📱 Application Development Curriculum

Format: Self-paced, project-based in 4 phases
Focus: Build a working app from scratch — web or mobile
Tools: Figma, HTML/CSS/JS, React or Flutter (optional), Firebase, Supabase, GitHub, Netlify/Vercel

🔹 Phase 1: Planning & Designing the App

Goal: Turn an idea into a practical app plan and prototype

Topics Covered:

• What makes a good app? Understanding user needs
  
• Choosing your app type: web vs mobile
  
• Planning features with a user flow diagram
  
• Designing interfaces using Figma (or Canva)
  
• Creating wireframes and clickable prototypes
  

Assignment:

• Brainstorm and outline your app idea (name, purpose, audience, 3 core features)
  
• Sketch wireframes on paper or in Figma
  
• Create a clickable mockup of the main user journey (e.g., login → home → action)
  

✅ Milestone: A complete visual prototype of your app with screens and flow defined.

🔹 Phase 2: Front-End Development (User Interface)

Goal: Build the front-end (what the user sees) of your app

Topics Covered:

• HTML, CSS, JavaScript basics (or Flutter/Dart for mobile)
  
• Responsive layouts (desktop + mobile)
  
• Components and states using React (optional)
  
• Connecting pages, navigation, and form inputs
  
• Styling with frameworks like Tailwind, Bootstrap, or Material UI
  

Assignment:

• Build the homepage, login page, and one feature page
  
• Use forms (e.g., login, search, submit)
  
• Style pages to match your design from Phase 1
  
• Use browser Inspect Tool to test layout/responsiveness
  

✅ Milestone: A functional, interactive front-end that mimics the designed app flow.

🔹 Phase 3: Back-End & Database Integration

Goal: Make your app dynamic — store data, create users, and perform logic

Topics Covered:

• What is a back-end? Introduction to APIs, authentication, and databases
  
• Choosing a back-end tool: Firebase, Supabase, or Express.js + MySQL
  
• User authentication (sign up, login, logout)
  
• Reading/writing data (CRUD: create, read, update, delete)
  
• Connecting front-end forms to database actions
  

Assignment:

• Set up Firebase or Supabase
  
• Build user login/signup system
  
• Store and display dynamic data (e.g., posts, contacts, tasks)
  
• Test it using live input/output
  

✅ Milestone: A working full-stack app with real-time data and user login.

🔹 Phase 4: Launching, Testing & Improving

Goal: Deploy your app to the web and polish the user experience

Topics Covered:

• Deploying to Netlify, Vercel, or Firebase Hosting
  
• Custom domains (optional)
  
• Bug testing, mobile testing, and user feedback
  
• Version control basics with Git/GitHub
  
• Bonus: intro to analytics, SEO, and performance tools
  

Assignment:

• Publish your app online
  
• Share your link and ask at least 3 users to test it
  
• Fix at least 2 bugs or improvements based on feedback
  
• Submit a project walkthrough (PDF or video)
  

✅ Milestone: A public, working app with feedback-based improvements.

🧾 Final Capstone Project

Deliverables:

• Live app link
  
• GitHub repo (or zip file of code)
  
• Screenshots of planning & design
  
• A short walkthrough video or document explaining:
  
  • What your app does
    
  • Tech/tools you used
    
  • Challenges & wins
    
  • Future improvements
    

🛠️ Optional Tools by Level:

Let me know if you want:

• A no-code version of this curriculum
  
• Printable worksheets or templates for each phase
  
• A version tailored for youth,