Podcast Summary
Discussing the merits of Vue.js: Scott found Vue.js to be a nice hybrid of Angular and React concepts, but with some 'magical stuff' that wasn't as explicit as React. He believes it requires less work to get things going if one is familiar with it.
The hosts of the Syntax podcast, Scott Talensky and Wes Boss, had a "potluck episode" where they answered various listener questions. During this discussion, they talked about their thoughts on Vue.js, a popular JavaScript framework. Scott shared his experience of working with Vue.js after using React for a long time. He found Vue.js to be a nice hybrid of Angular and React concepts, but with some "magical stuff" that wasn't as explicit as React. However, he believed that if someone was very comfortable and familiar with Vue.js, they would appreciate its benefits as it requires less work to get things going. Overall, Scott expressed a positive opinion about Vue.js, regarding it as another great flavor of web framework.
Speaker's Positive Experience with Vue.js: Speaker found Vue.js ecosystem, docs, and community excellent, but didn't see reason to switch from React for current project. Values TypeScript and Flow for tooling and preventing messy code, and interested in ViewPress for static site generation.
The speaker had a positive experience with Vue.js, particularly the Vue CLI, and found the ecosystem, docs, and community to be excellent. However, they didn't see a compelling reason to switch from React to Vue for their current project. They also mentioned that TypeScript and Flow, which offer more rigid typing than JavaScript, can provide valuable tooling and help prevent messy code. The speaker hasn't used either extensively but has seen their benefits when working with GraphQL. Additionally, they mentioned the release of ViewPress, a static site generator for Vue, and expressed interest in exploring it further. Overall, the speaker sees value in Vue and believes it's a worthwhile consideration for developers looking at different frameworks.
From jQuery to full-stack JavaScript development: The speaker's experience transitioning from jQuery to building full-stack applications with JavaScript, including working with Express and Passport JS, marked a significant advancement in their learning journey.
The speaker had a transformative experience when they began working with JavaScript frameworks, moving from simple tasks like creating slideshows or adding event handlers with jQuery, to building full-fledged applications with interactive features and database calls. This shift marked a significant advancement in their learning journey from primarily back-end development with PHP, to working with JavaScript for both the front-end and back-end. The speaker mentioned their experience with Express and Passport JS, where they built a Facebook contest app, as a particularly impactful project. However, they also expressed a desire to explore statically-typed languages like TypeScript, Flow, or Reason, but are hesitant to invest time until one becomes the clear industry standard.
Learning Node.js and Express for custom applications: Exploring Node.js and Express broadened skillset, led to image uploads and nudity detection projects, and now favored for smaller packages and customization in JS community
Building a custom application using Node.js and Express expanded the speaker's skill set beyond jQuery and led to the creation of several medium-sized projects. An early experience involved implementing image uploads and nudity detection using the library nude.js. At the time, Node was still new and required more effort to set up compared to popular CMS platforms like WordPress. However, the speaker's curiosity and belief in Node's potential led them to invest time in learning it, even when others were learning Rails. Today, the JavaScript community favors smaller packages and customization, making it an interesting contrast to frameworks like Rails and Laravel. The speaker also mentioned Deploy HQ as a helpful tool for deploying websites directly from git repos to servers.
Simplify and automate application deployments with Deploy HQ: Deploy HQ is a continuous deployment service that automates application deployments for developers, supports various frameworks, offers features like automatic deployments, scheduling, and multiple environments, and integrates with Google sign-up. Try it for free with a 10-day trial and a 50% discount for Syntax listeners.
Deploy HQ is a continuous deployment service that simplifies and automates the process of deploying applications, making it easy and efficient for developers. It supports various frameworks like React and Vue, and offers features such as automatic deployments from Git repos, scheduling deployments, and multiple environments for testing and production. Pricing is reasonable, with a 10-day free trial and a 50% discount for Syntax listeners. The service integrates with Google sign-up and offers a mug or t-shirt for the first 25 successful deployments. It's a valuable tool for developers who want to streamline their deployment process and avoid the stress and uncertainty of manual deployments. Additionally, the speaker shared some tips for motivation and avoiding procrastination, which include using the Getting Things Done methodology and doing a brain dump of tasks into an app to prioritize and focus on the most important projects.
Tackle tasks causing anxiety first for a productive day: Effective time management includes prioritizing tasks based on anxiety level and completing them early for a productive day. Consider using a to-do app like Todoist to help prioritize tasks.
