What Does a Front End Developer Do?

Computers, coding, and how the internet works can seem like confusing concepts for many people. There is much to learn about the roles each person has in creating code — but what a front rnd developer does is a good place to start. We sometimes think of the internet as this overwhelmingly complicated place, but it can be simplified. With a basis of knowledge, it is possible to understand what is going on behind the scenes every time you go online.

Now, in the simplest terms, a front end developer deals with the beginning of a person’s experience on a browser. For example, say you open up Google Chrome on your laptop, everything visually that you can see is made by a front end developer. The Google logo, the tabs for image search, the coding that delivers you through the internet to a different website, etc.; this is all the handy work of the front end. They are responsible for the look and feel of every site you click on. The main task of a front end developer is to create interaction and a user experience that will keep them intrigued. Most browsers or individual sites are not boring. This is on purpose. It catches the users’ senses. Don’t get confused though, a web designer is the person that orchestrates how a website looks to our eye. However, without the front end coding, there would be no website. From the top; a front end developer creates coding that enables the website designer to create a beautiful, but usable site.

Some companies are now beginning to use “responsive” front end developers. So, the original use for the developer was fixed, meaning that the site would get developed and that was all the user would ever see. But in today’s world, people want more. Companies began tailoring browsers to the users. By adding extra coding, the user can adapt their own way of using it, making it easier for them to understand. The developer wants to create a website where there is a mix of functionality and speed. It should be easy to use for anyone but also fast so that the user experience is as pleasurable as possible.

The job of a front end developer is not an easy one. Since they are coding, the developer has to be extremely tech savvy. But they can’t only be good technically, as the developer has to be creative as well. They are helping the web designer create a website that keeps users coming back time and time again.

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How to Stay Motivated

Staying motivated can be hard, especially for someone living a multitask life between school, sports, work, volunteering, or any other resume-builder. The truth is, life sort of requires you to live chaotically if you want to achieve your goals and dreams. It’s understandable that there are days when all you really want to do is lay in bed with a family size bag of chips and binge watch something that isn’t even good; everyone’s been there. The problem starts when you can’t pull yourself out of that comfortable spot and get everything you need done. When projects fall behind, so does your mental and physical health.

So, how does one stay motivated?

Write yourself inspirational messages on colorful sticky notes, and place them around the areas that you visit every day — your refrigerator in your kitchen, your bathroom mirror, on the wall above your bed, on doors, etc. The colors will draw your attention, and the notes themselves will give you the right boost for the right moments.

Meditation is also a good way to gather your thoughts after a lazy day, or even when you’re just not feeling up to doing what needs done that day.

It might sound cheesy, but meditation will help you organize your mind and realize what emotions might be tying you to your bed. The mind is a wondrous thing, and taking a second to just get lost in it, alone in a quiet room, is one of the healthiest things you can do when you’re not motivated to work or read or write.

Create a playlist that amps you up!

Are there songs that really speak to you, or get your blood flowing? Then those should be in that playlist. Don’t pick songs that are too emotional or slow — you need your brain to tell you to get up and go. Music has a crazy way of effecting people, so give it a try! You might be surprised.

Be open about how you’re feeling with one or two people.

Lack of motivation is often times associated with other feelings, like not wanting to write a paper because, deep down, you have no confidence in your chosen topic, or not wanting to clean your room because you know you’re going to find things in there that will make you nostalgic — stuff like that. Getting deep into the root of the no motivation crisis will help change a lot of attitudes towards certain tasks; it’s usually not just “being lazy”, but rather feeling some type of way about something related to the task that keeps you from being your best, motivated you.

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4 Skills All Coders Must Have

Coding is both a science and an art – and it takes an incredible amount of focus and dedication to be able to learn it, hone it and apply it. Of course, coding requires skills in mathematics and logic; however, on a personal level, there are additional skills that are essential. Read on for the top 4 skills all coders must have.

Confidence.

