This course provides a comprehensive, practical introduction to modern full-stack web development using JavaScript and Node.js. The course will start with basic HTML/CSS/JavaScript. Then, we will move into Node.js and learn how to deploy a website from there. We will learn about Express.js (server-side development module) and MongoDB (database) in order to create a complete web application.
- Course: CMSC389K
- Prerequisites: C- or better in CMSC216 and CMSC250
- Credits: 1
- Seats: 30
- Lecture Time: Fridays, 11:00AM-11:50AM and 2:00PM-2:50PM
- Location: SYM 0215
- Semester: Spring 2020
- Textbook: None
- Course Facilitators (Section 0101): Camille Stacho and Robert Choe
- Course Facilitators (Section 0201): Jordan Mess and Elijah Schwelling
- Faculty Advisor: John Dickerson
- Syllabus Last Updated: January 29 2020
- HTML and CSS
- JavaScript (+ECMAScript 2015 (E6))
- Variables, data types, expressions, operators
- Conditionals, iteration, statements
- Functions
- Functional Programming
- Callbacks
- Interaction with DOM
- DOM Manipulation
- Event Handling
- jQuery + AJAX
- Dynamic interaction with the DOM
- Making API Calls
- Node.js
- File manipulation
- Modules
- Express.js
- API (Application Program Interface)
- Web Application Framework for Node.js
- MongoDB
- Nonrelational Database
- Persistent Data
- Javascript Libraries
- Chart.js
- Typed.js
- Socket.io
- Real-time communication between server and clients
- Now
- Application deployment
- Git
- Version Control
Grades will be maintained on the CS Department grades server.
You are responsible for all material discussed in lecture and posted on the class repository, including announcements, deadlines, policies, etc.
Your final course grade will be determined according to the following percentages:
| Percentage | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 45% | Projects | Weekly individual projects that teach practical skills and real life applications. |
| 10% | Participation | Small assignments to be completed in groups. |
| 20% | Midterm | Midterm Project |
| 25% | Final Project | Final project to demonstrate mastery of all topics learned and apply knowledge to create a new application from scratch. Group Project! |
Any request for reconsideration of any grading on coursework must be submitted within one week of when it is returned. No requests will be considered afterwards.
| Week | Topic | Assignment |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (1/31) | Intro + HTML/CSS + Git | Personal Website (P1) |
| 2 (2/7) | Javascript Language w/ DOM | P1 DUE, JS Function Implementation (P2) |
| 3 (2/14) | jQuery and AJAX | P2 DUE, 50 State Game (P3) |
| 4 (2/21) | Node.js | |
| 5 (2/28) | Express.js | P3 DUE, Pokémon API (P4) |
| 6 (3/6) | Express.js (con't) | |
| 7 (3/13) | Express.js (cont.) / Handlebars.js | P4 DUE & Midterm Project |
| 8 (3/20) | SPRING BREAK | |
| 9 (3/27) | SPRING BREAK | |
| 10 (4/3) | ||
| 11 (4/10) | Databases | Midterm Project DUE & Final Project OUT |
| 12 (4/17) | Sockets | |
| 13 (4/24) | UX/ UI | |
| 14 (5/1) | ||
| 15 (5/8) | Final Project DUE |
Projects must be submitted electronically following the instructions given in each project assignment. Projects may not be submitted by any other means (e.g., please do not email your projects to us). It is your responsibility to test your program and verify that it works properly before submitting. All projects are due at 11:59 PM on the day indicated on the project assignment. Please read submission details thoroughly.
At the end of most of the classes there will be a 5-10 min group (max 3 people) exercise for extra practice and application of the material taught. Each assignment counts for 1% of your grade. You can drop at most 2 in-class assignments.
Projects may be submitted up to 24 hours late for a 7% penalty and will not be accepted afterwards unless you talked with us for an extension. If you submit both on-time & late, your project will receive the maximum of the penalty-adjusted scores. You may submit multiple times, but only your most recent submission will be evaluated unless it is late. We give students ample time to do all the projects (1-2 weeks).
Unlike lower-level programming classes, we will not provide you with test cases (e.g., public tests) before projects are due. You will be responsible for developing your own tests and for using appropriate testing techniques. Also, we expect your projects to use proper style and documentation.
We will interact with students outside of class in primarily two ways: online at Piazza and office hours. Office hours will be held Wednesdays from 4-5 PM in IRB 1119 or by appointment. Email should only be used for emergencies and non-class related questions (e.g. projects).
Instructor:
Dr. John Dickerson - john@cs.umd.edu
TAs:
[Camille Stacho] - camstach@gmail.com
[Robert Choe] - robert.d.choe67@gmail.com
[Elijah Schwelling] - eschwe333@gmail.com
[Jordan Mess] - jordanrmess@gmail.com
See the section titled "Attendance, Absences, or Missed Assignments" available at Course Related Policies.
See the section titled "Accessibility" available at Course Related Policies.
Note that academic dishonesty includes not only cheating, fabrication, and plagiarism, but also includes helping other students commit acts of academic dishonesty by allowing them to obtain copies of your work. In short, all submitted work must be your own. Cases of academic dishonesty will be pursued to the fullest extent possible as stipulated by the Office of Student Conduct.
It is very important for you to be aware of the consequences of cheating, fabrication, facilitation, and plagiarism. For more information on the Code of Academic Integrity or the Student Honor Council, please visit http://www.shc.umd.edu.
If you have a suggestion for improving this class, don't hesitate to tell the instructor or TAs during the semester. At the end of the semester, please don't forget to provide your feedback using the campus-wide CourseEvalUM system. Your comments will help make this class better.