Introduction to Software Development

Overview of Web and Cloud Development

Cloud Applications

Built to work seamlessly with a Cloud-based back-end infrastructure
Cloud-based data storage and data processing, and other Cloud services, making them scalable and resilient

Building websites and cloud applications:

The environment is divided into two primary areas:

Deals with everything that happens at the client-side
Specializes in front-end coding, using HTML, CSS, JavaScript and related frameworks, libraries, and tools

Deals with the server before the code and data are sent to the client
Handles the logic and functionality and the authentication processes that keep data secure
Back-end developers may also work with relational or NoSQL databases

Full-stack developers have skills, knowledge, and experience in both front-end and back-end environments.

Developers Tools:

HTML is used to create the structure and CSS is used to design it and make it appealing
CSS is also used to create websites that have cross browser compatibility such as PC, mobiles devices etc.
JS adds interactivity

A front-end development language is Syntactically Awesome Style Sheets (SASS)
An extension of CSS that is compatible with all versions of CSS.
SASS enables you to use things like variables, nested rules, inline imports to keep things organized.
SASS allows you to create style sheets faster and more easily.

Learner Style Sheets (LESS)
LESS enhances CSS, adding more styles and functions.
It is backwards compatible with CSS.
Less.js is a JS tool that converts the LESS styles to CSS styles.

Websites are designed as reactive and responsive
Reactive or adaptive websites display the version of the website designed for a specific screen size.
A website can provide more information if opened on a PC than when opened on a mobile device.
Responsive design of a website means that it will automatically resize to the device.
If you open up a products’ website on your mobile device, it will adapt itself to the small size of the screen and still show you all the features.

JavaScript’s frameworksorks:

Angular Framework:

an open-source framework maintained by google
Allows websites to render HTML pages quickly and efficiently
Tools for routing and form validation

React.js:
Developed and maintained by Meta
It is a JS library that builds and renders components for a web page
Routing is not a part of this framework and will need to be added using a third-party tool

Vue.js:
maintained by the community and its main focus is the view layer which includes UI, buttons, visual components
Flexible, scalable, and integrates well with other frameworks
Very adaptable – it can be a library, or it can be the framework

The task of a front-end developer evolves continuously.
The technologies are upgraded constantly, and so the front-end developers need to keep upgrading the websites that they create.
The websites that they create should work in multiple browsers, multiple operating systems, and multiple devices.

Creates and manages resources needed to respond to client requests
Enables server infrastructure to process request, supply data and provide other services securely

What does the back-end developer do?
Process the data you enter while browsing, such as:
- Login information
- Product searches
- Payment information
Write and maintain the parts of the application that process the inputs

Back-End Developer skills:

Examples of tasks and associated skills that back-end developers need:

APIs, routing, and endpoints:

APIs, routes, and endpoints process requests from the Front-End
- API is a code that works with data
- Routes is a path to a website or page
- Endpoint can be an API or route
Back-end developers create routes to direct requests to correct service
APIs provide a way for Cloud Apps to access resources from the back-end

Back-end languages and frameworks:

Some popular back-end languages are:

Working with databases:

Languages and tools for working with databases:

A cloud application developer’s workbench includes:

Version Control
Libraries
- Collection of reusable code
- Multiple code libs can be integrated into a project
- Call from your code when required
- Used to solve a specific problem or add a specific feature

Frameworks:

Examples of Build Tools:

Packages:

Package managers:

Make working with packages easier
Coordinate with file archives to extract package archives
Verify checksums and digital certificates to ensure the integrity and authenticity of the package
Locate, download, install, or update existing software from a software repository
Manage dependencies to ensure a package is installed with all packages it requires

Package Managers by platform:

Cloud application package managers:

What is a software stack?

Combination of technologies
Used for creating applications and solutions
Stacked in a hierarchy to support the application from user to computer hardware
Typically include;
- Front-end technologies
- Back-end technologies
Parts of the software stack:

Examples of software stack:
Python-Django
Ruby on Rails
ASP .NET
LAMP
MEAN
MEVN
MERN

LAMP Stack:

MEAN and relasted stacks:

Comparison of MEAN, MEVN, and LAMP:

MEAN
- All parts use JS – one language to learn
- Lost of documentation and reusable code
- Not suited to large-scale applications or relational data
MEVN
- Similar to MEAN
- Less reusable libs
LAMP
- Lots of reusable code and support
- Only on Linux
- Not suited in non-relational data
- Uses different languages