Here at Powered Labs we know coding can be a bit overwhelming at times, especially when first starting. So we interviewed one of our developing experts, Dan, and came up with these top 5 tips for developers.
“I learned a long time ago, you can’t be afraid to just dive in and break things when learning how to code… I also learned the value of a good backup.”
-Dan Castanera
Familiarize yourself with and take advantage of CMS
CMS stands for Content Management System, it allows you to create an effective website without needing an extensive knowledge of coding such as
html or
CSS. Using a
PHP bases CMS like
WordPress or
Joomla gives you the ability to edit, move, change, publish, organize, personalize, etc. Making managing your content a lot easier. Getting familiar with a CMS will make developing your website a breeze.
Get Familiar with CMS Plugins
Plugins will provide more functionality to your CMS software. Using ones like e commerce shopping cart, book management system or a music library will enhance your website. Most of us have heard the saying “There’s an app for that”. Well we can almost say the same about plugins. There are so many plugins out there for specific needs waiting to be used, and if you can’t find what you’re looking for, companies like us can come to your rescue and create a new one. Plugins can make your life a lot easier, but they can also bring a lot more issues if you’re not careful. Take advantage of them, but make sure you educate yourself before adding them to your CMS.
Understand API
API stands for application programming interface. It is essentially how websites communicate with other websites. For example, when you go to sign into a website using Facebook, API is what allows the connection to be made. Same as when you share an article from a website onto your twitter or Facebook accounts. API is essentially the programatic connection between websites, it gives you the building blocks, and it’s your job to put it together.
Learn Proper Use of Loading Libraries
Loading libraries are another one of those tools that are extremely beneficial to those who don’t necessarily have a vast knowledge of coding. For example,
JavaScript has a library called
jQuery which allows you to perform certain tasks a lot easier than if you were to do them in JavaScript. Moving one element from one side of the page to the other can take 5-6 lines of code. But if you decide to use jQuery, the steps can be cut down to 1-2. Loading libraries have a collection of functions that work like shortcuts for easy coding.
Take Advantage of Training Sites
There are tons of training sites out there for anyone from beginners, to those who just want to refresh their knowledge. Two examples of great training sources to have are
Team Tree House and
Lynda. Team tree house is great for those of you who are just starting to step into the developing world. The teaching dynamic is very fun and interactive, they do things like give you points for viewing tutorials and answering quiz questions. Lynda is full of great information and tutorials, but it is geared more towards with a better understanding of coding and development. There are techies making these videos so it’s not quite as easy to understand if you don’t know already have some prior knowledge.
The coding world is not an easy one to step into, we hope these top 5 tips for developers help make your learning process a little easier.
