DEV Community: Gabriel Webb

Do You Still Use Var? If So Why?

Gabriel Webb — Thu, 26 Dec 2019 19:28:39 +0000

Is using the keyword var still viable in 2019/2020? What’s your use case for it? Is it only for older legacy code?

Web Development on an iPad Pro and Thoughts of a New Web Developer

Gabriel Webb — Sun, 22 Dec 2019 22:59:33 +0000

So for awhile now I have been wanting to pursue my career as a web developer and I have had my ups and down. Earlier this year I started to take that seriously using avenues like Superhi and countless YouTube videos. I am happy to say I have been working as a developer full time for a month now. Since I have the bare set up of just a MacBook Pro, I have been wanting to add a monitor for awhile now. With the recent updates in OS X and the inclusive of iPad OS I though,” Why not just invest in your future and get an iPad Pro as a monitor and for design features”. So after a few months I went for it.

I love this machine. I’m actually writing this article on my iPad just to prove my point. I have a $40 keyboard case and it is honestly better than the Folio keyboard from Apple IMO. Now on to my point, I was searching for how to use this as my main machine eventually and was coming up empty handing. I know things like Codepen exist and I love that platform but I really love Svelte and want to be able to add libraries or use frameworks. So in my current role I have been having to wait for access to files and a text editor so I went on the hunt for an in browser one. I found Code Sandbox. It reminds me so much of VS Code. This thing has really made me feel as though serious web development on the iPad is just around the corner. For things like testing and cross browser testing though we are still a bit out. I’m so thrilled that if I am out and about with just my iPad or on a trip I will be able to make little side projects and one offs with out the need to bring every machine in my house.

Why Svelte Should Be Your First Framework

Gabriel Webb — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 23:39:43 +0000

Why Use Svelte?

We all know the big three: React, Angular, and Vue. Sure, there are plenty of of other smaller ones as well.

Why is Svelte? Why is it different? It’s actually not a framework but a compiler with a templating language kinda like Handlebars.js!
Svelte being a compiler and templating language is what makes it so powerful. The way a Svelte file is set up is very normal to what you are used to in vanilla web development. Not much is needed to get started. Most frameworks require a lot of in depth knowledge from what I have seen.If you have HTML, CSS, and some basic JS(ES6) knowledge you can get started now.

Here are a few reasons why I think you will love it:
1.Formatting & Structure
Svelte files are set up similar to normal web dev projects with some added goodness.
2.CSS is scoped
All the styling for your components are scoped to that component.
3.Compile Time
At compile Svelte takes all your code and compiles it into fast and efficient JS. It even removes unused CSS styling. You are left with small bundle and fast code.

If you really want to dive in and learn I challenge you to first watch Rich Harris give his talk on "Rethinking Reactivity" then go to Svelte.dev and go through the tutorial for a bit. Coding Addict/John Smilga on Youtube has a great video on building a Budget Calculator with Svelte. He also offers a course which is $5 and includes the budget calculator and an e-commerce app. If you want more I would also recommend LevelUpTutorial's Svelte for Beginners course. Scott takes you through Svelte and shows you just how easy it is to build a quiz connected to an API. Acadamind also has a really killer course on Udemy as well. There are tons of ways to learn and get building.