DEV Community: SalTheDev

3 Quick Tips - Returning to the World of Code

SalTheDev — Tue, 27 Sep 2022 01:01:31 +0000

Do you have a lot different interests outside the world of code? Maybe alongside your goal of being a fantastic developer, you also want to be a skilled musician or an impactful author, or insert your greatest desire here✨.

It requires time to focus on your other goals and desires. So it's reasonable that maybe you've taken a break from code at some point (or that you may take a hiatus in the future). And that's okay!

I personally returned from my path of unbridled ambitions about a month ago. Getting back into the groove of code can almost make you feel like a noob all over again. So to make sure your return is as smooth as possible, I've compiled some tips that I've found helpful since I've been back.

Keep in mind, these tips are also helpful if you've never touched code before. And if you're a seasoned coder who finds some value in this post, drop a comment and let us know what enlightened you - maybe it's a tip or best practice that more people would benefit from seeing 😊

Tip #1 - Rally Up Your Dev Community

If you have old friends from a computer science course in college, digital nomad pals you met in a hostel in Seattle, or that one Facebook developer acquaintance you sparked conversation with in the airport after missing your flight - hit them up!

Benefits:

Have you ever walked away from a conversation and felt motivated & inspired with tons of new ideas? That's the power of communicating with like-minded individuals.
The ability to reach our for help when you get stuck. And on the flip-side, you'll be able to offer your assistance when friends have questions. Einstein said it best, "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.". Let this exchange of knowledge between you and others reinforce your learning and make you a better coder.
Keeps you in the loop of the computer programming industry. Chatting with other devs can keep you up-to-date on trends, job opportunities, etc. - you just never know.

Tip #2 - Be Aware of New AND Older Language Standards

Many of the handy dandy tutorial videos I used to rely on for JavaScript often referred to ES6 Syntax. Imagine the way my jaw dropped as I'm re-watching these videos the other day, somehow thinking ES6 was the latest standard...only to find out we're all the way to ES12 😅

Benefits:

You'll be able to understand code that was written a while back. Depending on your coding goals, at one point or another you may have to examine code that other people have written. And that code won't always be using the most up-to-date syntax or current best practices. So instead of being stuck and wondering, "what the HEX😉 going on?", (see what I did there?), widen your knowledge to understand old and new conventions.
Older standards can help you understand some of the newer, shinier, seemingly more complex tools we have today. For instance, Promises (the newer way of handling asynchronous tasks) is a difficult tool to understand at first. But if you take a look at the use of Callback Functions (the older way of handling asynchronous tasks), you can compare. What tasks have both tools been used to accomplish? How are the syntaxes the same? Where do they differ and how does the newer syntax make for cleaner, more efficient code?

Tip #3 - Open Your Imagination to What You Will Create

Code gives you the power to create literally anything. The possibilities are endless. The only thing that can stop you is you. So get excited about the awesome things you'll create. That's gonna be your fuel to keep going.

Benefits:

Yenno those goals and desires we were talking about earlier? Maybe instead of them being separate from your coding journey, they can align with it. If you're a musician, build your own digital press kit. If you have a green thumb, create a system that keeps track of your plants' watering schedules . Getting creative with your ideas will help you live as your truest, eclectic self.

Conclusion:
So that's it guys. There are a ton more tips I could come up with, but I have some case studies due tomorrow and realized "Oh geez it's already 5pm😮". But I hope these tidbits were helpful. Go talk with your coding pals, soak up all there is to learn, and bring your most fire ideas to the table and EXECUTE. You got this. You are awesome and so capable of anything you desire. Peace out✌️-Sal the Dev

The Importance of Daily Gratitude & 10 Things I'm grateful for today

SalTheDev — Mon, 04 Jan 2021 22:46:07 +0000

Hey guys! So I've been studying code for 3-4 months now. To start my 2021, I've finally dedicated myself to #100daysofcode, and today is Day 3. In addition to spending an hour on code, I wanted to take a moment to share with you guys one of the methods that helps me stay positive through this long, challenging journey of learning code. I was inspired to write this article after watching that new movie Soul by Pixar (gosh I loved it, it was so good!).

As developers, we're much like the main character of that movie. We're always focused on reaching the next tier of success in our lives. But we're hurting ourselves when we get lost in the belief that success is everything. When we don't learn things as quickly as we'd like to...when we don't feel like we're working hard enough...then we feel discouraged. Discouragement leads to negativity and we all know that the energy you expel is the energy that comes back to you. So if you would like positive things to happen to you, but you feel like you won't succeed, here's the best thing to do: Give yourself a break to practice some daily gratitude. I promise it'll help you feel a whole lot better.

I learned the benefits of practicing daily gratitude from a personal growth book. I was in the Target book aisle sipping my frappucino, picked up the book and the first line was all like, "Does your Target have a Starbucks?". I was like whoa, 10 points for making the reader feel special throws book in cart. Anyways, it had a section about building your foundation for success. It said to write down 10 things a day that you're grateful for. As instructed, I practiced this for a whole month, and guess what? I haven't stopped! Everyday my list of 10 allows me to step away from my coding journey and remember that I'm also on this journey called LIFE.

