Learn to build
real, production-grade
web applications from scratch.
👉 No trivial TODO apps that barely touch the complexity of a
real app.
👉 No frameworks that hide all the details.
In this course we build and deploy a photo sharing application complete with
users,
authentication,
image uploads,
a database,
and more. We even deploy to a production server and set up automatic HTTPS.
I can't tell you the number of times I heard this when learning to build my first web app in Go. After a while, it started to haunt me. It isn't that this advice is incorrect; it just isn't that helpful by itself.
It felt like someone was telling me,
"You can build a house, all you need is a hardware store!" And I kept hearing it over and over again.
While this advice is mostly true - you absolutely can build a web app in Go using nothing but the standard library - it wasn't helpful. It didn't get me any closer to building a real application. I was still left with questions like:
↠ How should I share a database connection with my http handlers while
not making it a global variable?
↠ How can I securely hash a user's password and build an
authentication system?
↠ How should I be organizing my code? MVC? Domain Driven
Design? Hexagonal? Something else?
↠ What about REST? How does that fit into this all?
What I really needed was guidance. Someone to show me the correct way to build a web application so I didn't waste countless hours figuring it out myself.
Web Applications are Complex Systems
No matter how many tutorials I read, I always felt like there was something left out. Some part of the bigger picture that wasn't explained, leaving me unsure of how to proceed. Or the tutorial was oversimplified to the point that it felt useless in the grand scheme of things.
After building several TODO apps I nearly gave up. My progress was painfully slow, and every time I figure out one major problem I would be left with two new questions that weren't addressed by the oversimplified tutorials.
In the end, I was lucky. I happened to have a history building web applications using other programming languages, and with that knowledge I was able to piece things together. It wasn't quick or easy, but it all slowly started to make sense.
What if you didn't have to struggle through hundreds of tutorials?
What if you didn't have to go through the painful process I did to learn how to build web services in Go? What if you could skip reading hundreds of tutorials all teaching roughly the same thing just to get one new tidbit of information out of it? You would finally be ready to build that application you have been considering, or apply for that job you had your eye on.
Web Development with Go will help you cut through all the complexity and finally become the developer you know you should be.
"Web development with Go absolutely saved me from giving up on Go. Before finding this course I kept hitting roadblock after roadblock. I can't tell you how excited I was when I realized just how approachable and productive this course is. I went from struggling to get even the most basic tasks completed to actually building out my own app idea. I can't wait to release it!"
Web Development with Go is the course I wish I had
This course takes everything I have learned over years of building web applications and distills it into easy to consume lessons. By the end of the course you will build a complete web application, deploy it to a production server, and understand why you took every step along the way. You will also...
↠ Know exactly how to initialize your database connection and share it without resorting to global variables or other hard to test anti-patterns.
↠ Feel confident saying, "Yes, my authentication system is safe and secure!"
↠ Understand how to organize your code, and how to weigh the trade-offs of various code structures.
↠ Have clear examples of how to email users and build a complete "Forgot your password?" workflow.
↠ And so much more!
This is possible because this is not your run of the mill course. It is a comprehensive breakdown of every little detail you need to know when building and deploying a real web application.
Web Development with Go spans nearly 40 hours of screencasts, and the ebook is roughly 700 pages. Even after completing the course, you will be referencing the material for years to come.
Jon does a great job of taking the large task of creating a web application and breaks it down into steps that are easy to understand and follow along with. If you want to learn how web development works at its very core I can't recommend it enough.
Liam Randall
Want to sample the course?
Watch 14 screencasts for free!
Interested in checking out a sample of the course to see if it is a good fit for you? No problem! Sign up to my mailing list below and I'll send over a course preview that includes 14 screencasts.
Not sure if you want to provide your email address just yet? Here is the first lesson, no signup needed 😁
What You Will Build
and Deploy!
Throughout the course you will be building LensLocked, a photo sharing application. Users can sign up, create galleries, and upload photos to create a gallery. After a gallery is completed it can be published, making it publicly accessibly to anyone with the URL.
