The Ops Community ⚙️: Abdulrazaq Salihu

Learning strategies and tips for new programmers.

Abdulrazaq Salihu — Sat, 25 Feb 2023 12:03:53 +0000

As a new programmer, you are embarking on a journey that will lead you to a world of endless possibilities. However, the road to becoming a proficient programmer can be bumpy, and at times, overwhelming. The good news is that some strategies and tips can help you navigate this new terrain more effectively. In this article, we will discuss some of these learning strategies and tips for new programmers.

1. Start with the basics

Before diving into more complex programming languages and projects, it is important to learn the fundamentals of programming. This includes understanding programming concepts, data structures, algorithms, and problem-solving techniques. Make sure to start with a programming language that is easy to learn and widely used, such as Python or Java.

2. Practice coding regularly

One of the best ways to become a proficient programmer is to practice coding regularly. Start by writing small programs and gradually work your way up to more complex projects. This will not only help you to master the language but also enhance your problem-solving skills.

3. Use online resources

There are numerous online resources available for new programmers, including tutorials, videos, and forums. Websites like TecHavenacademy, Codecademy, Coursera, and Udemy offer online courses that can help you learn programming at your own pace. You can also join online forums, such as Reddit's r/learnprogramming, where you can ask questions and get advice from more experienced programmers.

4. Work on personal projects

Personal projects are a great way to apply what you have learned and improve your skills. They also provide an opportunity to work on something you are passionate about, which can make the learning process more enjoyable. Start by identifying a problem that you would like to solve and then work on a solution using the programming language of your choice.

5. Collaborate with others

Collaborating with other programmers can be an effective way to learn new techniques and approaches to programming. This can be done through online communities, such as GitHub, or by working on open-source projects. You can also participate in coding challenges or hackathons, which provide an opportunity to work on real-world projects and connect with other programmers.

6. Learn from your mistakes

Mistakes are an inevitable part of the learning process, especially when it comes to programming. When you encounter an error, take the time to analyze it and understand what went wrong. This will help you to avoid making the same mistake in the future and improve your overall coding skills.

7. Stay up-to-date

Programming languages and technologies are constantly evolving, so it is important to stay up-to-date with the latest developments. Follow blogs and social media accounts of industry leaders and companies to stay informed about new tools, frameworks, and best practices.

In conclusion, learning to code can be a challenging but rewarding experience. By following these learning strategies and tips, you can accelerate your progress and become a proficient programmer. Remember to start with the basics, practice coding regularly, use online resources, work on personal projects, collaborate with others, learn from your mistakes, and stay up-to-date with the latest developments. With dedication and hard work, you can achieve your programming goals and unlock a world of possibilities.

5 Must Use VSCode Extensions

Abdulrazaq Salihu — Thu, 08 Sep 2022 23:08:29 +0000

Here are the 5 most useful Visual Studio Code extensions to improve your workflow!

1. Gitlens

Gitlens is a powerful extension that can display when a particular line was committed, by whom it was committed, and in which pull request it was included along with the commit message! All of this information is inline with the line upon which your cursor is currently located.

You can also hover over the message to get more information about a particular line of code!

2. LiveServer

Live server is used Launch a local development server with a live reload feature for static & dynamic pages.

3. Prettier

Prettier is an opinionated code formatter. It enforces a consistent style by parsing your code and re-printing it with rules that take the maximum line length into account, wrapping code when necessary.

4. Auto Rename Tag

It is an extension created for HTML elements that change the ending of a tag automatically. Start changing an opening tag and its closing tag will change automatically. This is very useful, especially when you have a lot of nested code.

5. ES7 React/Redux/GraphQl/React-Native snippets

This extension provides you with JavaScript and React/Redux snippets in ES7, If you are not a great fan of writing boilerplate code or you’d just want to become more efficient – this is definitely for you.

Roadmap to becoming a Front-end Web Developer in 2022

Abdulrazaq Salihu — Tue, 21 Jun 2022 11:42:55 +0000

Web Development is always evolving and every year in January I like to take a step back and re-evaluate and observe the ecosystem. The question is: where should beginner Web Developers start in 2022, so they will learn skills they’ll find jobs for?

Has the map changed? Is it different from one year ago?