Effective time management involves tackling tasks that cause anxiety first to clear the way for a productive day. The speaker shares his personal strategy of dedicating a day to completing small tasks, sorting them by the level of anxiety they evoke, and getting through the tougher parts as quickly as possible. He also mentions the book "Eat That Frog" which advocates for the same approach. The speaker also shares his appreciation for Todoist, a to-do application that automatically sorts tasks by priority, making it easier to focus on the most important tasks. Regarding the current state of Content Management Systems (CMS), there are various options available including flat file, markdown file, headless, and database-driven CMSs. The choice between these options depends on the specific needs of the project. Flat file and markdown file CMSs offer simplicity and ease of use, while headless CMSs provide flexibility and the ability to decouple content from presentation. Database-driven CMSs offer robust features and scalability. Ultimately, the best CMS for a project depends on the unique requirements of the project and the preferences of the developer or team.
Exploring Headless CMS Options: Markdown, Netlify, GraphCMS, and More: Headless CMS options offer technical advantages but may not be ideal for non-technical clients due to build times and learning curves. GraphCMS, a GraphQL-based CMS, is a promising alternative with a modern interface and open-source version. The choice of CMS depends on the client's technical expertise, project requirements, and content management needs.
The headless CMS landscape is rapidly evolving with various options like markdown file-driven CMS, Netlify CMS, GraphCMS, and more. Markdown files and headless CMS systems like Netlify CMS offer technical advantages but may not be ideal for non-technical clients due to the need for build times and a learning curve. GraphCMS, a GraphQL-based CMS, is a promising alternative with a modern interface and open-source version. The speaker is excited about the possibilities of headless WordPress and plans to explore it further in a new series. Ultimately, the choice of CMS depends on the client's technical expertise, project requirements, and content management needs. The speaker is also planning to redesign their own website using a headless CMS to address the limitations of their current WordPress setup.
Exploring Headless CMSs for Dynamic Websites and Course Creation: Headless CMSs offer potential benefits for dynamic websites and course creation, but may present challenges with data querying and long build times. Focus on front-end skills like Angular, React, and Vue, and consider using a headless CMS for course creation to simplify the process.
While WordPress with a React front end using a headless CMS like Next.js, Gatsby, or Headless WordPress, is a viable option for building dynamic websites, it may not be the best choice for everyone, especially for those with clients or large teams who require an easy-to-update platform. The speaker shared his experience of using a headless CMS and encountered challenges with querying data and waiting for long build times. However, he expressed excitement about the potential of headless CMSs and the separation of front-end and back-end technologies. For those interested in creating and selling courses, the speaker suggested focusing on developing skills in front-end technologies like Angular, React, and Vue, as these technologies are becoming increasingly popular in the industry. He also recommended using a headless CMS for course creation, as it simplifies the process and aligns all necessary components in one place. The speaker emphasized the importance of balancing the desire for innovation with the need for a stable and easy-to-manage platform.
Starting a tech teaching career: Share your knowledge and build an audience: To start a tech teaching career, share your knowledge on blogs, YouTube, meetups, etc. Focus on improving content based on feedback, build multiple touchpoints, and be persistent to grow an audience and make a living
Starting a tech teaching career involves putting yourself out there and finding your audience. Begin by sharing your knowledge through blogs, YouTube videos, local meetups, or other platforms. Don't expect an immediate following; instead, focus on improving your content based on feedback. Building an audience is crucial, and having multiple touchpoints like email, Twitter, and podcasts can help you reach and engage with your followers effectively. Remember, growing a teaching career takes time and dedication, but with persistence and a passion for sharing knowledge, you can make a living doing what you love. For more insights on business aspects, stay tuned for upcoming episodes. In the meantime, check out the Fluent Conference in San Jose, California, for a comprehensive learning experience on all things web development.
Learning and networking at conferences: Conferences offer opportunities to learn new skills, meet industry leaders, and expand your network by sharing knowledge.
Attending conferences like the Fluent Conference can be an excellent opportunity for developers to learn new skills, meet industry titans, and build valuable relationships. Wes, the speaker in the discussion, emphasized that he gained recognition in the developer community by focusing on creating content first, without it being a goal, and that his ability to share his knowledge with others led to opportunities in his career. Scott, on the other hand, started LevelUp Tutorials on YouTube, and both speakers highlighted the importance of being active in the community and sharing knowledge. Attending conferences and creating content are effective ways for developers to expand their reach, learn new skills, and potentially advance their careers.
