MEAN Stack - Learning Guide

Overview

NodeJS, when first released in July 2011, changed the perception of Javascript altogether. It brought the server side programming capacity to Javascript, which revolutionized the programming community at that time. Since then subsequent development in other frameworks like Angular, meant that an entire application can just be made entirely in Javascript from front-end to backend. With unstructured data on the rise, MongoDB came in as the perfect complement to the two JS frameworks and thus the concept of MEAN framework was formed. It's not one of the most popular full-stack programming skills sought out in the industry.

Introduction

“MEAN” is an acronym, which expands as the following:

Mongo DB- It's a NoSQL database that is schema-less, stores data in JSON format, which makes it easier to pass data between different components.

Express JS- Inspired by the Ruby framework Sinatra, Experess is a robust web application development framework for Node JS. It can be used to build both SPA-Single Page applications and regular Multi-Page Applications

Angular JS- Developed by Google, it's one of the most powerful, robust and popular front-end development languages in the industry.

Node JS- When first launched, it was a revolutionary javascript framework, to be used for server-side capabilities. It enables the development of highly scalable and concurrent applications rapidly. 

Job Opportunities

Often referred to as the MEAN Stack developer, Full Stack developer, MEAN development skills are one of the hotters in the Web development and application development industry. Consequently, they are one of the best paid for jobs as well. A quick search on linked for MEAN developers in US gave more than 14000 results. Not to forget that the skills are closely matched with Web Developer skills that are another 21000 jobs just in US. The demand for MEAN development is quite high across the world. So you won't go wrong in your choice if you choose to pick this with a career in mind.

Now let's cover the learning path to get started in MEAN Full Stack development.

Beginners Topics-I to Cover in MEAN [ Days 1 - 3]

1. Introduction to MEAN concept and Understanding SPA-Single Page Application
2. Installing IDE, Introduction to Angular JS
3. Introduction to Node JS, Setting Environment for Node JS
4. Setting up Node and Angular CLI in Project
5. Exploring Project Structure

Beginners Topics-II to Cover in MEAN [ Days 4 - 7]

1. Angular- Understanding Folder structure, Angular Components, Adding your own Angular component
2. Angular- Event Listening, Content Output, User Input
3. Angular- Posts Output, Structure Directives
4. Angular- Create posts with Property & Event Binding
5. Angular- Post Model, Adding Forms, Gettings Posts from Post Create to Post List

Below are a couple of online tutorials to get you started with the basics of MEAN Stack development framework-

Intermediate Topics-I to Cover in MEAN [ Days 7 - 14 ]

1. NodeJS- Understanding the interaction between Node Js and Angular JS
2. Understanding REST API
3. NodeJS- Adding Node JS backend to a Project
4. Adding the Express Framework to Project
5. Understanding server.js Code, enhancing the file
6. Using HTTP client by Angular, Understanding CORS
7. Adding the POST Backend Point, Adding Angular JS to Project

Intermediate Topics-II to Cover in MEAN [ Days 15 - 20]

1. Introduction to MongoDB, understanding the differences between SQL and NoSQL
2. Setting up MongoDB, Connecting Angular to DB
3. Adding Mongoose, understanding Mongoose Schema and Models
4. Post Instance, Connecting Node's Express Application with MongoDB
5. CRUD Operations in MongoDB
6. Deleting, Updating Posts, updating Frontend of the Application

Advanced Topics- Ito Cover in MEAN [Days 21- 27]

1. MVC Architecture 
2. Using Ejs in Express
3. Mustache, Handlebars
4. Pug
5. Cookie Parser and Express-Session
6. Ajax with Angular & Crud Operations with Mongo DB

Advanced Topics- Ito Cover in MEAN [Days 28- 32]

1. REST APIs using Swagger
2. CRUD with Reactive forms and Material Data
3. Deployment- Setting up Heroku Application
4. Creating MongoDB instance on Heroku, Deploying on Heroku

Complementary Skills

Usually, our learning guides would have 4 - 5 complementary skills needed along with the main skill to target for a job. However, MEAN stack as a concept is a combination of skills from front-end to back-end. So you all the complementing skills are intrinsically covered. Still, in case you are an absolute beginner in the programming world and want to know, I would suggest to pick-up HTML 5 and Jquery. Rest is all taken care of once you really go through the drill of MEAN stack development skills.

Popular Job Titles with MEAN Stack Skills

1. MEAN Stack Developer
2. MEAN Stack Rockstar (this is for real, i verified on LinkedIn!)
3. Full Stack Developer
4. Web Application Developer
5. Software Engineer

Conclusion

This brings us to the end of this learning path for MEAN stack development. Let us know in case of any further questions or feedback here, QuickCode team will be here to help you with your learning needs.