JavaScript vs React Fundamentals

Yonatan Kawo — Thu, 04 Nov 2021 16:46:56 +0000

I recently completed a React Portfolio project and thought it would be fantastic to share my journey with the rest of the world.

Basic JavaScript Concepts

My initial project was JavaScript(JS)-based, and it should be considered garbage in the world of web developers. At the time, I thought I had mastered the frontend web development by creating a simple JS app. Friends, that's an example of "a little knowledge is dangerous" and please do not be this guy :).

Anyway, what are some of the fundamental JavaScript concepts that every programmer should understand? The next stage of web development would be incredibly difficult without a thorough knowledge of these fundeamentals. So, the followings are the basics of JS:

Variables
Comparisons
Logical Operators
Functions(callback function)
Data Structures & Types

Note 1: I cannot emphasize enough the importance of networking and participating in various web development communities in order to enhance one's coding skills - a lesson I learnt the hard way.
Note 2: Understanding GIT and GITHUB as well as learning programming languages, go hand in hand.

Basic React Concepts

I didn't appreciate the significance of JS core concepts until I began working with React, the next stage of frontend web development. At a high level, I picture JS being the backbone of React just as HTML is for JS.

Similarly, in order to have a solid understanding of React's essential notions, one must be familiar with the following core concepts:

JSX(JavaScript XML)
React Elements
Components & Props
State & Lifecycle
Handling Events
Conditional endering
Lists & Keys
Forms
React-router

Finally, if you feel you have completed React, you should be able to explain:

The difference between React and plain JS
Types of React hooks
How to modify React State hooks
The three ways to use React useEffects
The difference between Props and States
The difference between HTML DOM(Document Object Model) & Virtual DOM

Conclusion

If I could start over my programming journey, I'd start with HTML(HyperText Markup Language) and CSS(Cascading Style Sheets), then go on to JavaScript. Before diving into React, I'd make sure I understand the connection and interdependencies between HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. More importantly, I won't start React if I'm not comfortable with JavaScript.

Why Software Engineering?

Yonatan Kawo — Sat, 03 Jul 2021 04:55:02 +0000

I'm a systems engineer with a background in electrical engineering. You may be aware of that systems engineers are typically work as part of multidisciplinary teams; the great majority of Systems Engineers collaborate closely with a Software Engineer. So, how can we communicate if we don't speak the same language (programming)?

Speaking of languages, I can speak three, English and two others. I've been asked how I acquired various languages, and my answer is always the same: you don't learn languages in school or via instruction; you learn from the community through engagement.

Now, as a member of engineering community, I've decided to learn software engineering so that I can communicate in their language. We can bridge the skill gap between the two engineering desciplines by speaking the same language.

DEV Community: Yonatan Kawo

JavaScript vs React Fundamentals

Basic JavaScript Concepts

Basic React Concepts

Conclusion

Why Software Engineering?