Category: Personal Development

  • Tech Stacks Explained for Newbies

    Tech Stacks Explained for Newbies

    If you have ever been confused by the concept of “tech stacks”, you’re not alone. I have been there too. 

    As someone who was unsure about the relevance of my skill sets, it took some days of deliberate research to gain the understanding that I needed. This helped me regain my confidence to continue developing my skills.

    This blog post aims to clarify any confusion you might have and provide a starting point for your web development journey.

    In this article, I break down some popular stacks, making it easier for you to choose the right one as you journey into the field of web development.

    What are Tech Stacks?

    A tech stack includes the programming languages, frameworks, databases, and other tools that are used to create a functioning website or web/mobile app. Imagine it as a recipe; you need the right ingredients to create a mouth-watering dish.

    In order to build a functional website/app, you need a set of technologies that work well together to achieve your goal.

    Popular Tech Stacks:

    Here is a breakdown of some popular web development stacks, highlighting their strengths and how they can fit your unique needs as a *newbie* web developer.

    1. MERN Stack (MongoDB, Express.js, React, Node.js): This stack uses MongoDB, A flexible database for storing website data, Express.js, Node.js and react. All 3 web technologies use JavaScript as the core language making it a good choice if you want to learn one programming language for both front-end (what users see) and back-end (server-side logic).
    • On their own, Express.js is a framework that simplifies building server-side applications. 
    • React is a popular JS library, helps create smooth and interactive user interfaces (what users see). 
    • Node.js is a runtime environment that allows you to run JavaScript on the server.

    MERN is great for dynamic websites and apps, like social media platforms. In summary, JavaScript as the only language makes it efficient to learn and a good reason to adopt the MERN stack.

    2. MEAN Stack (MongoDB, Express.js, Angular, Node.js): Similar to MERN, but uses Angular (a framework from Google) instead of React. Angular is a comprehensive tool for building complex applications. Angular is a full-fledged framework, best for large, complex applications, especially when using TypeScript and needing a complete, structured solution with long-term support. It has a steeper learning curve.

    P.S: Angular provides a complete, structured approach, while React offers more flexibility and a quicker start. The best choice depends on your specific project needs, team skills, and preferences.

    3. MEVN Stack (MongoDB, Express.js, Vue.js, Node.js): This stack swaps React/Angular for Vue.js, a lightweight and easy-to-learn framework. MEVN is a good choice for projects where simplicity and adaptability are key.

    4. PERN Stack (PostgreSQL, Express.js, React, Node.js): Almost identical to MERN, but uses PostgreSQL, a robust database known for its data integrity and reliability, often preferred for applications handling sensitive data like in healthcare or banking.

    5. LAMP Stack (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP): A classic and reliable stack that’s been around for a long time. It’s cost-effective and good for building websites and web applications. Many popular platforms like WordPress use LAMP. Here’s what it includes:

    • Linux: A free and open-source operating system.
    • Apache: A widely used web server.
    • MySQL: A relational database for structured data.
    • PHP: A server-side scripting language for building dynamic web pages.

    6. The Python Stack: Python is known for its clear and concise syntax, making it a great choice for beginners. This stack offers a variety of frameworks for web development, allowing you to choose the one that best suits your project. 

    Here are some common options:

    • Python: The core language, easy to learn and read.
    • Django: A full-featured framework for complex web applications.
    • Flask: A lightweight framework ideal for smaller projects.
    • PostgreSQL or MySQL: Popular database options for Python projects

    How do you choose the right stack:

    There’s no “one size fits all” answer. However, it is important that you consider these factors when making your choice:

    • Project Goals: What kind of website or application do you want to build? Is it a dynamic website? What are the functional requirements? Answering the questions will help you make the right decision
    • Community: It should have a strong community of users and supporters.
    • Organizational need: If you already work in a different role at an organization and looking to pivot internally, then you should definitely consider the programming language currently in use by the team.
    • Learning Curve: It should be beginner-friendly – easy to learn, even if you’re new to coding.
    • Scalability: It should support scalability on the long term
    • Time Commitment: How much time can you dedicate to learning new technologies.

    Tips for Success:

    Web development like every other tech field requires resilience and dedication. By following the tips below, you would be well on your way to becoming a successful web developer.

    • Start Small: Don’t try to learn everything at once. Choose a beginner-friendly stack and focus on building a simple project first.
    • Find a Supportive Community: MumsWhoCode is here for you! Connect with other mums who are learning to code, share your experiences, and get encouragement.
    • Embrace Mentorship or Get a Coach: Decide early enough how you would want to learn. Through a coach in a structured format or self-learning. Either way, you need to find a more experienced web developer to teach you and provide feedback on your work. This will help you identify gaps and learn faster
    • Utilise Online Resources: There are many free tutorials, courses, and coding challenges available online. Look for resources designed for beginners.
    • Celebrate Your Progress: Learning to code takes time and effort. Acknowledge your accomplishments, no matter how small.

    Conclusion:

    Choosing the right tech stack is an important step in your web development journey. Remember, there’s no perfect stack – the best one is the one that works for you. By considering your goals, learning style, and time constraints, you can choose a stack that empowers you to build amazing things as a mum coder. 

