Web Development in C++: From Basics to Deployment

In a world where Python and JavaScript dominate web development, C++ remains an indispensable tool for creating high-load, performant, and reliable backend systems. The book "Web Development in C++: From Basics to Deployment" is the first practical guide that will take you through all stages of building web applications in this powerful language.

What is this book about?

This is not another syntax reference. You will build a complete web application from scratch using modern C++17/20 standards. The book covers the full development cycle:

• Fundamentals of network programming: understanding the HTTP protocol, sockets, and asynchronous I/O.
• Frameworks and libraries: working with Crow (microframework for C++), Boost.Beast, and Poco for building REST APIs.
• Working with data: integration with PostgreSQL and SQLite via modern ORMs (including ODB and sqlpp11).
• Security and authentication: JWT tokens, HTTPS, protection against SQL injection and XSS.
• Scaling: multithreading, thread pools, asynchronous handlers.
• Deployment and DevOps: building with CMake, containerization with Docker, deployment on VPS and in the cloud (AWS/GCP).

Who is this book for?

• C++ developers who want to go beyond system programming and master the web stack.
• Backend engineers looking for alternatives to Java/Go for high-load projects.
• Students and teachers studying modern server-side development technologies.

What will you learn?

• How to write your own HTTP server from scratch using only the standard library.
• How to build a RESTful API for an online store with support for CRUD operations.
• How to integrate WebSocket for real-time chat and notifications.
• How to profile and optimize code to handle 100,000+ requests per second.
• How to automate testing, CI/CD, and monitoring of your web application.

Each chapter contains practical, ready-to-run examples and homework assignments. The source code for all projects is available on GitHub. By the end of the book, you will have not just theory, but a working web service ready for production.

This book is your chance to harness the full power of C++ in web development. Whether you are building a high-frequency trading engine or simply want to speed up your current project, you will find all the necessary tools and knowledge here.