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javascript,node
9m:50s
Oct 28, 2025
Serving HTML & Static Files
Your Node.js server is about to level up 💥So far, it’s been plain text — now it’s time to serve real web pages with HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and images like a true web server 🌐🔥
👉 In this episode, you’ll learn how to:
🚀 Use the fs module to load and serve full pages
⚙️ Set proper Content-Type headers so browsers render perfectly
🛡️ Protect your app from path traversal attacks
💻 Build a lightweight static file server from scratch — the core of every modern web app
By the end, your Node server won’t just respond… it’ll serve experiences ⚡️
💡 Relevant Links
Previous TekCasts series:
- JavaScript for Beginners: https://tekcasts.com/play/javascript-for-beginners-what-is-javascript
- JavaScript in the Browser: https://tekcasts.com/play/javascript-in-the-browser-browser-runtime-environment
Libraries mentioned:
- Node.js fs: https://nodejs.org/api/fs.html
- Node.js path: https://nodejs.org/api/path.html
- Node.js http: https://nodejs.org/api/http.html
javascript,node
11m:33s
Oct 23, 2025
Routing Basics
👉 Every time you type a URL, click a link, or submit a form, your server has to decide: what happens next? That’s where routing comes in.💥 In this video, we’ll break down Routing Basics in Node.js and learn how servers handle requests:
- How URLs, HTTP methods (GET, POST), and headers guide server responses.
- Writing simple routes to serve different pages (Home, About, Contact).
- Handling form submissions with POST requests.
- Returning JSON vs. HTML based on client preferences ⚡️.
🤖 By the end, you’ll understand how to map requests to responses — the foundation for building APIs, web apps, and more.
💡 Relevant Links
Previous TekCasts series:
- JavaScript for Beginners: https://tekcasts.com/play/javascript-for-beginners-what-is-javascript
- JavaScript in the Browser: https://tekcasts.com/play/javascript-in-the-browser-browser-runtime-environment
Official Docs:
- Node.js Documentation: https://nodejs.org/en/docs/
- MDN JavaScript Guide: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript
browser,javascript
11m:8s
Oct 23, 2025
Framework & Library Overview
In this final video of the JavaScript in the Browser series, we take a step back and look at the broader ecosystem of libraries and frameworks that have shaped modern frontend development.From lightweight utilities to full-scale frameworks, these tools have enabled developers to build interactive, dynamic, and maintainable web applications.
We’ll cover:
📊 Charts & Data Visualization – Chart.js, D3.js, Highcharts, ApexCharts
🗺️ Maps & Geolocation – Google Maps, OpenStreetMap, Leaflet
⚡ DOM Reactivity & State – Alpine.js, React, Vue, Angular, Backbone, jQuery
📝 Form Validation – Parsley, Validate.js, React
🎬 Animations – Anime.js, Typed.js
🏗️ Frameworks – React, Next.js, Vue, Angular, Svelte, Ember, Backbone
This episode provides the big-picture context of where JavaScript has taken us—from direct DOM manipulation to entire ecosystems of specialized libraries and powerful frameworks.
👉 Wrap up the series with us and see how these tools fit into the modern developer’s toolkit!
javascript,node
14m:26s
Oct 21, 2025
The HTTP Module
Every web app starts with a server — and in Node.js, that journey begins with the HTTP module. In this episode of JavaScript on the Server, we’ll peel back the curtain on how requests and responses actually flow between the browser and your app.✨ What you’ll learn:
- Why the HTTP module is the core engine of Node.js servers
- How the client-server request/response cycle really works
- Building a minimal web server from scratch (no frameworks required!)
- Getting hands-on with the req (IncomingMessage) and res (ServerResponse) objects
- Key concepts to set you up for routing, APIs, and beyond
Whether you’re new to backend dev or just curious how Node powers the web, this episode will give you the foundation you need to level up.
📚 Helpful Links
- Node.js HTTP Module: https://nodejs.org/api/http.html
- Request/Response Cycle Overview: https://backend.turing.edu/module2/lessons/how_the_web_works_http
- Node.js HTTP Request Object: https://www.w3schools.com/nodejs/nodejs_http.asp
- Node.js HTTP Response Object: https://www.w3schools.com/nodejs/obj_http_serverresponse.asp
🔗 More TekCasts Learning
- JavaScript for Beginners: https://tekcasts.com/play/javascript-for-beginners-what-is-javascript
- JavaScript in the Browser: https://tekcasts.com/play/javascript-in-the-browser-browser-runtime-environment
browser,javascript
9m:14s
Oct 21, 2025
jQuery - History & Syntax Sugar
Before React, Vue, and modern frameworks, jQuery ruled the web. 🌐✨Back in the early days, browsers didn’t always agree on how JavaScript should work. Every developer fought with quirks between Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, and Chrome. 😩 Enter jQuery — a library that smoothed over the chaos by providing a standardized abstraction. With $(), developers could write code once and trust it to work everywhere.
