What full-stack means
Three layers of every web app
| Layer | What it does | In this course |
|---|---|---|
| Front end | What people see and click, in their browser | HTML, CSS and a little JavaScript |
| Back end | Code on a server that decides what to show and what's allowed | Python with Flask |
| Database | Remembers everything: users, shifts, who took what | SQLite |
A full-stack developer can work on all three. Even if you later specialise, understanding the whole stack makes you a much better developer.
What you'll build
Shift Swap Board: staff post shifts they can't work, and teammates take them with one click.
- Anyone can see the open shifts
- Sign up and log in to post a shift or take one
- Only the person who posted a shift can remove it
- Two people can't take the same shift — even if they click at the same moment
Why Flask?
Flask is a small, popular Python web framework. You can build a working page in five lines, and you add only what you need — which makes it great for learning how the web really works. The ideas carry over to bigger frameworks like Django and to other languages.
Try it
Download the starter files and unzip them. Open README.txt and look at the six step folders — by the end, you'll have built every one.
Downloads
1 file to download once you enrol.