DEV Community: megharrison92

A Recap of My Coding Bootcamp Experience

megharrison92 — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 19:54:23 +0000

When I decided to embark on a coding journey, I knew it wouldn't be easy. With no prior coding experience, I was essentially starting from scratch. That's when I stumbled upon the world of coding bootcamps—a fast-track way to become a developer in a matter of months. Little did I know just how transformative this experience would be.

The Pre-Bootcamp Days

Before enrolling at Flatirons Software Engineering bootcamp, I was finishing a degree in computer animation. While finishing my degree I realized that my motion sickness was triggered by working on animation sequences, so I decided to pivot my focus slightly. My motivation to learn coding was clear: I wanted a career change and the promise of a fulfilling, in-demand profession in the tech industry, that also fits in the world of game design.

The Challenges

Coding bootcamps are not for the faint of heart. There were moments of frustration, late-night debugging sessions, and days when I felt overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information I had to absorb. Impostor syndrome crept in occasionally, making me doubt my abilities. But with the support of my fellow students and the guidance of our instructors, I persevered.

The Bootcamp Community

The sense of community within the bootcamp was invaluable. My peers and I supported each other through the ups and downs. We collaborated on projects, shared resources, and celebrated each other's achievements. The instructors were not just educators but mentors who provided guidance and encouragement.

Vanilla Flask vs. RESTful Flask

megharrison92 — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 04:06:14 +0000

Flask is a popular framework in Python that developers use to build applications and APIs. There are two different ways to go about it- you can use either "Vanilla Flask" or "RESTful Flask" (it could also be called Flask-RESTful).

Vanilla Flask
Vanilla Flask is the traditional way of building APIs, where you manually define the routes, handle HTTP methods, and manage data. While the setup is slightly more involved, it has the added benefit of being more flexible.

If you wanted to create an API to manage a list of books using Vanilla Flask it could potentially look like this-

from flask import Flask, jsonify

app = Flask(__name__)

books = [
    {"id": 1, "title": "Harry Potter", "author": "J.K. Rowling"},
    {"id": 2, "title": "The Hobbit", "author": "J.R.R. Tolkien"}
]

@app.route('/api/books', methods=['GET'])
def get_books():
    return jsonify(books)

if __name__ == '__main__':
    app.run(debug=True)

RESTful Flask
RESTful Flask, which is sometimes referred to as Flask-RESTful, is an extension of Flask that has a more structured way of building APIs. It uses concepts like resources and HTTP methods as class methods, which simplify the process of creating APIs.

And if you wanted to create an API to manage a list of books using RESTful Flask it could potentially look like this-

from flask import Flask
from flask_restful import Api, Resource

app = Flask(__name__)
api = Api(app)

books = [
    {"id": 1, "title": "Harry Potter", "author": "J.K. Rowling"},
    {"id": 2, "title": "The Hobbit", "author": "J.R.R. Tolkien"}
]

class BookList(Resource):
    def get(self):
        return books

api.add_resource(BookList, '/api/books')

if __name__ == '__main__':
    app.run(debug=True)

Serialization in Flask to prevent recursion

megharrison92 — Sat, 26 Aug 2023 01:55:13 +0000

While learning how to build a web application using Flask and React, I've run into the ever delightful recursion error because I forgot to use an extremely helpful extension. The 'flask-restful' extension has a tool called 'SerializerMixin' which allows you to control how the objects are serialized.

What is Serialization?

It's a process to convert complex data structures (like Python objects) into a format that is easily transmitted/stored (like JSON).

How would SerializerMixin help to avoid recursion?

Let's say that in the application that is being built, there is a many to many relationship between authors and books. An author can write many books and a book can have multiple authors. When you try to fetch an author's information and you want to include a list of books that they've written, you might end up in an infinite loop when you serialize the author object with their books.

To prevent this, you would use 'serialize_rules' in the author class to control the depth of recursion, which would look something like- serialize_rules = ('-what_you_want_to_remove',). Just remember that when you use 'serialize_rules it has to equal a tuple.

Creating games in Python with Pygame: A Brief Introduction

megharrison92 — Mon, 17 Jul 2023 03:23:09 +0000

What is Pygame?

Pygame is a library, that is used to create graphics, graphs, and video games. It is used to create more "simple" games, to create a game with advanced graphics you would want to use an actual game engine. If you wanted to create games similar to Skyrim, Witcher, Assassin's Creed, or League of Legends you would want to use a game engine like UnReal or Unity.

