Advanced Web Application Development Lab Manual for JNTUA R20

Introduction: Advanced Web Application Development involves creating feature-rich, dynamic, and scalable web applications using advanced frameworks, tools, and technologies. The curriculum under the JNTUA R20 regulation aims to equip students with the knowledge and hands-on experience required to design and implement real-world web applications. This lab manual serves as a comprehensive guide for students pursuing web development under the R20 scheme, covering various programming languages, databases, frameworks, and best practices.

Lab Overview: This manual outlines a series of lab exercises that guide students through the process of web application development from scratch. These exercises are designed to enhance their understanding of server-side programming, client-side scripting, database interactions, security mechanisms, and deploying applications on the web. The lab experiments provide an opportunity to learn various tools like HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, PHP, MySQL, Node.js, React, and Express.js.

Lab Exercises: Each lab exercise is designed to reinforce the understanding of specific concepts related to web application development. The exercises will gradually move from simple static websites to fully functional, dynamic web applications.

Lab Exercise 1: Introduction to Web Technologies

• Objective: To understand the fundamentals of web development and different technologies used in the creation of web applications.
• Theory:
  • Understanding the web: What is the World Wide Web?
  • Client-server architecture
  • Overview of HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript
  • Importance of Web Standards (W3C)
• Practical:
  • Setting up the development environment (Visual Studio Code or similar IDE)
  • Developing a basic static web page using HTML5 and CSS3
  • Introduction to version control using Git and GitHub
• Expected Output: Students should create a responsive static website with proper HTML structure, CSS styles, and basic JavaScript functions.

Lab Exercise 2: Building Dynamic Web Pages with JavaScript

• Objective: To introduce dynamic content creation using JavaScript and DOM manipulation.
• Theory:
  • JavaScript fundamentals: Variables, functions, events, and control structures
  • Document Object Model (DOM) manipulation
  • Form validation using JavaScript
• Practical:
  • Creating a dynamic web page with interactive features (e.g., buttons, forms)
  • Implementing JavaScript-based form validation
  • Enhancing user experience with JavaScript animations and effects
• Expected Output: A dynamic webpage that responds to user interactions, such as form submission and content updates.

Lab Exercise 3: Introduction to Server-Side Scripting with PHP

• Objective: To introduce server-side scripting and develop a simple web application with PHP.
• Theory:
  • Overview of server-side scripting
  • PHP fundamentals: Variables, arrays, functions, and session handling
  • Integrating HTML with PHP
• Practical:
  • Setting up a local server environment using XAMPP or similar tools
  • Creating a simple form that collects user input and processes it using PHP
  • Storing and retrieving data from a MySQL database using PHP
• Expected Output: A simple web application that accepts user input and stores it in a MySQL database.

Lab Exercise 4: Database Connectivity Using MySQL

• Objective: To understand database design and connectivity using PHP and MySQL.
• Theory:
  • Introduction to relational databases
  • SQL basics: SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE commands
  • Database design principles: Normalization and relationships (one-to-many, many-to-many)
  • Connecting to MySQL using PHP
• Practical:
  • Designing and creating a MySQL database for a web application
  • Writing PHP scripts to perform CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations on the database
  • Implementing user authentication (login and registration) using PHP and MySQL
• Expected Output: A fully functional login system that interacts with the database and allows users to create accounts, log in, and view personalized content.

Lab Exercise 5: Introduction to Modern Front-End Frameworks

• Objective: To explore front-end frameworks like Bootstrap and React.js for building responsive, modular web applications.
• Theory:
  • Overview of front-end frameworks: Why use them?
  • Introduction to Bootstrap: Grids, components, and utilities
  • Introduction to React.js: Components, JSX, and state management
• Practical:
  • Using Bootstrap to create a responsive and mobile-friendly web application
  • Building a simple single-page application (SPA) using React.js
  • Integrating React components with APIs to display dynamic data
• Expected Output: A modern, responsive web application built with Bootstrap or React.js, demonstrating component-based architecture and dynamic data fetching.

Lab Exercise 6: Full-Stack Development with Node.js and Express

• Objective: To develop a full-stack web application using Node.js and Express.js.
• Theory:
  • Introduction to Node.js: Asynchronous programming, modules, and NPM
  • Understanding the MVC (Model-View-Controller) architecture
  • Introduction to Express.js: Middleware, routing, and templating engines
• Practical:
  • Setting up a Node.js development environment
  • Building a RESTful API using Express.js
  • Connecting the API to a MongoDB database
  • Creating a web application with a Node.js back-end and a React.js front-end
• Expected Output: A full-stack web application that uses Node.js for server-side logic, Express.js for routing, MongoDB for data storage, and React.js for the front-end.

Lab Exercise 7: Securing Web Applications

• Objective: To understand the principles of web security and apply them to secure web applications.
• Theory:
  • Common web vulnerabilities: SQL Injection, Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), and Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)
  • Best practices for securing web applications
  • Introduction to HTTPS and SSL certificates
• Practical:
  • Securing a web application against common vulnerabilities
  • Implementing HTTPS in a Node.js or PHP-based application
  • Adding security features like password hashing, session management, and input sanitization
• Expected Output: A web application with enhanced security features that protect against common attacks and ensure data integrity.

Lab Exercise 8: Deployment and Version Control

• Objective: To learn how to deploy web applications to the cloud and manage code using version control systems.
• Theory:
  • Introduction to cloud services: AWS, Heroku, and Azure
  • Deployment pipelines: CI/CD concepts
  • Version control with Git: Branching, merging, and collaboration
• Practical:
  • Deploying a web application on a cloud platform (e.g., Heroku or AWS)
  • Using Git for version control and collaboration in a team project
  • Setting up a continuous integration and deployment (CI/CD) pipeline
• Expected Output: A live web application deployed on a cloud platform, with proper version control practices in place.

Conclusion: The advanced web application development lab under JNTUA R20 provides students with a hands-on approach to mastering modern web technologies. The exercises cover a wide range of topics, from basic HTML to full-stack development with Node.js and React.js, emphasizing security and best practices. By the end of the course, students will have developed the skills to build, secure, and deploy professional-grade web applications.

Assessment: Students will be assessed based on their performance in lab exercises, code quality, adherence to best practices, and the functionality of their final project. A strong focus will be placed on understanding key concepts and applying them effectively in real-world scenarios.