Learning and Sharing Knowledge Builds a Following: Consistently sharing web dev knowledge on Twitter with 'hot tips' can grow a following. Server side rendering (SSR) benefits include improved SEO and faster initial page load times, but setting it up can be challenging.
Sharing knowledge and helping others learn is a powerful way to build a following and make a difference in the industry. People like Chris Coyer, Jonas Schmedtmann, and others, inspired the speaker by consistently sharing their web development knowledge through blogging, YouTube, and social media. The speaker decided to focus on Twitter and posting "hot tips" to grow a following. It takes time and consistency, but the momentum and impact can be significant. Server side rendering (SSR) is another topic discussed. SSR is the process of rendering web pages on the server-side, delivering HTML to the user instead of a blank page while the JavaScript loads. Benefits include improved SEO and faster initial page load times. However, setting up SSR can be challenging, making tools like Next.js valuable for simplifying the process.
Challenges of implementing SSR in JavaScript apps: SSR in JavaScript apps brings benefits like improved SEO and performance, but comes with challenges like authentication and rehydration. Tools like Next.js and Meteor can simplify the process, but unexpected issues may arise during transition.
Implementing Server Side Rendering (SSR) in JavaScript applications can bring about significant ease, but it also comes with its own challenges. These challenges include dealing with authentication and rehydration, and ensuring that server and client communicate effectively. The speaker mentioned encountering issues with JSON Web Tokens (JWT) for authentication and having to refresh parts of the page after it loads. However, using tools like Next.js or Meteor can simplify the process. The speaker also acknowledged that unexpected issues may arise when transitioning from client-side to server-side rendering, but these challenges are becoming less frequent as SSR becomes more mainstream. Overall, the consensus was that the benefits of SSR, such as improved SEO and performance, outweigh the challenges.
Using Yeoman and NPM to create projects and boost productivity: Easily set up projects with Yeoman and NPM, streamline workflow, and boost productivity with minimal setup and the upcoming NPM create app feature.
Generators like Yeoman and NPM's create app are still valuable tools for quickly setting up projects, even though they may not be as popular as they once were. The speaker shared his experience of using Yeoman to create a React Apollo snippet library, praising its ease of use and the minimal setup required. He also mentioned the upcoming feature of NPM to create apps directly from the command line. The speaker also recommended the book "Eat That Frog" by Brian Tracy, which focuses on accomplishing tasks and getting more done in less time. The speaker and his wife have found the concepts in the book to be impactful and frequently discuss them. Overall, these tools and resources can help streamline project setup and productivity.
Recommended resources for productivity and learning: Check out 'Eat That Frog!' for workflow improvement and overcoming procrastination. Use devdocs.io for offline access to programming docs and LevelUpTutorialsPro for premium tutorial series
The speaker highly recommends the book "Eat That Frog!" for improving workflow and overcoming procrastination. The method outlined in the book has helped the speaker eliminate procrastination and get more done. The speaker also recommends the website devdocs.io for easy access to documentation for various programming languages and tools, which can be accessed offline, making it particularly useful during flights or when internet access is limited. Additionally, the speaker promotes LevelUpTutorialsPro, a subscription account offering access to premium tutorial series on various topics such as modern WordPress, Vue JS, Gatsby, Redux, React, and modern CSS layouts, among others. The account provides access to all existing series and new series added each month.
Handling criticism and growing through sharing knowledge: Criticism is a natural part of putting yourself out there, learn to handle it for personal growth and share knowledge with others to build a supportive community.
Putting yourself out there, whether it's through teaching a course, creating content on YouTube, or sharing your code online, can be a rewarding experience but also comes with its challenges. You'll encounter various types of audiences, some supportive and others critical or even offensive. The speaker shared an experience of receiving homophobic messages. It's important to remember that criticism is part of the process and learning to handle it is essential for growth. The speakers also encourage listeners to check out their back catalog of episodes, which covers a wide range of topics, and share their favorite episodes with them. They plan to create a list of top episodes based on listener feedback. Overall, the conversation emphasizes the importance of resilience and perseverance in the face of criticism and the value of sharing knowledge and experiences with others.