In this video, we’ll explore why jQuery was such a big deal, from DOM selection and chained syntax to event handling and AJAX requests. You’ll see how it simplified cross-browser headaches, why it became the backbone of web dev for a decade, and where it’s still used today (👋 WordPress plugins & legacy apps).
Finally, we’ll look at its modern replacements: native JS APIs and frameworks that now handle what jQuery once did.
javascript,node
15m:14s
Oct 16, 2025
Event Loop & Async Basics
👉 JavaScript is single-threaded… so how does Node.js handle multiple tasks at once without freezing up? ⚡️In this episode, we break down the event loop and explore the core async patterns every Node developer needs to know:
💥 You’ll learn:
- The single-threaded event loop and how Node.js handles I/O using libuv.
- Why non-blocking execution makes Node.js great for scalable servers.
- Callbacks (and why they can lead to callback hell 😱).
- Promises as a cleaner, modern alternative.
- Async/Await — syntactic sugar that makes async code look synchronous.
⚡️ With practical code examples, you’ll see how to move from nested callbacks ➡️ chained promises ➡️ clean async/await.
👉 Key takeaway: Mastering async is essential for writing reliable Node.js applications.
💡 Relevant Links
Previous TekCasts series:
- JavaScript for Beginners: https://tekcasts.com/play/javascript-for-beginners-what-is-javascript
- JavaScript in the Browser: https://tekcasts.com/play/javascript-in-the-browser-browser-runtime-environment
Official Docs & References:
- Node.js Blocking vs Non-blocking: https://nodejs.org/en/learn/asynchronous-work/overview-of-blocking-vs-non-blocking
- MDN Promise Docs: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Promise
- MDN Async/Await Guide: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Learn_web_development/Extensions/Async_JS/Promises
- Understanding libuv: https://zmushegh.medium.com/understanding-libuv-the-powerhouse-behind-node-js-b5349c8f0d75
browser,javascript
38m:54s
Oct 16, 2025
Building a Small Project
🎉 Time to put it all together!In this video, we move beyond individual concepts and build a complete mini-project: a Stock Picker application. Step by step, you’ll see how to transform raw ideas into a structured, working frontend app.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
1️⃣ Connecting to a Stock API (with mock data for testing)
2️⃣ Designing a clean Stock Data Model
3️⃣ Building a Stock Fetcher with user input + button
4️⃣ Rendering a Stock Table with rows and remove actions
5️⃣ Adding persistence so stocks are saved between sessions
💡 After each step, we’ll pause for a quick refactor, reinforcing maintainability and readability—so you’re not just building code, but building good code.
By the end, you’ll have a working app and a repeatable process for taking an idea from start → structure → polish.
browser,javascript
14m:58s
Oct 14, 2025
Simple Frontend Architecture
✨ Before you write thousands of lines of JavaScript, you need a solid foundation.In this video, we’ll explore how to structure frontend applications so your code stays organized, modular, and maintainable — even as your project grows.
You’ll learn:
⚡ Why separation of concerns prevents “spaghetti JS”
📦 The power of modularization (breaking one big file into smaller, focused ones)
🛠 Principles like YAGNI, DRY, SRP, and Decoupling to guide clean architecture
🔄 How event-driven patterns make your apps more reactive and less fragile
To wrap things up, we’ll also walk through a quick example of creating a custom browser event — showing how components can communicate without tight coupling.
👨💻 This isn’t about writing tons of code — it’s about learning the architectural principles that make every line of code easier to understand and maintain.
javascript,node
15m
Oct 14, 2025
Modules and NPM
📦 In this video, we explore how Node.js uses modules and NPM to organize code, manage dependencies, and scale projects. You’ll see the difference between CommonJS and ES Modules, learn how to create a package.json, install and use packages like lodash, manage NPM scripts, and keep your project clean by uninstalling dependencies.💡 Relevant Links
Previous TekCasts series:
- JavaScript for Beginners: https://tekcasts.com/play/javascript-for-beginners-what-is-javascript
- JavaScript in the Browser: https://tekcasts.com/play/javascript-in-the-browser-browser-runtime-environment
Official Docs:
- Node.js Modules: https://nodejs.org/api/modules.html
- NPM: https://www.npmjs.com/
- Lodash: https://www.npmjs.com/package/lodash
- NPM Scripts Docs: https://docs.npmjs.com/cli/v8/using-npm/scripts
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Here’s what gets built in version v18-redirects-with-flash:
- Create a Session class as a singleton, with a handy global session() helper 🔐
- Initialize the session at app start and build a clean API like:
- session()->error('Missing required parameters.')->redirect('/');
- Implement error() and redirect() methods for smooth flow and messaging
- Fix the issue of persistent flash messages by introducing delete_transient_data() to clear session data after one request cycle
- Use Alpine.js to display flash messages dynamically with a snappy user experience ⚡
- Create a reusable _flash.view.php layout file for flash UI 💡
- Hook flash messages into the review flow by updating all dd('TODO') redirects in the PhotoController
- Bonus: Add current_route support in the Router to improve context-awareness in views 🧭
With sessions and flash messages in place, your app now speaks back to the user—clear, friendly, and fast. 🚀
🖼️ Views
- index.view.php: added wider screen support with max-w-7xl.
