Bridge: Foundations → First Application
You've learned the concepts. Now let's build something.
What You Mastered in Part 1
| Skill | How It Helps |
|---|---|
| Terminal basics | Navigate, run commands |
| Git fundamentals | Save and share code |
| Engineering principles | Think like a developer |
What's Coming in Part 2
Part 1: "Here's how developers think"
↓
Part 2: "Here's how developers build"
You'll create a real CLI application from scratch.
Connection Points
Terminal → Node.js Runtime
In Part 1, you learned to run commands:
git commit -m "message"
In Part 2, you'll create commands others can run:
node task.js add "Buy groceries"
Same terminal, now you're the creator.
Git → Project Management
In Part 1, you tracked changes:
git add .
git commit -m "Add feature"
In Part 2, you'll use Git to build incrementally:
# Commit 1: Project setup
# Commit 2: Add task function
# Commit 3: List tasks
# Commit 4: Complete tasks
Same Git, now with purpose.
Principles → Practice
| Part 1 Principle | Part 2 Practice |
|---|---|
| Separation of concerns | Different files for different jobs |
| Don't repeat yourself | Reusable functions |
| Single responsibility | Each function does one thing |
Self-Assessment
Before Part 2, you should be comfortable with:
- Opening terminal and navigating directories
- Running
git init,add,commit,push - Understanding what a repository is
- Knowing why version control matters
- Explaining what "separation of concerns" means
Unsure about any of these? Go back to Part 1.
Bridge Exercise
Before starting Part 2, try this:
# 1. Create a new directory
mkdir bridge-test
cd bridge-test
# 2. Initialize Git
git init
# 3. Create a file
echo "Hello from Part 1!" > readme.txt
# 4. Commit it
git add readme.txt
git commit -m "My bridge exercise"
# 5. Show the log
git log --oneline
If this felt natural, you're ready for Part 2.
What Changes in Part 2
| Part 1 | Part 2 |
|---|---|
| Reading about code | Writing code |
| Understanding concepts | Applying concepts |
| Following examples | Creating from scratch |
| Passive learning | Active building |
Preview: Your First Application
In Part 2, you'll build a Task Tracker CLI:
# What you'll create:
node task.js add "Buy groceries" # Add task
node task.js list # Show all tasks
node task.js complete 1 # Mark complete
node task.js delete 1 # Remove task
By the end, you'll have a working application that:
- Saves tasks to a file
- Handles user commands
- Validates input
- Reports errors gracefully