Software architecture can feel abstract until you see it as what it actually is: choosing the right building blocks and connecting them well. This course starts from zero and builds a working mental model of how web applications and software systems are put together, using diagrams to make the concepts concrete.
What you'll cover
- Architectural styles: client-server, peer-to-peer, and microservices
- Core concepts: data flow, multi-tier architecture, scalability, and fault tolerance
- How to match a technology stack to a specific project, and the trade-offs each choice brings
Why it's worth taking
Beginners get a genuine starting point for developing systemic thinking about software. Developers preparing for full-stack or software engineering interviews get a refresher on the architectural reasoning those interviews often test. And if you're sitting on a startup idea and wondering where to begin, this course lays out the decisions you'll need to make to get from concept to working system.
No prior preparation is required. Note: this is a text-based course delivered as a downloadable archive.