Professional Backend Development

Professional Backend Development

This course is part of Backend Web Development with AI Specialization

Instructor: Barry Finder

What you'll learn

Build backend applications using modern programming concepts, server-side development techniques, and industry-standard tools.
Design and work with databases, APIs, and application architecture to support scalable web applications.
Debug, test, and optimize backend code while applying best practices for security, performance, and maintainability.
Use AI-assisted development tools to accelerate coding, troubleshooting, and backend development workflows.

Skills you'll gain

Tools you'll learn

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

10 assignments

Taught in English

Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the Backend Web Development with AI Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 3 modules in this course

Professional Backend Development prepares learners to build the technical skills needed to develop, manage, and maintain the server-side components that power modern web applications. Designed for aspiring backend developers, software engineers, web developers, and technology professionals, this course explores the technologies, programming concepts, and development practices used to create secure, scalable, and efficient backend systems.

Learners develop practical experience working with backend programming concepts, databases, APIs, server-side architecture, authentication, application security, and deployment workflows. Through hands-on projects and real-world development scenarios, learners gain experience building backend services, managing application data, and integrating systems that support modern web applications. The curriculum emphasizes practical application and industry-relevant development practices, helping learners build confidence writing backend code, troubleshooting applications, and supporting production-ready software solutions. By the end of the course, learners will be prepared to contribute to backend development projects, collaborate effectively with development teams, and apply professional software development practices across a variety of technical environments.

Every website and web application relies on a backend to process data, manage business logic, and communicate with databases and users. In this module, you'll explore the purpose of backend development and compare the features of common backend programming languages used to build modern web applications. You'll develop a foundational understanding of the technologies that power server-side development and prepare for the hands-on concepts introduced later in the course. As you explore different backend languages, focus on the types of problems they solve rather than the differences in their syntax. Understanding each language's strengths will help you recognize why developers choose one technology over another.

What's included

11 readings1 assignment

11 readingsTotal 82 minutes

Overview: Web development3 minutes
Key terms5 minutes
Frontend, backend, and full-stack development10 minutes
Tools and frameworks15 minutes
Version control7 minutes
Backend scripting languages2 minutes
Key terms2 minutes
Choosing a programming language5 minutes
JavaScript11 minutes
TypeScript11 minutes
Python11 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 48 minutes

Assessment: Backend scripting languages48 minutes

AI assistants are becoming an essential part of the modern software development workflow, helping developers write code, troubleshoot issues, and explore new solutions more efficiently. In this module, you'll learn how to use AI assistants effectively through prompt engineering, integrate AI tools into your development environment, and apply ethical and critical thinking practices when working with AI-generated code. You'll build the skills needed to collaborate with AI confidently while maintaining responsibility for the quality and accuracy of your work. Treat AI as a coding partner, not an authority. The best results come from asking clear questions, evaluating the responses, and using your own expertise to refine the final solution.

What's included

38 readings7 assignments

38 readingsTotal 180 minutes

Introduction to artificial intelligence (AI)3 minutes
Key terms2 minutes
Introduction 2 minutes
Types of AI 5 minutes
Importance of AI and real-world applications6 minutes
Conclusion  10 minutes
Prompt engineering for developers1 minute
Introduction to AI assistants and prompt engineering2 minutes
The goal of prompt engineering10 minutes
Using AI assistants to write efficient code10 minutes
Developing effective coding prompts: Best practices10 minutes
Example: Writing code with ChatGPT15 minutes
Using ChatGPT for debugging10 minutes
Summary2 minutes
AI assistants in Visual Studio Code with CodeGPT and Windsurf1 minute
Key terms1 minute
Introduction to pair programming with an AI assistant7 minutes
Install the CodeGPT extension8 minutes
Know about Minimax M2.7 2 minutes
Install the Windsurf extension8 minutes
Pair programming with Windsurf8 minutes
Conclusion1 minute
AI ethics: Navigating ethical challenges in artificial intelligence1 minute
Introduction 2 minutes
Defining AI ethics 15 minutes
Conclusion  2 minutes
Additional resources 10 minutes
Critical use of AI assistants1 minute
Key term1 minute
Introduction1 minute
Understanding the role of AI assistants in software development1 minute
Developing critical thinking skills when using AI assistants5 minutes
Understand the limitations of your AI assistant4 minutes
Cross-reference with other resources4 minutes
Test and verify code suggestions4 minutes
Continuously learn and improve3 minutes
Conclusion1 minute
Assessment: Pair programming with AI assistants1 minute

7 assignmentsTotal 180 minutes

Assessment: Pair programming with AI59 minutes
Knowledge check: What is AI?12 minutes
Knowledge check: Introduction to artificial intelligence (AI)20 minutes
Knowledge check: AI assistants in Visual Studio Code with CodeGPT and Windsurf24 minutes
Knowledge Check: Defining AI ethics10 minutes
Knowledge check: AI ethics20 minutes
Knowledge check: Critical use of AI assistants35 minutes

Building a backend application requires more than writing code. It involves organizing requests, managing application logic, and creating reliable server-side functionality. In this module, you'll explore how to use Node and Express to configure a web server, create routes, implement middleware, and handle errors. By the end of the module, you'll understand how these core components work together to support responsive and maintainable backend applications. As you build your applications, think about how each component contributes to the overall request-response cycle. Understanding how requests move through your application will make it easier to troubleshoot issues and develop scalable backend solutions.