Ever since it introduced its project-based micro-credential, Udacity has offered Nanodegrees in Web Development. We take a look at the latest revision of the Full Stack and Front End Web Developer Nanodegree Programs, both of which start on April 29th and are eligible for Udacity's Free Access for a month offer.

Even if this offer has expired, or you are ineligible for it, the two Nanodegree Programs to equip you as a Full Stack Web Developer or a Front End Web Developer will still be available and still worth investing in if you are looking for a career as a web developer.

The role of Full Stack Web Developer is currently in great demand as more and more businesses appreciate the need to have a web presence. According to the US Bureau of Statistics the number of available jobs for this role is set to rise more than six-fold in the next four years. A recent HackerRank report revealed it to be the role hiring teams find most difficult to fill suggesting that the reason for this could be the difficulty of defining the role combined with the unique blend of required skills - essentially those of a Front End Web Developer concatenated with those of a Back End Web Developer. 

Full Stack Web Developer Nanodegree is at intermediate level and is intended to:

to equip learners with the unique skills they need to build database-backed APIs and web applications. A graduate of this program will be able to design and build databases for software applications, create and deploy database-backed web APIs, and secure and manage user authentication and access control for an application backend. Students will also learn how to deploy a Flask-based web application to the cloud using Docker and Kubernetes. 

The prerequisites for the course, in addition to prior experience with CSS/HTML and Git, are to be able to:

• Write and test software with Python or another object-oriented programming language
• Query a SQL database using SELECT
• Write to a SQL database using INSERT 
• Write software for front end applications and websites using JavaScript to:
  ○ Fetch and display data from an API using AJAX or Fetch
  ○ Organize data using JSON (JavaScript Object Notation)

It is billed as a 4-month program, but this is at the gentle pace of 5-10 hours per week and consists of five projects, the final one of which is a Capstone requiring you to combine all of the new skills you’ve learned to construct a database-backed web API with user access control. You choose what app to build and then design and build out all of the API endpoints it needs and properly secure them for use in any front end application (web or mobile).

Along the way there are four modules, each of them involving a practical project that makes a useful addition to your portfolio: 

• SQL and Data Modeling for the Web

  Master relational databases with the power of SQL, and leverage Python to incorporate database logic into your programs.

  DESIGN A VENUE BOOKING DATABASE

• API Development and Documentation

  Learn how to use APIs to control and manage web applications, including best practices for API testing and documentation.

  TRIVIA API

• Identity Access Management

  Implement authentication and authorization in Flask and understand how to design against key security principle. You will also gain experience with role-based control design patterns, securing a REST API, and applying software system risk and compliance principles.

  COFFEE SHOP FULL STACK

  Server Deployment and Containerization

  Develop an understanding of containerized environments, use Docker to share and store containers, and deploy a Docker container to a Kubernetes cluster using AWS

  DEPLOY A FLASK APP TO KUBERNETES USING EKS

 Also billed as "New" and with a month's free access if you enroll today is Front End Web Developer Nanodegree. This is the latest update to Udacity's very first Nanodegree program which we reported on back in 2014. Over time the Syllabus has evolved and while the latest one has some elements in common with the original it does look considerable different.

Its blurb promises: 

Graduates of this Nanodegree program will be able to construct responsive websites using CSS, Flexbox and CSS Grid, develop interactive websites and UI (User Interface) applications using JavaScript and HTML, and connect a web application to backend server data using JavaScript. Students will also build competency automating application build and deployment using Webpack and improving offline performance of websites using Service Worker.

It is considered a 4-month Nanodegree, again at 5-10 hours per week and consists of 4 modules plus a Capstone: 

• CSS & Website Layout

  Learn how to effectively create the structure of a website using semantic HTML, and style websites with CSS and responsive layouts. Develop an understanding of different use cases for CSS Grid and Flexbox, and structure the layout of a web page using grid columns and rows.
  STYLED BLOG WEBSITE

• JavaScript and the DOM

Use JavaScript to control a webpage. Learn what the Document Object Model (DOM) is, and use JavaScript and the DOM to dictate page content and interactions. Gain experience working with Browser Events and managing website performance by controlling content creation efficiently.
DYNAMIC LANDING PAGE FOR MARKETING CONTENT

• Web APIs and Asynchronous Applications

Set up a Node and Express environment so you can develop web applications on your local machine, and learn to handle HTTP Requests & Routes. Update and modify website elements dynamically using asynchronously retrieved data.
WEATHER JOURNAL

• Build Tools, Webpack, and Service Worker

Develop an understanding of how to use build tools, such as Webpack, for automating build tasks. Create CSS variables with Sass and configure Webpack to use Sass controlled stylesheets. Learn how to cache server data and website functionality using Service Worker.
ARTICLE ANALYSIS WEBSITE

The normal subscriptions costs $399 per month. Of course you don't just get tuition in the price. The extras that you are paying for include having your projects reviewed and graded by experienced reviewers, a 1-on-1 technical mentor and personal career coach and career services and having your resume shared with 95 plus employers.  

More Information

Udacity Program Catalog 

Full Stack Web Developer Nanodegree

Front End Web Developer Nanodegree. 

Related Articles

Udacity Offers Free Access To Nanodegree Programs

Hiring Landscape Under Scrutiny

The Benefits of A Udacity Nanodegree 

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