- Removed a duplicate header to clean up the layout.
🧱 Framework Cleanup
- Database.php: fixed IDE issues and added helpful annotations.
- globals.php: minor tweaks to smooth dev experience.
- Model.php: highlighted PHPDoc comments, reviewed skip(), take(), and orderBy() methods.
- Session.php and View.php: both got the “FII” treatment (Fix IDE Issues).
📦 Http Layer
- Policies:
- UserPolicy: FII.
- Controllers:
- AuthenticationController, PhotoController, RegisterController, ReviewController, and UploadController: all reviewed and cleaned up.
🌐 Public Entry Point
- index.php: adjusted try/catch block for better error handling and clarity.
🎯 And that wraps things up at v28-review-refactor — setting the stage for a maintainable, scalable app with a solid foundation.
Here’s what we tackle in version v16-framework-refactor:
Emphasize the value of regular review and refactor sessions 🧠
Review our entry point (public/index.php) and extract logic into a new App class 📦
Create Framework/App as a singleton with a start() method to centralize bootstrapping 🚀
Address messy relative paths like '../../' by creating a dedicated Path helper class 🧭
Build Framework/Path as a singleton and introduce helpers like app(), root(), require_app(), and require_root()
Refactor all path-related code to use these clean, expressive helpers 📁
Move globals.php into the Framework directory to keep framework-related code encapsulated
Clean up and clarify all require/import statements 🔄
This refactor sets us up for a cleaner, more organized foundation—making our mini-framework easier to navigate, extend, and love. 💡
- Create a new AuthenticationController inside Http/ with three methods:
- login() – shows the login form
- authenticate() – handles login logic
- logout() – clears user session
📄 View
- Add views/login/index.view.php to render the login form
🔀 Routing
- Register the necessary routes:
- GET /login → shows the login form
- POST /login → processes authentication
- POST /logout (or GET) → logs the user out
🧠 Authentication Logic
- Inside authenticate():
- Validate email and password inputs
- Lookup user by email from the database
- Use password_verify() to check if password matches
- On success → Session::login($user_id)
- On failure → redirect back with error message
🔐 Session Enhancements
- Add login($user_id) to store user ID in session
- Add logout() to destroy the session cleanly
📌 And that lands us at v23-authentication.
Here’s what’s packed into version v17-leave-review:
Add a POST route to handle form submissions 🛤️
Stub out the PhotoController::store method as our entry point for review handling
Wire up the review form and hook it into the controller 🧵
Introduce basic validation to catch missing fields or bad data 🧼
Add temporary dd('TODO') calls as placeholders for future redirects
Build the SQL insert logic using the photo_id from the query string 🔗
Validate that the photo exists before inserting a review to maintain data integrity 🔒
Refactor the Database class:
Rename exec() to raw() for clarity
Add a new execute() method to handle parameterized inserts and return the number of affected rows ⚙️
By the end of this video, users can leave their thoughts—and our app takes one more step toward being fully interactive. 🌟
Here’s what we’ll cover:
Query the database for all reviews associated with a given photo 📄
Loop through the reviews and display them on the photo page 🎞️
Calculate a summary (like average stars or total reviews) 📊
Display the summary alongside the photo for quick insight 🧠
By the end, version v15-show-reviews adds real voices to each photo—making the app feel more alive and interactive. 🚀
Popular Videos
Watch What's Hot
oop,php
25m:6s
Jun 10, 2025
Sessions / Redirects / Flash Messages
Now that users can submit reviews, let’s give them feedback! In this video, we bring in sessions, redirects, and flash messaging to guide the user experience after form submissions. ✨Here’s what gets built in version v18-redirects-with-flash:
- Create a Session class as a singleton, with a handy global session() helper 🔐
- Initialize the session at app start and build a clean API like:
- session()->error('Missing required parameters.')->redirect('/');
- Implement error() and redirect() methods for smooth flow and messaging
- Fix the issue of persistent flash messages by introducing delete_transient_data() to clear session data after one request cycle
- Use Alpine.js to display flash messages dynamically with a snappy user experience ⚡
- Create a reusable _flash.view.php layout file for flash UI 💡
- Hook flash messages into the review flow by updating all dd('TODO') redirects in the PhotoController
- Bonus: Add current_route support in the Router to improve context-awareness in views 🧭
With sessions and flash messages in place, your app now speaks back to the user—clear, friendly, and fast. 🚀
oop,php
12m:54s
Jul 17, 2025
Final Review & Refactor
This video is all about the last layer of polish — a final walkthrough to tidy up code, views, and structure across the project. Here’s what we touched:🖼️ Views
- index.view.php: added wider screen support with max-w-7xl.