    Get started today and if you feel overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to reach out to the MumsWhoCode community for support

  • Level Up: How Women in Tech Can Become Indispensable

    Level Up: How Women in Tech Can Become Indispensable

    It is not just enough to land a job in a dream company, to truly thrive and secure your future, you need to continually impress your employer and become an invaluable member of the team. 

    You would agree with me that the competition is sometimes fierce in workplaces and it is not always the hardest worker that gets the most applause.

    It is important to work smart and to be intentional about our actions.

    Whether you are just starting out or looking to take your tech career to the next level, following the tips below will help you to succeed and become an indispensable member of your team.

    1. Expertise & Knowledge Sharing:
    • Develop a unique skill set that distinguishes you from your colleagues.
    • Be willing to share your knowledge and train others, becoming a valuable asset to the team.
    1. Building Relationships:
    • Cultivate strong connections with decision-makers in the company.
    • Treat everyone with respect, regardless of their position.
    1. Work Ethic & Productivity:
    • Follow directions and demonstrate your ability to be a team player.
    • Generate new ideas and actively contribute to problem-solving.
    • Focus on important tasks and look for ways to increase productivity.
    • Strive to accomplish more than the minimum and always offer solutions.
    1. Proactiveness & Attitude:
    • Take the initiative and be a self-starter, requiring minimal supervision.
    • Be reliable, especially during challenging situations.
    • Show enthusiasm and maintain a positive attitude towards your work.

    Additional Tips:

    • Make your boss’s job easier by taking on tasks they can’t or don’t have time for.
    • Focus on the company’s bottom line by identifying cost-saving opportunities.
    • Gain a competitive edge by setting high standards for yourself and consistently exceeding expectations.

    Do you have any more tips to add? Drop it in the comments.

    Click here to sign up and join our closed group.

  • Personal Tech Skill Audit for Career Growth in 2023

    Personal Tech Skill Audit for Career Growth in 2023

    Personal Tech Skill Audit for Career Growth in 2023

    Author: Aghama Jesurobo

    As a tech professional and an employee, one of the things I do often is a Personal Skill Audit. This has helped me a great deal over the last years.

    I believe a Personal Skill Audit should be an important new year activity whether for an employee or a freelancer desirous of growth.

    Personal Skill Audit simply means taking inventory of your skill set and level of skills proficiency.

    With a Personal Skill Audit, you get to know what skills you have, the skills you need to hone or acquire for your current or desired role.

    Professional growth demands that an individual be intentional; therefore, a Personal Skills Audit is important. While this article is focused on technical skills, soft skills are just as important. So, it is also useful to consider assessing your communication, networking and writing skills, to mention just a few.

    A Personal Skills Audit (PSA) will clearly show all your skills, help you identify skill gaps and make it easy for you to determine steps to take in your job or career as well as formulate a roadmap to securing your relevance, pay increment, promotion, desired job.

    Here are the few and simple steps to conduct your Personal Skills Audit:

    1. On a piece of paper or e-notepad, write down all the skills you have acquired and note the level of proficiency by the side. Preferably, put it in tabular form or use a spreadsheet. Feel free to critically rate your proficiency for each skill you have listed. Additionally, I recommend you do one or both of the following:

    • take tech assessment tests (examples of sites to find tech assessment quizzes include linkedin, pluralsight, datacamp)

    • have a trusted mentor, coach or supervisor assess your work.

    2. consider your current job description and deliverables or that of a desired role in another organization.

    To be competitive in your industry, research job descriptions and skills requirements from 4-7 different organizations, looking out for similarities and uniqueness.

    3. based on the above, identify any skill gaps and note the skills you need to gain or hone. Another way to identify skill gaps is to utilize feedback from reviews. Organizations perform yearly review exercises; what was your assessment report for last year like? What were the recommendations for your improvement?

    You would be doing your career a disservice if you haven’t started working on the stated recommendations for improvement if you desire a higher ranking or are working towards a promotion.

    Once the skill gaps have been identified, depending on the skills to be learnt and other factors, you will have to decide between going the self-taught route or attending a training school/bootcamp requiring fees.

    Worth considering is the time frame needed to acquire or develop a skill especially if you are eyeing a promotion or a new opening. It is advisable to set a deadline.

    If you are able to learn on your own then you only need to set time and money aside for bandwidth and/or course bundles.

    Otherwise, you would need to know the cost of paid training and set some amount of money aside to pay for the required training.

    You may also need to enroll with a career coach and pay for the services.

    So, make enquiries about costs, create your budget for personal development.

    Depending on the total amount and your income level, you might need to put out a certain percentage of your income each month to help you cover the cost.

    If your organization covers the cost of professional training, you are in luck. If not, take responsibility for your career growth and invest in it. 

    An investment in personal development will always yield a good return.

    It is important not to forget that nurturing and developing skills require an environment that allows for use and constant practice.

    If you are developing skills not required in your current role, I recommend you seek out challenges and communities that will allow you to grow the skills you have acquired.

    With most tech skills, you are bound to lose it if you don’t use it.

    Have you done a #newyear skills audit in the past? How did it shape your professional growth for that year?

    Feel free to share if you found this useful.

    #skillsdevelopment #skillsaudit #elearning #techmum