30-Day Python Backend Course
A structured 30-day learning path covering Python, FastAPI, PostgreSQL, authentication, testing, and deployment.
30-Day Backend Engineering Curriculum: Python, FastAPI & PostgreSQL
Table of Contents
- Course Overview
- Week 1: Python Fundamentals & Web Basics
- Week 2: FastAPI Foundations
- Week 3: Database Integration with PostgreSQL
- Week 4: Advanced Backend Features
- Week 5: Testing, DevOps & Deployment
Course Overview
This 30-day backend engineering course takes you from Python basics to deploying a full-featured SaaS API built with FastAPI and PostgreSQL. Throughout the course, you'll progressively build a TaskMaster API — a task management system with user authentication, task organization, sharing capabilities, notifications, and analytics.
Each day includes:
- Clear learning objectives
- Theoretical foundations
- Hands-on exercises
- Mini-project components that build into the final capstone
- Curated resources for further exploration
By the end of the course, you will have developed and deployed a professional-grade backend API and gained the skills needed for backend engineering roles.
Week 1: Python Fundamentals & Web Basics
Day 1: Python Basics
Topic
Introduction to Python programming language and development environment setup.
Learning Objectives
- Set up a Python development environment
- Understand Python syntax and basic programming concepts
- Write and execute simple Python scripts
- Use Python's interactive shell for experimentation
Hands-on Tasks
- Install Python 3.10+ and set up a virtual environment
- Create a simple "Hello, Backend Developer!" program
- Experiment with variables, basic data types, and operators
- Write a script that takes user input and performs basic calculations
- TaskMaster Mini-Project: Create the initial project structure and Git repository
Tasks:
- Install Python 3.12+ and configure VS Code with Python extension
- Create a CLI calculator handling
+,-,*,/ - Write a script that categorizes numbers as even/odd
Curated Resources
- Python Official Tutorial
- Real Python: Python Basics
- Book: "Think Python" by Allen Downey, Ch. 1-2
- Python Virtual Environments Primer
- Visual Studio Code Python Extension
Resources:
Day 2: Python Data Structures
Topic
Deep dive into Python's core data structures.
Learning Objectives
- Master working with lists, tuples, dictionaries, and sets
- Understand when to use each data structure
- Perform common operations and transformations
- Apply data structures to solve practical problems
Hands-on Tasks
- Create a program that manages a collection of tasks using lists
- Implement a contact book using dictionaries
- Use sets to find common elements between task categories
- Convert between different data structures and explore their methods
- TaskMaster Mini-Project: Create data models for tasks and users (using dictionaries)
Tasks:
- Build a contact book using dictionaries (name ➔ phone/email)
- Create a CSV parser converting data to list of dicts
- Filter even numbers from a list using comprehension
Curated Resources
- Python Data Structures Documentation
- Real Python: Python Lists and Tuples
- Python Dictionary Tutorial
- Book: "Fluent Python" by Luciano Ramalho, Ch. 2-3
- Python Collections Module
Resources:
Day 3: Functions and Modules
Topic
Creating reusable code with functions and organizing code with modules.
Learning Objectives
- Define and call functions with various parameter types
- Understand scope, default arguments, and return values
- Create and import modules and packages
- Use built-in modules from the Python standard library
Hands-on Tasks
- Create a utility module with functions for common task operations
- Implement functions with positional, keyword, and default arguments
- Use lambda functions and higher-order functions (map, filter, reduce)
- Explore useful standard library modules like datetime, random, and json
- TaskMaster Mini-Project: Create modules for task management functions
Tasks:
- Convert Day 2’s contact book into a module
- Build a
math_operations.pymodule with add/subtract functions - Create a CLI menu system using functions
Curated Resources
- Python Functions Documentation
- Python Modules Documentation
- Real Python: Defining Your Own Python Function
- Book: "Think Python" by Allen Downey, Ch. 3-4
- Python Standard Library
Resources:
Day 4: Object-Oriented Programming
Topic
Python's implementation of Object-Oriented Programming (OOP).
