Curriculum · v2026.08

Full-Stack Engineering with AI Assistance

91 days · 1 hour per day · fundamentals first · build, verify, explain

Start Day 1

Weeks

1 Orientation, CLI, and the Web Understand the machine, files, terminal, browser, server, and request/response model before writing much code. Project Create a development workspace and a hand-drawn system diagram of a web request. 0/7
2 HTML, CSS, Git, and the First Website Build and publish a small, semantic, responsive website while learning version control from day one. Project A responsive Electronics Engineer profile and project page published from a Git repository. 0/7
3 JavaScript Foundations I Learn to model values, decisions, repetitions, and small reusable operations without a framework. Project A command-line electronics calculator with validation and reusable functions. 0/7
4 JavaScript Foundations II and the Browser Work with transformations, asynchronous operations, browser state, and interactive pages. Project A browser-based component inventory with search, filtering, and local persistence. 0/7
5 TypeScript, Packages, and Tooling Add static checks, package management, build tools, formatting, and a disciplined AI coding workflow. Project Convert the inventory application to TypeScript and run it through a modern build tool. 0/7
6 HTTP, Node.js, and APIs Build a server from first principles, then use Express to create a clear REST-style API. Project A typed Equipment Maintenance API using Node.js and Express, initially with in-memory data. 0/7
7 SQL and PostgreSQL Model durable relational data, query it directly, and connect it to the API without hiding SQL behind abstractions. Project Replace in-memory API storage with PostgreSQL tables, migrations, and transactions. 0/7
8 Backend Architecture, Authentication, and Security Turn the API into a maintainable application with clear layers, authentication, authorization, logging, and defensive defaults. Project A secured maintenance API with users, sessions, roles, tests, and operational logging. 0/7
9 React Frontend Fundamentals Build a component-based interface while keeping JavaScript, state, accessibility, and data flow explicit. Project A typed React frontend for browsing and editing equipment and maintenance records. 0/7
10 Connecting the Full Stack Connect React, Express, and PostgreSQL into a working product and understand every boundary in the data flow. Project A complete Equipment Maintenance Tracker with authenticated CRUD workflows. 0/7
11 Testing, Security, Docker, and Deployment Make the application safer to change, easier to run, and observable in a production-like environment. Project A tested, containerized, deployed version of the maintenance tracker. 0/7
12 AI-Assisted Capstone: Build Without Vibe Coding Use Codex intensively while preserving human ownership through specifications, plans, small changes, tests, reviews, and explain-back gates. Project Design, build, test, and present an original full-stack application with one narrow, justified AI feature. 0/7
13 Capstone Completion and Professional Handoff Complete the app, add one responsible AI-powered feature, verify production behavior, and make the project understandable to another developer. Project A deployed, documented, tested full-stack application with a responsible AI feature and a technical walkthrough. 0/7

Milestones

Week 2

Responsive engineer profile

Proof

Published static site with semantic HTML, responsive CSS, Git history, and README.

Week 4

Component inventory

Proof

Browser app with DOM events, search, filtering, validation, modules, and local persistence.

Week 7

Maintenance API + PostgreSQL

Proof

Typed API with CRUD, validation, relational schema, parameterized SQL, migrations, and tests.

Week 10

Full-stack maintenance tracker

Proof

React frontend, authenticated Express API, PostgreSQL, integrated workflows, and debugging trace.

Week 13

Original deployed capstone

Proof

Documented, tested, deployed full-stack app with one narrow, validated AI feature.