Where to begin

To start pygame, you have to install it first, it is not automatically installed when you download Python. In your computers terminal type $ pip3 install pygame. Now that pygame is installed, import it into your favorite code editor; before anymore code is written you have to initialize it. To do this type pygame.init() under where you imported pygame.

Now to create the window that the player views, set the screen with height and width as arguments- screen = pygame.display.set_mode((width, height)). When this code runs, a window will pop for a split second and then disappear, at this point that is what your code is supposed to do, so don't panic. To get the game window to stay, all you have to do is create a while true loop and within this loop is where you will write all of the elements of your game and update any code. Don't forget to create a way to update the screen by adding pygame.display.update() within that while true loop.

At this point do not run your code. Your game will be stuck because you don't have a way to exit out of the game window. To be able close the game window create a for loop-

for event in pygame.event.get():
        if event.type == pygame.QUIT:
            pygame.quit()

Now you will be able to exit the game window, but it's now throwing an error because it is the first part of the solution. The second part is to get exit() by importing it from sys import exit and underneath pygame.quit() add exit().

Something to consider when you are setting up your game, is to set the frame rate, this will help the game stay consistent between different computers. Create a clock clock = pygame.time.Clock(), and in the for loop set it to 60 frames per second (fps), clock.tick(60).

Basic Code

Here is an example of how basic starter code in pygame would look like.

import pygame
from sys import exit

pygame.init()
screen = pygame.display.set_mode((800, 400))
#set game name here
pygame.display.set_caption(“Name”)
# the c in time.Clock has to capitalized
clock = pygame.time.Clock()

while True:
    # write all elements
    # update everything 
    for event in pygame.event.get():
        if event.type == pygame.QUIT:
            pygame.quit()
            exit()
    pygame.display.update()
    # this is the maximum frame rate
    clock.tick(60)

References-

Clear Code- “The Ultimate Introduction to Pygame”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AY9MnQ4x3zk
*note- This post is basically my notes from the above video.
Pygame Documentation
https://pythonprogramming.net/pygame-python-3-part-1-intro/
Pygame Events-
https://www.pygame.org/docs/ref/event.html

JavaScript to Python- a few differences in syntax

megharrison92 — Sat, 01 Jul 2023 22:33:05 +0000

When you are learning a new programming language it can be hard to keep the syntax straight in-between the two languages. Here is a quick reference of some basic differences between JavaScript and Python.

Naming Conventions-

JavaScript uses lowerCamelCase as a naming convention.
Python uses the snake_case as a naming convention.

// JavaScript
aNewCupOfCoffee

# Python
a_new_cup_of_coffee

Declaring variables-

JavaScript uses const, let, and var to declare variables.
To declare a variable in Python, it is set to the value- variable = value.

// Variable in JavaScript
const kaiBear = "super fluffy pupper"

# Variable in Python
kai_bear = "super fluffy pupper"

Creating Functions-

In JavaScript we create functions by using the function keyword and surrounding the function body in curly braces.
To create a function in Python use the def keyword and add a colon after the parentheses.

// JavaScript function
function newRamenMenu(){
   // write code here
}
# Python function
def new_ramen_menu():
    # write code here

Code Blocks-

JavaScript uses curly braces to group statements together.
To create a code block in Python you indent (press the space bar 4 times) continuous lines of code.

// A code block in JavaScript
if (a > 3){
  console.log(a);
}

# A code block in Python
if a > 3:
    print(a)

Creating Comments-
Single line comments

Single line comments are written in JavaScript with two slashes(//).
Python writes single line comments with a hashtag, or the pound sign (#)

// This is a comment in JavaScript

# This is a comment in Python

Multi-line comments

Multi-line comments are written in JavaScript by starting with a /* and ending with */.
Python writes multi-line comments with a hashtag, or the pound sign (#) at the beginning of each line.

/*
This is a multi-line 
comment in JavaScript.
*/

#This is a multi-line
#comment in JavaScript.

Resources-
https://www.freecodecamp.org/news/python-vs-javascript-what-are-the-key-differences-between-the-two-popular-programming-languages/
https://www.educba.com/python-vs-javascript/

How to Create a Basic Carousel using JavaScript, HTML, and CSS

megharrison92 — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 03:36:03 +0000

To create a dynamic carousel that shows images or information that rotates across the screen by using a combination of JavaScript, HTML, and CSS to format and style.