Learning Objectives
- Understand OOP concepts: classes, objects, inheritance, and polymorphism
- Create classes with attributes and methods
- Implement inheritance hierarchies
- Use special methods (dunder methods) for customizing behavior
Hands-on Tasks
- Create a
Taskclass with attributes and methods - Implement a
Userclass that manages a collection of tasks - Create subclasses for different task types (e.g.,
RecurringTask,PriorityTask) - Implement special methods like
__str__,__repr__, and__eq__ - TaskMaster Mini-Project: Refactor your task management code to use OOP principles
Tasks:
- Create a
Taskclass with title, description, status - Build an
Userclass inheriting from a basePersonclass - Implement getter/setter methods for sensitive data
Curated Resources
- Python Classes Documentation
- Real Python: OOP in Python
- Book: "Fluent Python" by Luciano Ramalho, Ch. 9-10
- Python Special Methods Guide
- Inheritance and Composition in Python
Resources:
Day 5: Error Handling and File I/O
Topic
Managing exceptions and working with files in Python.
Learning Objectives
- Implement try-except blocks for error handling
- Work with file operations (read, write, append)
- Use context managers for resource management
- Understand JSON serialization and deserialization
Hands-on Tasks
- Implement error handling for common task management operations
- Create a file-based storage system for tasks using JSON
- Implement loading and saving task data to files
- Use context managers to ensure proper file handling
- TaskMaster Mini-Project: Add persistent storage to your task management system
Tasks:
- Add error handling to Day 1’s calculator for division by zero
- Create a
ValidationErrorfor invalid task statuses - Write a file reader that handles
FileNotFoundError
Curated Resources
- Python Errors and Exceptions Documentation
- Python File I/O Documentation
- Real Python: Reading and Writing Files
- Book: "Think Python" by Allen Downey, Ch. 14
- Python JSON Module Documentation
Resources:
Day 6: HTTP Protocol & Web Fundamentals
Topic
Understanding the HTTP protocol and web communication basics.
Learning Objectives
- Understand HTTP request-response cycle
- Learn about HTTP methods, status codes, and headers
- Explore RESTful communication patterns
- Make HTTP requests using Python's requests library
Tasks:
- Fetch weather data from OpenWeatherMap API
- Build a CLI tool showing Bitcoin price using CoinGecko API
- Save API responses to JSON files
Hands-on Tasks
- Use the requests library to interact with a public API
- Analyze HTTP requests and responses using a tool like Postman
- Implement a simple command-line client for a REST API
- Create a basic HTTP server using Python's http.server module
- TaskMaster Mini-Project: Design the HTTP interface for your task management API
Curated Resources
- MDN HTTP Overview
- Python Requests Library Documentation
- HTTP Status Codes
- RESTful API Design Tutorial
- Python http.server Documentation
Resources:
Day 7: REST API Design Principles
Topic
Principles and best practices for designing RESTful APIs.
Learning Objectives
- Understand REST architectural principles
- Design resource-based URLs
- Choose appropriate HTTP methods for operations
- Plan API versioning, error handling, and documentation
Hands-on Tasks
- Design a RESTful API for a task management system
- Create a comprehensive API specification document
- Map CRUD operations to appropriate HTTP methods
- Plan authentication endpoints and strategies
- TaskMaster Mini-Project: Complete the API design document for your project
Tasks:
- Design routes for Capstone Task Manager (e.g.,
GET /tasks) - Document API spec using OpenAPI
- Mock endpoints with Postman
Curated Resources
- REST API Tutorial
- Best Practices for Designing a Pragmatic RESTful API
- Microsoft REST API Guidelines
- API Design Patterns Book
- Swagger/OpenAPI Specification
Resources:
Week 2: FastAPI Foundations
Day 8: Introduction to FastAPI
Topic
Getting started with FastAPI and building your first API endpoints.
Learning Objectives
- Understand FastAPI's key features and advantages
- Set up a FastAPI project with proper structure
- Create and run a basic FastAPI application
- Implement your first API endpoints
Hands-on Tasks
- Install FastAPI and Uvicorn
- Create a "Hello World" FastAPI application
- Implement basic GET and POST endpoints
- Explore the automatic API documentation
- TaskMaster Mini-Project: Set up the initial FastAPI application for TaskMaster
Tasks:
- Initialize project with
pip install fastapi[all] - Build
/tasksendpoint returning mock data - Explore auto-generated Swagger UI at
/docs
Curated Resources
- FastAPI Official Documentation
- FastAPI GitHub Repository
- Building Your First API with FastAPI
- Uvicorn Documentation
- FastAPI Project Generator
Resources:
Day 9: Path and Query Parameters
Topic
Working with path parameters, query parameters, and request validation in FastAPI.
