Web Perspectives

Sean G

The ins and outs of the day-to-day life as a front-end web developer, from the most minute details to the most technical gotchas.

  1. UX Design w/ Carrie Mah

    01/25/2025

    UX Design w/ Carrie Mah

    What is UX and why is it important for developers to learn? Carrie Mah, Staff UX Designer and founder of Carrie M Designs, details the #1 mistake developers make when working with UX designers and how to get started in UX Design as a web developer. Timestamps: 00:02:58 - Her journey into UX design, starting from a computer science education and exploring various roles in software development. 00:05:04 - The importance of understanding user problems and business goals when creating user interfaces. 00:06:02 - How developers can get involved in UX design and collaborate with design teams. 00:07:50 - The value of joining online communities and using free resources to learn UX/UI fundamentals. 00:09:36 - The importance of sketching ideas and focusing on the architecture of an app before jumping into design tools. 00:11:02 - The basics of visual design, including typography and spacing, and leveraging existing libraries and guidelines. 00:11:54 - Using AI tools as assistants for brainstorming and content organization, not as a replacement for the design process. 00:12:27 - The concept of low-fidelity prototyping and its importance in the design process. 00:14:14 - The need for good requirements and user research to solve the right problems. 00:15:55 - The importance of integrating developers in the design process and making sure that the final design is technically feasible. 00:17:48 - Balancing the need to test ideas quickly with having a strategy. 00:23:05 - Common UX mistakes to avoid, such as reinventing the wheel and using the wrong components. 00:32:05 - The need for discoverability and accessibility of key features in user interfaces. 00:42:38 - The iterative nature of design and development and the importance of testing and user feedback. 00:44:17 - Steps for developers to get involved in UX design, starting with learning fundamentals, reaching out to people, applying skills, and building a portfolio. 00:46:22 - The expanding role of UX design, requiring skills in content, business, and communication. Links: Carrie's Website: carriemah.com Carrie's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/carriemah/ Carrie's Instagram: instagram.com/carriemah.play calgaryux.com: calgaryux.com wearedesignx LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/wearedesignx/ designbuddies LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/designbuddies/ adplist LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/adplist/ smashingmagazine.com: smashingmagazine.com/ Stanford d.school: dschool.stanford.edu/resources/getting-started-with-design-thinking lawsofux.com: lawsofux.com

    1h 7m
  2. Magical Developers w/ Zell Liew

    01/15/2025

    Magical Developers w/ Zell Liew

    Author, writer, and front-end developer Zell Liew's self-taught journey. Featured on numerous web development magazines including Smashing Magazine, A List Apart, and CSS Tricks, Zell uncovers the single key accident that led him down his front-end web development journey to make 6 figures passively in his sleep. Topics covered: Does it still make sense to pursue web development in 2025? Are CSS Grid systems outdated? CSS framework or no? Bootstrap or Tailwind? Tailwind: the good, the bad, and the ugly The #1 tip for new front-end developers How to know if web development is for you Timestamps: 1:00: Zell's background and how he got started in web development. 7:00: Zell's first web development project: Building a clone of TutsPlus in 5 hours! 10:00: Zell's first freelance client: Charging $50 and learning valuable lessons. 16:00: The impact of self-development and confronting childhood trauma. 22:00: Writing his first book on the Suzie Grid system and the turning point it represented. 35:00: The transition from teaching "how to" to understanding "how you do it" and the importance of values. 43:00: Zell's frustration with existing tools leads him to create Splendid Labs. 57:00: Splendid Labs: A deep dive into its features, philosophy, and unique approach to documentation. 72:00: A comparison of Astro, Eleventy, and other static site generators. 82:00: The challenges of building JavaScript libraries for Astro and Zell's choice to use Svelte. 99:00: A moving story about a teacher's kindness and its profound impact on Zell's life. 109:00: Battling the "entrepreneur enemy" and finding balance between different aspects of himself. 118:00: The importance of understanding your "why" and aligning your actions with your values. 124:00: Zell shares a powerful quote from the Tao Te Ching about inner stability and cultivating the self. 130:00: Practical advice for navigating the ever-changing world of web development and finding your place. 139:00: Where to find Zell online: Websites, courses, and social media. Links Zell's Website: https://zellwk.com Magical Dev School: https://magicaldevschool.com Splendid Labz: https://splendidlabz.com Live Your Mark: https://liveyourmark.com TutsPlus: https://tutsplus.com Learn JavaScript: https://learnjavascript.today Learn Async Javascript: https://learnasyncjavascript.com

    1h 46m
  3. Full-Stack Social Media w/ Muhannad Nouri

    06/07/2024

    Full-Stack Social Media w/ Muhannad Nouri

    What are the best ways to learn full-stack web development? Muhannad Nouri, full-stack developer at Enverus, shares with us his #1 tip for leveraging YouTube, TikTok, and X to enhance his full-stack learning. Timestamps 01:43: Do you need a computer science degree to be a web developer? Muhannad shares his experience. 04:37: The #1 tip for new web developers to avoid feeling overwhelmed. 09:15: ChatGPT and Copilot: essential tools for modern web development? 12:18: The secret to learning new web technologies without burning out. 18:15: Social media: Friend or foe for web developers? 33:38: How to stay informed without drowning in newsletters. 45:46: Is LinkedIn still relevant for tech professionals? 50:49: The job hunt: How to make your resume stand out in a crowded market. 53:13: How to get that first web development interview. 57:45: Networking when you're not looking for a job. 01:12:05: The highs and lows of web development: What keeps us coming back for more? 01:23:03: Convincing your boss to adopt new tech: Muhannad's proven strategy. 01:31:07: The Angular vs. React debate: Which framework is right for you? 01:38:02: The art of mentorship: How to guide others without holding them back. 01:43:04: Pair programming: Valuable even for experienced developers? 01:50:02: How to get that first web development interview. 01:57:45: Networking when you're not looking for a job. 02:01:31: Where to find Muhannad online. 02:01:48: Muhannad's parting words of wisdom. Links Muhannad Nouri: LinkedIn Dr. Tony Tang: University of Calgary

    1h 55m

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The ins and outs of the day-to-day life as a front-end web developer, from the most minute details to the most technical gotchas.