Educative Highlights: February 2023 Edition
Tags: programming, productivity, career
Published: 2023-03-10 19:35:09

Educative is continuously updating its extensive library with **exciting and engaging courses**, skill paths, and projects. So whether you want to master **web development, data science, cloud development, AI, game development**, or even **agile methodologies**, we have something for you!

As developers, investing in learning new skills and keeping existing ones sharp is one of the smartest career moves you can make. That's why we're thrilled to introduce our latest popular courses, paths, projects, and skill assessments from February 2023. 

These topics range from mastering functional programming with TypeScript to building full-stack applications using Meteor.js to developing REST APIs with Spring and Springfox. If you'd rather learn about distributed systems, Rust, or ReactJS, Educative has got you covered, too!

Let's dive right in!

**We'll cover:**

* Web development
* Data science
* Distributed systems
* Software testing
* Agile methodologies and software management
* Systems programming and algorithms

![Web dev](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/p60zx8elj696ib6l0d2y.png)



## Web development: Build a full-stack application
The internet is ubiquitous, and the demand for skilled web developers has never been higher. We use websites and web applications for everything from online shopping to social media, and the need for developers who can create and maintain them is only growing.

Since web development is a constantly evolving field, at Educative, we have a variety of courses that will help you continue learning and growing your skills. 

### [Building a Full-stack Application Using the MEAN Stack](https://www.educative.io/courses/building-a-full-stack-application-using-the-mean-stack?utm_campaign=&utm_source=medium&utm_medium=text&utm_content=&utm_term=&eid=5082902844932096)

**Completion time estimate: 24 hours**

This course will teach you how to **create a full-stack application with the MEAN stack**. Beginning with the front end, you'll learn how to set up an Angular application from scratch and implement essential features like routing, token-based authentication, and error handling. You'll also learn how to implement a dependency injection and router guards for secure navigation in your Angular app.

You'll use **Node.js, Express**, and **MongoDB** in the back end to create **REST APIs**, and you'll learn to create middleware to handle errors, token verification, setting up models and schemas, and creating a MongoDB database. The course also covers the concept of separation of concern, a crucial design principle in building scalable applications. You'll have a fully functioning full-stack application at the end of the course. 

### More web development courses, paths, and skill assessments

The following courses cover other web development skills and technologies.

* [Developing Web Applications with PHP](https://www.educative.io/courses/developing-web-applications-with-php?utm_campaign=&utm_source=medium&utm_medium=text&utm_content=&utm_term=&eid=5082902844932096)
* [Building Full Stack Applications Using Meteor.js](https://www.educative.io/courses/building-full-stack-applications-using-meteor-js?utm_campaign=&utm_source=medium&utm_medium=text&utm_content=&utm_term=&eid=5082902844932096)
* [Build E-Commerce Apps with Reactive Programming in Spring Boot](https://www.educative.io/courses/build-e-commerce-apps-with-reactive-programming-in-spring-boot?utm_campaign=&utm_source=medium&utm_medium=text&utm_content=&utm_term=&eid=5082902844932096)
* [REST APIs with Spring, JPA, and Springfox](https://www.educative.io/courses/rest-api-with-spring-jpa-and-springfox?utm_campaign=&utm_source=medium&utm_medium=text&utm_content=&utm_term=&eid=5082902844932096)
* [Creating Five Impactful Applications with ReactJS](https://www.educative.io/courses/creating-five-impactful-applications-with-reactjs?utm_campaign=&utm_source=medium&utm_medium=text&utm_content=&utm_term=&eid=5082902844932096)
* [Building User Interfaces and Functions with TypeScript and React](https://www.educative.io/courses/building-user-interfaces-and-functions-with-typescript-and-react?utm_campaign=&utm_source=medium&utm_medium=text&utm_content=&utm_term=&eid=5082902844932096)
* [Getting Started with TypeScript ORM Libraries for Node.js](https://www.educative.io/courses/getting-started-with-typescript-orm-libraries-for-node-js?utm_campaign=&utm_source=medium&utm_medium=text&utm_content=&utm_term=&eid=5082902844932096)
* [Using fp-ts for Functional Programming in TypeScript](https://www.educative.io/courses/using-fp-ts-for-functional-programming-in-typescript?utm_campaign=&utm_source=medium&utm_medium=text&utm_content=&utm_term=&eid=5082902844932096)
* [A Guide to PyQt6 for Beginners](https://www.educative.io/courses/a-guide-to-pyqt6-for-beginners?utm_campaign=&utm_source=medium&utm_medium=text&utm_content=&utm_term=&eid=5082902844932096) 
* [Advanced VueJS: Build Better Applications Efficiently](https://www.educative.io/courses/advanced-vuejs-build-better-applications-efficiently?utm_campaign=&utm_source=medium&utm_medium=text&utm_content=&utm_term=&eid=5082902844932096)

Our new web development skill paths dive deeper into focus areas with more comprehensive instruction.

