Lesson 1Form handling and validation (controlled vs uncontrolled, libraries: Formik, React Hook Form, VeeValidate)Put in place strong form handling and validation. Compare controlled and uncontrolled inputs, use tools like Formik, React Hook Form, and VeeValidate, and create validation, error messages, and submission processes for complex forms used in local applications.
Controlled vs uncontrolled input strategiesFormik and React Hook Form in practiceVeeValidate and Vue form patternsSynchronous and async validation rulesError messages, UX, and accessibilityLesson 2UI component libraries and accessibility practices (Tailwind, Material, Chakra, ARIA roles, keyboard navigation)Learn to use modern UI libraries while keeping strong accessibility. Explore Tailwind, Material UI, and Chakra, then apply ARIA roles, focus management, and keyboard navigation to build inclusive interfaces suitable for Zambian users.
Design systems with Tailwind and utility classesMaterial UI and Chakra component patternsSemantic HTML and ARIA role strategiesFocus management and keyboard navigationColor contrast, theming, and reduced motionLesson 3Choosing a frontend framework and justification (React, Vue, Svelte) and ecosystem tradeoffsAssess and explain your choice of frontend framework. Compare React, Vue, and Svelte structures, ecosystem growth, performance, and learning paths so you can pick and support the best option for projects in Zambia.
React, Vue, and Svelte core conceptsEcosystem maturity and community supportPerformance and bundle size tradeoffsTypeScript and tooling integrationDecision frameworks for real projectsLesson 4Build, bundling, and optimization: Webpack/Vite/Rollup, code splitting, tree-shaking, asset handlingMaster modern build tools for efficient frontends. Compare Webpack, Vite, and Rollup, set up code splitting and tree-shaking, and optimise asset handling, caching, and source maps for quick, maintainable production bundles.
Comparing Webpack, Vite, and Rollup setupsCode splitting and dynamic importsTree-shaking and dead code eliminationOptimising images, fonts, and static assetsCaching, hashes, and source map strategiesLesson 5Client-side tests: unit testing components, integration tests, testing library choices and examplesDevelop a solid client-side testing plan. Learn unit testing for components, integration tests across routes and APIs, and how to choose between Jest, Vitest, Cypress, and Testing Library for reliable test suites.
Unit testing UI components in isolationIntegration tests for flows and routingUsing Testing Library for user-centric testsChoosing Jest, Vitest, Cypress, or PlaywrightMocking APIs and handling flaky testsLesson 6Local dev and environment configuration: env vars, .env files, feature flags for frontendSet up reliable frontend environments for local and cloud use. Learn to manage environment variables, .env files, build-time injection, and feature flags to safely switch functions across development, staging, and production.
Managing .env files and build-time variablesSeparating dev, staging, and production configsRuntime configuration and environment safetyImplementing frontend feature flagsSecrets handling and configuration pitfallsLesson 7Project structure and folder conventions for single-page apps (components, pages, services, hooks)Design scalable project structures for single-page apps. Learn folder setups for components, pages, services, and hooks, and how to organise shared utilities, tests, and styles to keep large codebases easy to find and maintain.
Organising components, pages, and layoutsServices, hooks, and data access layersShared utilities, types, and constantsStructuring tests and story filesRefactoring toward modular boundariesLesson 8API integration patterns: REST vs GraphQL clients, error handling, request retries, timeoutsPut in place strong API integration patterns on the client. Compare REST and GraphQL clients, set up Axios or Fetch, handle errors and retries, and design timeouts, cancellation, and normalisation for resilient data fetching.
Configuring REST clients with Axios or FetchUsing GraphQL clients like Apollo or URQLGlobal error handling and user messagingRequest retries, backoff, and timeoutsCancellation, abort controllers, and cachingLesson 9Authentication on the frontend: storing tokens, refresh flows, and secure cookie approachesUnderstand secure frontend authentication patterns. Compare localStorage, sessionStorage, and cookies, design refresh token flows, and implement HttpOnly cookies, CSRF defences, and logout strategies to protect users.
Token storage: localStorage vs cookiesImplementing refresh token flows safelyHttpOnly cookies and CSRF protectionHandling logout, revocation, and rotationAuth error handling and user feedbackLesson 10State management options and patterns (local component state, Context, Redux/Pinia/MobX, React Query)Compare state management options for complex frontends. Explore local state, Context, Redux, Pinia, MobX, and React Query, and learn patterns for caching, normalisation, and avoiding unnecessary re-renders in large apps.
Local component state and lifting patternsContext API for cross-cutting concernsRedux, Pinia, and MobX store designServer state with React Query or SWRPerformance tuning and selector patternsLesson 11Routing and protected routes: client-side routing, route guards, lazy loadingBuild reliable client-side routing with protected routes. Learn route setup, nested routes, lazy loading, and route guards that enforce authentication and authorisation while keeping navigation quick and accessible.
Configuring client-side routers and routesNested routes and layout hierarchiesImplementing lazy loading and code splittingAuth-based route guards and redirectsHandling 404 pages and fallback routes