- Removed a duplicate header to clean up the layout.
🧱 Framework Cleanup
- Database.php: fixed IDE issues and added helpful annotations.
- globals.php: minor tweaks to smooth dev experience.
- Model.php: highlighted PHPDoc comments, reviewed skip(), take(), and orderBy() methods.
- Session.php and View.php: both got the “FII” treatment (Fix IDE Issues).
📦 Http Layer
- Policies:
- UserPolicy: FII.
- Controllers:
- AuthenticationController, PhotoController, RegisterController, ReviewController, and UploadController: all reviewed and cleaned up.
🌐 Public Entry Point
- index.php: adjusted try/catch block for better error handling and clarity.
🎯 And that wraps things up at v28-review-refactor — setting the stage for a maintainable, scalable app with a solid foundation.
oop,php
18m:18s
Jun 3, 2025
First Review & Refactor
It’s time to pause and sharpen the tools. In this video, we take a step back to review our progress and clean up our codebase, because maintainability is key to sustainable development. 🛠️Here’s what we tackle in version v16-framework-refactor:
Emphasize the value of regular review and refactor sessions 🧠
Review our entry point (public/index.php) and extract logic into a new App class 📦
Create Framework/App as a singleton with a start() method to centralize bootstrapping 🚀
Address messy relative paths like '../../' by creating a dedicated Path helper class 🧭
Build Framework/Path as a singleton and introduce helpers like app(), root(), require_app(), and require_root()
Refactor all path-related code to use these clean, expressive helpers 📁
Move globals.php into the Framework directory to keep framework-related code encapsulated
Clean up and clarify all require/import statements 🔄
This refactor sets us up for a cleaner, more organized foundation—making our mini-framework easier to navigate, extend, and love. 💡
oop,php
9m:3s
Jun 26, 2025
User Authentication
📁 Controller Setup- Create a new AuthenticationController inside Http/ with three methods:
- login() – shows the login form
- authenticate() – handles login logic
- logout() – clears user session
📄 View
- Add views/login/index.view.php to render the login form
🔀 Routing
- Register the necessary routes:
- GET /login → shows the login form
- POST /login → processes authentication
- POST /logout (or GET) → logs the user out
🧠 Authentication Logic
- Inside authenticate():
- Validate email and password inputs
- Lookup user by email from the database
- Use password_verify() to check if password matches
- On success → Session::login($user_id)
- On failure → redirect back with error message
🔐 Session Enhancements
- Add login($user_id) to store user ID in session
- Add logout() to destroy the session cleanly
📌 And that lands us at v23-authentication.
oop,php
29m:47s
Jun 5, 2025
Submitting Reviews
It’s time to let users have their say! In this video, we implement the “Leave a Review” feature, allowing users to submit feedback on photos directly from the app. 💬Here’s what’s packed into version v17-leave-review:
Add a POST route to handle form submissions 🛤️
Stub out the PhotoController::store method as our entry point for review handling
Wire up the review form and hook it into the controller 🧵
Introduce basic validation to catch missing fields or bad data 🧼
Add temporary dd('TODO') calls as placeholders for future redirects
Build the SQL insert logic using the photo_id from the query string 🔗
Validate that the photo exists before inserting a review to maintain data integrity 🔒
Refactor the Database class:
Rename exec() to raw() for clarity
Add a new execute() method to handle parameterized inserts and return the number of affected rows ⚙️
By the end of this video, users can leave their thoughts—and our app takes one more step toward being fully interactive. 🌟
oop,php
19m:34s
May 29, 2025
Displaying Reviews
Let’s bring feedback into the spotlight! In this video, we enhance the photo detail page by fetching and displaying user reviews from the database. 💬Here’s what we’ll cover:
Query the database for all reviews associated with a given photo 📄
Loop through the reviews and display them on the photo page 🎞️
Calculate a summary (like average stars or total reviews) 📊
Display the summary alongside the photo for quick insight 🧠
By the end, version v15-show-reviews adds real voices to each photo—making the app feel more alive and interactive. 🚀
Hi, I’m Bob Cravens, the founder of TekFoundry. I created
TekCasts to share my passion for software engineering, architecture,
and best practices with developers, tech enthusiasts, and lifelong
learners. TekCasts is a platform built for those who want to deepen
their understanding of cutting-edge technologies, master essential
skills, and stay ahead in an ever-evolving industry. Whether you’re
just starting or looking to refine your expertise, our in-depth
courses and hands-on lessons are designed to provide real-world
value. Join us and take your technical skills to the next level!