Changes seem to take forever, but they can be subtle, and sometimes things radically change from one year to another and you don’t even realize it. So I started working on a post to guide you towards navigating the Web Development space. It’s also useful for developers trying to keep up with the ecosystem and stay relevant. Is there anything new you should absolutely learn?

Let’s get into it.

#100daysOfCode

I highly recommend that you join the #100DaysOfCode challenge on Twitter. This challenge will help you to learn in public by coding for not less than an hour each day and sharing your progress on Twitter. You will become more consistent this way and you will also surround yourself with a good community of developers. Learn more about the challenge on the official website:
100daysofcode.com

1. Command-line/Terminal:

Knowing your terminal well will give you full control of your computer and workflow. As a front-end dev, you will need the terminal to work with git, install dependencies and run the application. You will also feel like you have super-powers while working with a terminal ⚡
FreeCodeCamp - Command-line Crash Course: youtu.be/yz7nYlnXLfE

2. Code Editor (Visual Studio Code):

A code editor is simply a tool that you will be using to write your code. I personally work with visual studio code and I love it 😍

Visual Studio Code Tutorial for Beginners -
Introduction: youtu.be/VqCgcpAypFQ

3. HTML/CSS:

HTML and CSS are the backbones of web development. They are also easy to learn but require a lot of practice to master. You will need HTML to add webpage content and CSS to style the content. CSS is like an art, become creative and have fun with it 🖌 design course

HTML and CSS Tutorial -
COMPLETE Crash Course!: youtu.be/D-h8L5hgW-w

4. CSS(Framework) - Bootstrap/Tailwind CSS:

A CSS framework simply makes it easy and fast to build UIs. Have a solid understanding of CSS before you start using a Framework. In 2022 I recommend Tailwind CSS.

Bootstrap - Design Course - Getting Started with Bootstrap 5 for Beginners Crash Course: youtu.be/1nxSE0R27Gg
Tailwind CSS - Design Course - Build & Deploy a Personal Portfolio with Tailwind CSS 2022 Edition: youtu.be/Vp6GC3jKG20

5. JavaScript:

It's time for the big dog 🐶 JavaScript is the most important programming language on the web. It's also so huge, I recommend learning the fundamentals first and then going into advanced topics after learning at least one JS framework. Be patient with JavaScript and practice with projects. At the end of the day, it will start paying your bills 💰

FreecodeCamp - Learn JavaScript - Full Course for Beginners: youtu.be/PkZNo7MFNFg

6.JavaScript Framework (React, Vue, Angular, Svelt):

There are many popular JS Frameworks so far. It will be confusing to choose one. Decide depending on the company you want to work at or the job description. If you don't know which is which, go with React. It's popular in terms of jobs. Vue is loved by most developers though.

React - Academind - React Crash Course for Beginners: youtu.be/Dorf8i6lCuk
Vue - Traversy - Vue JS Crash Course 2021: youtu.be/qZXt1Aom3Cs
Angular - Traversy - Angular Crash Course 2021: youtu.be/3dHNOWTI7H8
Svelt - Traversy - Svelte Crash Course 2021: youtu.be/3TVy6GdtNuQ

7.Git and GitHub:

At this point, you can dive into git and GitHub. They will help you to track changes, share projects, and even collaborate on open source projects. Traversy Media - Git & GitHub Crash Course For Beginners: youtu.be/SWYqp7iY_Tc

8.Deployment (Netlify, Vercel, GitHub):

You can take your application online for free using netlify or vercel. Netlify - Programming with Erik - Deploy Your Website In Minutes With

Netlify: youtu.be/gaC-l9MAE9Q Official Website: netlify.com
Vercel Official Website: vercel.com

9.Frontend Mentor:

Participate in Frontend Mentor Challenges as you apply for jobs. The challenges will help you to practice and learn further. Official Website: frontendmentor.io

Note that on the above list I didn't mention some popular technologies such as SCSS, Next.js, Typescript, and others. I recommend you learn the above first and then you can explore the rest after having a solid understanding of the above

Was this post helpful? Let me know in the discussion section below. What are you planning to learn in 2022?

Google Chrome vs. Microsoft Edge: Which Is the Best Windows 11 Browser?

