Collab Chronicles: Exploring the Collaborative Experience
Tags: webdev, react, firebase, collab
Published: 2024-04-23 12:30:00

Collaboration isn't just a word. It's a powerful tool. It sparks creativity and innovation in teams. Whether it's chatting or sharing ideas during meet-ups, every interaction helps us come up with new and better ways to reach our goals.
In today's world, it's super important to express yourself well. This is true whether in writing or through videos. It helps us communicate better and work together more effectively.
Recently, I joined a program called [COLLAB.LAB](https://the-collab-lab.codes/). It's great for developers who want to learn and grow and also for experienced folks who want to mentor.
Joining COLLAB.LAB was an exciting step for me, especially since React is being used, which I'm really into, and is the primary tool used there.
![Congratulation mail](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/dzmibaxffjmynfli9slz.png)
I was so happy to get this mail
From the moment I stepped into the world of Collab, I was greeted with open arms and a spirit of collaboration that was infectious.
![Welcome](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/lloof2j33fassb7tdb2i.gif) 
Working alongside fellow Collabies from diverse backgrounds and skill sets, I learned that our differences were our greatest strength. 

## My colleagues
-  [Henry Okeke](https://www.linkedin.com/in/henry-okeke-3176481a9)
- [Khadija Nabail](https://www.linkedin.com/in/khadijahnabil/)
- [Jamila ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamila-mahamed-7ab226201)
- [Ijeoma Igboagu](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ijeoma-igboagu/)(Me🥂)

## Mentors

- [Reda Baha](https://www.linkedin.com/in/redabaha/)
- [David Lluna](https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidlluna/)
- [MJ Zato](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mjzatojimenez/)
- [Ayu Adiati](https://www.linkedin.com/in/adiatiayu/)

Mentors made the job easy guiding us and sharing valuable [resources.](https://www.freecodecamp.org/news/keep-branches-up-to-date-resolve-merge-conflicts/).

## The team in a video meeting

![One of our demo days](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/s4q18c0za5txxncxrkvm.png)

To see more demos it is live on[ Youtube channel](https://youtu.be/4p3KYo7ZWUc)

## Time for Business

![Serious Faces](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/xnl079xgcxro0t68p5ei.gif)
Being it a collaborative setting the workload felt just right. Every week, our team faced new challenges together. It took us a whole 10 weeks of dedication, but we eventually created a smart shopping list. Though it might seem like a long time for a seemingly simple app that was not the bone of contention, each moment was filled with valuable learning and growth.
Like seriously don't think like that...🙂
Collab.Lab isn't just about coding; it's about mastering collaboration. Through the program, participants learn essential skills like using Git and Github, conducting peer code reviews, and effectively pair programming with team members.

## Challenges
Understanding the codebase presented an initial challenge, prompting frequent inquiries to mentors. Over time, I understood the codebase.  I realized that many of the functions called were already defined.

## Presenting our smart shopping list App
**Tech Stack and Dependency**

- [React](https://react.dev/)
- [Tailwind](https://tailwindcss.com/)
- [Firebase](https://firebase.google.com/) - Auth, Database, and Hosting
- [ Vite](https://vitejs.dev/)
- [React Icons](https://react-icons.github.io/react-icons/)
- [React Toastify](https://www.npmjs.com/package/react-toastify)

![The App Homepage](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/5u4snm0otl5dt1as4bdm.png)
[Hosted Link](https://tcl-72-smart-shopping-list--pr39-selectedlistfeature-bh5gxy1c.web.app/)
[Source Code](https://github.com/the-collab-lab/tcl-72-smart-shopping-list)

## The Live presentation from all teams
 {% embed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o90qYkQCfPc %}

## Wrapping Up
Collaboration is a key aspect of success in any project. By working together, sharing ideas, and utilizing each other's strengths, we can achieve great things.

Thank you all to my team members and mentors: [Henry](https://www.linkedin.com/in/henry-okeke-3176481a9), [Khadija](https://www.linkedin.com/in/khadijahnabil/), and [Jamila](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamila-mahamed-7ab226201).

If you're interested in following my latest projects and staying updated, be sure to follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/ijaydimples) and [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ijeoma-igboagu/) or check out my [BioDrop](https://biodrop.io/ijayhub).
And if you'd like to show your support, you can also Buy me a [drink](https://buymeacoffee.com/ijewriter?t=true)🍷

Thank you for taking the time to read and for your support. 💖