For example, sure I couldn't get my recreation of the .inRange() method to work yesterday. But I also woke up and started my day with my favorite chai tea latte. When I got frustrated I called a friend and we had a long conversation filled with laughter. Be appreciative of these wonderful experiences in life that we've grown to find so "lack luster" and that we've minimized as just "same old, everyday life". It'll keep you feeling spunky, positive, and excited for a new day. With all that being said, here's my list of 10 today that I'd like to share with you guys:
Today I'm Grateful for--->
1)Feeling the soft fur of my blanket
2)The gorgeous sound of rain pitter-pattering against my window
3)The flickering of my scented candle, as it fills my room with a cozy, sweet aromatic warmth
4)This delicious fudge brownie I forgot I had
5)Another steaming cup of green tea
6)The song "Hallelujah" from Shrek, it brings me so much peace
7)Seeing my visions transform into ink as I scribble more randomness into another new notebook (I kinda have an obsession with stationary)
8) The stinging of hand sanitizer cause I didn't know I had this friggin' paper cut (Be grateful for negative experiences too. But like no for real, my hand was really hurt lol)
9)Taking a nap
10) Watching the sun appear from behind the clouds as the rain began to stop. Literally so beautiful.

That's the end of this post! As always, I hope you enjoyed and were able to find this read helpful. Also, if you're interested in the book I mentioned, it's called "Girl Stop Apologizing" by Rachel Hollis. It's great for my fellow ladies, and has been a really good guide for me to solidifying my journey in life & reaching my goals. I'll leave a link here ---> [Note: This post includes an affiliate link. I may receive compensation if you purchase products or services from the different links provided in this article.] https://amzn.to/3oe9GGZ

See you guys in the next read!

Why I Quit my Full-Time Job to Learn Code.

SalTheDev — Fri, 06 Nov 2020 17:20:59 +0000

Two months ago I quit a full-time job in a pursuit to learn coding. I know that most people would call me insane. You may even argue that the trade-off of giving up a steady paycheck to learn some skill is not worth it. But I've found a few reasons that I believe, along with grit and perseverance, will make my decision worthwhile.

For the past three years, I've slaved away at a manufacturing plant making plastic bottles. The pay was good, but that was the only thing that was. My specific job title was 'Machine Operator'. I worked twelve-hour graveyard shifts, anywhere from three to six days out of a week. I'd started working at the plant when I was only eighteen, so in the beginning the work load was something I could handle. There was no way for me to foresee the toll it would take on my body and mind in just a few years. The abundance of energy I used to have turned into constant exhaustion. Instead of starting my days happy I began to dread going to work and I felt trapped. Why was it - I wondered - that I continued to waste my time on something that added no value to my life? What could I be doing instead that would get me to where I want to be? Where is it that I even wanted to be? All these questions called for some serious self-reflection.

Looking back to when I took the job at the plant, my plan was for me to go to school as well. I chose to study computer science because that's where my passion lay. It sounded ideal to support myself financially and be working towards a degree both at the same time. However, for many reasons (too many to discuss here...perhaps I'll make a vlog post if you guys want me to go into detail about the whole college while working experience) it didn't work. The crumbling began, and rather than quit my job and let myself starve, I just gave up college altogether. I was convinced that keeping a steady 9-5 was the "right" choice. From there all my time and energy went into the job, and I became...lost.

It wasn't until I recieved an out-of-the-blue life lesson that I got the answers to my questions. It happened one day while I was picking up lunch. A friend of mine told me about this restaurant in town that had great lumpia (the lumpia was indeed phenomenal, if you're nearby give them a try! http://www.cabalencuisine.com/ ) . I went and as I was paying, the guy ringing me up mentioned the ongoing pandemic. He said it was negatively affecting his business and he expressed his frustrations/regrets for not continuing his education in computers, and BOOM. We chatted for a minute and I told him my story. In the end he told me something that I thought was important. "No matter what you do, at the end of the day make sure you're spending your time doing something that you actually want to do, and that it'll propel you to where you want to be in the future.", he said. I felt as though the universe intended that message for me. In that moment I realized I didn't want to waste my time at the plant anymore. I realized that instead I wanted to spend it learning something valuable. After our chat, I left the restaurant with a handful of lumpia, and just enough gumption to go quit my job.

I did secure a part-time job to cover bills & basic expenses for the time being. But still, some people think it's crazy that I would give up a full-time job. "Think about what you're losing.", people have warned me. But I don't believe I'm losing at all. On the contrary, I'm gaining so much. When you let go of the idea of instant gratification you begin to see what I'm gaining. I'm gaining my freedom. Once I've honed my skills I can do freelance work, which will allow me to work from home or anywhere else of my choosing. I can set my own schedule, organize my own clientele, and set my own prices based on the value of my work. Compare this to being controlled, over-worked, and under-valued at that manufacturing plant. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of web developers is projected to rise by 8% from now until 2029. For software developers, the estimated rise is 22%! This shows me that even if I choose not to freelance and instead I work as a developer at a company that there will be plenty of opportunity. And most important to me, coding allows me to use my creativity. It gives me a unique way to communicate my ideas and visions with others. With some basic knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript I've started to put together some basic websites. And in the future I plan to learn languages like C++ and Java that will allow me to deploy the various ideas I have for video games & apps.

The possibilities are endless and now I'm able to see that. And while I'm not advocating for anyone to suddenly quit their job, I do encourage you to sit down and check-in with yourself. It's so easy to become complacent with the way we live day-to-day. Make sure what you're doing is making you happy. Imagine what you want five years from today... is what you're doing going to help you get there? If you find that you do want to readjust your path, don't be afraid to take risks. Remember that you only have one life to live, so you might as well do everything in your power to get what you want from it. You owe it to yourself. You do!

Well, that's all for this post! If you enjoyed, share it with a friend who you think may find it interesting. Ttyl, - Sal the Dev