Upcoming Schedule
🧠 You’ll Learn
- What JSON is and how APIs use it
- How to serve structured JSON responses
- How to parse incoming JSON request bodies
- Why Content-Type headers are critical
- How Node streams data efficiently
💡 Relevant Links
MDN – JSON Basics:
- https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Objects/JSON
Previous TekCasts series:
- JavaScript for Beginners: https://tekcasts.com/play/javascript-for-beginners-what-is-javascript
- JavaScript in the Browser: https://tekcasts.com/play/javascript-in-the-browser-browser-runtime-environment
Perfect for small projects, prototypes, or when you just need to get things done quickly ⚙️💾
👉 You’ll learn how to:
- Read and write JSON files asynchronously using fs/promises
- Implement full CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations
- Handle data safely and understand file-based storage limitations
- Prepare your app for a transition to a real database later
💡 Relevant Links
Node.js Docs:
- Reading Files: https://nodejs.org/en/learn/manipulating-files/reading-files-with-nodejs
- Writing Files: https://nodejs.org/en/learn/manipulating-files/writing-files-with-nodejs
Previous TekCasts series:
- JavaScript for Beginners: https://tekcasts.com/play/javascript-for-beginners-what-is-javascript
- JavaScript in the Browser: https://tekcasts.com/play/javascript-in-the-browser-browser-runtime-environment
💥 You’ll see how to:
👉 Compare file-based vs. database storage
👉 Understand relational vs. document databases
👉 Install and use SQLite in Node.js
👉 Implement full CRUD operations (Create, Read, Update, Delete)
👉 Explore when to choose SQLite, PostgreSQL, or MongoDB
💡 Relevant Links
- SQLite official: https://www.sqlite.org/index.html
- SQLite Node: https://www.npmjs.com/package/sqlite3
- PostgreSQL official: https://www.postgresql.org/
- MongoDB official: https://www.mongodb.com/
Previous TekCasts series:
- JavaScript for Beginners: https://tekcasts.com/play/javascript-for-beginners-what-is-javascript
- JavaScript in the Browser: https://tekcasts.com/play/javascript-in-the-browser-browser-runtime-environment
We’ll look at how to generate HTML dynamically using JavaScript, what makes manual templating so painful, and why templating engines like EJS are the next logical step.
💡 You’ll Learn
- The difference between Static HTML and Server-Side Rendering (SSR)
- Benefits of dynamic content in web apps
- How to manually render HTML from JavaScript data
- The drawbacks of manual templating
- Why separating data from layout improves maintainability
💡 Relevant Links
Previous TekCasts series:
- JavaScript for Beginners: https://tekcasts.com/play/javascript-for-beginners-what-is-javascript
- JavaScript in the Browser: https://tekcasts.com/play/javascript-in-the-browser-browser-runtime-environment
Resources mentioned:
- Node.js: https://nodejs.org
- TailwindCSS: https://tailwindcss.com
- PrismJS: https://prismjs.com
In this episode, we’ll walk through how to:
✅ Install and configure EJS in a Node.js project
✅ Embed JavaScript directly inside HTML templates
✅ Use loops and conditionals for dynamic content
✅ Render full pages from data
✅ Create reusable layouts and partials for cleaner structure
By the end, you’ll know how to serve fully rendered HTML from your Node.js server using EJS — the perfect first step toward clean, maintainable server-side rendering (SSR).
💡 Relevant Links
Previous TekCasts series:
- JavaScript for Beginners: https://tekcasts.com/play/javascript-for-beginners-what-is-javascript
- JavaScript in the Browser: https://tekcasts.com/play/javascript-in-the-browser-browser-runtime-environment
Official Docs & Resources:
- EJS Docs: https://ejs.co/
- Node.js Documentation: https://nodejs.org/en/docs/
- MDN JavaScript Guide: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript
You’ll learn how to organize your code so that:
- Models manage your data and logic
- Views handle presentation using EJS templates
- Controllers direct traffic and keep your routes clean
This structured approach transforms your growing project into something that feels modular, scalable, and professional — all without frameworks.
