Build a Job Tracker API (Node.js + Express)

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Build a Job Tracker API (Node.js + Express)

Ship a REST API to track internship applications — backend + JSON persistence.

Skills you'll learn

Node.js REST API JSON / HTTP Express basics CRUD design

~120 min · +50 pts

Recruiters ask: “Have you built an API?” This lab answers yes.

Stack: Node.js + Express (no PHP). Starter: /assets/templates/node-job-tracker/

Endpoints (minimum):
- GET /api/apps — list applications
- POST /api/apps — create {company, role, status}
- PATCH /api/apps/:id — update status
- DELETE /api/apps/:id

Persist to data/apps.json. Include a tiny public/index.html that calls your API with fetch.
Submit: repo or demo notes + reflection (120+ chars) including example curl/fetch calls.

Environment setup (start here)

You need Node.js (includes npm). Commands run in PowerShell (Windows) or Terminal (Mac).

Node.js required

Pick your OS and follow from step 1:

Windows macOS

1) Install Node.js LTS: https://nodejs.org/ → Windows Installer (.msi) → Next through defaults.
2) Open PowerShell: Win key, type PowerShell, Enter.
3) Check: node -v and npm -v (should print version numbers).
4) Create folder C:\Users\YourName\node-job-tracker and download starter files (server.js, package.json, public/…).
5) In PowerShell: cd C:\Users\YourName\node-job-tracker
6) Run: npm install
7) Run: npm start
8) Open browser: http://localhost:3000

1) Install Node.js LTS from https://nodejs.org/ (macOS .pkg) OR: brew install node
2) Open Terminal (Spotlight → Terminal).
3) Check: node -v && npm -v
4) mkdir ~/Documents/node-job-tracker — copy starter files there.
5) cd ~/Documents/node-job-tracker
6) npm install && npm start
7) Open http://localhost:3000

How do I know it worked?

Terminal shows “listening on 3000”. Browser loads the page; visiting http://localhost:3000/api/apps returns JSON (maybe []).

Common issues

‘node’ is not recognized → reopen terminal after Node install. Port 3000 in use → change PORT in server.js. npm install errors → run PowerShell/Terminal as normal user, not mixed admin.

Starter pack

Download the Node + Express starter and ship a job-tracker REST API (npm install && npm start).

README server.js package.json index.html

/assets/templates/node-job-tracker/ · npm install && npm start