Tag: database

Two languages that software developers should be familiar with

The question that I get asked the most these days is “what development languages should I be learning [to stay competitive/excited/motivated/etc] ?” The high-tech industry, and software in particular, is changing at a ridiculously fast pace and that introduces a lot of uncertainty and confusion as well as great opportunity. My answer to this question is unequivocal: I think for the foreseeable future developers should be learning the basic concepts of JavaScript and Python. If you don’t already have these skills then you simply cannot go wrong with this approach. If you’ve been a long-time server-side developer, or you are just getting started with software development then knowing the patterns and practices for JavaScript and Python will serve you well.

Why?

There are three primary reasons and I’ll try to be short and to the point. First, there are at least 2.5 billion internet users world wide, and that number is growing. Their primary method of accessing the web is a browser and JavaScript is the lingua franca of the browser world. JavaScript is a scripting language and it is “the” fundamental building block that allows web pages to “do” things such as submitting your search request to a server, or helping to find your location from your phone. Almost all web pages being served up around the world have JavaScript in them.

Second, the majority of retail, commercial and governmental web applications have a requirement that calls for the use of “server-side” code. This is code, such as Python, that runs on a server and not in the browser application. The most common functionality of server-side code is passing data back and forth between a database and a web application. For example, if a web app asks for a username and password, that user name and password are almost always stored on a server somewhere and not, for security reasons, in the web page and on the client browser where it could be very easily stolen.

Third, you can absolutely apply these client-server patterns and practices to other languages used within the realm of web development. A User Interface designer who has been solely focused on layout and styling via Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) can now understand and appreciate how the underlying JavaScript code can affect the look, feel and behavior of a web page. Python skills can also be used a springboard for more quickly learning other powerful web development platforms such as ruby-on-rails.

The bottom line is if you understand both client development (JavaScript) and server development (Python), then you start to gain considerable value as someone who understands how to help the entire system work together in harmony.

A short note on jQuery.

Many (most?) new web developers learn jQuery first. However, even if you know jQuery you don’t necessarily understand JavaScript. The awesome jQuery libraries provide an interface that hides and simplifies a lot of native JavaScript hoopla, and in general can really make life significantly easier and save time when building modern cross-browser web apps. jQuery is built using JavaScript (and CSS3), but it is not JavaScript. Because of that, when something goes wrong or not as you expected (not if, but when!), and you have a general understanding of how JavaScript works, then you stand a much better chance of figuring out a timely work-around with significantly less stress, frustration and time wasted towards your projects deadline.

The absolute minimum recommended reading list:

JavaScript.

  • Douglas Crockford’s book “JavaScript: the good parts”.
  • Douglas Crockford’s website – He is considered a key brainchild behind the ongoing development and understanding of JavaScript.
  • W3schools – An excellent website for anyone using or learning JavaScript. It has tutorials and online Try It Yourself sample apps.

Python.

10 Tips for New Web Developers

If you are just getting started building web applications, these 10 tips are fundamental to learning how to build really great apps and to being successful in your new career.

1. Build at least one application on your own that wasn’t required in class and include a complex user interface component, such as a widget, and database access.

2. Understand how to use debuggers, browser debugging tools and breakpoints on IE, Chrome, Firefox and Safari for desktop and mobile.

3. Practice building your own prototype apps using the most common JavaScript libraries. The best way to learn is to roll up your sleeves and work on it. Get your curious on!

4. Understand how to use a code repository. Try posting a few of your prototypes on github.

5. Read books written by the experts. When done read some more. Learn by example.

6. Participate by asking and answering questions in industry forums such as  Stack Exchange. You’ll gain more confidence as time goes on.

7. Understand how basic coding patterns such as loops and HTTP request/response can affect website and mobile performance.

8. Learn the difference between client and server-based code.

9. Practice problem solving by testing your prototype apps against the different major browsers. You will really learn what works and what doesn’t work. In most problem solving there is no exact answer, but knowing how to come up with potential solutions will save the day.

10. Research a problem first, then ask questions. Your colleagues that have been coding for a long time know when a question wasn’t well researched beforehand. You will learn best by trying to solve it. It can be like a puzzle and you have to figure out how the pieces fit together.

11. Yep, I know I said 10 tips, so this is a bonus. Read and learn about user interface design, and if possible work with an experienced UX engineer/designer. UX, or user interface design, makes the difference between an okay app and an excellent app.