HTML

One of the first things to do, is create basic HTML structure in the project file- index.html. In the body element create a

tag and in it add all of the information that will be displayed within the carousel. Each element should have a unique identifier, either id or class. This will be used to grab the information for DOM manipulation and to style it within the style sheet.

JavaScript

Switching to the index.js file to work in, this is where the data will be declared and appended to the DOM. If information is from an API, remember to fetch the data and use the forEach() method to iterate through the array. Then declare variables in order to access the information that was fetched, change any text content or image source, and append all information to the DOM. For the carousel to work define a function that will handle the transition between the slides.

// Initialize carousel
      const carouselItems = Array.from(carousel.getElementsByClassName('carousel-item'));
      let currentIndex = 0;
      carouselItems[currentIndex].classList.add('active');

      // Function to show the next carousel item
      function showNextItem() {
        carouselItems[currentIndex].classList.remove('active');
        currentIndex = (currentIndex + 1) % carouselItems.length;
        carouselItems[currentIndex].classList.add('active');
      }

      // Set interval to automatically show the next item every 5 seconds
      setInterval(showNextItem, 5000);
    })

CSS

Styling the carousel is what really brings it together. Here is an example of css being used-

.carousel {
  width: 100%;
  overflow: hidden;
  position: relative;
}

.carousel-item {
  width: 100%;
  height: 100%;
  position: absolute;
  top: 0;
  left: 0;
  opacity: 0;
  transition: opacity 0.5s ease;
}

.carousel-item.active {
  opacity: 1;
}

.info {
  position: absolute;
  bottom: 10px;
  left: 50%;
  transform: translateX(-50%);
  background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7);
  color: #fff;
  padding: 10px;
  font-size: 16px;
}

Studying with ChatGPT

megharrison92 — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 02:23:36 +0000

A few weeks ago, I found myself in the midst of a coding bootcamp, eagerly absorbing a wealth of information. However, the sheer volume of concepts and the pressure to keep up left me and many of my classmates feeling overwhelmed. It was during one of our study sessions that a fellow student suggested using ChatGPT as a study aid. Initially, I was hesitant, having encountered mixed reviews online. But as I delved deeper into its capabilities and saw an instructor demonstrate its potential, I couldn't help but wish I had started using it earlier.

What is ChatGPT?

ChatGPT is an AI language model that was developed by OpenAI. It's able to create human-like responses from questions and prompts provided by users.

Why should you use it to study?

If you're like me, you might experience anxiety when asking questions in front of a group, especially when you're grappling with complex concepts. This fear of judgment or embarrassment can hinder your learning process and leave you feeling lost and frustrated. Here's why ChatGPT can be a game-changer for your studies:

Judgment-Free Learning

ChatGPT is a virtual tutor that doesn't judge or critique your questions. You can ask anything, no matter how basic or advanced it may seem, without the fear of judgment. This creates a safe and comfortable environment for learning.

Clarity and Comprehension

One of my favorite features is the ability to provide clear, concise, and easily understandable explanations. If you are still struggling to grasp a concept ChatGPT breaks it down in a way to make sense to the user.

Real-World Examples

ChatGPT can provide you with real-world examples and scenarios related to the topic you're studying. This not only enhances your comprehension but also shows you how the knowledge can be applied.

Immediate Assistance
Coding bootcamps, move at a rapid pace; waiting for your next class to clarify doubts can be a luxury you can't afford. ChatGPT offers immediate assistance, ensuring you can keep up with the curriculum and stay on track.
Versatile Learning
ChatGPT is not limited to answering questions. You can use it for a variety of learning activities, such as generating code snippets, brainstorming project ideas, or practicing coding challenges. It adapts to your learning style and needs.

Navigating ChatGPT Effectively

Ask Specific Questions: When using ChatGPT, it's often best to ask specific questions rather than open-ended ones. This helps you get precise and focused answers.
Use Follow-Up Prompts: If you need more information or clarification, don't hesitate to ask follow-up questions. ChatGPT can provide additional context and insights.
Experiment and Learn: Try different phrasings of your questions to see how ChatGPT responds. This can help you gain a deeper understanding of the topic.
Take Notes: When ChatGPT provides valuable explanations or examples, make sure to take notes. This creates a personalized study resource that you can revisit later.

Are there any Cons to using ChatGPT?

ChatGPT provides answers based on patterns in the data that it was trained on. It can give information that sounds correct but might not be entirely accurate or context-appropriate.