1. Course Introduction and SaaS Architecture Overview
Understand the core components of a SaaS platform and the technology stack we will be using. We will outline the project roadmap from local development to a live production environment.
2. Setting up the React Frontend
Initialize a professional React project using modern tooling. Learn to structure your components for scalability and manage application state effectively.
3. Designing the User Authentication Flow
Implement secure user registration and login systems. We will use industry-standard libraries to handle protected routes and session management.
4. Backend Development with Node.js and Express
Build the API layer that will handle database interactions and communicate with the Stripe gateway. Learn how to secure your endpoints using middleware.
5. Database Schema Design for Subscriptions
Model your data to support users, subscription tiers, and payment statuses. We will discuss best practices for relational database management in a SaaS context.
6. Integrating Stripe: Product and Price Configuration
Navigate the Stripe Dashboard to create your service plans. Learn how to map these plans to your application logic to ensure accurate billing.
7. Implementing Stripe Checkout and Webhooks
Build the payment workflow using Stripe's pre-built UI components. We will also implement secure webhooks to handle payment events and update user subscription status in real-time.
8. Managing User Subscriptions and Billing Portal
Develop the user dashboard to allow customers to view their subscription status, update payment methods, and cancel services through the Stripe Billing Portal.
9. Securing and Optimizing the Application
Add environment variables, implement request validation, and optimize application performance for a smooth user experience.
10. Deployment and Launch Strategy
Deploy your application to a production environment using cloud hosting providers. Learn the final steps for configuring custom domains and SSL certificates for your live SaaS.