Level 3: Advanced Development

API Development & Integration

Build the backbone of custom manufacturing software. Learn to design, secure, and deploy production-ready APIs that connect your entire factory floor.

Backend Architecture

REST vs GraphQL, Microservices vs Monoliths, and choosing the right database strategy.

Security & Auth

JWTs, OAuth2 flow, Rate Limiting, and protecting your endpoints from abuse.

CI/CD & Deployment

Automated testing, Docker containerization, and cloud deployment pipelines.

Choosing Your Stack

In modern manufacturing, two frameworks dominate the API landscape. Your choice depends on your team's existing skills and specific use cases.

Python (FastAPI)

Great for AI/ML heavy workloads.

Type SafetyAsync NativeAuto-Docs

Node.js (Express/Nest)

Ideal for real-time dashboards & high concurrency.

Huge EcosystemJSON NativeSame Logic as Frontend

Core Design Principles

1
Statelessness
Each request must contain all necessary info. The server shouldn't remember the last request context.
2
Resource Based
URLs should represent nouns (entities), not verbs. e.g. /orders not /createOrder
3
Versioning
Always version your API (e.g., /v1/parts) so you don't break existing integrations when you update.

Ready to build?

Follow our detailed tutorial series to build a complete Inventory Management API from scratch.

from fastapi import FastAPI
from pydantic import BaseModel

app = FastAPI()

class Order(BaseModel):
    item_id: str
    quantity: int

@app.post("/orders/")
async def create_order(order: Order):
    return {"message": "Order received", "item": order.item_id}

Input: JSON BodyOutput: 200 OK

What's happening here?

We define a POST endpoint at /orders
The server accepts a JSON body with item_id
It responds with a confirmation message and data