💡 Relevant Links
Previous TekCasts series:
- JavaScript for Beginners: https://tekcasts.com/play/javascript-for-beginners-what-is-javascript
- JavaScript in the Browser: https://tekcasts.com/play/javascript-in-the-browser-browser-runtime-environment
Official Docs & Resources:
- EJS Docs: https://ejs.co/
- Node.js Documentation: https://nodejs.org/en/docs/
- MDN JavaScript Guide: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript
- MVC Pattern (MDN): https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Glossary/MVC
Upcoming Releases
Coming Soon
Coming Soon
javascript,node
8m:28s
Oct 30, 2025
Handling JSON APIs
APIs are at the heart of modern web applications — they move data between the browser, mobile apps, and backend services. In this video, we’ll explore how to serve and consume JSON using Node’s built-in HTTP module — no frameworks, just fundamentals.🧠 You’ll Learn
- What JSON is and how APIs use it
- How to serve structured JSON responses
- How to parse incoming JSON request bodies
- Why Content-Type headers are critical
- How Node streams data efficiently
💡 Relevant Links
MDN – JSON Basics:
- https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Objects/JSON
Previous TekCasts series:
- JavaScript for Beginners: https://tekcasts.com/play/javascript-for-beginners-what-is-javascript
- JavaScript in the Browser: https://tekcasts.com/play/javascript-in-the-browser-browser-runtime-environment
Coming Soon
javascript,node
15m:13s
Nov 4, 2025
File-Based Storage
Ever wondered how to persist data without setting up a full database? In this episode, we explore file-based storage in Node.js — a simple way to read, write, and manage data using the filesystem.Perfect for small projects, prototypes, or when you just need to get things done quickly ⚙️💾
👉 You’ll learn how to:
- Read and write JSON files asynchronously using fs/promises
- Implement full CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations
- Handle data safely and understand file-based storage limitations
- Prepare your app for a transition to a real database later
💡 Relevant Links
Node.js Docs:
- Reading Files: https://nodejs.org/en/learn/manipulating-files/reading-files-with-nodejs
- Writing Files: https://nodejs.org/en/learn/manipulating-files/writing-files-with-nodejs
Previous TekCasts series:
- JavaScript for Beginners: https://tekcasts.com/play/javascript-for-beginners-what-is-javascript
- JavaScript in the Browser: https://tekcasts.com/play/javascript-in-the-browser-browser-runtime-environment
Coming Soon
javascript,node
16m:43s
Nov 6, 2025
Intro to Databases
It’s time to level up from file-based storage! In this episode, we explore why databases exist, how they solve key scalability problems, and how to use SQLite to manage structured data in Node.js.💥 You’ll see how to:
👉 Compare file-based vs. database storage
👉 Understand relational vs. document databases
👉 Install and use SQLite in Node.js
👉 Implement full CRUD operations (Create, Read, Update, Delete)
👉 Explore when to choose SQLite, PostgreSQL, or MongoDB
💡 Relevant Links
- SQLite official: https://www.sqlite.org/index.html
- SQLite Node: https://www.npmjs.com/package/sqlite3
- PostgreSQL official: https://www.postgresql.org/
- MongoDB official: https://www.mongodb.com/
Previous TekCasts series:
- JavaScript for Beginners: https://tekcasts.com/play/javascript-for-beginners-what-is-javascript
- JavaScript in the Browser: https://tekcasts.com/play/javascript-in-the-browser-browser-runtime-environment
Coming Soon
javascript,node
5m:23s
Nov 11, 2025
Why Templates?
Static HTML can only take you so far. In this episode, we explore why Server-Side Rendering (SSR) and templates are essential for building dynamic web applications.We’ll look at how to generate HTML dynamically using JavaScript, what makes manual templating so painful, and why templating engines like EJS are the next logical step.
💡 You’ll Learn
- The difference between Static HTML and Server-Side Rendering (SSR)
- Benefits of dynamic content in web apps
- How to manually render HTML from JavaScript data
- The drawbacks of manual templating
- Why separating data from layout improves maintainability
💡 Relevant Links
Previous TekCasts series:
- JavaScript for Beginners: https://tekcasts.com/play/javascript-for-beginners-what-is-javascript
- JavaScript in the Browser: https://tekcasts.com/play/javascript-in-the-browser-browser-runtime-environment
Resources mentioned:
- Node.js: https://nodejs.org
- TailwindCSS: https://tailwindcss.com
- PrismJS: https://prismjs.com
Coming Soon
javascript,node
9m:24s
Nov 13, 2025
Using EJS Templates
EJS (Embedded JavaScript) is one of the simplest ways to generate dynamic HTML on the server — without the chaos of string concatenation. 💡In this episode, we’ll walk through how to:
✅ Install and configure EJS in a Node.js project
✅ Embed JavaScript directly inside HTML templates
✅ Use loops and conditionals for dynamic content
✅ Render full pages from data
✅ Create reusable layouts and partials for cleaner structure
By the end, you’ll know how to serve fully rendered HTML from your Node.js server using EJS — the perfect first step toward clean, maintainable server-side rendering (SSR).
