$ brew install node` and `brew upgrade node` are used to install and update Node.js on a Mac. Installing Node.js is also explained for Windows and Linux users. MongoDB Atlas, a managed service for MongoDB, is introduced as an easy way to set up and operate a deployment in the cloud with a free tier available. The process of creating a configuration file for the application is described along with whitelisting IP addresses for security purposes. Creating the main entry point `index.js` file is also covered. The routes for CRUD operations are defined using the `routes.js` file, and testing the API functionality with Postman is demonstrated.