AI-Assisted Back-End Development
Learn back-end development with AI tools. Build APIs, work with Node.js, and manage databases using AI coding agents for faster workflows.
Skill level
IntermediateTime to complete
Average based on combined completion rates — individual pacing in lessons, projects, and quizzes may vary4 hoursProjects
3Prerequisites
None
About this skill path
Ready to move beyond vibe coding and into real AI-assisted back-end development? This course teaches you how to design, build, and scale server-side applications using AI coding agents like Codex CLI as development partners.
You’ll start by understanding how back-end systems work, including servers, APIs, authentication, and technology stacks. Then, you’ll move into Node.js fundamentals, where you’ll learn how JavaScript runs outside the browser, how the event loop handles asynchronous tasks, and how to build CLI applications.
From there, you’ll design and implement scalable APIs using Express.js with AI guidance. You’ll learn how to define API contracts, structure routes, controllers, and services, and apply middleware for logging, validation, and security. Finally, you’ll work with databases using Prisma, where you’ll model data, manage migrations, handle relationships, and connect APIs to persistent storage.
Throughout the course, you’ll focus on writing effective prompts, verifying AI-generated code, and making architectural decisions that ensure your applications are secure, scalable, and maintainable. By the end, you’ll have the skills to confidently use AI as a back-end development partner while maintaining full control over your codebase.
Skills you'll gain
- Build back-end applications using Node.js and AI assistance
- Design and implement REST APIs with Express.js
- Structure scalable server-side architectures
- Work with databases using Prisma and manage data models
- Apply authentication, validation, and secure coding practices
Syllabus
2 units • 6 lessons • 3 projects • 6 quizzes- 1
AI-Assisted Development with Codex CLI
Learn to build maintainable projects with AI using Codex CLI in this course on agentic coding, specs, TDD, and context engineering.
- 2
AI-Assisted Back-End Development
Learn back-end development with AI tools. Build APIs, work with Node.js, and manage databases using AI coding agents for faster workflows.
Certificate of completion available with Plus or Pro
Earn a certificate of completion and showcase your accomplishment on your resume or LinkedIn.
Projects in this skill path
- practice Project
Expense Tracker CLI
Build a command-line Expense Tracker while applying Node.js fundamentals in a real backend application. In this project, you will create an async service layer, manage configuration through environment variables, validate user input, and format CLI output, all while using an AI coding agent to generate and refine each piece of the codebase. - practice Project
Community Tool Library API
Build a REST API for a community tool-sharing library while applying AI-assisted Express.js development practices. In this project, you will define an API contract before writing a single line of code, generate endpoints and middleware using a coding agent, add JWT authentication to protect member-only routes, and document everything with an OpenAPI specification. - practice Project
Local Repair Café API
Build a REST API for a community repair café while applying database design, ORM patterns, and data access techniques using Prisma and SQLite. In this project, you will define a data model, run migrations, write validated endpoints that query a real database, model relationships between entities, and separate database records from API responses using DTOs.
Earn a certificate of completion
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Reviews from learners
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- Brilliant learning experience. Very interactive. Literally a game changer if you're learning on your own.John-AndrewCodecademy Learner @ USA
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Related resources
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OpenAI’s Codex App for macOS: Setup, Features & First Project
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Practice Projects
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