Abdulrazaq Salihu — Mon, 06 Jun 2022 08:43:14 +0000

With a new operating system comes a new battleground, so it's time to see if either Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge runs best on Windows 11.

Windows 11 has been an exciting change for Windows users. Among the many UI changes, there has been an increased focus on persuading Windows 11 users to use Microsoft Edge as their primary browser. There is no doubt that Microsoft Edge is levels ahead compared to what it was in the past, but is it good enough to replace Google Chrome’s long-standing reign as the most popular web browser on Windows.

Both Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge have received several significant updates that introduced new features and improved existing ones over the past year. But as Windows 11 gains popularity, it is crucial that you know which is the best Windows 11 web browser.

Google Chrome vs. Microsoft Edge: Performance

Everyone wants a fast browser, but when you have to choose between two powerful web browsers that are both powered by the same engine (more on that later), things can get a little complicated.

To accurately evaluate the performance of both Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge, I tested them in the industry-standard WebXPRT 3 benchmarking tool. I ran the tests in a clean install (no extensions enabled) of Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge, and the results were pretty close. Microsoft Edge scored 104 whereas Google Chrome was not far behind with a score of 100.

I carried out the Basemark Web 3.0 test on Chrome and Edge as well. Basemark Web 3.0 is designed to find client-side web performance issues and browser bottlenecks. Our results show that Chrome (rated 481) is better compared to Edge (rated 329).

Fast loading times and minimal response times are vital, both Chrome and Edge offer exceptional web performance on Windows 11.

Google Chrome vs. Microsoft Edge: RAM Consumption

Google Chrome is more popular than Microsoft Edge, but high RAM consumption has consistently been a very frustrating issue. Even the most ardent Chrome supporters agree that Google needs to fix this issue seriously. Luckily, Google has released several updates recently that have helped improve this issue in Google Chrome.

To test the RAM usage of both Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge, I reset my browsers and launched seven identical tabs on each browser separately, and measured the RAM and CPU consumption
through the Task Manager.

Google Chrome consumed approximately 850MB - 950MB; in contrast, Edge only consumed 650MB - 700MB of RAM. Microsoft Edge is lighter on your limited RAM and does not compromise on performance.

Google Chrome vs. Microsoft Edge: Engine

Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome both inherit elements of the user interface offered by Chromium.

In Windows 11, Edge has a clean, sleek design that makes the most of the new UI. For example, the right-click context menu within Edge features a translucent material, and some elements such as the Edge taskbar change their color depending on the background color. The new-look also features rounded corners and an overall simplified UI that prioritizes user experience.

Chrome, on the other hand, continues its classic well-defined UI design. To use dark mode on Chrome, you’re going to have to change Personalization settings through the Windows 11 Settings app; but on Edge, you can enable it straight through the browser.

Both Edge and Chrome offer various themes that give your browsers the appearance you need.

Google Chrome vs. Microsoft Edge: Features

Google Chrome doesn’t really offer any features that make it stand out. Years on, you still only get the basic web browser functionality. But, there are plenty of extensions that let you bring the best out of Google Chrome. Notably, Google Suite app integrations such as Drive, Docs, Translate are fantastic at making you more productive. There’s hardly any feature that makes Chrome unique from its competitors like Edge, Brave, Vivaldi, or even Opera.

On the other hand, Microsoft Edge offers tons of unique features that elevate your browsing experience on Windows 11. You can organize your web pages into different Collections to stay on top of your web clippings and research. There’s even a dedicated Performance feature that lets you enable Efficiency mode and limit consumption of system resources.

Another nifty feature within Microsoft Edge is a shopping add-on that allows you to save money while shopping online. It will automatically find coupon codes applicable on sites you visit and help you shop smart. There’s even an immersive reading mode that minimizes distractions and works wonders as an accessibility tool.

It’s pretty clear that Microsoft Edge is the more functional and feature-loaded browser.

Google Chrome vs. Microsoft Edge: Privacy & Security

Privacy is paramount in the digital world; it is vital that users have control over their data. Both Chrome and Edge offer comprehensive privacy and security settings that users can customize to their needs.

Previously, privacy and security settings on Google Chrome were not quite comprehensive, but recent updates offer options that have significantly improved the situation on this front. You can run Safety checks, manage cookies and site data, and even choose a security level between Enhanced, Standard, and No protection.

