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Free courseJetBrains Academy

Full-Stack JavaScript for Beginners

Understand the full web development cycle and build a portfolio-ready chat app to showcase your skills.

Skill levelBeginner
Time to complete 20-25 hours
Skill levelBeginner
Time to complete 20-25 hours

About this course

Start your full-stack web development journey by building a real-time chat app from the ground up, no prior experience needed.

In Part 1, you’ll create a complete backend with Node.js and Express: implement authentication, enable real-time messaging with WebSockets, connect a database, and test your work using a built-in demo interface.

In Part 2, you’ll design a responsive frontend with React, connect it to your backend, and deliver a smooth, interactive user experience—just like in professional web apps.

Your result: a portfolio-ready full-stack project and a clear understanding of how modern web applications are built, from backend to frontend.

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This course runs directly in your JetBrains IDE

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Content

  1. About this course
  2. Web app architecture
  1. Lesson overview
  2. Hello world
  3. New route handler
  1. Lesson overview
  2. Updating the project
  3. Handling request parameters
  4. Sum route implementation
  5. Educational frontend
  1. Lesson overview
  2. Looking at the test
  3. Writing tests
  4. Middleware concept
  5. Logging
  1. Lesson overview
  2. Interface vs implementation
  3. Create user
  4. Message service
  1. Lesson overview
  2. Messages router
  3. Authentication router
  1. Lesson overview
  2. Socket.IO
  1. Lesson overview
  2. Secret key
  3. Adding authentication
  4. Username from token
  5. WebSockets authentication
  1. Lesson overview
  2. Database integration
  3. A look inside the database
  1. Lesson overview
  2. Dive into JSX
  3. Testing
  4. Calculator
  1. Lesson overview
  2. Application pages
  3. Routing implementation
  1. Lesson overview
  2. Register form
  3. Login form
  4. Routing update
  5. Retrieving messages
  6. Sending messages
  1. Lesson overview
  2. WebSockets support
  1. Lesson overview
  2. Implementation
  1. Lesson overview
  2. About vite.config.js
  3. Creating a new project
  4. Next steps

Learn with the tools developers use every day

Real-world development environmentZoom
Real-world development environmentZoom
Real-world development environmentZoom
Real-world development environmentZoom

  • Real-world development environment

    Gain practical experience with the tools and workflows you'll use in your career, minimizing the learning curve when transitioning to real-world projects.

  • Project-based learning journey

    Our plugin is built to help you finish real-world coding projects, which you can display in your code portfolio after completion.

  • Collaboration via Git

    Effortlessly track changes and collaborate on projects using Git, an essential tool for programmers in every field.

  • Focused learning

    Enjoy fewer distractions with assignments, code, debugging, and version control all in one window.

Student? Get JetBrains IDEs & hands-on courses — free for the full duration of your studies.

Apply using your school email, student ID, ISIC card, or another official document.

What do you need to start?

1

Install the Free JetBrains Toolbox App

The JetBrains Toolbox App 2.7+ makes setting up your course effortless. Already have a compatible IDE? It will launch it. If not, the app will install the right free IDE for your course.

Learn more about our licences here.

Download
2

Confirm the course launch

Click Launch course and then Allow to open the Toolbox App.

Select Always Allow to skip this confirmation in the future.

To return to the course later, find it in your IDE's recent projects.

Need more help? Check out our guide.

The JetBrains Toolbox App 2.7+ makes setting up your course effortless. Already have a compatible IDE? It will launch it. If not, the app will install the right free IDE for your course.

Learn more about our licences here.

Download

Click Launch course and then Allow to open the Toolbox App.

Select Always Allow to skip this confirmation in the future.

To return to the course later, find it in your IDE's recent projects.

Need more help? Check out our guide.

FAQ and troubleshooting

Yes, you will need the JetBrains Toolbox App and a JetBrains IDE.

But don’t worry! Just click the Open course button and then select Allow in the resultant popup to install the JetBrains Toolbox App. We've taken care of all the necessary settings, and the app will handle the rest of the setup for you.

The JetBrains Toolbox App checks which IDE is compatible with your course and whether it is installed on your computer. If you have the necessary IDE installed, the app will open it. If not, JetBrains Toolbox will initiate the installation, prioritizing free community editions.

Yes, the JetBrains Toolbox App is essential even if you already have a JetBrains IDE. It automatically prepares your IDE for studying by installing the essential plugins and updating the IDE if necessary.

Please make sure your version of the JetBrains Toolbox App is 2.6 or newer. To update, open the app and click Update Toolbox App to 2.6.x., or download the latest version here.

Yes! It's 100% free and works with both the free and paid versions of JetBrains IDEs.

If you're a student, apply for the Student Pack to get full access to JetBrains IDEs for the duration of your studies. If not, check if you qualify for a free non-commercial license.

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