Engineering · Intermediate
Backend Engineering with Node.js
Build and ship a production API: databases, authentication, testing and deployment.
4.7 (1,876 students)Created by Eric MugishaUpdated September 2026
What you'll learn
- Design a REST API that's easy to extend
- Model relational data and write safe migrations
- Add authentication that doesn't cut corners
- Write tests that catch real bugs, not just cover lines
- Ship an API with a proper CI pipeline
About this course
Everything a junior backend engineer needs on the job: designing an API, modelling data, securing it, and shipping it.
The final project is a small job board API, close to what you'd build on a real team here.
- Node.js
- PostgreSQL
- REST APIs
- Testing
Course content
4 modules · 14 lessons · 32 hours
- 10 video
- 1 resources
- 1 reading
- 1 quiz
- 1 assignment
Module 1. API foundations4 lessons · 52 min
- Designing resources and routesVideo18 min
- Request validationVideo15 min
- Error handling that helps the clientVideo14 min
- Project starterResources5 min
Module 2. Data4 lessons · 68 min
- Modelling with PostgreSQLVideo24 min
- MigrationsVideo16 min
- Query performance basicsReading20 min
- Check: APIs and dataQuiz8 min
Module 3. Auth and security3 lessons · 48 min
- Sessions vs tokensVideo16 min
- Hashing and rate limitsVideo14 min
- Common vulnerabilities to avoidVideo18 min
Module 4. Shipping it3 lessons · 132 min
- Automated testsVideo22 min
- CI and deploymentVideo20 min
- Project: finish the job board APIAssignment90 min
Instructor
Eric Mugisha
Staff Engineer, Kivu Labs
Builds and scales backend systems; previously led platform engineering at two Kigali startups.
Student ratings
4.7
1,876 students
5
74%
4
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3
5%
2
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