The code you write is the basis for something amazing – that, alone, should inspire confidence. But what comes first? The final result or the confidence? That’s an easy answer: the confidence! You must believe in yourself and your ability to create and program – as this is what will propel you forward toward success.

Patience.

Phenomenal websites and video games aren’t created in one day. Or two. Or three… Creating anything takes time – and patience. Don’t be too hard on yourself, and give yourself plenty of time to focus before a deadline. Once you have it down, coding may feel like a breeze – but it will always require some element of patience.

Adaptability.

Inevitably, along the way, you’ll encounter errors or challenges, and you have to be able to inhale, exhale and keep moving forward. Whether you’re working on a homework assignment or a massive project for your biggest client, the ability to adapt to situations and changes is key in any realm of technology. As technology advances and evolves, so must you.

Memory.

Having a good memory can serve you well when trying to remember where you parked the car or left your phone last, but it’s essential – not just useful – for a coder. The foundation for all actions you take when creating code lies within your ability to remember computer languages and techniques.

Confidence, patience, adaptability and memory are key components of a fantastic coder. However, not every coding expert was born with an innate ability in all 4 of these skills. You know the phrase “practice makes perfect?” It’s not only for multiplication tables and hobbies – it’s also for self-improvement and personal growth. Take time to hone these 4 soft skills – there’s no better moment to start than now.

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What Skills Are Necessary for a Front-End Developer?

Front-end web development is also known as client-side development. It is the practice of converting data to a graphical interface for users to view and interact with through a digital platform.

A front-end developer develops and designs websites and applications using web tools and technologies (i.e. HTML, CSS, and JavaScript).

Here are some of the necessary skills:

HTML and CSS

HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) is one of the most essential components of web coding. It’s the standard markup language that’s used to create websites and applications. Basically, it indicates how text can be displayed as images, tables, links, and, of course, text.

Source: www.w3schools.com

CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is a stylesheet language used to describe how the HTML components are displayed. CSS creates the actual viewable design.

Source: www.w3schools.com

HTML = Content
CSS = How the content is displayed

Together HTML and CSS are the backbone of any website development process. Without these, a designed web page would not exist.

JavaScript

JavaScript is an event-based programming language that creates an interactive element on web pages and applications. It is used to transform a static HTML page into a dynamic interface. In other words, JavaScript allows the user to manipulate something on the webpage — without having to reload. Examples of JavaScript include calculators, animated graphics, interactive maps and content updates.

Source: www.w3schools.com

 

Utilizing HTML, CSS and JavaScript are essential for individuals who love coding — or who are seeking a career in web development.

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Tips for Computer-Centric Professionals

Working on the computer – particularly with coding – within technology-heavy fields can be enthralling and offer an array of incredible, revolutionary opportunities. Software engineers, web developers, video game designers and IT security specialists are several of the numerous careers that are becoming essential in modern society – and also happen to require extensive time spent using technology. Are you considering a career utilizing computers, coding and technology? Read on for our top tips for computer-centric professionals.

1. Take set, purposeful breaks.

In any career, it’s important that you take time to reflect and – honestly – relax! However, in a computer-centric career, it’s even more essential that you set time where you can give your mind and eyes a break. In addition to your lunch hour and inevitable few trips to the bathroom, take a few moments to stand up, stretch, look around and allow yourself to “reboot.” Plus, here’s a fun tip: If you have been sitting for a long period of time, stand up and work while standing for 15-30 minutes.

2. Purchase a pair of computer glasses.

Anyone who spends hours upon hours in front of a screen will swear by the incredibility of computer glasses – which protect your eyes from the harmful glow of your technology. Of course, a small amount of time won’t hurt your vision, but – eventually – staring at the computer will cause your eyes to strain, leading to headaches. Computer glasses help to curb this problem (with a stylish touch).

3. Place a stool under your feet to give your legs a rest.

This is an especially important tip if your feet don’t reach the ground or need to stretch a bit to rest flat. Placing a stool or bin for your feet helps take the strain off of your upper legs and improves circulation.