Learning Objectives
- Define and use path parameters in routes
- Implement query parameters with validation
- Apply type hints for automatic validation
- Use Enum classes for parameter validation
Hands-on Tasks
- Create endpoints with path parameters for resource identification
- Implement search functionality using query parameters
- Add validation for parameters (min/max values, regex patterns)
- Create enum-based filtering for task status and priorities
- TaskMaster Mini-Project: Implement task listing and detail endpoints with parameters
Tasks:
- Add
GET /tasks/{task_id}endpoint - Implement filtering tasks by status (
GET /tasks?status=done) - Add pagination using
skipandlimitparameters
Curated Resources
- FastAPI Path Parameters Documentation
- FastAPI Query Parameters Documentation
- Path Parameters and Numeric Validations
- Python Type Hints Documentation
- Python Enum Documentation
Resources:
Day 10: Request Body and Validation with Pydantic
Topic
Using Pydantic models for request body validation and data handling.
Learning Objectives
- Create Pydantic models for data validation
- Implement nested models and complex validation rules
- Handle request bodies in FastAPI endpoints
- Use Pydantic for data parsing and serialization
Hands-on Tasks
- Create Pydantic models for tasks and users
- Implement validation rules and field constraints
- Create API endpoints that accept and validate request bodies
- Use Pydantic's features for data transformation
- TaskMaster Mini-Project: Implement task creation and update endpoints with Pydantic validation
Tasks:
- Create
TaskCreateandTaskUpdatePydantic models - Add validation for task status (e.g., "todo", "in-progress", "done")
- Return descriptive error messages for invalid inputs
Curated Resources
- FastAPI Request Body Documentation
- Pydantic Documentation
- FastAPI Body - Multiple Parameters
- Pydantic Field Types
- Pydantic Validators
Resources:
Day 11: Response Models and Status Codes
Topic
Managing API responses with response models, status codes, and headers.
Learning Objectives
- Define response models using Pydantic
- Set appropriate HTTP status codes
- Return custom headers and cookies
- Handle different response scenarios
Hands-on Tasks
- Create response models for different API operations
- Implement proper status codes for various scenarios
- Add pagination metadata to list responses
- Create error response models and handlers
- TaskMaster Mini-Project: Implement consistent response handling across endpoints
Tasks:
- Create
TaskResponsemodel excluding internal fields - Add response examples in Swagger UI
- Implement custom JSON encoders for datetime
Curated Resources
- FastAPI Response Model Documentation
- FastAPI Status Codes
- HTTP Status Codes Reference
- FastAPI Additional Responses
- JSON:API Specification (for structured API responses)
Resources:
Day 12: Dependency Injection System
Topic
Using FastAPI's dependency injection system for code reuse and separation of concerns.
Learning Objectives
- Understand dependency injection principles
- Create and use dependencies in FastAPI
- Implement path and query parameter dependencies
- Create dependencies for authentication and authorization
Hands-on Tasks
- Create a database session dependency
- Implement pagination as a reusable dependency
- Create a dependency for getting the current user
- Build a permission checking dependency
- TaskMaster Mini-Project: Add authentication and database dependencies to your API
Tasks:
- Create a
get_dbdependency simulating database connection - Implement API key authentication using dependencies
- Build a pagination dependency
Curated Resources
- FastAPI Dependencies Documentation
- FastAPI Dependencies with Yield
- FastAPI Global Dependencies
- Dependency Classes in FastAPI
- Sub-dependencies in FastAPI
Resources:
Day 13: Asynchronous Programming
Topic
Understanding and implementing asynchronous programming in FastAPI.
Learning Objectives
- Understand asynchronous programming concepts
- Use
async/awaitsyntax in Python - Create asynchronous API endpoints
- Work with asynchronous database operations
Hands-on Tasks
- Convert synchronous endpoints to asynchronous
- Implement concurrent API requests
- Use asynchronous libraries for external API calls
- Measure performance improvements with async operations
- TaskMaster Mini-Project: Implement async endpoints for task operations
Tasks:
- Convert a sync endpoint to async
- Simulate long-running task with
asyncio.sleep() - Compare performance with
aborhttpxbenchmarking
Curated Resources
- FastAPI Async Documentation
- Python Asyncio Documentation
- Real Python: Async IO in Python
- Book: "Python Concurrency with asyncio" by Matthew Fowler
- HTTPX: Async HTTP Client
Resources:
Day 14: FastAPI Project Structure & Routers
Topic
Organizing FastAPI applications with routers and proper project structure.