However, these settings are not easily accessible; it almost feels like Google doesn’t want its users to manage their privacy and security preferences.

In contrast, Microsoft Edge has a clear and well-defined settings page that is easy to navigate to and offers users clear information on their privacy and security settings. You can personalize Tracking prevention and a dozen other settings to get in control of your data. Edge even offers built-in Microsoft Defender SmartScreen protection to fortify cybersecurity.

Chrome offers decent privacy and security settings, but Edge seems to give you more control over your privacy in a simplified way. The settings are straightforward to manage and understand for even the most non-technical users.

Edge Becomes Better on Windows 11

Google Chrome has been at the helm for over a decade, but it needs to quickly innovate to keep up with the competition. Better performance, newer features, and comprehensive privacy settings make Edge the better of the two.

Microsoft Edge is the Microsoft recommended browser on Windows 11, and perhaps this is the year you give it a shot. Edge has come a long way from its early days as an Internet Explorer successor and now promises its users a truly unique browsing experience.

How to Kickstart a Career in Tech

Abdulrazaq Salihu — Thu, 26 May 2022 08:03:21 +0000

A career in tech is a career without boundaries. From web development to product design to project management to app development, the range of job roles and opportunities in the tech ecosystem is huge.

You might think you're not good enough to have a career in tech -- but give yourself a chance. You can do it.

The truth is you, don't have to be a genius to work in technology. And in this article, I'll explain how you can kickstart your own career in tech.

Do Your Research

tech that require certain skills. In order to discover the right role for yourself, you need to do some research.

You can start by researching the major areas in tech below:

Web Development
UI/UX Designing
Mobile Development
Product Design
Product Management
Technical Writing
Data Science

After reading through the resources listed above, you will have a better idea of the major areas in tech. With this knowledge, you can go ahead and explore the area that you found most interesting.

You can either do this online using your favourite search engine or by asking someone in tech (if you know any).

If you decide to follow the search engine route, ask questions targeted at what you want to discover. For instance, if you want to learn about the benefits of technical writing, your question should follow this format "What are the benefits of becoming a technical writer?".

If you want to know about the skills required to be a Data Scientist, then your question should follow this format "What do I need to know to become a data scientist?" or "How do I become a data scientist?".

To be honest, it is almost impossible to not find information about the different areas in technology online.

If you decide to ask someone in tech, always be polite and go straight to the point. Instead of saying "Hi" and waiting for the person to respond before asking your question, you can follow this format:

"Hi Abdulrazaq my name is Obansa and I have been researching different career paths in tech. I have read different articles online but I wanted to also hear your opinion as well. How did you know web development was the right career for you? I'd totally understand if you can't respond because of your busy schedule but I will be glad if you do."

You might think that this was a pretty long message, but it covered the most important things: your name, what you need, the research you've done already, and that you understand that you are not entitled to the person's time.

Decide Which Path to Take

After carrying out the necessary research, you need to take a moment and decide on the tech career path you want to pursue.

Perhaps you've read about product design, but you've never had an eye for designing or using colours effectively. Then maybe you also heard about program management and it made you excited because you've always loved managing people or events.

And maybe your friend in tech also told you about the benefits of being a web developer and you were impressed. But you are not sure yet which tech role to pursue because they all sound good.

Here are some tips for things to think about when trying to make this decision.

Think about your current (transferrable) skills

Before you decided to kickstart a career in tech, you were mostly doing something else that you found interesting. Let's assume you loved painting.

Anyone who loves to paint understands a lot about colours -- so that means the product or UI/UX design might be a good fit for you. The goal here is to try to connect your current skill or hobbies to your proposed tech career path.

Just get started -- no matter how that looks

Choosing an initial tech career path doesn't mean that's what your career will always be about. My point is, it is totally fine to start out as a technical writer and switch to mobile development later.

For instance, I started out as an android developer but eventually switched to web development. So go ahead and get your feet wet before you narrow down to exactly what you want.

Go for passion, but be practical too

It is important to know that choosing to pursue a certain tech role because you are passionate about it is great. But it's also ok to choose a role because you believe the opportunities are better, even if you are not very passionate about it.