4. Line padding for your wrists on your desk or keyboard.

If you love computers, you’ve probably heard of the ailment “carpal tunnel.” It’s a painful condition characterized by an annoying tingling sensation, and typically occurs due too way too much typing without support. Padding can help make for a more comfortable workspace.

5. Invest in a high-quality chair with lumbar support.

While it’s great to stand up and stretch, it’s also expected that you’ll be frequently sitting. So, ensure that your chair is a perfect fit for you – and, no, we don’t just mean in its design! (Though, if you want some cool stripes up the side, go for it.) Find a chair that specifically has special lumbar support to keep your back and bottom healthy and strong.

Technology has offered immeasurable possibilities for businesses, gamers, shoppers, patients and the world overall. Despite our strides toward automation and orchestration, at the heart of it all, there is still a human at the other end making it all possible – which is why it’s important to remember to take care of yourself as you live out your dream in a computer-centric career.

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3 Reasons Why STEM Education is Important

The acronym “STEM” is very common in the world of education, and it stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. It’s an important part of every child’s education, but it doesn’t only matter to children – it should matter to everyone. The more you understand STEM education, the better prepared you’ll be to make the right decisions regarding your child’s education.

Here are some reasons why we should encourage enrollment and development in these topics:

Innovation supports the economy.

We’re all observing the technology boom happening before us. New gadgets are popping up every week and keeping up with the trends has proved challenging for many. However, these trends are important because they help boost the economy and create jobs. We need talented and skillful STEM experts to develop the next vaccine, disease cure, or antibiotic. We also need developers and engineers in order to come up with the next generation of phones, cars, and computers.

Introducing girls to explore tech in school will help bridge the gender gap.

There is a disparity among men and women in the STEM industries like tech, development, engineering, and medicine. According to Fortune, women only make up about 1/3 of the workforce in the biggest tech companies (like Microsoft, Google, and Facebook).

That gap only gets wider if you evaluate the numbers regarding leadership positions. According to Deloitte, only about 25% of IT roles are led by women and only 17% of female college graduates are in IT-related fields. If we give girls more opportunities to explore STEM when they’re children, more will take interest and make careers out of their talents.

Studying STEM leads to the development of other important skills.

We’ve discussed the more long-term effects of STEM education initiatives, but we should talk about how this branch of education can directly help today’s youth. Mastering STEM skills will lead to the development of practical soft skills. For example, in STEM programming, students create their own research questions. They then follow an investigative process that encourages them to evaluate multiple perspectives and connect concepts in order to fix a problem.

There are many different processes kids can learn from studying STEM, and the best part is that they can learn to collaborate with their peers by comparing their in-class research and working together to solve problems presented to them.

While we do teach STEM in schools, taking initiatives to further encourage interest and passion will promote equality and innovation in our future. Plus, engaging in fun activities centered around STEM education is a great way to bond with your child.

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What is C++?

C++ was invented by Bjarne Stroustrup in the early 1980s as a general-purpose programming language. It is a similar language to C, which was invented by Dennis Ritchie in the early 1970s, but it is safer and includes modern programming techniques (like object-oriented programming).

The purpose of C++ is to precisely determine a sequence of operations that a computer can perform to accomplish an objective. Most of these involve manipulating text and numbers, but anything a computer can do physically can be programmed in C++.

We don’t think about this often, but computers have no intelligence – they have to be given instruction on how to perform a task. These instructions are defined by the programming language used. Once they are programmed, they can repeat the instructions very quickly as many times as the operator wishes.

Which computers have C++?

The better question is: “which computers don’t have C++?” The language is a widespread, almost universal tool and can be found on most computers, big and small alike. There are compilers for this language that are available to almost every type of operating system.

Use of C++

C++ is popular in software engineering, communications, and gaming, as well as other industries like finances, health care, and defense. The language is widely used across programming development and has been an influence on the creation of other programming languages like Java, C#, and PHP.