Learning Objectives
- Structure a FastAPI application for maintainability
- Use APIRouter for route organization
- Implement route prefixes and dependencies
- Create a modular, scalable project structure
Hands-on Tasks
- Refactor your application using multiple routers
- Set up a proper project directory structure
- Implement shared dependencies across routers
- Create a configuration management system
- TaskMaster Mini-Project: Restructure your TaskMaster API with proper organization
Curated Resources
- FastAPI Bigger Applications Documentation
- FastAPI Project Generator
- Real Python: Python Application Layouts
- Cookiecutter FastAPI Template
- FastAPI Best Practices
Note: File Uploads: Ask them to see on their own
Day 14: File Uploads
Objectives:
- Handle file uploads and downloads
Tasks:
- Add endpoint for uploading task attachments
- Validate file types (PDF/PNG only)
- Implement
GET /files/{filename}to download files
Resources:
Week 3: Database Integration with PostgreSQL
Day 15: PostgreSQL Basics & SQL Fundamentals
Topic
Introduction to PostgreSQL and fundamental SQL operations.
Learning Objectives
- Set up PostgreSQL for local development
- Understand relational database concepts
- Write basic SQL queries (SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE)
- Create database tables with proper relationships
Hands-on Tasks
- Install and configure PostgreSQL
- Design and create tables for users and tasks
- Write SQL queries for basic CRUD operations
- Implement database relationships (foreign keys)
- TaskMaster Mini-Project: Design and implement the initial database schema
Tasks:
- Install PostgreSQL locally or use Docker
- Create
task_managerdatabase and user - Execute raw SQL via
psqlCLI
Curated Resources
- PostgreSQL Documentation
- PostgreSQL Tutorial
- SQL Basics Tutorial
- PostgreSQL Installation Guide
- Database Design Fundamentals
Resources:
Day 16: Database Schema Design
Topic
Designing efficient database schemas for applications.
Learning Objectives
- Apply database normalization principles
- Design one-to-many and many-to-many relationships
- Choose appropriate data types and constraints
- Implement indexes for query optimization
Hands-on Tasks
- Design a comprehensive schema for the TaskMaster application
- Implement advanced PostgreSQL features (JSONB, arrays)
- Add proper constraints and indexes
- Create entity-relationship diagrams
- TaskMaster Mini-Project: Enhance your database schema with additional tables and relationships
Curated Resources
- Database Normalization Guide
- PostgreSQL Data Types
- PostgreSQL Constraints
- PostgreSQL JSONB Documentation
- Database Design Tool: dbdiagram.io
Day 17: SQLAlchemy ORM Basics
Topic
Introduction to SQLAlchemy ORM for Python database interactions.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the Object-Relational Mapping (ORM) concept
- Set up SQLAlchemy in a FastAPI application
- Create database models with relationships
- Perform basic CRUD operations with SQLAlchemy
Hands-on Tasks
- Configure SQLAlchemy in your FastAPI application
- Create SQLAlchemy models for users and tasks
- Implement database session management
- Convert your raw SQL operations to SQLAlchemy
- TaskMaster Mini-Project: Implement database models and basic operations
Tasks:
- Define
TaskandUserSQLAlchemy models - Create database session factory
- Perform CRUD operations via ORM
Curated Resources
- SQLAlchemy Documentation
- FastAPI with SQLAlchemy
- SQLAlchemy ORM Tutorial
- SQLAlchemy Relationship Patterns
- FastAPI SQL Databases Example
Resources:
Day 18: Advanced SQLAlchemy and Database Operations
Topic
Advanced SQLAlchemy features and complex database operations.
