The Internet is an incredible source of information; you can learn many things using it. In this present day, it has become relatively easy to learn to code on your own just by using the internet. Recently, many people have asked us how to start their career as front-end web developers. Well, to become a front-end web developer, you need to follow a pathway that will require quite hard work. But, before everything, you need to understand what free end web developer is and how he is different from the back-end and full-stack web developers.
What is the difference between front-end, back-end, & full-stack developers?
Front-end Developers:
The front-end web development includes everything that a user sees on the screen while using any web. They work on visually interactive elements by using different coding languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. A front-end web developer actually bridges the gap between the back-end developer and the designer; therefore, they are also called client-side developers. If you look at any layout and navigation of a website, you see the work of a front-end developer.
Check out some inspiring front-end web developer portfolios.
Back-end Developers:
While the back-end web developers are also called server-side web developers. They work on everything that users don’t see on a browser such as servers, databases, security, and content management. They do have a good command of HTML and CSS, but their area of expertise is much more than this. These developers usually work on dynamic sites where the database is continually changing.
Full-stack Developers:
Furthermore, a full-stack web developer is a person knowing all about front-end and back-end technologies. He is the genius that can do it all. He needs to be good at everything, ranging from user interfaces, databases, and things between them.
Check out some inspiring full-stack web developer portolios.
Beginning as a Front-end Developer:
Many times, front-end web developers face many difficult challenges when they start working on converting their idea into a real website using coding language. They might have to work alongside web developers on some projects as they have to implement the design of the web. For beginners, we suggest you follow the steps mentioned below as they will help you to become an expert front-end web developer starting from scratch.
Making a project plan:
No one can become an expert front-end web developer just by knowing something. To be considered an expert, you need to make a good plan, and it will help you stay focused and organized.
Getting the basics
The first step that can be taken as a front-end web developer is getting the grip of the two most critical coding languages which are HTML and CSS. You can join online Bootcamps such as Team Treehouse, Coursera, Lynda, Codecademy, and many more. You can even start practicing your newly learned coding languages by making small UI elements.
Learning JavaScript
JavaScript is a fascinating coding language as it provides more functionality to the website. Using JavaScript, lots of interactivity can be added to your webs such as popups, sliders, and collapse buttons.
You can easily log in to Javascript.info and Codecademy to get your hands on this programming language.
JavaScript also offers its library called jQuery, from where new web developers like you can add already made elements to your website. Those elements can be customized as per the requirement of the web developer.
Start using frameworks
The frameworks also play a significant role in developing a front-end website. Many famous frameworks like Bootstrap gives the developer the capacity to introduce standard UI templates like forms, icons and image slider on your website. As a beginner, you can learn Bootstrap at its website is getbootstrap.com.
GIT
GIT is the most extensively used version control system. The purpose of this control system is to keep track of all the changes that have been made so far in the code. If any of your code breaks in the middle of a particular plug-in, you don’t need to panic, and you can just revert to the previous version rather than fixing everything manually. This is one of the essential steps that are often missed while explaining front-end web development.
Design patterns
Design Patterns are code solutions that are reusable and can be frequently used to solve common software problems. You can quickly become a very competitive web developer in any coding language if you have your foundations on this. Understanding design patterns will also make it relatively more comfortable for you to understand other developer’s code.
The very best sources to learn these design patterns are Addy Osmani and doFactory’s JavaScript Design Patterns. Both of them are easy to understand and complete in all senses.
Learn to Debug
Testing and debugging your website is also a task that the front-end developer has to perform, as bugs happen. Each block of source code can be tested using the Unit testing process. Its framework provides a detailed method and structure to do so.
Each programming language appears to have a different framework for debugging.
Another kind of testing is UI testing, where websites behave as they should behave when a user is using them which allows developers to fix those problems before the website is introduced to the public.
Build things
Playing with small UI units is an easy thing while creating a web page is different, and somehow a bit tricky. To keep growing, you must keep building new things as there is no better way to learn than to create something on your own. When you start working on JavaScript snippets, remember that you are growing as a front-end web developer, and that’s a good thing.
Read as much as you can
If you are a great reader, that means you can become an excellent front-end web developer. As the world is growing, staying in touch with modern technologies is a little hard, but if you are regularly reading about the new advancements that are being made in your field, then remember that you are never going out of trend as a front end web developer.
To conclude:
If you follow all the steps, then you are not very far away from becoming an excellent front-end web developer. You might need some patience because some things might take time to happen, and the same can be said in this case. If you really want to be called a professional front-end web developer, then you must dive more in-depth than your other competitors. I hope it was useful to you guys.
