Introduction

In today's fast-paced and data-driven world of web development, building efficient, scalable, and flexible APIs is paramount. MongoDB and GraphQL represent a powerful duo that addresses the limitations of traditional RESTful architectures, enabling developers to create applications that deliver precisely the data clients need, reducing over-fetching and under-fetching while optimizing network performance. MongoDB, a leading NoSQL database, offers unparalleled flexibility with its document-oriented data model, allowing for agile schema evolution and seamless handling of diverse data structures. When combined with GraphQL, a revolutionary query language for APIs, developers can define robust type systems, build powerful queries, mutations, and subscriptions, and provide clients with unprecedented control over data retrieval, leading to a superior developer and user experience. This comprehensive training course focuses on equipping professionals with the expertise to master MongoDB and GraphQL.

This intensive training course is meticulously designed to empower full-stack developers, backend engineers, and aspiring web architects with the theoretical understanding and hands-on practical tools necessary to build modern, high-performance web applications using the MongoDB and GraphQL stack. Participants will gain a deep understanding of MongoDB's features, including its flexible schema, robust querying capabilities, and scaling options. Simultaneously, they will master GraphQL concepts from schema definition to advanced queries, mutations, and real-time subscriptions, learning how to connect these powerful front-end capabilities to a MongoDB backend. The course will delve into topics such as data modeling best practices for NoSQL, integrating GraphQL with Node.js and popular frameworks, authentication and authorization, performance optimization, and deployment strategies. By mastering the principles and practical application of MongoDB and GraphQL, participants will be prepared to design and develop cutting-edge applications that are both efficient and highly adaptable to evolving business requirements.

Duration: 10 Days

Target Audience

• Full-Stack Developers
• Backend Developers
• Front-End Developers interested in API consumption and design
• Software Engineers
• Web Architects
• Database Administrators
• Technical Leads and Team Leads
• JavaScript Developers
• Node.js Developers
• Aspiring Web Developers looking to learn a modern stack

Objectives

• Understand the core concepts and advantages of MongoDB as a NoSQL database.
• Learn to perform CRUD operations and advanced querying in MongoDB.
• Acquire skills in designing effective data models for MongoDB applications.
• Comprehend the fundamentals of GraphQL: schema definition, types, queries, and mutations.
• Explore strategies for building a GraphQL API server using Node.js and Apollo Server.
• Understand the importance of resolving data from MongoDB using GraphQL.
• Gain insights into implementing real-time features with GraphQL Subscriptions.
• Develop a practical understanding of authentication and authorization in GraphQL APIs.
• Learn about performance optimization techniques for MongoDB and GraphQL applications.
• Master error handling and debugging in a full-stack GraphQL environment.
• Acquire skills in integrating GraphQL with frontend frameworks (e.g., React).
• Understand deployment strategies for MongoDB and GraphQL applications.
• Explore advanced data modeling concepts like embedded documents and references.
• Develop proficiency in testing GraphQL APIs and MongoDB interactions.
• Prepare to build and deploy complete, modern web applications.

Course Content

Module 1: Introduction to MongoDB and NoSQL Databases

• Understanding relational vs. NoSQL databases.
• Why choose MongoDB: flexibility, scalability, performance.
• Core concepts: documents, collections, databases.
• JSON and BSON data formats.
• Setting up MongoDB locally and connecting to MongoDB Atlas.

Module 2: MongoDB CRUD Operations (Create, Read, Update, Delete)

• Inserting single and multiple documents.
• Finding documents with basic and advanced queries.
• Updating documents: updateOne, updateMany, operators ($set, $inc, $push).
• Deleting documents: deleteOne, deleteMany.
• Practical exercises for each CRUD operation.

Module 3: Advanced MongoDB Querying and Indexing

• Query selectors ($gt, $lt, $in, $and, $or).
• Regular expressions in queries.
• Array queries and embedded document queries.
• Introduction to indexing: types of indexes, creating and managing indexes.
• Optimizing query performance with indexes.

Module 4: MongoDB Aggregation Framework

• Understanding the aggregation pipeline.
• Common aggregation stages: $match, $project, $group, $sort, $limit, $unwind.
• Using aggregation for data transformation and reporting.
• Practical examples of complex aggregation queries.
• Performance considerations for aggregation pipelines.

Module 5: MongoDB Data Modeling Best Practices

• Schema design considerations for NoSQL databases.
• Embedded documents vs. normalized (referenced) data models.
• One-to-one, one-to-many, and many-to-many relationships in MongoDB.
• Trade-offs between data redundancy and query performance.
• Design patterns for common application scenarios.

Module 6: Introduction to GraphQL

• What is GraphQL? A query language for your API.
• Why GraphQL? Advantages over REST (under-fetching, over-fetching, multiple endpoints).
• Core concepts: Schema Definition Language (SDL), types, fields, queries, mutations.
• The GraphQL ecosystem: Apollo, Relay, tools.
• Setting up a basic GraphQL project.

Module 7: Designing GraphQL Schemas

• Defining object types and scalar types.
• Understanding Query and Mutation types.
• Non-nullable fields and list types.
• Input types for mutations.
• Building a comprehensive schema for a sample application.

Module 8: Building a GraphQL Server with Node.js and Apollo Server

• Setting up a Node.js Express application.
• Integrating Apollo Server as middleware.
• Connecting Apollo Server to a MongoDB database using Mongoose (ODM).
• Writing basic resolvers for queries.
• Using GraphiQL/Apollo Studio for testing GraphQL APIs.

Module 9: GraphQL Mutations and Data Manipulation

• Defining mutation types and their arguments.
• Implementing resolver functions for creating, updating, and deleting data in MongoDB.
• Handling input validation for mutations.
• Returning changed data after mutations.
• Practical exercises for various data manipulation scenarios.

Module 10: Authentication and Authorization in GraphQL

• Implementing user authentication (e.g., JWT).
• Protecting GraphQL resolvers with authentication middleware.
• Role-based access control (RBAC) and permission-based authorization.
• Storing user data in MongoDB.
• Integrating authentication flows into the GraphQL API.

Module 11: GraphQL Subscriptions for Real-time Data

• Understanding real-time communication patterns.
• Implementing GraphQL Subscriptions for live updates.
• Using PubSub with Apollo Server for simple subscriptions.
• Integrating subscriptions with MongoDB data changes.
• Building real-time features like chat or live dashboards.

Module 12: Advanced MongoDB Features and Performance

• Transactions in MongoDB for multi-document atomicity.
• Text search and geospatial queries.
• Sharding and replication for high availability and scalability.
• Caching strategies for MongoDB data.
• Monitoring and performance tuning for MongoDB deployments.

Module 13: Integrating GraphQL with a Frontend (e.g., React)

• Using Apollo Client for managing GraphQL data on the frontend.
• Making queries and mutations from a React application.
• Caching and state management with Apollo Client.
• Error handling and loading states in the frontend.
• Building interactive UI components consuming GraphQL data.

Module 14: Error Handling, Debugging, and Testing

• Best practices for handling errors in GraphQL resolvers.
• Custom error types and formatting error responses.
• Debugging GraphQL APIs and MongoDB interactions.
• Unit and integration testing for GraphQL resolvers.
• Testing MongoDB data operations.

Module 15: Deployment and Best Practices

• Deploying MongoDB applications to cloud platforms (e.g., MongoDB Atlas, AWS, Azure, Google Cloud).
• Deploying GraphQL API servers (e.g., Heroku, Vercel, Docker).
• Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) for full-stack applications.
• Security best practices for production deployments.
• Scaling considerations for MongoDB and GraphQL applications.

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 10 working days before commencement of the training.