Learning Objectives
- Write complex queries with SQLAlchemy
- Implement eager loading for related objects
- Use transactions and savepoints
- Optimize database access patterns
Hands-on Tasks
- Implement complex filtering and sorting
- Use SQLAlchemy's relationship loading strategies
- Create advanced queries with joins and aggregations
- Implement transaction management
- TaskMaster Mini-Project: Add advanced database operations for task management
Tasks:
- Add
User.tasksrelationship (one-to-many) - Create
Tagmodel with many-to-many tasks relationship - Write query to fetch tasks with their tags
Curated Resources
- SQLAlchemy Query API
- SQLAlchemy Relationship Loading
- SQLAlchemy Transactions
- SQLAlchemy Query Performance
- FastAPI Database Performance
Resources:
Note: Advanced Queries: Ask them to see on their own
Day 18: Advanced Queries
Objectives:
- Use joins, aggregates, and subqueries
Tasks:
- Write query to count tasks per user
- Implement search across task titles/descriptions
- Optimize query using SQLAlchemy’s
selectinload
Resources:
Day 19: Database Migrations with Alembic
Topic
Managing database schema changes with Alembic.
Learning Objectives
- Understand database migration concepts
- Set up Alembic in a FastAPI application
- Create and run migrations
- Implement data migrations
Hands-on Tasks
- Set up Alembic in your project
- Create an initial migration for your schema
- Implement a schema change migration
- Create a data migration script
- TaskMaster Mini-Project: Set up a complete migration system for your application
Tasks:
- Initialize Alembic in project
- Generate migration for adding
due_dateto tasks - Rollback and reapply migrations
Curated Resources
- Alembic Documentation
- FastAPI with Migrations
- Alembic Tutorial
- Database Migration Strategies
- Alembic Operations Reference
Resources:
Day 20: Transactions & ACID
Objectives:
- Handle database transactions safely
Tasks:
- Create atomic operations for task assignment
- Handle deadlocks with retry logic
- Test rollback scenarios
Resources:
FastAPI with SQLModel is optional, Ask them to see on their own
Day 20: FastAPI with SQLModel
Topic
Using SQLModel to integrate FastAPI and SQLAlchemy seamlessly.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the benefits of SQLModel
- Create models that work as both Pydantic and SQLAlchemy models
- Reduce code duplication between API and database layers
- Implement type-safe database operations
Hands-on Tasks
- Convert your models from SQLAlchemy to SQLModel
- Implement CRUD operations with SQLModel
- Create helper functions for common database operations
- Add validation to your database models
- TaskMaster Mini-Project: Refactor your application to use SQLModel
Curated Resources
- SQLModel Documentation
- SQLModel GitHub Repository
- FastAPI with SQLModel Tutorial
- Migrating from SQLAlchemy to SQLModel
- SQLModel Relationships
Day 21: Database Performance and Optimization
Topic
Optimizing database performance in PostgreSQL and SQLAlchemy.
Learning Objectives
- Understand database performance fundamentals
- Use indexing strategies effectively
- Write efficient queries
- Implement database connection pooling
Hands-on Tasks
- Analyze and optimize slow queries
- Implement proper indexing for your tables
- Use SQLAlchemy's query optimization features
- Configure connection pooling
- TaskMaster Mini-Project: Performance optimization for your database operations
Curated Resources
- PostgreSQL Performance Optimization
- SQLAlchemy Performance
- Database Indexing Strategies
- PostgreSQL EXPLAIN
- SQLAlchemy Connection Pooling
Note: Full-text search, Ask them to see on their own
Day 21: Full-Text Search
Objectives:
- Implement search using PostgreSQL TSVECTOR
Tasks:
- Add
search_vectorcolumn to tasks - Create trigger to update search index on changes
- Build
/tasks/search?q=termendpoint
Resources:
Week 4: Advanced Backend Features
Day 22: Authentication Basics — JWT Implementation
Topic
Implementing JWT-based authentication in FastAPI.
Learning Objectives
- Understand authentication and authorization concepts
- Implement secure password handling
- Create JWT token generation and validation
- Set up protected routes in FastAPI
Hands-on Tasks
- Implement user registration and login endpoints
- Create secure password hashing with passlib
- Implement JWT token generation and validation
- Set up protected routes using dependencies
- TaskMaster Mini-Project: Add authentication to your TaskMaster API
Tasks:
- Add
/loginendpoint issuing JWTs - Create dependency to validate tokens in requests
- Set token expiration and refresh logic
Curated Resources
- FastAPI Security Documentation
- JWT.io Introduction
- Passlib Documentation
- FastAPI JWT Auth Example
- OWASP Authentication Cheat Sheet
Resources:
Day 23: OAuth2 & Role-Based Access Control
Topic
Implementing OAuth2 authentication and role-based access control.
