Database Design and Integration for Web Development

Week 1-2: Introduction to Databases and SQL Basics

Understanding databases and their importance in web development.
Introduction to relational databases.
Basic SQL commands (SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE).
Hands-on exercises for creating and manipulating data using SQL.

Week 3-4: Relational Database Design Principles

Entity-Relationship Diagrams (ERD).
Normalization and denormalization.
Designing efficient and scalable database schemas.
Practical exercises in designing databases for real-world scenarios.

Week 5-6: Database Integration with Websites

Connecting databases to web applications.
Server-side scripting languages (e.g., PHP, Python, Node.js).
CRUD operations (Create, Read, Update, Delete) from web applications.
Implementing security measures for database integration.

Week 7-8: Advanced SQL and Query Optimization

Complex SQL queries (JOINS, subqueries).
Indexing and query optimization techniques.
Practical exercises to optimize database queries.

Week 9-10: NoSQL Databases and Integration

Introduction to NoSQL databases.
Comparisons between SQL and NoSQL databases.
Integrating NoSQL databases into web applications.
Hands-on exercises with MongoDB, Firebase, or similar.

Week 11-12: Final Project Preparation

Discussing final project requirements and expectations.
Q&A sessions for any remaining concepts or questions.
Guidance on selecting a final project topic.

Final Project: Building a Dynamic Web Application

Students design and implement a web application with a backend database.
Requirements include CRUD functionality, user authentication, and data validation.
Emphasis on effective database design and integration practices.
Presentation of the final project, including a demonstration and code review.

Coding Exercises

(cover a range of skills and concepts, providing practical experience in database design, SQL, and web integration. Adjust the difficulty based on the students' progress throughout the course)

Design a database schema for my online learning website.
Implement a SQL query to retrieve data from multiple related tables.
Connect a web application (using a chosen server-side language) to a database.
Optimize a slow-performing SQL query.
Set up user authentication and authorization for a web application.

Project skeleton

Backend (Server-side):

Choose a Backend Framework:

Example: Using Node.js with Express.

Database Setup:

Choose a database (e.g., MongoDB for flexibility).
Set up a connection and create necessary collections (e.g., courses, users).

// Example with MongoDB and Mongoose
const mongoose = require('mongoose');
mongoose.connect('mongodb://localhost/learning_platform', { useNewUrlParser: true, useUnifiedTopology: true });

User authentication

Implement user authentication for secure access

// Example with Passport.js
const passport = require('passport');
const LocalStrategy = require('passport-local').Strategy;

passport.use(new LocalStrategy(
  (username, password, done) => {
    // Validate user credentials
    // Call done() with user object if authenticated
  }
));

API Endpoints

Create endpoints for CRUD operations on courses, user profiles, etc.

// Example API endpoint for fetching courses
app.get('/api/courses', (req, res) => {
  // Retrieve and send course data from the database
});

Frontend (Client-side)

Choose a Frontend Framework:

Example: Using React.js for a dynamic user interface.

Course Listing Page:

Display a list of available courses.

// Example React component
function CourseList({ courses }) {
  return (
    <div>
      <h2>Available Courses</h2>
      <ul>
        {courses.map(course => (
          <li key={course.id}>{course.title}</li>
        ))}
      </ul>
    </div>
  );
}

User Authentication UI:

Create login and registration forms

// Example React component for login form
function LoginForm() {
  return (
    <form>
      <label>Username:</label>
      <input type="text" />
      <label>Password:</label>
      <input type="password" />
      <button type="submit">Login</button>
    </form>
  );
}

Interactive Course Details Page:

Display detailed information about a selected course.

  // Example React component for course details
function CourseDetails({ course }) {
  return (
    <div>
      <h2>{course.title}</h2>
      <p>{course.description}</p>
    </div>
  );
}

Integrate Backend with Frontend:

Fetch data from backend API endpoints and update the UI.

// Example React component fetching courses from the backend
function CourseList() {
  const [courses, setCourses] = useState([]);

  useEffect(() => {
    // Fetch courses from the backend
    fetch('/api/courses')
      .then(response => response.json())
      .then(data => setCourses(data))
      .catch(error => console.error('Error fetching courses:', error));
  }, []);

  return (
    // Render the course list UI
  );
}

One needs to handle more aspects like user authentication flow, error handling, and styling. Additionally, incorporating a state management library (e.g., Redux for React) and using proper security practices is crucial for a production-ready application.

leannejdong/Database