Everything that happens after the button click. Servers, HTTP, REST APIs, validation, business logic, the data-access layer, background jobs, webhooks, versioning, and rate limiting — the server-side craft that turns a pretty front end into a real product.
Lessons
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What a Backend Actually Is
What a backend really is, and why business logic must live on the server — never the browser.
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HTTP, Deeply
HTTP for builders: methods, status codes, headers, and idempotency — the language every API speaks.
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Designing a REST API
Design a REST API with clean, predictable resources other developers can guess.
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Request Validation & Error Handling
Never trust input. Validate on the server and return structured, correct errors.
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Business Logic & the Service Layer
Separate what your app DOES from your routes and database with a clean service layer.
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Talking to the Database (the Data-Access Layer)
The data-access layer: query safely, avoid leaks, and keep DB code out of your routes.
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Authentication at the API Layer
Protect endpoints with tokens and sessions — who's calling, and are they allowed?
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Pagination, Filtering & Sorting
Real APIs return a LOT of data. Page, filter, and sort it without melting your server.
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Background Jobs & Async Work
Email, image processing, exports — move slow work off the request with background jobs.
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Webhooks & Third-Party Integrations
Talk to other services and receive their events safely, with verified webhooks.
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API Versioning & Evolution
Change your API without breaking everyone who already depends on it.
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Rate Limiting, Idempotency & Resilience
Rate limiting, idempotency keys, and retries — protect your API from abuse and chaos.
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Capstone: Build a Production-Grade API
Build a production-grade API: CRUD, auth, validation, a background job, and real docs.
🏛️ Build It Right, Or Don't Build It At All.