Eye-Opening Conversation With A Frontend Colleague 😯
Tags: webdev, html, css, javascript
Published: 2019-09-10 15:59:03

Just before I begin to narrate this eye-opening conversation, I want to firstly, promise you that;
### - It would be worth the read.
### - I'll try my best not to share the 'whole' conversation to avoid boredom.
### - I'd share resources which you will (hopefully) find interesting.
### - You'll learn a lot 😇

<br/>
Since you trust me enough, I'll share it now 😃
_I'm Deee, He's Ope_
<br/><br/>

- Deee: Hey bro, How's your React Journey?
- Ope: Going great. Into Hooks yet?
<br/>

- Deee: Not yet, still getting the hang of classes. Also heard that Redux is better?
- Ope: It's better in some ways especially when dealing with a large codebase. Most devs learn Redux because of that functionality and many companies today have large codebases. So, Redux is majorly for large enterprises, else you're absolutely fine.
> These React terms may seem strange, I won't mention them again. I will, but just once - `props` - that would be later in this article.

- Deee: So another question, how can I get a gig??😭 I have so many responsibilities and I just need at least a regular source of income in fulfilling them 😢
- Ope: Depends on how good and confident you are. For me, I'm not taking any gig or job for the rest of the year. I even want to start from scratch. When you feel you're good enough to take a job, then you can apply for jobs.
<br/>

- Deee: Till next year?
- Ope: Yes. Download Slack and I'll give you some links where you could get jobs.<br/>. You're into front end right?
<br />

- Deee: Yes.
- Ope: Just be proficient in CSS, Javascript and React basically. And you're good to go. I have friends that earn up to $5k monthly.
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- Deee: 😲
- Ope: I'm not rushing for money. If you're good, different companies will poach you with mad money.<br/>
Jobs slow down learning if you're still a junior dev.<br/>
It's better you take your time to be confident and solidify yourself so you can move to intermediate within months and then senior, after about 2 years.
<br/>You have to be good at what you do. Very good actually.
<br/>
- Deee: I'm good with HTML, CSS, and JS though. I'm on React now.
- Ope: Do you know how to code for optimum performance?<br/>
Not just about code that works. Performance matters a lot, even in CSS.
<br/>

- Deee: You're attacking me 😟
- Ope: It's the fact actually. That's why I'm starting from scratch. Again.<br/>
After I hung out with these guys a lot, I realized my foundation wasn't solid enough.<br/>
Fine, some of them started about 4 or 5 years back. But, the only way I can help myself is to understand the how and why of every single thing. Not just about coding<br/><br/>
You have to understand code at the basic level - Why you're writing a line, why you're using a particular method instead of another. <br/>
For example, in CSS, the type of selectors and pseudo-elements you use determines the performance of your site. The load time, several other things.<br/>
The websites you build, can blind people use them? It's called accessibility. Some things work on some browsers and don't work on others. These are for just CSS alone.
<br />

- Deee: This conversation, has opened my eyes. Although, I wasn't entirely ignorant of all these. I didn't jump from language to language. I also paid attention to accessibility as much as I could. I also started from HTML and CSS with tutorials, but not that I don't believe in myself, I just don't feel confident yet. Like, I haven't really understood some basics.<br/>
I joined a javascript forum of recent and I see these people debug problems like they were the inventors of the language. This React I'm learning and using, although I didn't start with their documentation, the course I am following didn't exactly tell me where this certain parameter, 'props' was coming from 😕. But I know how to use props, even effectively. I have even built some projects with it.
- Ope: It's not just by being a developer that knows the surface level, you gotta be solid.<br/>
Don't pressure yourself too much, you'll get there too. The only thing you can do is fasten the process by spending more hours on coding.<br/>
Don't be pressured by 3 or 4 years devs, it's normal. In two years plus, you'll be at or above the level.<br/>
Read the documentation on the React website. It's pretty straightforward. Any tool you are using for the first time, try going through the documentation on the official site.<br/><br/>
Check [Estelle.github.io](https://estelle.github.io). Also, [Frontendmasters.com](https://frontendmasters.com).<br/>
Growth becomes easier and better with proper understanding.
<br/>

Deee: Thank you so much. I'd go back to refresh my understanding of HTML, CSS, and JS and try to learn the basics I skipped (while following the course on ReactJS I bought). When I gain that confidence, I'd begin to apply for jobs.
Ope: Sure, you'll get there.
<br />

Deee: You know about Github Education pack?
Ope: No, I haven't heard about that.
<br/>

Deee: The pack gives you access to a ton of benefits - free access to [Frontendmasters.com](https://frontendmasters.com)'s courses, free domains (with SSL certificate), free access to some of [Heroku.com](https://heroku.com)'s paid plans and lots more. You just have to register as a student and provide your evidence (by uploading some sort of proof in the field provided there) then wait until confirmation.
Ope: Thanks for sharing : )


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That is the end of the conversation 😊

## Lessons (In my honest opinion)
- Don't jump from language to language without a basic-level understanding of the languages. Same thing with respect to frameworks - bootstrap for CSS, jQuery for javascript, etc. Get to understand the underlying languages before using these frameworks.
- It's not about knowing how to code 'at surface level', but knowing how the code actually works
- Have a solid foundation. This also aids quick understanding of whatever frameworks are built from that particular language.
- Take it easy, practice more, learn more.
- _lessons you learnt while reading 🙂_

I hope you took note of the resources and shared websites?

I would also like to add that it isn't compulsory to understand everything at once. Your understanding improves as you continually practice, but at least, have a basic level of how things actually work

### Don't just know how to use them, try learning how they work.

> "When you feel you're good enough to take a job, then you can apply for jobs."

It doesn't have to be a year or years.
As for me, my target is to use this month and the next to improve myself. I aim to at least get a gig before this year runs out. 

It depends on you, don't pressure yourself, you'll get there.

I trust it was worth the read. Kindly add your own helpful tips in the comment section.

You could follow me on twitter [@iamdillion](https://twitter.com/iamdillion) if you have any personal questions or contributions to make.

Stay blessed : )