Stack decision exercise
1. Save 20 web developer job posts from your target cities
2. Count mentions:
   React ___  Angular ___  Node.js ___  Django ___
   Spring Boot ___  MongoDB ___  MySQL/PostgreSQL ___
3. The top backend + database pair = your stack
4. Choose courses that teach that stack in depth

# Python (FastAPI)
from fastapi import FastAPI
app = FastAPI()

@app.get("/api/health")
def health():
    return {"status": "ok"}

// Node.js (Express)
const express = require("express");
const app = express();
app.get("/api/health", (req, res) => res.json({ status: "ok" }));
app.listen(3000);

// If a course teaches this well, you will understand the output
function counter() {
  let count = 0;
  return function () {
    count += 1;
    return count;
  };
}
const next = counter();
console.log(next()); // 1
console.log(next()); // 2  — closure keeps 'count' alive

Foundation Checklist
☐ Semantic HTML and forms
☐ Flexbox and Grid
☐ Responsive, mobile-first CSS
☐ ES6+: let/const, arrow functions, destructuring, modules
☐ async/await and fetch
☐ Components, props, state, routing
☐ REST API design
☐ Authentication basics
☐ Git and pull requests
☐ Deployment to a live URL

Good capstone example: Event Booking App
- React frontend with routing and forms
- REST API (Express, Django or Spring Boot)
- Relational or document database with proper schema
- Signup/login with hashed passwords
- Admin page to create events
- Booking limits and validation
- Deployed frontend + backend with a live URL
- README, screenshots and API docs
- Code reviewed by trainer before submission

Ask during the demo class:
1. Which backend stack do you teach, and how deeply?
2. How many projects will I build and deploy?
3. Who reviews my code, and how often?
4. Do you teach Git with pull requests?
5. How are doubts handled outside class?
6. What career support is included, in writing?

Web Development Course Scorecard (1-5)
                     Course A   Course B   Course C
Stack matches jobs     ___        ___        ___
JS foundation depth    ___        ___        ___
Frontend library       ___        ___        ___
Backend + database     ___        ___        ___
Projects deployed      ___        ___        ___
Code reviews           ___        ___        ___
Batch and support      ___        ___        ___
TOTAL                  ___        ___        ___

Portfolio target by end of course
1. Responsive personal site (HTML/CSS)
2. React app consuming a public API
3. Full stack capstone with auth and database
Each with: live link, GitHub repo, README, screenshots
Bonus: one small open-source contribution

Weekly routine during the course
Class days: attend + take notes
Next day: rebuild class example without looking
Weekend: 3-4 hours on your own project
Sunday: push to GitHub, update README
Daily: 30 minutes of JavaScript practice problems