💡 Relevant Links
Previous TekCasts series:
- JavaScript for Beginners: https://tekcasts.com/play/javascript-for-beginners-what-is-javascript
- JavaScript in the Browser: https://tekcasts.com/play/javascript-in-the-browser-browser-runtime-environment
Official Docs & Resources:
- EJS Docs: https://ejs.co/
- Node.js Documentation: https://nodejs.org/en/docs/
- MDN JavaScript Guide: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript
Coming Soon
javascript,node
24m:52s
Nov 18, 2025
Building a Minimal MVC Application
In this episode, we take our server-side JavaScript app to the next level by introducing a minimal MVC (Model-View-Controller) structure.You’ll learn how to organize your code so that:
- Models manage your data and logic
- Views handle presentation using EJS templates
- Controllers direct traffic and keep your routes clean
This structured approach transforms your growing project into something that feels modular, scalable, and professional — all without frameworks.
💡 Relevant Links
Previous TekCasts series:
- JavaScript for Beginners: https://tekcasts.com/play/javascript-for-beginners-what-is-javascript
- JavaScript in the Browser: https://tekcasts.com/play/javascript-in-the-browser-browser-runtime-environment
Official Docs & Resources:
- EJS Docs: https://ejs.co/
- Node.js Documentation: https://nodejs.org/en/docs/
- MDN JavaScript Guide: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript
- MVC Pattern (MDN): https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Glossary/MVC
Have questions?
All Series
If you’re ready to take your PHP skills to the next level, this video series is designed to help you do just that! Starting from a static HTML page, we’ll guide you through the process of converting it into a dynamic, maintainable PHP application using best practices.
🔧 What You’ll Learn:
• How to build a custom PHP mini-framework from scratch (no frameworks, just pure PHP!)
• Core concepts like MVC architecture, routing, sessions, and database management
• Practical coding techniques for clean, secure, and maintainable PHP code
• Step-by-step guidance on refactoring your project as it grows, from simple static pages to a full-fledged application
⚙️ Key Features:
• Hands-on approach with real-world examples
• A focus on practical, easy-to-follow solutions
• Emphasis on clean, reusable code that follows industry best practices
• Building your own PHP framework and database handling code along the way
By the end of this series, you’ll have built a fully functional photo review application – and gained the skills to develop your own PHP projects with confidence.
Ideal for: Intermediate PHP developers looking to deepen their understanding and elevate their coding practices.
Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of PHP and OOP principles.
Ready to take your PHP skills to the next level? Join me in this practical, hands-on series! 👨💻👩💻
In “JavaScript for Beginners”, you’ll go from zero to confident coder with a hands-on, modern approach to the world’s most popular programming language. Step-by-step, we’ll guide you through the fundamentals, demystify the syntax, and get you writing real code fast. 💻✨
💡 What you’ll learn:
• 🧠 Core Language Fundamentals: Understand variables, data types, operators, and control flow—build the logic behind the magic.
• 🔁 Loops & Functions: Write clean, reusable code with powerful function patterns.
• 📦 Collections: Master arrays and objects—tools you’ll use everywhere in JavaScript.
• 💥 Intermediate Power-Ups: Destructuring, error handling, template literals, and more to level up your scripts.
• 🌀 Function Wizardry: Closures, higher-order functions, and even recursion? Yes, you can.
• 🏗 Object-Oriented JavaScript: From prototypes to modern ES6 classes and inheritance.
• 🔗 Modules & What’s Next: A sneak peek into modular code and your next steps in the JavaScript journey.
🛠️ You’ll also:
• Set up a coding environment
• Use browser dev tools like a champ
• Build a solid foundation for DOM scripting and frameworks like React
⸻
Whether you’re brand new to coding or switching gears into web development, this course will leave you energized and equipped. By the end, you won’t just know JavaScript—you’ll be using it like a pro. ⚔️🔥
Let’s code something awesome. Your journey starts here! 🌟
🚀 What you’ll learn:
• How Node.js changed the game with non-blocking I/O and the event loop.
• Core fundamentals: modules, NPM, async programming, and the HTTP module.
• Building real web servers: routing, serving static files, and creating JSON APIs.
• Data persistence with JSON files and databases like SQLite, MongoDB, and PostgreSQL.
• Rendering dynamic pages with templates (EJS) and organizing code with MVC patterns.
• Adding interactivity with forms, sessions, cookies, and authentication.
• Scaling up: middleware, error handling, and exploring frameworks like Express, NestJS, and Fastify.