So, I'd recommend that you do a mixture of both: choose something you will enjoy doing and become so good that you get tons of opportunities.

Find Tools & Resources Online

Remember how I said it is almost impossible not to find resources about tech online? Yes, I wasn't joking.

It's so amazing that you can also find really insightful resources to kickstart your career in tech for free.

For instance, freeCodeCamp is a platform that empowers people from all over the world to learn how to code for free. I personally used it while learning how to code and it was one of the best resources. 😃

To find these tools and resources, search for them on Google by using keywords and phrases like where can I learn how to be a (insert tech role) for free?

If you have the funds to acquire paid tools and resources, go for it. If you prefer one on one sessions with a tutor, then you can pay for that, too. 🤑

Simply put, finding the resource is not an issue. Choosing the right resource is the key thing here.

So, how do you choose the right project? I'll tell you!

First, think about your preferred way of learning. For example, do you prefer reading or watching videos?
After choosing your preferred learning format, make sure you choose a resource that has some structure. By structure, I mean a plan or curriculum that will educate you about the necessary skills step by step until you understand.
Ask questions or read reviews about the resource.
Do a quick test run to see if this resource is the right one for you. Does it have the right format, good examples, pictures, and so on?

This is very important because choosing the wrong resource or tool might make you give up easily because you won't enjoy the process or understand what you are trying to learn.

Just Start Learning

The secret to getting ahead is getting started. - Mark Twain

Yes, I had to share Mark Twain's quote because it is something we all need to remember when we are about to take up a new challenge.

Deciding to kickstart a career in tech is great, but putting in the necessary work to learn is even greater.

Think about it this way: you did your research about different roles in tech, you chose your preferred tech career path, and you found the right learning resources. But now you don't want to put in the work and learn? No!

You didn't spend all that time and effort to give up at the most important point.

You have to start learning.

Set up a schedule that works for you. For instance, learning for at least 30 minutes or 1 hour every day. If you have more time, then spend more time learning. Your growth will be tremendous.

Build projects

Once you have a good foundation of knowledge, start building basic projects.

Most people think they need to know everything about a particular programming language or tool before they start building a project. But most times, this only results in watching tutorials for months.

The truth is that building projects let you improve your coding skills in ways you can't imagine. It also gives you something to show off in interviews when you are telling your interviewers about your tech skills.

Here's a list of beginner-friendly projects ideas:

9 Simple App Ideas to Learn Android Programming (With Tutorials).
Project ideas to help you improve your coding skills
UX Design Projects for Beginners.
21 Interesting Web Development Project Ideas For Beginners [2020].
500+ Product Design ideas in 2020.
7 Websites To Find Front End Projects For Your Portfolio.
How to find blog content ideas effortlessly?

Start writing

Most people think you have to be super smart to start writing and sharing knowledge. But I completely disagree. As much as we write to share knowledge, we also write to document what we've learned.

Our brains don't have the capacity to remember everything we've learned, so writing it down on your blog will serve as a reference point for you in the future. It can also help someone who is also trying to understand that concept you just learned.

In my case, I created my blog with Hashnode because it is super fast, has a strong community, and allows you to map the blog to your domain. I'd recommend you use the same platform for creating your first blog.

Writing is a great way to digest and process the information you take in. It gives you access to so many opportunities and can also help you make your mark in the tech ecosystem.

Writing changed my life, and I believe it will be of great help to you and your tech career. Start blogging now.

Stay consistent

This is the most important step in kick-starting a career in tech. It's highly unlikely you'll achieve great things if you're not consistently trying to improve on your chosen tech skill.

Consistency forms habits that become almost second nature. So if you code or design for at least 30 minutes every day for a month, you will become better and better.

It is not compulsory to stick with the 30 minutes scenario above -- just find out what works for you, and be very consistent. Only then will the sky be your limit.

Summary

Kickstarting a career in tech is definitely doable if you follow these steps. And I strongly encourage you to try, because of the diverse opportunities that come with it.

Anybody who is willing to learn can start a career in tech with or without any formal knowledge from school. Just go ahead and start.

Yes, it may not be really easy, but there are so many supportive tech communities willing to help you through.

I hope you learned a thing or two from this article. If you have any questions, feel free to send me a DM on Twitter and I'll be happy to answer every single one.