MEAN Stack
Program Outcomes
- At the completion of the program the learners will be able to:
Gain hands-on experience in building scalable full-stack applications using the MEAN stack (MongoDB, Express.js, Angular, Node.js), including backend APIs, frontendinterfaces, database integration, and deployment.Develop real-world projects with features like authentication, file handling, RESTful APIs, and database operations, following best practices for modularization, performance, security, and testing.Master essential tools and libraries such as Mongoose, Express middleware, Angular CLI, RxJS, and testing frameworks like Mocha/Chai, enabling efficient and modern web development.
Indicative Content
Web Foundations – HTML5, CSS3 & Responsive Design
- Semantic HTML5 structure, forms & accessibility basics
- CSS3 box model, Flexbox & CSS Grid layouts
- Responsive, mobile-first design & media queries
- Modern utility-first styling: intro to Tailwind CSS / Angular Material
- Git & GitHub – version control fundamentals
TypeScript Fundamentals
- Variables, types, interfaces & type inference
- Functions, classes, generics & modules
- Async/await, Promises & the Fetch API
- Decorators – the foundation of Angular's architecture
- Configuring tsconfig & compiling TypeScript
Angular Fundamentals
- Angular CLI, project structure & standalone components
- Templates & data binding – interpolation, property & event binding
- Components, inputs/outputs & component composition
- Pipes & built-in control-flow directives (*ngIf/*ngFor, @if/@for)
- Services & Dependency Injection
Angular Routing, RxJS & Mini Project 1
- Client-side routing with Angular Router, route guards & lazy-loaded routes
- Introduction to RxJS – Observables, Subjects & common operators
- Reactive forms & template-driven forms with validation
- Mini Project 1: multi-page responsive Angular application
Node.js & Express.js Fundamentals
- Node.js runtime, modules & the event loop
- Setting up an Express.js server
- Routing, middleware & the request/response lifecycle
- Environment configuration with dotenv
RESTful API Design & CRUD Operations
- REST principles & API design conventions
- Building Create, Read, Update, Delete endpoints
- Request validation & centralised error handling
- API testing & documentation with Postman
Database Design with MongoDB
- NoSQL concepts & document-oriented data modelling
- Schema design with Mongoose
- CRUD queries, filtering, sorting & pagination
- Relationships – referencing vs embedding documents
Authentication, Authorization & Mini Project 2
- Password hashing & secure credential storage
- Token-based authentication with JWT
- Role-based access control & OAuth 2.0-based login
- Mini Project 2: a documented, authenticated REST API
Advanced TypeScript & Angular Architecture
- Advanced types – generics, utility types & typing API responses end-to-end
- Angular modules vs standalone components; scalable feature organisation
- Custom decorators, HTTP interceptors & advanced DI patterns
- Typing Express routes, request/response objects & middleware
Connecting the Stack – Angular to Back-End
- Consuming REST APIs from Angular using HttpClient
- HTTP interceptors for auth tokens, logging & error handling
- Handling loading, error & success states in the UI
- Environment configuration (environment.ts) & API base URL
- CORS configuration between client and server
Advanced State Management
- Advanced RxJS operators – switchMap, combineLatest, debounceTime
- Service-based state with BehaviorSubject vs. NgRx (Redux pattern)
- Synchronising client state with server data
- API integration patterns – caching & optimistic updates
Testing Across the Stack
- Unit testing Angular components & services with Jasmine & Karma/Jest
- Integration & API testing for Express endpoints
- Writing testable, maintainable code
- Basics of test-driven development (TDD)
Security, Performance & Mini Project 3
- Common web security practices – input sanitisation, rate limiting, HTTPS
- Angular's built-in XSS/CSRF protections & safe DOM handling
- Performance optimisation – lazy-loaded routes, OnPush change detection, trackBy, query indexing
- Mini Project 3: a full-stack feature with tests and optimisation applied
AI Integration Across the Stack
- Calling AI APIs (OpenAI / Claude) from the Node backend
- Building AI-assisted features in the Angular front-end
- Using AI coding assistants throughout the development workflow
- Reviewing AI-generated code – checking for security issues, hardcoded secrets & correctness before committing
- Handling API keys, rate limits & error responses securely
DevOps, CI/CD & Deployment
- Environment configuration for production
- Deploying the Angular front-end (Firebase Hosting/Netlify/Vercel)
- Deploying the Node/Express backend & MongoDB Atlas database
- Introduction to Docker & basic CI/CD pipelines with GitHub Actions
Capstone Project – Planning & Build
- Requirement gathering & planning a complete MEAN application
- Database schema design & API architecture for the capstone
- Building core features – authentication, CRUD, AI-assisted feature
- Weekly mentor review & code walkthroughs
Capstone Project – Completion, Deployment & Presentation
- Final integration, bug fixing & polish
- Deploying the complete application end-to-end
- Preparing project documentation & a demo walkthrough
- Final presentation to a review panel