From Code to Cloud: Developing Web Applications

Many textbooks focus narrowly on certain technologies or delve directly into frameworks without fostering a strong understanding of the underlying principles. Often, the result is trained developers who can build applications but may lack the broader perspective necessary to diagnose, optimize, or secure these applications.

From Code to Cloud: Developing Web Applications fills this gap by covering a range of core topics with breadth and depth. It begins with foundational knowledge, gradually builds technical complexity, and ends with contemporary challenges and trends in web development. It covers such fundamental topics as Internet protocols, HTML and CSS standards, client-side programming with JavaScript, and server-side programming with PHP and MySQL, as well as such crucial concepts as web application security and modern development practices.

Written for students in academic programs, self-taught developers seeking structure and focus, and professionals looking to reinforce or revisit key concepts, the text emphasizes not only on the how, but also on the why: why standards matter, why security must be integral, and why a deep understanding of the web stack leads to better, more robust applications. In a field that evolves rapidly, there is enduring value in mastering the fundamentals. This book is both a guide and a resource to these fundamentals. From the foundational building blocks of internet protocols and HTML to the intricacies of modern web development frameworks and security practices, this book is an essential guide for anyone looking to understand how internet applications are created and maintained.

Maura A. Deek is a seasoned educator and technologist with extensive experience in academia and industry. She currently serves as a Senior University Lecturer in the Department of Informatics at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). With four decades of professional affiliation at NJIT, Professor Deek has taught undergraduate and graduate courses, engaged in curriculum development, and participated in interdisciplinary educational initiatives. She holds an M.S. in Computer Science from NJIT, a B.S. in Environmental Science from Rutgers University, and an A.S. in Liberal Arts from Middlesex College. Maura’s interdisciplinary academic background reflects a commitment to bridging science, computing, and education. In addition to college teaching, Maura has contributed to K–12 STEM education through her work with NJIT’s Center for Pre-College Programs.

Fadi P. Deek is a Distinguished Professor at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) where he began his academic career as a student in the early 1980s. He received his B.S. and M.S. in Computer Science, and PhD in Computer and Information Science; all from NJIT. Dr. Deek’s faculty appointments are in two departments: Informatics (in the College of Computing) and Mathematical Sciences (in the College of Science and Liberal Arts). Dr. Deek also serves as a member of the Graduate Faculty at Rutgers University-Newark. He has similarly progressed through administrative ranks at NJIT, culminating with Provost and Senior Executive Vice President for a decade, and Dean of the College of Science and Liberal Arts the prior decade. Over the four decades of his professional affiliation with NJIT, Dr. Deek has taught students of differing abilities, from special needs to honors, and courses at all university levels in a variety of modalities, including face-to-face and online, from first-year to advanced graduate courses.

Wei Yao is a researcher and educator with extensive expertise in blockchain technology, web applications, decentralized systems, privacy, and computer security. He earned his Ph.D. in Computer Science at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), where he also served as a Research Assistant in the Fintech Lab. Additionally, he received his M.S. in Computer Science from Central Connecticut State University and M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Hartford, as well as a B.S. in Computer Science from Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Dr. Yao is an Assistant Professor of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science at the Polytechnic Campus of the University of Wisconsin-Stout, with a commitment to teaching, research, and mentoring in web applications and blockchain technologies.