Chapter 1. Getting started

 

This chapter covers

  • Reviewing modern web development
  • Understanding the architecture of the Sails framework
  • Positioning Sails in modern web development
  • Installing the necessary components of the technical stack
  • Setting up the tools of your development environment

Too often, backend programming is put on a pedestal, where only highly trained and disciplined experts are worthy. That’s baloney. Backend programming isn’t rocket science—but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. It means that for those new to it, you just need a healthy curiosity and a powerful framework like Sails to get started. If you already have experience with backend programming in a language other than JavaScript, the transition can also be frustrating. Shifting from synchronous to asynchronous patterns can take some time to master. Whether you’re new or experienced, Sails will make this transition much easier. Our goal is to provide an entertaining, practical, gap-free path to understanding Sails as well as modern backend web development.

1.1. What is Sails?

1.2. What can you build with Sails?

1.3. Why Sails?

1.4. Fundamental concepts of a web application

1.5. Understanding databases

1.6. Putting it all together in a backend API

1.7. Our backend design philosophy

1.8. Delivering frontend assets

1.9. Frontend vs. backend validations

1.10. Realtime (WebSockets)

1.11. Asynchronous programming

1.12. Meet Chad

1.13. Summary

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