Learning C++

There are many places you can go to study C++. First, you’ll need a C++ compiler. There are a variety of these available, and many of them are free and include an IDE to make it easier for you to program, debug, and edit your applications.

Where does C++ stand in comparison to other programming languages?

While some code languages are written for a specific purpose, C++ is a great general-purpose language. It can work well for most programming tasks, but not for all. Other languages like Delphi, C#, and Visual Basic may work better in those situations.

Knowing how to use C++ is a foundational skill in learning how to program and code. Many jobs in a selection of fields require or prefer candidates with this skill, as there’s an immense amount of existing code that needs maintenance, updating, and (at times) rewriting. C++ also lends itself to the arts in its contributions to video game development. Needless to say, if you’re considering a job in our modern technological industry, knowing C++ will give you a leg up in your job search.

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3 Inspirational Female Coders in Coding History

When the development of coding first started taking off in the 20th century, women were at the forefront of its progress. According to an article in Smithsonian Magazine, women were historically offered coding jobs because these positions were seen as easy “women’s work,” similar to secretarial and administrative duties, while men were more focused on the development of hardware. Here are a few women who helped spearhead the development of this all-important skill:

Ada Lovelace (1815-1852)

Ada’s place in coding takes place earlier than the 20th century, but her work is foundational to this field. Growing up, Ada was always interested in the inventions coming about during the Industrial Revolution. At age seventeen, Ada’s mentor (Charles Babbage) developed a machine called the “Analytical Engine.”

At one point, she translated an article that an Italian mathematician wrote about the machine. Babbage was impressed and asked her to expand on the article. In her work, she wrote on the potential uses of the Analytical Engine and wrote multiple computer programs.

Lois Haibt (1934-)

When Haibt began working for IBM, they were working on a computer language that would change the field completely. Haibt was a great problem-solver and had shown exceptional skills in math and science during her collegiate studies. The project she was hired for became known as FORTRAN and she eventually was assigned to build the flow analysis at the foundation of the FORTRAN computer. The language became known as a vital development in the field of computer coding and programming.

Margaret Hamilton (1936-)

Hamilton was working as a programmer at MIT during the 1960s. She is quoted as saying: “The very first languages I programmed were in hexadecimal and binary. There was no school to attend or field to learn what today is known as ‘software engineering’ or ‘systems engineering.’ When answers could not be found, we had to invent them.”

When NASA looked to MIT workers to help engineer the Apollo, Margaret’s duties involved developing onboard flight software. Her method involved punching holes in stacks of punch cards and having them processed by a large computer, simulating the Apollo. After a human error, Hamilton helped save the Apollo 8 flight and was awarded the NASA’s Exceptional Space Act Award.
Over the years, it has been made clear that computer coding and programming is much more than mundane and tedious work. It’s a skill that is vital to the technological development of our world, and women have played no small part in it. Apart from their scientific success, they also paved the way for the many women who do great work in this field today.

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6 Tips to Ace Your Next Test

Do you have a big test coming up? It’s normal to feel nervous. After all, if test taking were a breeze, they wouldn’t call it a “test.” However, there are ways to increase your confidence… and your chances of scoring a good grade. The best part is that these ideas aren’t difficult to implement at all. Embrace the challenge ahead of you and seek to ace the next exam by following these 6 tips.

STUDY TIPS

1.       Take short breaks regularly. Don’t overload your brain with too much information – cramming is not an effective technique if you want to ace a test. The secret to a successful test? Learn the information – and truly know the material. The only way to do so is to allow yourself time to process properly, which means you must account for regular breaks in between studying. Focus for 30 minutes, take a 10 minute break, and then repeat this pattern.

2.       That being said, don’t take too many unnecessary breaks. The mistake many make when giving themselves time for breaks is that it’s tempting to schedule breaks TOO often. Taking a break shouldn’t be an excuse to get away from the material, but rather to let it soak in and give yourself a moment to reflect. Breaks should be calm and connected to the study session – so, no video games and TV shows.

