Weeks 41 - 48 (10/26/2025 - 12/19/2025)

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    Hi everyone, welcome to my 41st-48th blogs! This is the Week 1-8 post for CST 336 Internet Programming. Similarly to CST 311 Introduction to Computer Networks, while journal entries were not required for this particular course, I wanted to document the concepts and assignments from each week of class. If you would like to see some of these projects for yourself, this link acts as a homepage to visiting all of the projects described below! https://bevans34.github.io
  • Week 1: HTML and CSS
    • This week's primary focus was on learning/practicing creating a website using Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). Highlights from this week included centering a <div>, which is probably one of the biggest memes to ever come out of web development.
      • Labs:
        • 1 - ePortfolio Site
          • In this lab, I created a site hosted on GitHub Pages that features a homepage, about page, and a contact form using a Google Forms embed (iframe).
      • Homework:
        • 1 - The World of Malware
          • For this first homework assignment, I created a site hosted on GitHub Pages that features a homepage/overview about malware and pages with specifics on viruses, trojan horses, and ransomware.
      • Quizzes:
        • HTML and CSS Knowledge Check
  • Week 2: JavaScript
    • This week's primary focus was on making HTML content interactive using JavaScript!
      • Labs:
        • 2 - Guess the Number Game
          • In this lab, I created a site hosted on GitHub Pages that features a game where the goal is to guess the correct number (between 1 and 99) in seven attempts or less.
      • Homework:
        • 2 - US Geography Quiz
          • For this homework assignment, I created a site hosted on GitHub Pages with ten questions on US Geography. Using a variety of different input types, I was able to create multiple-choice, multiple-answer, dropdown, numerical, and text response questions.
      • Quizzes:
        • JavaScript Knowledge Check
  • Week 3: Web APIs
    • This week's primary focus was on making JavaScript interact with external Web APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) using the fetch() function!
      • Labs:
        • 3 - Signup Page
          • In this lab, I created a site hosted on GitHub Pages that interacts with an external Web API to dynamically fill dropdown fields with data. For example, selecting a state fills the county dropdown with all counties in that state!) I also implemented form validation for certain input fields.
      • Homework:
        • 3 - Fetch and Web APIs (Hypixel SkyBlock API - Bazaar Search)
          • For this homework assignment, I created a site hosted on GitHub Pages that interacts with the Hypixel SkyBlock Bazaar API. With the power of <datalist>, you can easily search for any item sold on the Bazaar using its ID to see the buy and sell stats of that item in-game!
      • Quizzes:
        • HTML Forms Knowledge Check
  • Week 4: Node.js and Express
    • This week's primary focus was on writing JavaScript, but in a backend environment by utilizing the Node.js runtime environment and Express framework!
      • Labs:
        • 4 - Express (Solar System)
          • In this lab, I created a site hosted on Render that interacts with external Web APIs and a Node package to display information about the planets in our solar system.
      • Homework:
        • 4 - Express (The World of Malware, revisited)
          • For this homework assignment, I revisited Homework 1 (The World of Malware). In order to satisfy new rubric requirements, a new page about vulnerabilities was added. This page also meets the requirement of interacting with a Web API through the backend. Another requirement was the use of partials, which I use for headers and footers. Other than these two requirements, it was a pretty smooth process to update Homework 1.
      • Quizzes:
        • Node.js and Express Knowledge Check
      • Midterm Exam:
        • At 9AM November 22nd, I took the midterm exam for this course. However, it was more of a timed programming exercise than answering questions.
  • Week 5: Express and MySQL
    • This week's primary focus was on utilizing the Express framework to connect and query to a MySQL database! This is the week where you will understand what "CRUD" means in the world of SQL. (Create, Read, Update, Delete)
      • Labs:
        • 5 - Quote Finder (User site)
          • In this lab, I created a site hosted on Render that interacts with a database that has a quote and author table. Example interactions include getting a list of all quotes, all authors, and seeing details about the author of a quote. On this site, we mainly focus database interaction from a SELECT or read-only point of view.
        • 6 - Quote Finder (Admin site)
          • In this lab, I created a site hosted on Render that interacts with a database that has a quote and author table. Example interactions include getting a list of all quotes, all authors, and seeing details about the author of a quote. On this site, we mainly focus database interaction from the CREATE, UPDATE, DELETE, or write point of view.
      • Quizzes:
        • Express and MySQL Knowledge Check
  • Week 6: Sessions and Authentication
    • This week had a focus on creating authentication and session systems, and it felt more like a supplement than a core part of the class due to the fact that we had no lab or homework assignments related to the topic. However, because our final project will have an account system, this section is very relevant to the authentication side of our final project, Savnac.
      • Quizzes:
        • Authentication Knowledge Check
  • Week 7: Final Exam
    • This week is mainly focused on preparing for the Final Exam and starting the Final Project.
      • Final Exam (Theory):
        • At 9AM December 13th, I took the theory portion of the final exam for this course. It consisted of twenty questions from the earlier Knowledge Checks.
      • Final Exam (Hands-On):
        • At 9AM December 13th, I also took the hands-on portion of the final exam for this course. Like the midterm exam, this was more of a timed programming exercise than answering questions.
  • Week 8: Final Project
In conclusion, I really enjoyed this class. While the earlier portion of this course was review for me, I very much enjoyed diving into Node and Express during the second half of class.

    That is all for these eight weeks, see you in my Week 49 post!
    Onwards to CST 370 Design and Analysis of Algorithms!     However, that will not be for another two weeks as winter break is here! Considering how "non-stop" the CS Online program can feel at times, it is nice to have a little break where you can truly unwind or take a vacation to clear the mind.

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