• Finally, how to deploy your Node.js app with PM2, environment variables, and production best practices.
💥 Whether you’re new to backend development or already comfortable with front-end JavaScript, this series shows you how to go full-stack with one language. By the end, you’ll have the skills to build APIs, dynamic websites, and even scale into frameworks and real-world deployments.
👉 Perfect for learners who want to move beyond the browser, understand the Node.js ecosystem, and unlock the power of JavaScript everywhere.
⚡️ Let’s dive in and forge your backend skills with Node.js!
We kick things off by exploring why OOP matters and how it solves common issues like messy, hard-to-maintain code. You’ll learn how to create classes and objects, define properties and methods, and harness encapsulation 🔒 to control data access. As we progress, we’ll dive into constructors, destructors, namespaces, and autoloading 📦, making your code more efficient and modular.
From there, we explore inheritance & polymorphism 🎭, showing you how to extend classes and implement interfaces for flexible, reusable designs. You’ll master traits, static methods, and the final & parent keywords to control class behavior. Then, we tackle exception handling ⚠️, teaching you how to manage errors like a pro with custom exceptions.
In the final stretch, we bring everything together with real-world patterns, including the Singleton pattern (logger class) 🔁 and Dependency Injection 💡 for writing decoupled, testable code. To top it off, we’ll refactor a calculator app from scratch 🛠️, applying OOP best practices to build a fully optimized application.
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to level up your PHP skills, this series will equip you with everything you need to master OOP and write better PHP code! 🚀🔥
You’ll start by learning how the browser works under the hood 🛠️, exploring the DOM and how JavaScript connects with HTML and CSS. From there, you’ll dive into events and interactions, mastering the art of capturing clicks, forms, and user input to build dynamic, interactive UIs.
Next, you’ll peel back the curtain on timing and execution, uncovering how the event loop, timers, and async behavior make JavaScript tick ⏱️. You’ll then learn how to work with data and networking, using the Fetch API, understanding AJAX’s legacy, and tapping into powerful browser APIs like localStorage and geolocation 🌍.
But building apps isn’t just about features — it’s also about resilience. You’ll learn how to gracefully handle errors and keep your UI smooth even when things go wrong 🛡️.
Finally, you’ll put it all together: designing a simple frontend architecture, building a small project that ties everything together, and then zooming out for a big-picture look at frameworks. You’ll see why libraries like jQuery were game-changers historically 📜 and get an overview of the modern ecosystem of frameworks and libraries 🪶.
By the end of this course, you’ll have the confidence to:
• 🎯 Manipulate the DOM and control the browser environment
• 🖱️ Handle events and build interactive user experiences
• ⏳ Understand the event loop and asynchronous behavior
• 🌐 Fetch and store data with modern browser APIs
• 🏗️ Structure code for maintainability and scalability
• 🔎 See where frameworks fit into the bigger picture of frontend development
👉 If you’re comfortable with the basics of JavaScript and ready to master how it powers the browser, this course will give you the tools, insights, and confidence to take your web projects to the next level.
What You’ll Learn:
✅ The fundamentals of PHP and how it powers the web
✅ Setting up your development environment (XAMPP, MAMP, Docker, and more)
✅ Writing your first PHP script and understanding PHP syntax
✅ Working with variables, data types, arrays, and strings
✅ Controlling program flow with conditionals and loops
✅ Creating and using functions efficiently
✅ Handling user input, forms, and validation for secure web applications
✅ Embedding PHP in HTML and structuring reusable code
✅ Debugging, error handling, and best practices
✅ A hands-on final project to put your PHP skills to the test!
By the end of this series, you’ll have a strong foundation in PHP development, enabling you to create dynamic websites, process user input, and build real-world applications. Get ready to code and bring your web development ideas to life! 💻🔥
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• 🌀 Function Wizardry: Closures, higher-order functions, and even recursion? Yes, you can.
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• 🔗 Modules & What’s Next: A sneak peek into modular code and your next steps in the JavaScript journey.
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From there, we explore inheritance & polymorphism 🎭, showing you how to extend classes and implement interfaces for flexible, reusable designs. You’ll master traits, static methods, and the final & parent keywords to control class behavior. Then, we tackle exception handling ⚠️, teaching you how to manage errors like a pro with custom exceptions.
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✅ The fundamentals of PHP and how it powers the web
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✅ Writing your first PHP script and understanding PHP syntax
✅ Working with variables, data types, arrays, and strings
✅ Controlling program flow with conditionals and loops
✅ Creating and using functions efficiently
✅ Handling user input, forms, and validation for secure web applications
✅ Embedding PHP in HTML and structuring reusable code
✅ Debugging, error handling, and best practices
✅ A hands-on final project to put your PHP skills to the test!
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