While building the application we will learn about uploading images, interacting with a PostgreSQL database, limiting access to resources you have permission to edit, and if you purchase one of the packages with bonus material we will also look at how to integrate with a third party API like Dropbox using OAuth.
I loved the Web Development with Go course. Excellent content and very well presented. A unique opportunity to tap into the knowledge of an experienced developer and great teacher.
Robin Brandt
Simple Pricing with Lifetime Access.
Trusted by over 4000 developers
Complete Package
The complete package includes everything you need to learn web development with Go. Over 180 screencasts spanning nearly 40 hours, written versions of every lesson, all the bonus content, access to the Web Development with Go Slack, source code, and FREE updates for life!
I am currently in the process of re-recording the entire course. Roughly 50% of the lessons in the major update are released, with the rest expected to be released by end of 2021. As a result of the updates, the exact title of each lesson and the number of lessons is expected to change (increase). When you purchase you will be given access to both versions of the course and you will always receive access to updated versions of the course. You can read more here.
In addition to the screencasts, the course has an eBook that covers everything except for the bonus content. If you prefer reading, want to see a slightly different take on a lesson, or need something more travel-friendly the book will be your best friend. Available in PDF, EPUB, and MOBI (Kindle) formats.
All the Source Code
Get access to all of the source code used in the course from start to finish. You can easily jump to code just before or after each lesson, making it easier to jump to a specific section and continue learning.
Students-only Slack
Worried about getting stuck? Don't be! The course includes access to a private Slack where you can chat with myself and other students. Ask questions, get help with a bug, or even discuss ways to go beyond the course materials.
30 Day Development Plan
This guide will walk you through breaking an application up into actionable steps that can each be completed in a day. With this guide you will be able to take an idea for a web application and break it into manageable steps, allowing you to turn your idea into a real web application in 30 days.
The best course I've seen around! This course stands out since it's more than just code snippets you'll find on other sites. It's a full blown, project-based course that guides you from start to finish. The background explanations for all the components and taking one approach over another are really helpful too.
Chris Rivera
Not interested in screencasts?
Check out the packages below.
Book + Bonus Package
This package doesn't include screencasts for the entire course, but it does include the bonus content covering advanced API usage with OAuth and Dropbox. You'll also get the 700+ page ebook, access to the course slack, and all the source code.
If your budget is preventing you from purchasing the bonus content and screencasts, I recommend this package. It teaches everything necessary to build web applications and will be a resource you reference for years to come.
This course has taught me so much in only 5 days! If you are even a little interested in Web Development I would definitely check it out!👍
Kayla Thomsen
Frequently asked questions
Can’t find the answer you’re looking for? Email me: jon@calhoun.io.
Do you update the course?
Yep! Not only do I make updates to keep the code in the course from breaking, I also actively take student feedback to improve the course. This is what lead to a recent re-recording of the entire course.
Anyone who purchases will have access to all future updates.
When was the course last updated?
Nov, 2021 using Go 1.17. The course is experiencing a massive update which is about 50% released. The updates include changes in some of the libraries used in the course, features from Go 1.17 (like embedding), and improvements based on student feedback. You can read more here.
Anyone who purchases the course will have access to both the original course and the updated version.
Can I get a sample?
Yep. Fill out this form and I'll send you 14 screencasts from the course. I'll also include an eBook sample.
What is your money back guarantee?
If you buy the course and aren't happy, email me within 30 days of purchasing and I'll issue you a refund.
The only exception is obvious fraud. For instance, when someone buys the course, downloads every piece of content, then immediately asks for a refund all within a couple hours. I do everything in my power to let honest customers try out the course, but I resereve the right to deny a refund if it appears to be blatant fraud.
If you are concerned, reach out to me and I can help answer any specific questions. I want you to be able to give the course an honest try and I am pretty easy to work with.
How much programming experience do I need?
