Part 3. Adding a dynamic front end with Angular

Angular is one of the most exciting technologies of our time and is a core part of the MEAN stack with proven stability and longevity. You’ve done a lot of work so far with Express, which is the server-side framework. Angular is the client-side framework that enables you to build entire applications that run in the browser.

You’ll get to know Angular and TypeScript (like JavaScript, a bit different but good different) in chapter 8, seeing what all the fuss is about and getting into the particular syntax semantics and jargon associated with it. Angular can have a steep learning curve, but it doesn’t have to. As you get started with Angular and TypeScript in chapter 8, you’ll see how to use them to build a component for an existing web page, including calling your REST API to get data.

Chapters 9 and 10 focus on how to use Angular to build a single-page application (SPA). Building on what you learned in chapter 8, you re-create Loc8r as an SPA. You’ll focus on best practices throughout, learning how to build a modular application that’s easily maintainable with components that can easily be reused. By the end of part 3, you’ll have a fully functioning SPA interacting with your REST API to create and read data.