CST438: Top 5 Key Lessons Learned from the Course

One of the most important things I learned in this course is how to build full-stack applications using Spring Boot and React. Working on projects with REST APIs, DTOs, and React components helped me understand how the frontend and backend communicate, which is essential for modern software development.

Another important concept I learned is testing, especially unit testing and system testing. Writing tests using tools like JUnit and Selenium showed me how to verify that my code works correctly and how to catch bugs early, which improves software quality.

I also learned how to use Git and GitHub effectively. Version control helped me manage my code, collaborate with others, and safely make changes without losing previous work. This is a critical skill in real-world development environments.

Understanding software design principles like low coupling and high cohesion was also important. These concepts helped me write cleaner, more maintainable code and made it easier to modify and extend my projects.

Finally, I learned about Agile development and how software is built incrementally. Concepts like iterations, user stories, and continuous improvement helped me understand how real teams manage projects and adapt to changing requirements.

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