API Gateways and Reverse Proxies with Nginx and Spring Cloud Gateway
Every microservice architecture needs a controlled entry point — something that routes requests, enforces security, and shields internal services from the outside world. This track covers that layer in depth, using the two tools most commonly found in production: Nginx, the battle-tested reverse proxy and web server, and Spring Cloud Gateway, the reactive Java gateway built for Spring-based microservice stacks. You will learn not just configuration syntax but the architectural reasoning behind the decisions.
What You Will Learn
You will start with the core concepts — what a proxy is, how a reverse proxy differs from a forward proxy, and where an API gateway fits in the picture. From there you will configure Nginx for proxying, apply security hardening and performance tuning, implement load balancing strategies, and adapt Nginx patterns specifically for microservices. On the Spring Cloud Gateway side you will wire service discovery, write custom filters, apply circuit breakers and retry policies through resilience patterns, and lock down routes with security and observability features including distributed tracing and metrics.
The Learning Path
Twelve courses span A1 through C2. The track opens with one free foundations course, then moves through A2 and B-level courses covering Nginx proxying in practice, Spring Cloud Gateway routing, security hardening, and microservice-specific Nginx patterns. The final four C1 courses tackle Advanced Nginx Load Balancing Strategies, Spring Cloud Gateway Filters in Depth, Spring Cloud Gateway Resilience Patterns, and Nginx for Production & Monitoring. The track closes at C2 with Spring Cloud Gateway Security & Observability, covering OAuth2 integration, rate limiting, and production-grade observability pipelines.
How It Works
Each course is split into short, focused lessons you complete in the built-in editor with real configuration files and real-time feedback. An AI tutor is available whenever you get stuck on a directive, a filter predicate, or a resilience policy.
