My journey into backend web development

Timothy Nwokeji — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 22:52:32 +0000

How it all started

In 2022 a family friend told me about the Zuri internship program and I was excited to be a part of it. I registered for the frontend track which I was already familiar with. I also registered for the backend track. That was how I got my first push into the backend space.

A memorable experience in my backend journey.

At one time in 2022, I was interviewed, and the interviewer made me look as though I did not know backend web development. The resulting project may not be my most complex, but I was surely a challenging one at that stage of my expertise as I was motivated to prove I knew my stuff. That was my first complete full stack project.

I used my knowledge of python and JavaScript to build a calculator that features user authentication and authorization as well as CRUD operations.
Today I can build twitter clone using Django but I wouldn't be as motivated as I was then to prove myself.

It was challenging because it was at that time I took my first look into software structure and architecture. I did my best to follow the pattern known as loose coupling, separating tasks among various parts of my application from model to data processing to view.

I assigned different tasks to different layers at the same time maintaining minimal dependence between layers.

One feature of the application that was difficult to implement the rendering of results to the users. I did some research using google but could get answers at that time. During the day at work, I would think about that problem and after some time I solved it in my mind without even coding!!! That alone taught me that taking breaks between coding sessions can help us solve problems that seem complex or difficult.

The following is a link to the project:

Repo: https://github.com/DARQ-Envoy/Calculator-js
Webapp: https://timothynwokeji.pythonanywhere.com/

My goals for the HNG internship

I plan to use this opportunity to broaden my knowledge on backend technologies, connect and collaborate with techies like myself and have fun while doing so.

My goal is to be part of the finalist who will be added to HNG's pool of great talents.
The HNG premium network helps great talents get hired. It provides them with recommendations, cv reviews and it adds them to a pool of great talents.
To register visit: https://hng.tech/premium

In addition, HNG offers a platform that makes it easy for employers to find and hire great talents.
To find talents visit: https://hng.tech/hire

React VS Angular

Timothy Nwokeji — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 21:31:10 +0000

As developers, we make use of frontend frameworks to go about our daily work and speedup the development of the applications we build.

A frontend framework is a collection of pre-written, standardized code that helps developers build great applications easily and speedily.

Frontend frameworks come packed with tools, libraries, and conventions for building user interfaces, handling events, managing application states, and interacting with APIs. Long story short, they're a gift to developers.

Now I don't want to talk about just any framework, I want to talk about my two most favorite namely React and Angular.

React

Developed and released in 2013 by Facebook, React is an open-source JavaScript library used for building user interfaces for web and mobile applications. It features reusable components which can be combined to create complex, yet interactive applications.

pros

Virtual DOM: React uses a virtual DOM to efficiently update and manage changes made to the UI.
Reusable component-based architecture: React’s component-based architecture allows you to build reusable UI components and compose them to create complex UIs.
Flexibility: React is a library and because of this it offers flexibility, that is one reason I love react. I use react mostly when the requirements for a project are not yet defined to the nitty-gritty details.
Faster rendering: Now trust me when I tell you that React is fast, using the virtual DOM, it efficiently updates the UI, making it faster than traditional UI libraries.
Large community: When you start using React, you become part of a large family of developers who happily provide extensive documentation, support, and resources to help you grow.

cons:

Complex setup: React’s setup can be complex, requiring knowledge of build tools and configuration for optimal performance. In addition due to the large number of dependencies, React can be difficult to work with when dependencies get corrupted, depreciated or complicated.

Examples of webapps built using react include:

Angular

Angular is a TypeScript-based open-source Front-End framework that is widely used for building dynamic, single-page applications. It provides a robust set of features, including data binding, dependency injection, and more.

Angular is built on top of TypeScript, a statically-typed superset of JavaScript. TypeScript provides features such as classes, interfaces, and type annotations that make it easier to write and maintain large-scale applications and also it enables developers to identify errors in build time.
Pros:

Two-way data binding: Allows automatic synchronization of data between the model and view.
Faster development: Angular provides tools for developing complex applications faster.
Scalability: Modular architecture for easy maintenance and scalability.
Code reusability: Reusable components and services for sharing across applications. Cons:
Steep learning curve: Advanced features can make it challenging for new developers.
Complexity: Complex tools may be unnecessary for small, simple applications.
Large bundle size : Large bundle sizes can affect loading times for smaller applications.

Differences Between React and Angular

Speed: React "reacts" and fast, unlike Angular, it is lightweight and therefore responds quickly to dynamic changes.
Data binding: Because Angular uses a two-way binding pattern, it ensures that data is synchronized between the model view and the components. React uses the single data binding pattern and is mostly used to build interactive UI components with variable data

What I plan to accomplish during the HNG internship.

I am a full stack engineer and I plan to employ my proficiency in the use of React and Angular in collaborating with my team to build dynamic solutions.

How I feel about React

I love React and since 2022, I have been using it in building solutions to problems we face from day to day.

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