to IBM Container Registry. Finally, you will deploy the main application to IBM Kubernetes Service using YAML deployment files.

Module 5: Final Submission and Peer Review

In the final module, you will need to submit the screenshots from the hands-on labs for peers to review. You will also need to provide URLs for the microservices and the Django application. In addition, you may be asked to submit GitHub repo links to enable peers to review your code. After you submit your project, you will need to review and grade one of your peer’s submissions.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, 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

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

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Improve your understanding of Flask commands by practicing them regularly.

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Create a new Flask project.
Run the Flask development server.
Create a simple route and handle requests.

Organize and review course materials

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Review and organize course materials regularly to enhance understanding and retention.

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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

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Join a study group to collaborate with peers, discuss course materials, and strengthen your understanding.

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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

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Build a Simple Django App

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Enhance your Django skills by following guided tutorials that demonstrate the creation of a simple application.

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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

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Engage in peer-to-peer discussions to exchange insights and deepen your understanding of microservices architecture.

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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

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Practice writing Flask applications to reinforce your understanding of the framework and gain hands-on experience.

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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

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Create a MongoDB database and integrate it with a Flask application to gain practical experience with NoSQL databases.

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Install MongoDB
Create a MongoDB database and collection
Connect Flask to the MongoDB database
Perform CRUD operations on the database

Explain MongoDB Aggregation Concepts

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Solidify your comprehension of MongoDB aggregation concepts by creating a written explanation or presentation.

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Research MongoDB aggregation pipeline stages.
Compose a logical sequence of aggregation stages.
Illustrate your explanation with code examples.

Build a Django application

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Develop a Django application to gain hands-on experience with the framework and learn about its features.

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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

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Write a blog post to share your knowledge and understanding of Docker and Kubernetes in the context of deploying microservices.

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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

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Develop a comprehensive microservices application to integrate your knowledge and skills in backend development.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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