Web Development with Go is designed to be approachable for both absolute beginners and professional developers alike. Each lesson explains the code in detail, and there are often additional resources to check out if you want further reading. The only real requirement is that you know (or learn) some basic Go syntax.
Check out the samples and you will see how approachable this course is.
Do you offer team packages?
Yes, I do. Reach out and let me know how many developers you need access for so I can get you a custom discount.
How long will I have access?
The course doesn't expire. Once you purchase, you will always have access.
If you are worried, both the screencasts and the ebook can be downloaded and backed up on your own devices. You know, just in case I get hit by a truck or something. 🚛 *beep* *beep*
Why does the course cost so much?
Unfortunately this course doesn't cost $10. I know that many courses on Udemy go on sale frequently for $10, so why isn't this one of those courses?
The short answer is that charging more enables me to provide a better experience for students. It enables me to provide awesome support, free updates, and to make sure the course covers everything you need to learn to become a web developer. It also allows me to create free resources that you have likely already benefited from (like Gophercises).
If you are on the fence, ask someone who has taken the course if it is worth the price. Over 4000 people have happily used this course to learn how to build web application using Go. If you join them, I promise you won't regret it.
If you are on the fence I offer two cheaper packages that include a vast mority of the course content at a much cheaper price. You can upgrade later, and I offer a money back guarantee.
Do you offer student discounts?
Yes, but only on the Complete Package and not during my annual Black Friday sale.
Can I upgrade later?
Yes. Email me when you are ready to upgrade and let me know the email address you used to purchase the course.
What formats are the videos in?
The videos are hosted with Vimeo and are streamable through their embedded player. I also offer DRM-free, high quality 1920x1080 mp4s that you can download.
At some point in the future I plan to change video hosts and use Mux instead to help out customers in countries where Vimeo is banned, but those updates are not released yet.
Jon's course, Web Development with Go, is amazing. It is filled with great insights and has been an amazing resource of knowledge.
Invest in yourself by buying this book along with the extras. You won’t regret it.
Georges Mantzos
About me
Meet the fella behind the camera
Jon Calhoun is a full stack web developer who teaches about Go,web development, testing, algorithms, and anything else he finds interesting. He spoke at the GothamGo conference about focusing on simplicity when writing software and is a panelist on the Go Time podcast.
Previously, Jon founded EasyPost, a shipping API that many fortune 500 companies use to power their shipping infrastructure. Before that he worked at Google as a software engineer. Prior to that he studied computer science at UCF.
You can find more of Jon's work, including other FREE courses and tutorials he has created, below.
Not a course, but I also write a bunch of Go tutorials that are available free on my website.
Amigo. Your course KICKS ASS! Your code is clear, your delivery is clear, and I just did a few of the algorithm tutorials on your site and they too are clearly explained. Thank you!!!
Great JOB!
Angel Rosario
People sometimes tweet about me
Hopefully they don't say mean things 😬
Courses by @joncalhoun 💯, he is doing amazing work on go courses. His was the first and only course I took for go and rest by contributing to open source
— Md_ZubairAhmed | محمد زبیر احمد (@Md_ZubairAhmed) November 5, 2021
The course is a great buy for a beginner. For a coding noob like me, it was an excellent introduction to not only GoLang, but also to the fundamentals of writing professional code. Jon's doggo Morty makes cameo appearances and those alone are worth the price of admission.
I always find Jon's writing to be exquisite and he fully explains everything. This course is no different. Very well played Sir. #golanghttps://t.co/fj25Q0bRtr
I love the courses from Jon! Recently enrolled in the webdev course and he explains everything in such a lovely detail. Also as experienced developer I learned a lot!
The Web Development with Go course helped me immensely on my Go journey. Now updated!@joncalhoun is a great teacher and I loved the dual format of having the video course following the book for easy reference to concepts or syntax.
Just so y'all know, I've found this book to be really, really helpful at hand-holding me through the process of learning Go web stuff. https://t.co/8Bz3oFrjg7