3.       Eat and hydrate. By now, you’re probably very familiar with the technical study tips for memorization (creating acronyms for terms, for example); however, this is only one piece of the puzzle. The biggest piece is to take care of yourself – eat a snack, drink water. Keep your mind in tip-top shape so you can feel good enough to learn and understand the material.

TEST TAKING TIPS

1.       If you don’t know an answer to a question, skip it and come back to it. This advice is tried and true; however, there is a very important exception to keep in mind. If you’re just skipping a question because you think you don’t know it, but haven’t taken the appropriate amount of to work the problem, you’re simply breaking your focus on a question you may have been able to solve. So, only skip a problem if you really don’t know it, rather than trying to find all of the easy questions first.

2.       Read every question and (if applicable) every possible solution in its entirety. This seems obvious, but – in the moment – it’s a tip that many neglect. Knowing what you’re getting into BEFORE you start attempting to solve the problem will help ensure you don’t have to redo a question after you thought you figured it out correctly.

3.       Implement self-care strategies to ease anxiety. Taking a test is a challenge – it’s meant to assess how much you have learned and retained. Along with these difficult questions comes a heaping amount of anxiety, even for the most confident test taker. Therefore, successful test taking comes down to the ability to calm yourself enough to remember what you already know. Find what works for you. Some examples include taking deep breaths, relaxing all muscles, rolling your shoulders and thinking positively.

The next time you have an exam on the horizon, don’t fret. Instead, take action. Study effectively, take care of yourself and keep calm through the process. With these tips as your guide, you’ll be well on your way to claiming an “A” on the test.

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What Exactly is Coding?

We’ve discussed the endless possibilities that arise from learning to code, and how fun it is to learn.  You’ve probably seen the power of coding every day on the internet, in the video games you play, and in the technology segments that play during the news, but maybe you’re still not quite clear of one thing.

What is coding, exactly?

To understand coding, you must first understand that computers don’t speak English, at least they haven’t always been able to. There was a time before Alexa and NPCs in a video game spoke directly to you, and it was a dark time.

Literally, electricity hadn’t even been invented yet.

It was 1843 when Ada Lovelace wrote the first official computer program for a machine invented by Charles Babbage called the “Analytical Engine.” That’s right, over 150 years ago coding was introduced into our world. The first official coding meant to give instructions to computers were wrote during the 1950s, mostly used for application in weapons and space technology. The onset of many of the languages we use today were developed in the 1960s and 70s, coinciding with the explosion of computational language efforts in universities and companies with government contracts.

Coding began to take form into what we recognize today as popular programming languages in the 1980s, and this led to companies like Microsoft and Apple introducing the power of the computer into homes around the world. Since then, programmers and computer enthusiasts have fully utilized the power of source code.

This is an example of source code:

<li>Chrome &ndash; CTRL + U. Or you can click on the weird-looking key with three horizontal lines in the upper right hand corner. Then click on &quot;Tools&quot; and select &quot;View Source.&quot;</li>

In its purest form, coding is a set of commands and processes that perform an overall task, what that task is purely depends on the will of the programmer. In the process of writing code for a program, device, or website, a coder will act as “King” of the code, telling it where to go, how to stand, and when to speak. While attempting to get the desired result, a programmer will need to manipulate, analyze, and pinpoint errors in the source code

Don’t let the “King” title go to your head, because being a coder also makes you the guy whose job it is to clean up the kingdom. If something doesn’t look right on a website, or a robot doesn’t react the way it should to a command, you, the coding custodian, must get into the source code and clean up the mess.

But, the magic of coding lies in “the mess,” because it’s there where there is the potential for basically anything your mind can imagine. Lines of source code are meticulously assembled for a reason, and when there’s a break in the chain, it shows. This means that any problem which can arise in coding, can also be fixed.

So what is coding? Coding is the problem, and the answer. It’s the language of a world that really has no boundaries, and once you learn it, the same will be true of you.

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