Building Single Page Applications (SPAs)

Syllabus

Course Syllabus:

Module 1: Introduction to Single Page Applications (SPAs)

• Lesson 1: What are Single Page Applications?
  • Overview of SPAs and how they work.
  • Comparison with traditional multi-page websites.
  • Benefits and challenges of SPAs (performance, SEO, and development complexity).
• Lesson 2: Key Concepts of SPAs
  • Understanding client-side routing, JavaScript-driven interfaces, and dynamic content loading.
  • Examples of popular SPAs (e.g., Gmail, Facebook, Twitter).
• Lesson 3: Architecture of an SPA
  • Overview of the architecture (frontend vs. backend separation, API-driven development).
  • How SPAs work with RESTful services or GraphQL.

Module 2: Setting Up Your Development Environment

• Lesson 4: Installing Node.js and npm
  • Introduction to Node.js, npm (Node Package Manager), and their role in SPA development.
  • Installing and setting up your local development environment.
• Lesson 5: Project Structure for SPAs
  • Organizing files and directories for a scalable SPA.
  • Basic build tools (Webpack, Babel) and why they are important for SPAs.
• Lesson 6: Using Create-React-App, Vue CLI, or Angular CLI
  • How to set up a basic SPA project using tools like create-react-app, vue-cli, or angular-cli.
  • Overview of the default project structure and files generated by these tools.

Module 3: HTML, CSS, and JavaScript Refresher

• Lesson 7: HTML for SPAs
  • Structuring the HTML layout for a modern SPA.
  • Understanding the role of the index.html template and mounting the JavaScript application.
• Lesson 8: CSS for SPAs
  • Managing styles in SPAs: using CSS, SASS, or CSS-in-JS libraries (e.g., styled-components for React).
  • Handling dynamic styling with JavaScript.
• Lesson 9: JavaScript and DOM Manipulation
  • Understanding JavaScript’s role in SPAs.
  • Basic DOM manipulation and event handling in an SPA environment.

Module 4: JavaScript Frameworks and Libraries for SPAs

• Lesson 10: Introduction to React
  • Basic concepts: components, props, and state in React.
  • Setting up a React-based SPA.
• Lesson 11: Introduction to Vue.js
  • Understanding Vue.js basics: components, directives, and the Vue instance.
  • Setting up a Vue.js SPA.
• Lesson 12: Introduction to Angular
  • Basics of Angular: modules, components, and services.
  • Setting up an Angular SPA.
• Lesson 13: Component-Based Architecture
  • Why and how component-based architecture is used in modern SPA frameworks.
  • Understanding the role of reusable components in maintaining clean and scalable code.

Module 5: Routing in SPAs

• Lesson 14: Dynamic Routing in SPAs
  • Overview of client-side routing: how SPAs update the URL and display different views without reloading the page.
  • Using react-router (for React), vue-router (for Vue), or Angular’s built-in router.
• Lesson 15: Managing Navigation and Routes
  • Handling routes, dynamic paths, and nested routes.
  • Using programmatic navigation and route guards for protected routes.

Module 6: State Management in SPAs

• Lesson 16: Introduction to State Management
  • What is state, and why is it important in SPAs?
  • The difference between local and global state.
• Lesson 17: State Management with Redux (React)
  • Setting up Redux to manage global state in a React SPA.
  • Actions, reducers, and the Redux store.
• Lesson 18: State Management with Vuex (Vue.js)
  • Introduction to Vuex for state management in Vue applications.
  • Creating and managing the store, actions, mutations, and getters.
• Lesson 19: State Management in Angular
  • Using Angular services and NgRx for state management.
  • Managing state with observables and Redux-style patterns.

Module 7: Handling Form Data and Validation

• Lesson 20: Form Handling in SPAs
  • Creating and managing forms in React, Vue, or Angular.
  • Working with controlled vs. uncontrolled components (React).
• Lesson 21: Client-Side Form Validation
  • Implementing client-side form validation techniques.
  • Using libraries like Formik (React) or built-in solutions (Vue, Angular).
• Lesson 22: Submitting and Managing Form Data
  • Sending form data to APIs (using fetch or axios).
  • Handling errors and success responses after form submission.

Module 8: Making API Calls in SPAs

• Lesson 23: Introduction to Asynchronous JavaScript
  • Understanding asynchronous operations and how they work in SPAs.
  • Using async/await, fetch, and axios to make API calls.
• Lesson 24: Fetching Data with REST APIs
  • Working with RESTful APIs: sending GET, POST, PUT, DELETE requests.
  • Parsing and displaying data in your SPA.
• Lesson 25: GraphQL Integration
  • Introduction to GraphQL: querying and mutating data.
  • Setting up a GraphQL client and integrating it into your SPA.

Module 9: Optimizing Performance in SPAs

• Lesson 26: Code Splitting and Lazy Loading
  • How to use code splitting and lazy loading to improve initial load time.
  • Tools and techniques for optimizing large SPAs.
• Lesson 27: Performance Optimization Techniques
  • Minimizing re-renders and optimizing state updates.
  • Using memoization and shouldComponentUpdate in React.
• Lesson 28: Caching and Service Workers
  • Implementing caching strategies and service workers for offline support.
  • Using Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) to improve performance and offline experience.

Module 10: Security Considerations in SPAs

• Lesson 29: Security Risks in SPAs
  • Understanding and mitigating XSS (Cross-Site Scripting) and CSRF (Cross-Site Request Forgery).
  • Preventing malicious attacks and ensuring secure API communication.
• Lesson 30: Implementing Authentication and