DEV Community: sanmakesapps

🔐 What Is OAuth2 and Why It Matters – A Developer's Perspective

sanmakesapps — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 03:51:38 +0000

Have you ever logged into a third-party app using Google or GitHub and wondered how that actually works? That magical flow that lets you skip creating a new password and instantly access an app? That’s OAuth2 in action.

In this post, I’ll walk you through:

What OAuth2 is
Why it came to be
What problems it solves
A full-stack OAuth2 demo using Spring Boot and React

The Problem Before OAuth

Before OAuth, if an app needed access to your account on another platform (like Google or Facebook), you had to give them your actual password. 😬

Imagine using a third-party calendar app that asks for your Gmail password just to read your events. You're not just giving access to your calendar—you’re handing over the keys to your entire Google account.

There was no way to:

Limit what the third-party app could access
Revoke access easily
Authenticate without sharing credentials

Enter OAuth2: Delegated Authorization

OAuth2 fixes all of that. It allows an application to access a user’s data without ever seeing their password.

It’s all about delegated authorization:

“Hey Google, this app just wants permission to read my calendar—nothing else.”

With OAuth2, the user:

Gets redirected to the identity provider (like Google or GitHub)
Logs in and grants access
The app receives a token to act on behalf of the user within a limited scope

OAuth2 vs. Authentication

It’s important to know:

OAuth2 is about authorization, not authentication.
But when used with identity providers like Google or GitHub, we often get basic profile info (name, email, picture) as part of the flow.

This hybrid use case is what powers modern SSO (Single Sign-On) experiences.

My OAuth2 Learning Project

To understand OAuth2 better, I built a full-stack app using:

Backend – Spring Boot

Google Cloud Console & GitHub Developer OAuth setup
client_id and client_secret configuration
/user-info endpoint to return authenticated user details
CORS config for cross-origin React frontend

Frontend – React

Two login buttons: Google & GitHub
Redirect to /oauth2/authorization/{provider}
Axios request to /user-info after successful login
Dashboard displaying name, email, and profile picture

Here's What It Looks Like

GitHub OAuth + concent View

OAuth Consent Page

Dashboard with Profile Info

How It Works (Simplified)

User clicks Login with Google
Redirect to http://localhost:8080/oauth2/authorization/google
User logs into Google and grants consent
Backend redirects to http://localhost:5173/dashboard
Frontend fetches user data via /user-info
React displays name, email, and avatar

What I Learned

OAuth2 is powerful and secure when used correctly
Spring Security makes integrations seamless
CORS and cookies need special attention
Tokens are the backbone of delegated access
Security is a core part of development—not an afterthought

Want to See the Code?

I’ve open-sourced this project so you can explore the full implementation:

👉 Check it out on GitHub:

github.com/sanMakesApps/oauth2-login-demo

Whether you're building a full-stack app or just curious about what happens when you click “Login with Google,” OAuth2 is essential knowledge for modern web devs.

Thanks for reading! Feel free to reach out with questions or ideas 🙌

🚀 10 Soft Skills Every Software Developer Needs (But Few Talk About)

sanmakesapps — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 23:56:47 +0000

As developers, we spend countless hours perfecting our syntax, learning the hottest frameworks, and building the next cool side project. But there’s one area we often overlook — soft skills.

You might be thinking, “I write code, not poetry. Why should I care about soft skills?”

Here’s why: whether you’re debugging a nasty issue with your team or explaining a product feature to a stakeholder, your ability to communicate, collaborate, and adapt is what makes you a developer that teams love to work with.

So let’s dive into the 10 soft skills that can level up your career and make you stand out in the world of software development.

1. 🗣️ Communication

It’s not just about talking — it’s about making yourself understood.

Can you explain a complex bug to a non-technical product manager?
Can you write clear documentation or clean commit messages?

The best developers can do both. Communicate clearly in meetings, code reviews, emails, and Slack. It matters more than you think.

2. 🤝 Collaboration

Even the best solo coders don’t ship products alone.

You’ll need to work in teams, share context, and respect diverse opinions.
Code reviews, pair programming, and agile planning all require team spirit.

Remember: a win for your team is a win for you.

3. 🧠 Problem-Solving

This is your superpower.

Soft skills aren’t just about feelings — being a structured, calm, and creative thinker under pressure is a huge asset.

Can you approach problems with logic and patience?
Can you think outside the box when Stack Overflow doesn’t have the answer?

That’s where you shine.

4. 🔄 Adaptability

The tech world changes fast.

Frameworks evolve. Project requirements shift. Your company might pivot overnight.

Being flexible, open to feedback, and willing to learn new things is a must-have mindset for long-term success.

