Real-World Java Projects

Build complete backend projects from requirements to deployment, ending with a capstone for your portfolio.

This section is being written. There are no lessons in it yet: below is the plan for what it will cover. It opens in the syllabus as soon as its first lessons are ready.

What you will be able to do

Turn written requirements into a schema, API design and task list
Build complete Spring Boot backends with PostgreSQL, security, tests and documentation
Handle real concerns such as concurrent bookings, scheduled jobs and file uploads
Deploy each project with Docker and CI and keep a clean GitHub history
Present and defend a capstone project in interviews

What it will cover

22.1How to Build a Project
The working method used for every project in this section.
- From requirements to user stories
- Designing the schema and API before coding
- Splitting work into small tasks and branches
- Commit messages, pull requests and a project board
- Writing a README that recruiters read
22.2Project 1: URL Shortener API
A small, focused service that turns system design ideas into working code.
- Short code generation and collisions
- Redirects with 301 vs 302
- Click counts and expiry dates
- In-memory caching of popular links
- Rate limiting link creation
- Tests, Docker and deployment
22.3Project 2: Personal Expense Tracker API
A multi-user CRUD application with authentication, reports and paging.
- Users, categories and expenses
- JWT sign-up and login
- Monthly reports with aggregate queries
- Budgets and alerts with a scheduled job
- Filtering, sorting and pagination
- CSV export of expenses
22.4Project 3: Event Ticket Booking API
A booking system where correctness under concurrent requests matters.
- Events, venues, seats and bookings
- Seat holds that expire
- Preventing double booking with locks and constraints
- Idempotent payment confirmation (simulated)
- Booking confirmation emails sent in the background
- Concurrency tests
22.5Capstone: Campus Placement Portal
A larger backend that uses everything from Stages 4 and 5, built as your portfolio project.
- Roles: student, company recruiter and placement officer
- Job postings, eligibility rules and applications
- Resume upload and application status workflow
- Search with filters, paging and caching
- Security, validation, auditing and Flyway migrations
- Full test suite, Docker Compose, CI/CD and live deployment
22.6Capstone Review & Presentation
Polish the capstone and prepare to explain it in an interview.
- Code review checklist and final refactoring
- Architecture diagram and API documentation
- Explaining design choices and trade-offs
- Project questions interviewers ask
- Adding the project to your resume and GitHub profile

Start with what’s live

These sections are ready to study now.

See the whole roadmap

What you will be able to do

Turn written requirements into a schema, API design and task list

Build complete Spring Boot backends with PostgreSQL, security, tests and documentation

Handle real concerns such as concurrent bookings, scheduled jobs and file uploads

Deploy each project with Docker and CI and keep a clean GitHub history

Present and defend a capstone project in interviews

What it will cover

22.1How to Build a Project

The working method used for every project in this section.

From requirements to user stories
Designing the schema and API before coding
Splitting work into small tasks and branches
Commit messages, pull requests and a project board
Writing a README that recruiters read

22.2Project 1: URL Shortener API

A small, focused service that turns system design ideas into working code.

Short code generation and collisions
Redirects with 301 vs 302
Click counts and expiry dates
In-memory caching of popular links
Rate limiting link creation
Tests, Docker and deployment

22.3Project 2: Personal Expense Tracker API

A multi-user CRUD application with authentication, reports and paging.

Users, categories and expenses
JWT sign-up and login
Monthly reports with aggregate queries
Budgets and alerts with a scheduled job
Filtering, sorting and pagination
CSV export of expenses

22.4Project 3: Event Ticket Booking API

A booking system where correctness under concurrent requests matters.

Events, venues, seats and bookings
Seat holds that expire
Preventing double booking with locks and constraints
Idempotent payment confirmation (simulated)
Booking confirmation emails sent in the background
Concurrency tests

22.5Capstone: Campus Placement Portal

A larger backend that uses everything from Stages 4 and 5, built as your portfolio project.

Roles: student, company recruiter and placement officer
Job postings, eligibility rules and applications
Resume upload and application status workflow
Search with filters, paging and caching
Security, validation, auditing and Flyway migrations
Full test suite, Docker Compose, CI/CD and live deployment

22.6Capstone Review & Presentation

Polish the capstone and prepare to explain it in an interview.

Code review checklist and final refactoring
Architecture diagram and API documentation
Explaining design choices and trade-offs
Project questions interviewers ask
Adding the project to your resume and GitHub profile