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Lesson 2 Course resources
Objective Explore course Material.

Creating an E-Commerce Membership Site Using Web and Database Technologies

Abstract

The development of an e-commerce membership site necessitates a comprehensive approach that integrates web technologies, database management, user authentication, and secure transaction processing. This document delineates the methodologies and technologies required to establish a functional and secure e-commerce platform with membership capabilities.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Required Technologies
  3. System Architecture
  4. Database Design
  5. Web Development
  6. User Authentication and Authorization
  7. Payment Integration
  8. Security Measures
  9. Conclusion

Introduction

The goal of an e-commerce membership site is to facilitate the buying and selling of goods or services online while offering a personalized experience for registered members. It is crucial to adhere to best practices in web development, database design, and cybersecurity to ensure the system's reliability and integrity.

2. Required Technologies

  1. Front-end: HTML, CSS, JavaScript
  2. Back-end: Node.js, Python/Django, Ruby on Rails, or PHP
  3. Database: MySQL, PostgreSQL, or MongoDB
  4. Server: Apache or Nginx
  5. Other: SSL/TLS, Payment Gateway APIs

3. System Architecture

The architecture comprises a three-tier model:
  1. Presentation Layer: Utilizes front-end technologies to display data and interface with users.
  2. Business Logic Layer: Manages back-end processing, user authentication, and data manipulation.
  3. Data Access Layer: Incorporates the database to store and retrieve data.

4. Database Design

  1. Tables:
    1. Users
    2. Products
    3. Orders
    4. Memberships
    5. Transactions
  2. Relations: One-to-many between Users and Orders, Users and Memberships, and Orders and Transactions.
  3. Normalization: Employ normalization up to 3NF (Third Normal Form) to eliminate data redundancy.

5. Web Development

Front-end

  1. HTML: Structure the content.
  2. CSS: Style the interface.
  3. JavaScript: Use frameworks like React or Angular for dynamic content.

Back-end

  1. APIs: Create RESTful or GraphQL APIs to handle CRUD operations.
  2. Server-Side Logic: Implement business logic using server-side languages such as Python, PHP, or Node.js.

6. User Authentication and Authorization

  1. Authentication: Implement JWT (JSON Web Tokens) or OAuth for secure user authentication.
  2. Authorization: Employ RBAC (Role-Based Access Control) to grant different access levels.

7. Payment Integration

  1. API Integration: Incorporate APIs from payment gateways like Stripe, PayPal, or Square.
  2. Secure Transaction: Utilize SSL/TLS encryption for secure data transmission.

8. Security Measures

  1. Data Encryption: Hash passwords using algorithms like bcrypt.
  2. SQL Injection Protection: Use prepared statements and parameterized queries.
  3. XSS Protection: Sanitize user inputs and employ Content Security Policies.

9. Conclusion

Creating an e-commerce membership site requires meticulous planning and a multi-disciplinary approach. By adhering to the guidelines outlined in this document, developers can achieve a robust, secure, and functional platform. By following this framework, developers can efficiently navigate the complexities inherent in launching an e-commerce membership site. Each section is not just a component but a critical cog in a machine designed to offer seamless user experience, robust functionality, and maximum security.

There are numerous resources offered with this course that will help you to complete it successfully. You will come across those listed below as you progress through the course.

Glossary

Throughout this course, you will have the opportunity to review definitions of key terms.
These terms are defined in the course glossary. The terms appear as blue, italicized, and underlined in the lesson text.
Clicking a glossary term opens a pop-up window with the definition.

The course project for this course uses legacy Visual InterDev along with SQL Server. This course project can also be built using any of the following technologies.
  1. NodeJS and MongoDB
  2. PHP and MySQL
  3. ASP.net and SQL-Server
  4. JSP and MySQL .
Depending on which environment is available to you will determine which front end and back-end technologies you will be selecting to complete the course project.