David Carachi
Become a backend web engineer and get your hands dirty with SQL & PHP - the core technologies of the dynamic web. PHP is used by 76% of all websites and that includes giants such as Facebook, Slack and Wordpress. From small eCommerce websites to comprehensive ERP systems, PHP is at the heart of an open-source stack that powers modern enterprise. Paired with MySQL or MariaDB, developers have a 100% open-source stack with which to develop applications from scratch. PHP is used by a large number of frameworks including WordPress and Laravel, meaning PHP knowledge lets you develop, optimise and customise these popular platforms.
This study programme starts with a database-development module, where you will learn about different database models and then focus on relational (and object-relational) databases, including creating the database, adding data, queries and optimisation. You then start your PHP journey in the PHP Foundations module, where you will learn object-oriented programming using the latest version of PHP. You will be able to create dynamic database-driven websites and learn how to create all of the components required in the modern web. Finally, you will round off your studies with the PHP Advanced module - where you will master PHP. You will learn and implement design patterns, understand optimisation, learn how to create REST web services and use PHP frameworks.
Throughout this programme, we will be focusing on best practices such as version control with Git and using Docker to create a repeatable development environment.
Objectives & Outcomes
Plan the structure of data storage using an Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD).
Use Structured Query Language (SQL) to implement a database design in a relational database.
Demonstrate the differences between different relational database management systems.
Create queries across single and multiple tables using SQL.
Design the structure/layout of a backend web application.
Use the syntax of PHP to create a web application.
Construct a framework for a PHP application including connecting the application to a database.
Create an Application Programming Interface (API) using PHP.
Use design patterns to implement industry best practices in applications.
Apply integrations with front-end JavaScript and layout frameworks such as Twig.
Create a development environment using Docker.
Publish projects using Git and GitHub.
Practice testing APIs and backend code with Postman.
Apply integration with APIs including weather, Google Maps and Mastadon.
Use backend knowledge to creating front-ends with rich UIs.
Use the bootstrap framework to quickly prototype projects.