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Let's discuss the project for this course
Prerequisites
[MUSIC]
0:00
Hello and welcome.
0:05
I'm Craig and I'm a developer.
0:06
In this workshop we are going to take on
task of implementing an SQL back REST API
0:07
using the Java micro web framework Spark.
0:13
So I hope you understood that
mouthful of words I just spouted out.
0:16
If not, there's some prerequisites
to this workshop that I've listed in
0:19
the teacher's notes.
0:23
Now, after reviewing those,
we'll be on the same page and
0:24
talking the same language.
0:26
As always, there are video controls
to slow me way down and speed me up.
0:28
If I start getting bored.
0:33
The ability to build a REST API
is becoming more and
0:35
more a required skill that you absolutely
need to have in your Java tool bell.
0:38
Client side framework are taking off and
0:43
they expect a backend server
to do all the heavy lifting.
0:45
They all almost follow
REST out of the box.
0:49
Mobile applications have exploded and
just about every company has or
0:51
wants a mobile app these days.
0:56
These apps need to talk to
the existing infrastructure and
0:58
usually they do that using REST.
1:01
So, what better way to get started
exploring building a REST API
1:03
than using a very straightforward
approach to the problem.
1:07
Spark is once again is
going to do this for us.
1:10
I thought we'd take a chance with this
project to also explore using a database
1:13
implementation and land on a friendly
middle ground between raw SQL and
1:17
an object relational mapper.
1:21
We'll also explore using a package that
allows us to take our model objects and
1:23
turn them into JSON or
JavaScript object Notation.
1:27
So the project that we're going to be
building together is a public facing
1:31
REST API that will allow people
to review online courses.
1:34
Now there are a ton of online tutorials
and we'll be providing a way for
1:38
people to submit a brand new course.
1:42
For instance, something like this.
1:44
A course might be how to beat angry birds.
1:46
That's what the course looks like.
1:48
And then after that you can
submit reviews for each course.
1:50
Like a glowing one.
1:53
Five stars.
1:54
Loved it.
1:55
Or one that isn't so great.
1:56
Obviously, when reviewing tree
house courses these are going to be
1:58
five out of a possible five.
2:00
But our API is made to exact
courses from anywhere.
2:02
So the client of the API can request
a list of courses that have reviews
2:06
as well as submit a new course and
a new review.
2:10
This aggregating of information is a
common use case of software as a service,
2:13
or SAAS.
2:18
Sound fun?
2:19
Let's get this party started.
2:20
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