into this:
So I was quite preoccupied, but for good reasons! Although not code related I learned some HVAC and electrical related skills. I also met someone who wrote code used in HVAC systems. All kinds of tech jobs in non "tech" fields. I would argue though almost all things are technology, just not computer technology and refering to things as "tech" could more accurately be described as incorporating and using computer technology into already existing technology. But that is a conversation that would not lead to any real benefit to anyone.
So now it is a new year and I have some new motivation to dive into code! (Not entirely unrelated to entering into a promising relationship. Got to start taking some things a little more seriously.) I revisited my scheduling app and decided to add a new section so the user could place a parts order, check the status of orders, and keep everything easily accessible as to what part it was, what job it is for, what store it was ordered for, and who ordered the part. As well as dates as to when it was ordered and if it had been placed and closed out. You can see a sample of this part of the app on my YouTube channel. That was somewhat during the recent remodel refered to earlier. So now with the new year I've decided to focus more on web development. I think I like that more so than other kinds of programming, at least right now. Over the course of my learning backend to frontend development (full-stack right?) I kept hearing and reading about a certain Javascript tool. Since it kept being referenced so often I decided I should look into this...
React
Building tremendously versatile web components with Javascript. I used Codecademy's course to learn some basics. One nice thing is they referenced an article at the end that helped you install it on your local machine. Then I went through Treehouse's course on React basics. That was very nice too as it walked me through a basic React app.
My overall opinion, both courses were equally good. They both explained things very clearly. I will give one advantage to Treehouse for this one as it was easier to see where to place each file as far as in the root directory or otherwise. I think they all would go in the root directory and the rest of it goes in the nodes folder, but I didn't realize it at the time nor am I knowledgeable enough right now to know for certain.
My biggest problem with both courses is they don't start you off on your own machine. The format of Codecademy understandably does not lend itself to using it on your own computer. Treehouse on the other hand has what they call workspace. I think I have expressed my view of it here before but suffice it to say I don't particularly care for that format. First they should explain how to set it up on my local machine, then how to use it. Workspace is definitely not a real-world environment. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt that there are so many IDE's, configurations, etc. that it would be too much to make videos for every scenario one could have at home. However I am pleased they do have a workshop that shows what to do to be able to use React on one's local setup. (I only wish they linked to that before the React course) That may be the basis for my next post, the steps to setup React/Webpack/Babel with the Terminal on my computer so I can make my own apps with React. Then I will have it for future reference when I code my own React apps.
So essentially I learned a new way to use Javascript by learning React. I'm excited to say there is much more to come! I have a Raspberry Pi 3 being delivered tomorrow and I signed up for two courses on Udemy to help me learn more Python! Very excited! It's gonna be a good year.
25 words or less: There are plenty of resources. Take advantage of as many as you can!
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