* [Become a Python-based API Integrator](https://www.educative.io/path/become-a-python-based-api-integrator?utm_campaign=&utm_source=medium&utm_medium=text&utm_content=&utm_term=&eid=5082902844932096)
* [Ace the APIs for Social Media](https://www.educative.io/path/ace-the-api-for-social-media?utm_campaign=&utm_source=medium&utm_medium=text&utm_content=&utm_term=&eid=5082902844932096)
* [Ace the APIs for Entertainment Applications](https://www.educative.io/path/ace-the-api-for-entertainment-applications?utm_campaign=&utm_source=medium&utm_medium=text&utm_content=&utm_term=&eid=5082902844932096)
* [Become an Elixir Professional](https://www.educative.io/path/path-to-become-an-elixir-professional?utm_campaign=&utm_source=medium&utm_medium=text&utm_content=&utm_term=&eid=5082902844932096)

Finally, take stock of your web development skills with these new offerings.

* Skill Assessment: [HTML Fundamentals](https://www.educative.io/collection/page/10370001/6575286532702208/5625490602983424/assessment?utm_campaign=&utm_source=medium&utm_medium=text&utm_content=&utm_term=&eid=5082902844932096)

* Skill Assessment: [Elixir Fundamentals](https://www.educative.io/collection/page/10370001/6054328004771840/4683018951458816/assessment?utm_campaign=&utm_source=medium&utm_medium=text&utm_content=&utm_term=&eid=5082902844932096)


## Data science: Learn how to manipulate data
Data science is a booming field that uses data to draw insights and make informed decisions. It combines skills from disciplines like statistics and computer science with domain knowledge to extract meaningful information from large datasets. 

Educative offers several courses to help you get started with data science or advance your skills. From learning the **basics of Python programming** to **data visualization techniques, machine learning**, and **statistical analysis**, you'll find a variety of courses tailored to your specific learning needs. 

### [Processing Real-world Data Efficiently with Rust](https://www.educative.io/courses/processing-real-world-data-efficiently-with-rust?utm_campaign=&utm_source=medium&utm_medium=text&utm_content=&utm_term=&eid=5082902844932096)

**Completion time estimate: 10 hours**

This course teaches intermediate Rust programming, covering the five key data-related skills: **data input, storage, serving data, analyzing data**, and **data visualization**.

You'll learn to extract data from various formats such as CSV, JSON, web APIs, and web scraping. The courses also teach you to store data using Redis, SQL servers, or NoSQL databases like MongoDB. 

At the end of the course, you will learn how to present your data through meaningful visualizations, web maps, and reports. 

### More data science courses, projects, skill assessments, and a path

The following courses cover other aspects of data science. 

* [Practical Data Analysis with SQL](https://www.educative.io/courses/practical-data-analysis-with-sql?utm_campaign=&utm_source=medium&utm_medium=text&utm_content=&utm_term=&eid=5082902844932096)
* [Processing Real-world Data Efficiently with Rust](https://www.educative.io/courses/processing-real-world-data-efficiently-with-rust?utm_campaign=&utm_source=medium&utm_medium=text&utm_content=&utm_term=&eid=5082902844932096)
* [DynamoDB: From Basic To Advance](https://www.educative.io/courses/dynamodb-from-basic-to-advance?utm_campaign=&utm_source=medium&utm_medium=text&utm_content=&utm_term=&eid=5082902844932096)
* [Deep Dive into the Internals of the Database](https://www.educative.io/courses/deep-dive-into-the-internals-of-the-database?utm_campaign=&utm_source=medium&utm_medium=text&utm_content=&utm_term=&eid=5082902844932096)

We've included some projects and a path related to data science, too.

* Project: [Fake News Detection Using Scikit-learn](https://www.educative.io/collection/page/10370001/5427170283618304/5268092085338112/project?utm_campaign=&utm_source=medium&utm_medium=text&utm_content=&utm_term=&eid=5082902844932096)
* Project: [Recognize Emotions from Speech using Librosa](https://www.educative.io/collection/page/10370001/4900520051605504/4970501812518912/project?utm_campaign=&utm_source=medium&utm_medium=text&utm_content=&utm_term=&eid=5082902844932096)

* Path: [Ace the APIs for Machine Learning](https://www.educative.io/path/ace-the-api-for-machine-learning?utm_campaign=&utm_source=medium&utm_medium=text&utm_content=&utm_term=&eid=5082902844932096)

Finally, test your data science skills with these assessments.
* Skill Assessment: [Relational Database Design](https://www.educative.io/collection/page/10370001/4695488399147008/5035885025558528/assessment?utm_campaign=&utm_source=medium&utm_medium=text&utm_content=&utm_term=&eid=5082902844932096)

* Skill Assessment: [Machine Learning Fundamentals](https://www.educative.io/collection/page/10370001/5879271949336576/6424309372551168/assessment?utm_campaign=&utm_source=medium&utm_medium=text&utm_content=&utm_term=&eid=5082902844932096)



## Distributed systems for beginners
A distributed system is **a collection of independent computers that work together to solve a common problem or perform a task**. In a distributed system, each computer, or node, operates independently and communicates with other nodes over a network.

Distributed systems are increasingly prevalent within organizations today. Keeping this in mind, we built a course explaining the basics of distributed systems to anyone unfamiliar with them. 