5. ⏱️ Time Management

Deadlines matter. Being a dev isn’t just about solving problems — it’s about solving the right problems on time.

Break down tasks.
Avoid overengineering.
Don’t let perfection block progress.

Learn to prioritize, estimate effort realistically, and protect your focus time.

6. ❤️ Empathy

Empathy separates good developers from great ones.

Understand what your users actually need.
Respect how your team works best.
Be kind during code reviews.

Empathy fuels better UX, stronger team morale, and inclusive products.

7. ✅ Accountability

Own your work. Celebrate your wins, but also admit when you mess up.

Being someone your team can trust — who follows through, takes feedback seriously, and communicates roadblocks early — is pure gold.

8. 📚 Growth Mindset

Whether you’re a junior dev or a staff engineer, growth never stops.

Be coachable.
Ask questions.
Take feedback as a gift, not a criticism.

This mindset is what turns developers into leaders.

9. 🧘 Patience & Resilience

Some bugs just don’t want to be found. Some projects stretch you thin.

Your ability to stay calm, keep digging, and come back stronger is one of the most underrated traits in tech.

10. 🔍 Attention to Detail

Missing a semicolon is one thing. Missing a null check that crashes the app in production? That’s on a whole different level.

Being detail-oriented helps you write cleaner code, ship fewer bugs, and create better user experiences.

🙌 Final Thoughts

You can be a rockstar at React, a wizard with Webpack, or a Java genius — but if you can’t communicate, adapt, or collaborate, your growth will hit a ceiling.

Soft skills are the force multipliers of your career. They turn good developers into great ones. And great developers into leaders.

So as you grind LeetCode or learn your next framework, don’t forget to work on these too. Your future self — and your teammates — will thank you.

💬 Let’s Talk

Which of these soft skills are you working on this year? Are there any you’d add to the list?

Drop a comment or connect with me — I’m sharing my dev journey here on dev.to and would love to hear yours.

🚀 Journey to Dev: Why I’m Building & Blogging My Way Forward

sanmakesapps — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 20:02:50 +0000

Hey everyone! I'm San, a web developer a deep love for turning thoughts into real, working things through code.

After working in the tech industry for about a year now, I’ve realized that growing as a developer goes far beyond the job description. I want to keep leveling up—not just by doing more of the same, but by stepping outside my comfort zone, learning new things, and creating projects that genuinely excite me.

💡 Why I Created a Separate GitHub

I recently launched a new GitHub account — sanMakesApps — as a personal space where I’ll be building and sharing all kinds of applications, from:

🧩 Simple UI prototypes
🔁 Complex reusable component libraries
📊 DSA visualizers
🛡 Full-fledged platforms with secure backends and optimized frontends

This is my playground to experiment, learn, fail, and grow.

My Journey Into Code

A few years ago, I was working in the loan/banking industry doing data processing when I stumbled into coding. It blew my mind that you could write lines of instructions and literally bring ideas to life. That spark turned into a flame, and I ended up pursuing a Bachelor's in Computer Science to dive deeper into the nuts and bolts of technology.

From learning Data Structures and Algorithms to Operating Systems, from working with people on real projects to seeing a cocktail of ideas become something tangible—this field has been a constant source of inspiration and curiosity.

Getting My Foot in the Door

Let’s be real: the job market hasn’t been easy. It took time, effort, and a lot of grinding—but I eventually landed my first role in web development. That milestone felt huge. But I also know it’s just the beginning.

That’s why I’m doubling down on learning outside of work—building cool stuff, contributing to the dev community, and sharing my journey along the way.

My First Project: NoteBuddy

The first app I built on sanMakesApps is something I’m super proud of: NoteBuddy.

🎙 Imagine you’re brainstorming ideas, solving a problem, or just thinking out loud. NoteBuddy listens in, transcribes your thoughts into written text, and then uses an AI model to summarize it into actionable bullet points or a structured report.

It’s built to be your brainstorming buddy—something that turns chaos into clarity. Whether you’re prepping for a project or just trying to organize your thoughts, it’s got your back.

✨ What’s Next?

This is just the beginning. I’ll be sharing:

🔍 Behind-the-scenes of projects I'm building
🔧 Code breakdowns and lessons learned
🧰 Tools, stacks, and frameworks I’m exploring
💬 Thoughts on working in tech and growing in a tough market

Whether you're a fellow dev, a beginner, or someone curious about the tech grind—I hope my posts will add value or spark an idea in your own journey.

📬 Let’s Connect

Check out my GitHub where I’ll be pushing projects regularly:

👉 https://github.com/sanMakesApps

Follow me here on Dev.to if you want to keep up with the journey. I’d love to hear your thoughts, feedback, or even just say hi in the comments!

Let’s build, learn, and grow together. 💻🌱