Learning Objectives
- Understand OAuth2 flow and components
- Implement OAuth2 with password flow in FastAPI
- Create role-based access control system
- Secure endpoints based on user roles and permissions
Hands-on Tasks
- Implement OAuth2 password flow with FastAPI
- Create a role and permission system
- Implement endpoint protection based on roles
- Add social authentication providers (optional)
- TaskMaster Mini-Project: Add role-based access control to your TaskMaster API
Note: Social Login Ask them to see on their own if interested
Day 23: Social Login
Objectives:
- Add Google/GitHub OAuth2 login
Tasks:
- Integrate
python-social-authlibrary - Implement
Login with Googleflow - Handle OAuth2 callbacks
Resources:
Curated Resources
- FastAPI OAuth2 with Password
- OAuth2 Simplified
- FastAPI Users Library
- Role-Based Access Control Guide
- FastAPI Security OAuth2 Scopes
Day 24: Middleware & CORS
Topic
Using middleware for cross-cutting concerns and implementing CORS.
Learning Objectives
- Understand middleware concept and use cases
- Implement custom middleware in FastAPI
- Configure CORS for frontend integration
- Use middleware for logging, timing, and error handling
Hands-on Tasks
- Implement request logging middleware
- Set up proper CORS configuration
- Create error handling middleware
- Implement request timing middleware
- TaskMaster Mini-Project: Add middleware stack to your application
Tasks:
- Create middleware to log requests
- Configure CORS for frontend access
- Add rate limiting with
slowapi
Curated Resources
- FastAPI Middleware Documentation
- FastAPI CORS
- MDN CORS Guide
- Starlette Middleware
- Custom Middleware Examples
Resources:
Day 25: Background Tasks & Scheduled Jobs
Topic
Implementing background tasks and scheduled jobs in FastAPI.
Learning Objectives
- Use FastAPI's background tasks
- Implement task queues with Celery
- Create scheduled jobs with APScheduler
- Handle long-running processes
Hands-on Tasks
- Implement email notifications using background tasks
- Set up Celery with Redis for task processing
- Create scheduled data cleaning and report generation jobs
- Implement progress tracking for long-running tasks
- TaskMaster Mini-Project: Add notification system with background processing
Tasks:
- Send welcome email as background task
- Implement task status update notifications
- Use Celery for distributed task queue
Curated Resources
- FastAPI Background Tasks
- Celery Documentation
- APScheduler Documentation
- Redis Queue Documentation
- Background Tasks Best Practices
Resources:
Day 26: Caching Strategies
Topic
Implementing caching to improve API performance.
Learning Objectives
- Understand caching concepts and strategies
- Implement Redis as a caching solution
- Use in-memory caching with FastAPI
- Implement cache invalidation strategies
Hands-on Tasks
- Set up Redis for caching
- Implement endpoint response caching
- Create a caching dependency
- Implement cache invalidation for data modifications
- TaskMaster Mini-Project: Add caching to improve the performance of frequently-accessed endpoints
Tasks:
- Cache frequent DB queries
- Implement cache invalidation on writes
- Add ETag headers for client caching
Curated Resources
- Redis Documentation
- FastAPI Caching Example
- Caching Best Practices
- Redis Python Client
- HTTP Caching MDN
Resources:
Day 27: WebSockets in FastAPI
Topic
Implementing real-time communication with WebSockets.
Learning Objectives
- Understand WebSocket protocol basics
- Implement WebSocket endpoints in FastAPI
- Create a real-time notification system
- Handle WebSocket authentication and connection management
Hands-on Tasks
- Create a basic WebSocket endpoint
- Implement a chat functionality between users
- Build a real-time task update notification system
- Implement WebSocket authentication
- TaskMaster Mini-Project: Add real-time updates for task changes
Tasks:
- Build real-time task updates via WebSockets
- Implement chat for task comments
- Broadcast messages to multiple clients
Curated Resources
- FastAPI WebSockets Documentation
- MDN WebSockets Guide
- Starlette WebSockets
- WebSockets Tutorial
- Building a Chat Application with FastAPI and WebSockets
Resources:
Day 28: API Documentation & OpenAPI
Topic
Creating comprehensive API documentation and leveraging OpenAPI.
