#9 Core Features Every Front-end Developer Should Know
With the advancement in technology, the entire globe is enticing towards the online presence. Whatever, be the purpose, people just google things and get their desired result. This is all because of the increase in the evolution of web development.
As per the developer Statistics reveals that the employment of Web developers in the US is projected to grow 27% from 2014 to 2024, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.
Professionals who work on it are front-end developers, and in the pursuit of becoming a developer, they often think that HTML, CSS and JavaScript are the three basics for getting into this field. However, the thing is a bit different here.
Code is the primary thing that every developer should know. Aside from this, there are other essential skills and features you must learn to become a good front-end developer. So, just go through this article and upskill your coding abilities so that you can land up with a good job in the top web development companies in India.
##7 Core Features every Front-end developer should know
Some of the few key features you should know to build an interactive and robust website.
###1. Know your IDE ( Integrated Development Environment)
IDE is the first thing that every developer should look for while starting a new project because it provides comprehensive facilities to the coders for developing the application or website. Just dive into it and learn it inside out.
One of the great choices of IDE as recommended by a creative developer “Dave Stewart” is Web Storms by Jet Brains. But yes, it does not come for free and being a programmer, you need to pay for it if you want to churn out its superb functionality and productivity.
###2. Spend time on the initial step
After selecting the IDE for your project, the next thing you should focus on is on the initial setup and maintenance on the development environment. Simon Owen, a freelance front end developer, explains that installing tools like Noda and NPM allows you to download dependencies, or to set up our favourite themes to help us scan code.”
###3.HTML/CSS
HTML and CSS are the two primary languages that every front-developer should know. Both these languages are a must to be a proficient web developer. HTML is the backbone of any web page, and no HTML means no web development.
While CSS is the Cascading style sheet which adds colours to your web page, the way you present the site. It helps in creating an intuitive page’s layout with the right combination of colour, fonts, and style.
###4. JavaScript and JQuery
Adding effects to your website is only possible if you use JavaScript in it. It is one of the primary tools that every front-end developer must know to compete in this competitive market. It determines the function of the page and adds interactive features like audio and videos, gaming and page animations and scrolling abilities to the web page. So, mark it as a must-know in your to-do.
###5. Focus on your task
Well, to begin with, every single task requires focus and attention to accomplish the desired goal.
Being a developer doesn’t mean that you need to know that to be a pro in every UI development skill. You don’t have to master all the CSS property and remember every single JavaScripts framework.
Dustin Ewers, a software developer and consultant, says that “ It is hard to keep up with the JavaScript ecosystem”. You can gear up with the frameworks once you are working on the project. All you need is to do is google the correct details about it. Remember, it is the fundamentals of anything that always sticks with you and last longer than the latest trends.
Just go through the basic concepts of functional programming that every framework uses, and you are ready to hit the spot.
###6. Visualise your Code
Most of you as a developer feel that coding is the difficult part of any project, and it often frighten you in the beginning. Leon Brown, web developer for UK tweets that “Coding is just another language similar to all other languages like the English”.
He added that “ to be able to write a code that makes sense, just break down the problem into a collection of simple steps”. Also, you should make fair use of indentation, whitespaces and comments.
###7. Version Control or Git
Version Control or Git is the process by which you can track and control the changes made in your source code. With the help of this tool, you can revisit the previous version and trace out what went wrong without pondering on the whole thing down.
The main advantage of using these factors is that it becomes easier for you and others to add or make changes in the complicated codes in case you revisit the project. It is similar to English Grammar where proper use of full stops, commas add sense to the sentence and paragraph.
###8. Slow up your Speed while Coding
It might seem somehow surprising to you. But, anything that is visualised always falls in the high risk of change later in the development lifecycle.”
As a developer, you should focus on building a strategic foundation at the initial stage rather than coding quickly. Leon Brown, author of No Nonsense Programming Concepts: A Jargon-Free Introduction to Writing Software Systems. “ warned that this approach allows changes in the agile development cycle late and adds extra time to the project delivery. So, it’s to have a prototype in the beginning.
Leon also instructed to write code slower and give time to your thought process for the designing of the system. It becomes convenient when the alteration is requested at the later stage of the project, and this is possible only if you give time to your code like abstract art. A proper strategic design also eliminates a lot of testing requirements, and it often becomes a forgetting element.
###9. Command Line
Graphical User Interface plays an essential part in web development and coding. It sometimes happens that you might need to open a terminal and run some commands to get the desired output. This tool is the CLI Command Line Interface) tools. However, it varies as per the Operating System you use and many developers today use Unix based tools.
##The Bottom Line
The web development industry is accelerating at a fast pace, and as a front-developer, you should always look forward to upskilling your learning abilities. Aside, all the above-mentioned vital features, you should pose excellent problem-solving skills.
Always hone up on the right skills and speed up on the latest and trending technologies.
I hope you understood the different set of skills that you need to master before entering the field of front end development and getting hired into the top web development companies in India.
