DEV Community: Marc Oller

Learning JavaScript

Marc Oller — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 15:38:03 +0000

Since I finished a bootcamp almost two months ago, a lot has happened. I feel that I have learned a lot since then but I still need to learn much more, much much much more.

I have tried to go through the bootcamp's course contents in order and I have realized that my JavaScript knowledge is still a bit basic. For example, the different JavaScript methods are very powerful and allow to perform routine tasks easily and efficiently but I have just recently discovered them.

That's why I have dedicated the little free time I have to review and increase what I learned. During the bootcamp I had to do most exercises in a hurry and I gave up on some concepts, things that I didn't understand that I had to let go because I had to move fast. Also, the learn-by-doing approach can sometimes leave important gaps uncovered. For example, I learned how to do complicated but very concrete things for a particular project, but I struggle to write code for simple things now.

With time I realize that it is better to dedicate the necessary time to each particular aspect of the language only once in order to build a solid base from which to continue growing and adding knowledge. Learning JavaScript needs time, a strategical approach and lots of patience and practice.

It's hard to find good courses to learn in an organized way. I recently discovered a platform called Scrimba that I have loved. I find this site's unique way of teaching programming very interesting and so I highly recommend it. Finally, I have started to solve the Codewars katas. At first it is a bit daunting, but when I manage to solve the exercises alone it feels great.

I consider JavaScript to be my language for programming and it is extremely important to me that I have a good foundation to build on in the future.

The limits of practical applications that this language allows to create are hard for me to understand right now , there are so many possibilities. I feel like I want to learn a lot of different libraries to do a bunch of cool things but I guess I understood that it's still not the time. I will keep building on the basics and I'll eventually get there faster.

Photo from https://unsplash.com/@lazycreekimages

Grid Template Areas

Marc Oller — Mon, 03 May 2021 17:53:57 +0000

I have a very busy schedule but I try to find some time every weekday to code, commit to Github and learn new skills. I'm currently at the final stage of my Bootcamp, which is focused towards finding a tech job (I'm a career changer which already works on tech but in a different position). To me it is not as fun as learning new code so I keep working on my portfolio to keep learning more code.

Today I stumbled upon grid-template-areas. At first sight I wasn't able to understand it at all... what are those values assigned to that? What does this mean and what is it exactly doing?

So I did a Google search and was presented with the great MDN docs. During the bootcamp I didn't use it at all, but now I understand why developers love it so much. The MDN docs is presented with examples which make it easier to understand what the code is doing and it has a lot of links to related pages. It's very good.

Now it all makes sense, so I was able to change the layout of a portfolio item incredibly fast and easy. I think I'm just grasping the power of CSS Grid and to be honest I'm a bit overwhelmed when I try to think of all the possibilities it offers.

I know I want and will spend time reading more about Grid and I don't understand why it is not used widely since it's browser compatibility is pretty good. All in all I feel like this is an awesome way to layout several elements and that the theory behind it it's harder to understand than to put it in practice.

Photo from https://unsplash.com/@d_mccullough

Full-Stack Web Developer

Marc Oller — Thu, 22 Apr 2021 14:25:24 +0000

This is it. I'm finally a certified Full-Stack Web Developer. My journey started a while ago but I decided to "take it seriously" last year. I enrolled on the program offered by Career Foundry and I'm quite satisfied so far.

It's been hard to find a good balance between studying, working and making music and it was stressful at times. I would like to come back and review the projects I build during the course to get a better grasp, but I think it has been worth it so far.

I'm now looking forward to start my path and I already have some ideas in mind to get started.

Photo from https://unsplash.com/@markusspiske