Learning Objectives
- Understand OpenAPI specification
- Customize FastAPI's automatic documentation
- Add detailed descriptions and examples
- Create custom documentation
Hands-on Tasks
- Enhance API documentation with detailed descriptions
- Add examples to request and response models
- Customize the Swagger UI and ReDoc interfaces
- Generate client SDKs from your OpenAPI schema
- TaskMaster Mini-Project: Create comprehensive documentation for your API
Curated Resources
- FastAPI OpenAPI Documentation
- OpenAPI Specification
- Customizing Swagger UI
- Adding Examples
- API Documentation Best Practices
Week 5: Testing, DevOps & Deployment
Day 29: Testing and CI/CD
Topic
Testing FastAPI applications and implementing CI/CD pipelines.
Learning Objectives
- Write effective unit and integration tests
- Use pytest for testing FastAPI applications
- Implement test fixtures and mocking
- Set up continuous integration with GitHub Actions
Hands-on Tasks
- Create unit tests for your API endpoints
- Implement integration tests with test databases
- Use test fixtures for common test setups
- Set up a GitHub Actions CI pipeline
- TaskMaster Mini-Project: Create a comprehensive test suite for your API
Tasks:
- Test API endpoints with
pytestandhttpx - Mock database session in tests
- Achieve 80%+ test coverage
Curated Resources
- FastAPI Testing Documentation
- Pytest Documentation
- Testing FastAPI with Pytest
- GitHub Actions Documentation
- CI/CD Best Practices
Resources:
Day 30: Docker, Kubernetes & Cloud Deployment
Topic
Containerizing and deploying your FastAPI application.
Learning Objectives
- Understand containerization with Docker
- Create production-ready Docker images
- Deploy your application to cloud platforms
- Understand Kubernetes basics for orchestration
Hands-on Tasks
- Create a Dockerfile for your FastAPI application
- Set up Docker Compose for local development
- Deploy your application to a cloud provider (AWS, GCP, Azure, or Heroku)
- Configure environment variables and secrets
- TaskMaster Mini-Project: Deploy your complete TaskMaster API to production
Tasks:
- Create Dockerfile with multi-stage build
- Set up GitHub Actions for automated testing
- Configure PostgreSQL in Docker Compose
Tasks:
- Deploy to Heroku Container Registry
- Configure AWS ECS with Fargate
- Set up monitoring with Prometheus/Grafana
Curated Resources
- FastAPI Deployment Documentation
- Docker Documentation
- Docker Compose Documentation
- Kubernetes Documentation
- Deploying FastAPI on Heroku
- AWS Elastic Beanstalk Documentation
- Google Cloud Run Documentation
- Digital Ocean App Platform
Resources:
Resources:
Capstone Project: TaskMaster API
Throughout this course, you've been building components of the TaskMaster API. By Day 30, you will have a complete, production-ready task management system with the following features:
Features
- User registration and authentication
- Task creation, reading, updating, and deletion
- Task categorization and tagging
- Task assignment and sharing between users
- Comments on tasks
- Task prioritization and status tracking
- Notifications (email and real-time)
- Task search and filtering
- User roles and permissions
- API documentation
- Comprehensive test suite
Architecture
- FastAPI for the web framework
- PostgreSQL for the database
- SQLAlchemy/SQLModel for ORM
- Pydantic for data validation
- JWT for authentication
- Redis for caching and background tasks
- WebSockets for real-time updates
- Docker for containerization
- Cloud deployment
Deployment
On the final day, you'll deploy your application to a cloud provider of your choice (AWS, GCP, Azure, Heroku, etc.) using Docker containers, making your API accessible to the world.
Next Steps After the Course
After completing this 30-day curriculum, here are some suggested next steps to continue your backend engineering journey:
-
Expand Your API: Add more advanced features like analytics, reporting, or integrations with third-party services.
-
Build a Frontend: Create a frontend application that consumes your API using a framework like React, Nextjs, Vue, or Angular.
-
Explore Microservices: Break down your monolithic API into smaller, focused microservices.
-
Advanced DevOps: Implement more advanced DevOps practices like infrastructure as code, automated scaling, and monitoring.
-
Performance Optimization: Dive deeper into performance optimization techniques for both your API and database.
-
Contribute to Open Source: Apply your skills by contributing to open-source FastAPI projects.
-
Security Hardening: Conduct security audits and implement advanced security features.
-
API Gateway: Implement an API gateway for rate limiting, analytics, and centralized authentication.
Happy coding, and welcome to the world of backend engineering!