Backend Development with Python: backend basics, intro to Python, Django and first applications

Short video on the basics of back end development. It covers the basics concepts like servers, programming languages and databases and shows how the various parts connect.

This connects to the previous part and goes a bit more into detail to introduce what a server is and how that gets to a website functioning in the browser.

A more detailed guide on the major concepts within back-end development along with more explanations.

This is a super brief overview of Python and what it is used for. Python is the most common programming language used for back-end development.

Another resource on Python, this one gives you a few more examples and resources that you can explore on your own. Just have a look on the site and click on the links to see the examples. Beyond that, you can also look around on Youtube or google to see what people are doing with Python. Besides things like websites and games the language can also be used to control robots or automate your computer.

An overview of the Django framework that will be used to create the actual backend. The video also does a good job reiterating the basic concepts and links them back to the overview.

An introduction to databases and how they can used along with some examples. To build back-end applications you will regularly use databases to store and read data, and that's why SQL (Structured Query Language) will help you get confidence with one of the most popular database languages.

Useful information to get the other side of website development: How the actual website is designed and how that links back to the back end stuff.

An introduction to the basics of programming, this covers just theory, implementing things will come next!

How much Python do you need to know?

Some forum tips to get started on programming.

A list of resources that can help when you get stuck. These are usually forums where people are eager to answer questions.

A complete intro to Python in a single video. If you want to follow one course this should give you a good structure.

A short video covering how to install Python and a code editor.

A really brief introduction to Python that covers variables, functions and the general logic. While this is very basic it conveys a lot of fundamental knowledge.

Controlling the flow of code in Python (if, else, while).

Learn Python functions.

Python list comprehension.

Playlist on using classes

Understand decorators.

To finish up the basics of Python you should be aware of some broad style patterns.

How to understand and fix the most common errors.

Making games in Python.

Make apps in Python.

How to store your work and make sure you don't accidentally delete or change something.

A detailed tutorial on how to use GitHub and Git.

To be a good back-end developer you should know the basics of front-end development. You shouldn't spend too much time on this though so here is a list with the main concepts you should know.

A basic overview of HTML5 to help you understand how websites are built. HTML (and css) is the default language to create websites and it is a very easy one to learn; it hardly even qualifies as a programming language: It is mostly just a way to place various elements on a browser page; there is basically no interactivity or complex logic. For your journey as a back-end developer though, you should know the basic skeleton that creates a website.

A JavaScript crash course, this is the language that makes websites interactive and will be used to send data. It's a very famous language in the front-end world and something you will constantly use, sometimes even in your back-end development.

Some practice projects to test your skills. Now that you have learned enough about front-end applications, you should be able to open some of these projects and build them.

An overview of Javascript frameworks for more interactive websites. Most developers don't actually use pure Javascript to make interactive websites. Instead, they use a framework that automates the complex work; really famous examples are react and angular. Both make it much easier to develop pretty and interactive websites; but that is basically it. For a back-end you don't need to know too many details but keep in mind that they exist.

An introduction to ReactJS, the most popular front-end framework. While this is not something you should learn as part of this skill path, you might want to learn more about it. Anthropos has a dedicated skill path if you want to learn React.

Introduction and overview of Django.

With the basics out of the way we can start properly with Django and start on the major concepts.

Alternatives to Django along with their strengths and weaknesses.

When developing back-ends, especially in a team, you need to make sure that you keep control over the version that you use; this can be done via Venv.

A basic intro to Django.

Paid Django course.

Free Django course.

A brief overview of SQL.

Linking Django to SQL.

An introduction to Django ORM.

Django practice projects.

Security is a really important part of any project, as a back-end developer you will be in trouble if your website gets hacked!

Hidden Forces: This is how they tell me the world ends is a really good book on hacking, it will give you a good understanding of how widespread hacking is.

Soft skills that would make your life much easier as a programmer. Programming is more than just writing lines of code. You will almost certainly work with other people: You will have coworkers, clients, managers, other teams or maybe even government officials. Let's learn a few soft skills that will completely change the way you work.

Working in a team can be difficult and but being able to get this right is crucial. You should really invest time and constantly improve in this area: it will make you incredibly more successful, trusted by colleagues and able to quickly get things done.

It is fine to ask for help!

Learn strategies to communicate your ideas. Things like know the knowledge level of your audience or how to focus your ideas for presentations.

You can approach any problem from the bottom up or the top down; depending on the approach you might want to think differently.

Being able to plan your projects with the proper requirements and achievable deadlines is incredibly helpful.