Full-Stack JavaScript: Build a Real-Time Chat App
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What you'll learn
Build a full-stack JavaScript application using Node.js, Express, and React.
Implement REST APIs, authentication, and data handling on the backend.
Create interactive React interfaces with routing and state management.
Add real-time messaging with WebSockets and deploy the application using Docker.
Skills you'll gain
Details to know
April 2026
4 assignments
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There are 5 modules in this course
In this course, you will learn how to design and build a real-time, full-stack JavaScript application from scratch. By the end of the course, you will understand how modern web applications function across the frontend, backend, and deployment environments.
You will start by developing a backend using Node.js and Express, where you will implement REST APIs, authentication, and data handling. Then, you will build an interactive frontend using React, creating a multi-page application with routing, state management, and API integration. To enable real-time communication, you will implement WebSockets to connect the frontend and backend for live chat functionality. Throughout the course, you will apply your knowledge by building a real-time chat application, gaining practical experience with modern development tools and architectural patterns. You will also learn how to structure applications with a clear data layer, test and debug server code, and prepare your project for deployment using Docker and containerized services. By completing this course, you will gain hands-on experience with the essential technologies of modern full-stack development and build a complete project that you can expand and improve long after the course ends.
In this module, you'll get an overview of how modern full-stack web applications work. You’ll learn about the architecture of the chat application you’ll build during the course and explore the key technologies used in the project, including Node.js, React, and WebSockets. You’ll also review how the backend and frontend interact and how real-time communication fits into the system. By the end of this module, you’ll understand the overall structure of the project and the tools you'll use throughout the course.
What's included
7 videos1 assignment3 app items
7 videos•Total 13 minutes
- Welcome to the Course•3 minutes
- Professional Tools Setup•2 minutes
- Getting Started with Node.js•2 minutes
- Getting Started with Express.js•1 minute
- Updating the Project•2 minutes
- Handling Request Parameters•1 minute
- Educational Frontend•2 minutes
1 assignment•Total 15 minutes
- Introduction - Quiz•15 minutes
3 app items•Total 50 minutes
- Hello World•10 minutes
- New Route Handler•20 minutes
- Sum Route Implementation•20 minutes
In this module, you'll build the backend of a real-time chat application using Node.js and Express. You’ll implement REST APIs, authentication, and data handling, while learning how to structure a backend application with middleware, routing, and a data layer. You’ll also add real-time communication using WebSockets and persist application data using a database. By the end of this module, you’ll have a fully functional backend that supports authentication, messaging, and real-time updates.
What's included
9 videos1 assignment12 app items
9 videos•Total 13 minutes
- Testing and Debugging•1 minute
- Looking at the Tests•2 minutes
- Middleware Concept•2 minutes
- Data Layer•1 minute
- Interface vs Implementation •1 minute
- Routing Middleware•2 minutes
- WebSockets•1 minute
- WebSockets Authentication•2 minutes
- Database•2 minutes
1 assignment•Total 15 minutes
- Backend - Quiz•15 minutes
12 app items•Total 240 minutes
- Writing Tests•20 minutes
- Logging•20 minutes
- Create User•20 minutes
- Message Service•20 minutes
- Messages Router•20 minutes
- Authentication Router•20 minutes
- Socket.IO•20 minutes
- Secret Key•20 minutes
- Adding Authentication•20 minutes
- Username from Token•20 minutes
- WebSockets Authentication•20 minutes
- Database Integration•20 minutes
In this module, you'll build the frontend for your chat application using React. You’ll learn how React components work, how to manage state, and how to structure a frontend project. You’ll implement routing between pages, connect the interface to backend APIs, handle authentication tokens, and add real-time messaging with WebSockets. By the end of this module, you'll have a fully interactive chat interface that communicates with your backend.
What's included
9 videos1 assignment10 app items
9 videos•Total 16 minutes
- Introduction to Frontend •2 minutes
- Backend Connection•1 minute
- Getting Started with React•2 minutes
- Dive into JSX•2 minutes
- Routing•2 minutes
- Application Pages•2 minutes
- Backend Connections•2 minutes
- About vite.config.js•2 minutes
- Creating a New Project•2 minutes
1 assignment•Total 15 minutes
- Frontend - Quiz•15 minutes
10 app items•Total 200 minutes
- Testing•20 minutes
- Calculator•20 minutes
- Routing Implementation•20 minutes
- Register Forms•20 minutes
- Login Forms•20 minutes
- Routing Update•20 minutes
- Retrieving Messages•20 minutes
- Sending Messages•20 minutes
- WebSockets Support•20 minutes
- Implementation•20 minutes
In this module, you'll learn how to prepare your application for deployment. You’ll containerize both the backend and frontend using Docker, configure production environments, and run the application using Docker Compose. You’ll also learn how services communicate inside container networks and how to manage environment variables securely. By the end of this module, you’ll be able to run and deploy your full-stack application using containerized infrastructure.
What's included
4 videos1 assignment
4 videos•Total 8 minutes
- Docker Intro•2 minutes
- Backend Dockerfile•2 minutes
- Frontend Dockerfile•2 minutes
- Docker Compose•2 minutes
1 assignment•Total 15 minutes
- Deploy - Quiz•15 minutes
In this module, you’ll reflect on everything you’ve built during the course and review the complete architecture of your full-stack chat application. You’ll also explore ideas for extending your project with new features and improvements. By the end of this module, you’ll have a clear understanding of how to continue developing and expanding your full-stack JavaScript applications.
What's included
1 reading
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
- Building Your First Full-Stack JavaScript Application•10 minutes
Instructor
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Reviewed on Apr 20, 2026
wonderful introduction to full stack with javascript
Reviewed on Apr 20, 2026
A very well-composed course with a focus on hands-on experience, not just theory!
Reviewed on Apr 13, 2026
Very useful! Explains building blocks that every app consists of, feels like really important basis for building any type of software in the future.
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