Module 1: Overview of Course Topics

Dynamic web application

A dynamic web application displays different content each time a page is viewed, which may vary based on factors like time of day, user identity, or user interaction.

Client-side scripting

Client-side scripting involves web pages that change in response to actions within the web page, such as mouse or keyboard actions, with the content generated on the user's computer. JavaScript is a scripting language used to respond to client-side events.

Server-side scripting

Server-side scripting involves web pages that change when the page is loaded or visited, generating content on the server-side before sending it to the client's browser. Examples include login pages, forums, submission forms, and shopping carts.

Static web application

A static web application delivers content directly to the user's browser without server-side alteration of the HTML, CSS, or JavaScript. Unlike dynamic applications, static web apps typically use the browser to fetch data and update the page, rather than the server.

Full stack application

A full stack application is a dynamic web application that includes a connection to one or more databases, encompassing the user interface, business logic, middleware, and a database.

Flow of a full-stack application

The typical flow of a full-stack application when a user interacts with it is: 1. A request is sent from the client. 2. The web server receives the request and runs the server-side logic. 3. The server-side application requests data from the database using SQL. 4. The database sends the data back to the server-side application. 5. The server-side application processes the data, prepares a response with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and sends it to the browser.

Examples of full-stack applications

Google, ELC, Delta.com, and Amazon.com are examples of full-stack applications.

Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS)

IaaS provides an instant computing infrastructure, provisioned and managed over the internet, allowing users to scale resources up or down as needed and pay only for what they use. The cloud service provider manages the infrastructure, while the user manages the software.

Common use cases for IaaS

IaaS is commonly used for test and development, website hosting, storage, backup and recovery, web apps, high-performance computing, and big data analysis.

Advantages of IaaS

Advantages include eliminating capital expenses, reducing ongoing costs, improving business continuity and disaster recovery, accelerating innovation, allowing businesses to focus on their core business, increased stability and reliability, better security, and faster app delivery.

Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS)

PaaS is a complete development and deployment environment in the cloud that includes infrastructure, middleware, development tools, and other resources. It is designed to support the entire web application lifecycle.

PaaS

PaaS is typically used for development frameworks, analytics, business intelligence, and additional services like workflow and security.

Advantages of PaaS

PaaS offers advantages including reduced coding time, increased development capabilities, easier multi-platform development, and efficient application lifecycle management. It also provides the same advantages as IaaS by delivering infrastructure as a service.

Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)

SaaS allows users to connect to and use cloud-based applications over the internet, with the provider managing the underlying infrastructure, middleware, and software.

Examples of SaaS

Common examples of SaaS include email, calendaring, and office tools like Microsoft Office 365.

Advantages of SaaS

SaaS advantages include access to sophisticated applications, pay-as-you-go pricing, free client software, easy workforce mobilization, and access to data from anywhere.

Serverless Computing

Serverless computing is a model that uses a Function-as-a-service architecture, automatically managing the backend and scaling based on user requests.

Benefits of Serverless Platforms

Serverless platforms automatically scale APIs based on incoming traffic, which eases the effort involved in managing backend architectures.

Installed Software

Installed software is purchased and installed on a computer, contrasting with web-based software which is accessed over the internet.

Examples of Installed Software

Examples include office productivity software (downloaded and installed), and installed games.

Benefits of Installed Software

Benefits include control over the application, the ability to tailor the software, and exclusivity if you have built it.

Web Service

A web service is a small program packaged to work over the web, which performs a specific function and returns results.

Web Service Package

A web service package includes the service itself, underlying dependencies, and may include operating system, data, and other platform components.

API

API is a web service's set of rules that determines how to call the service and provide input values.

IT Infrastructure Components

The three main components of IT infrastructure are hardware, software, and networking components.

Platform

A platform is a group of technologies used as a base on which other applications, processes, or technologies are developed.

Application Software Parts

The three main parts of application software are the user interface, business logic (services), and middleware.

Examples of Applications

Examples of applications that might be found on a computer include office software, web browsers, email clients, entertainment software, and creativity software like IDEs and media software.

Traditional IT Infrastructure

Traditional infrastructure consists of components managed and owned by a business within its own facilities.

Cloud Infrastructure

Cloud infrastructure is composed of components and resources needed for cloud computing. It can be private, public, or hybrid.

NIST Definition of Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is a model for enabling ubiquitous, convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction.