May 23, 2022Member-onlyTypeScript: should I stay or should I goThe many benefits of adopting TypeScript and why you should be embracing it in case you haven’t already — Should I stay or should I go now? If I go there will be trouble And if I stay it will be double (….) (The Clash — 1980's) Whether you are starting a new project or working on an existing code base there is always the option of writing or…Typescript6 min readTypescript6 min read
Published inJavaScript in Plain English·May 2, 2021Member-onlyThe Difference Between JavaScript Null and Undefined Data TypesIn a JavaScript program, null and undefined are sometimes employed loosely and can be interchangeable. However, they are distinct data types and knowing the differences and similarities between them can help to avoid bugs and save time in troubleshooting errors.JavaScript7 min readJavaScript7 min read
Published inJavaScript in Plain English·Apr 5, 2021Member-onlyAn Intro to Expressions and Statements in JavaScriptThis knowledge may come intuitively after some practice in programming, but if you cannot wait or are simply curious to shed some light on these terms, this blog might be of interest to you. — The difference between JavaScript’s two major syntactic categories, expressions and statements is a fundamental and yet easily misapprehended concept in JavaScript. At times, the boundaries to define each of these two terms can be hazy and not always too obvious. …JavaScript9 min readJavaScript9 min read
Jun 1, 2020Member-onlyJS Arrays: To Be Empty, Or Not To Be Empty, That Is The QuestionChecking whether an array is empty or not sounds like a simple task in any programming language…it is, but only if you understand the fundamentals I am preparing for the first written assessment in Launch School and one of the topics in the study guide is array elements and how…JavaScript5 min readJavaScript5 min read
May 18, 2020Software Development: Productivity and Context switchingShould work environments minimise less context switching in different knowledge domains to promote better team performance? Recently I interviewed someone to replace me in my previous QA position. This person indicated that they won an end-of-the-year company prize for being a great multi-tasker. This could be a good trait for…Software Development6 min readSoftware Development6 min read
Apr 25, 2020Member-onlyUnderstanding ‘Variable Shadowing’ with JavaScriptWhat is ‘variable shadowing’ and why it should be avoided. Before we go straight to the definition, it is important to observe that a more comprehensive understanding of variable shadowing requires knowledge of two other fundamental programming concepts. …Variable Shadowing5 min readVariable Shadowing5 min read
Apr 11, 2020JavaScript: Pass-by-value and Pass-by-referencePart of mastering a craft is understanding fundamental concepts One of the first topics I came across when learning to program was pass-by-reference and pass-by-value. At the time I knew it was a fundamental concept, but thought I could get away by understanding it just well enough. …JavaScript7 min readJavaScript7 min read
Aug 17, 2019Member-onlyLocal Variables and Scoping RulesOne of the most fundamental knowledge in programming is understanding how to assess variables in the code. This concept is a cornerstone to the act of ‘coding with intention’ and mastering any programming language. At the beginning of our journey, we are mostly focused on playing with code, exploring its…Programming9 min readProgramming9 min read
Aug 8, 2019The names you choose in programmingNaming things in programming is at least as important and as hard as knowing the syntax of a language — It’s been only five months that I have started my journey into web development at Launch School and I have already realised something that might be one of the hardest and most important skills a developer can acquire: naming things in programming. Picking meaningful names for variables, methods and classes…Programming3 min readProgramming3 min read
