SWDBD401 Backend Application Development - SWDBD401 Backend Application Development

Welcome to the SWDBD401 teaching guide. This resource covers every topic across all four Learning Outcomes in a structured, code-rich format designed to support classroom delivery. Each page includes definitions, code examples, tips, and exam pointers.

Learning Outcomes

LO1: RESTful APIs

Set up Node.js, build an Express server, connect a database, and develop full CRUD REST APIs.

LO2: Security

Encrypt data, implement JWT authentication and role-based authorization, manage environment secrets.

LO3: Testing

Write unit tests with Jest, API integration tests with Supertest, and security tests using OWASP tools.

LO4: Deployment

Deploy to a Linux VPS with PM2 and Nginx, maintain a live app, and document APIs with JSDoc and Swagger.

Tools Covered in This Course

Tool	Purpose
Node.js	JavaScript runtime for server-side code
Express	Web framework for building REST APIs
mysql2	MySQL driver for Node.js (connection pools, parameterized queries)
bcrypt	Password hashing
jsonwebtoken	JWT creation and verification
dotenv	Environment variable loading
Jest + Supertest	Unit and integration testing
PM2	Production process manager
Nginx	Reverse proxy and load balancer
JSDoc + Swagger	API documentation generation

Each tab in the top navigation corresponds to one Learning Outcome. Work through them in order for the best learning progression.

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​Learning Outcomes

LO1: RESTful APIs

LO2: Security

LO3: Testing

LO4: Deployment

​Tools Covered in This Course

Learning Outcomes

Tools Covered in This Course