### [Introduction to Distributed Systems for Dummies](https://www.educative.io/courses/introduction-to-distributed-systems-for-dummies?utm_campaign=system_design&utm_source=medium&utm_medium=text&utm_content=&utm_term=&eid=5082902844932096)

**Completion time estimate: 14 hours**

Throughout this course, you will gain an understanding of distributed systems and the unique challenges they present. You will also explore popular architectural patterns commonly used to address these challenges, like **replication** and **sharding**. Lastly, you will delve into the workings of two prominent distributed systems: Apache Spark and Apache Druid.



## Software testing and functionality
Testing is an integral part of the **SDLC (software development life cycle)**. JUnit is a popular framework widely used for unit testing Java applications. It provides a set of assertions and test fixtures that can be used to test Java methods and classes consistently and repeatedly. 

### [All About JUnit5](https://www.educative.io/courses/all-about-junit5?utm_campaign=&utm_source=medium&utm_medium=text&utm_content=&utm_term=&eid=5082902844932096)

**Completion time estimate: 18 hours**

The course begins by outlining the benefits of JUnit 5 compared to its predecessors before delving directly into testing. It covers a wide range of topics, including assertions, assumptions, tagging and filtering, nested tests, and much more.

Upon completion of the course, you will comprehensively understand unit testing in JUnit 5. 

We've also added two other testing courses:
* [Mastering Unit Testing Principles with NUnit](https://www.educative.io/courses/mastering-unit-testing-principles-with-nunit?utm_campaign=&utm_source=medium&utm_medium=text&utm_content=&utm_term=&eid=5082902844932096)

* [Bulletproof Ruby on Rails Applications](https://www.educative.io/courses/bulletproof-ruby-on-rails-applications?utm_campaign=&utm_source=medium&utm_medium=text&utm_content=&utm_term=&eid=5082902844932096)



## Agile methodologies and software management
Agile methodology promotes iterative development, continuous testing, and frequent feedback loops between developers, stakeholders, and customers. It differs from traditional software development methods focusing on hardcore linear software development approaches.

Educative offers the following new course on Agile development.

### [Learn Agile Methodologies from Scratch](https://www.educative.io/courses/learn-agile-methodologies-from-scratch?utm_campaign=&utm_source=medium&utm_medium=text&utm_content=&utm_term=&eid=5082902844932096)

**Completion time estimate: 20 hours**

This course provides learners with an in-depth understanding of Agile's process model and its various approaches and techniques,

The course first compares Agile methods with the traditional Waterfall model. Then, learners will discover different planning approaches to manage deadlines effectively. Additionally, the course covers backlogs and visual techniques such as burn-down charts and burn-up charts, which can improve project efficiency.

We've added another software delivery course that also covers Agile:
* [Development: A Guide to Modern Software Delivery](https://www.educative.io/courses/development-a-guide-to-modern-software-delivery?utm_campaign=&utm_source=medium&utm_medium=text&utm_content=&utm_term=&eid=5082902844932096)



## Systems programming and algorithms
Systems programming is the development of software designed to interact directly with computer hardware and system resources, such as memory, storage, and input/output devices. To build efficient and effective systems software, it is imperative to have a deep understanding of computer architecture and operating systems.

Algorithms play a crucial role in systems programming because they are used to optimize the performance and efficiency of software by reducing computational complexity, minimizing memory usage, and improving overall speed and responsiveness. 

### [Beginner to advanced computing and logic building](https://www.educative.io/courses/beginner-to-advanced-computing-and-logic-building?utm_campaign=&utm_source=medium&utm_medium=text&utm_content=&utm_term=&eid=5082902844932096)

**Completion time estimate: 46 hours**

In this course, you will learn how to construct logical solutions for coding problems ranging from simple to complex using the C++ programming language. We designed the course to present solutions to problems logically, progressing gradually from basic ones to more advanced, enabling you to create optimized algorithms right from the beginning.

This course covers everything from **fundamental computing concepts** such as variables, loops, and arrays to more advanced topics like developing games by implementing the divide and conquer approach. After taking this course, you will be equipped to tackle coding challenges commonly found in FAANG interviews.

## Continue your learning journey in 2023

That wraps up our overview of the most popular courses released in February 2023! If you're excited to learn more, check out our [full catalog of courses, skill paths, and projects](https://www.educative.io/explore?eid=5082902844932096)! We're always adding new and updated content, so be sure to check it out. We're proud to be the one-stop learning tool for over **1.7 million** individuals who use Educative in their learning journey, and we can't wait to share more with you in the future. 

*Happy learning!*

### Continue learning about programming
* [7 steps to learn Python: from beginner to advanced](https://www.educative.io/blog/learn-python-from-beginner-to-advanced-level?eid=5082902844932096)
* [C++ coding interview questions for beginners](https://www.educative.io/blog/cpp-interview-questions-beginners?eid=5082902844932096)
* [Top 22 Spring Security Interview Questions for Java Programmers](https://www.educative.io/blog/spring-java-interview-questions-practice?eid=5082902844932096)

### Start a discussion 
What course, project, test, or skill path would you like to see on Educative in the near future? Was this article helpful? Let us know in the comments below!