Website development is a fast-growing field. As a former website developer, I know what it feels like to be left behind in the crowd. You need that passion to learn and to grow every day. If you want to survive in this field, you need to work like a devil. And if you’re like most of the developers, you have probably investigated your code and thought, how can you make it even better, simpler?
As the saying goes, ‘practice makes the man perfect’ this certainly applies to all the web developers out there. My friend who owns a web development company in Dubai shared some thought-provoking tips with me last week. There are five tips which can help you polish your tips as a website developer.
No matter where you’re in your web development career there is always a room for improvement. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced developer you can follow these tips to get better at coding.
1. Code every day
My friend shared the first tip which was quite logical. If you want to improve your skill, ‘write code every day’. While this advice might sound like a piece of novice advice this is actually pretty good advice. Just like in every field you get better when you do it more often when you code every day you’ll learn a lot of things every day. When you write code, you’ll master the art of debugging your own code.
Keep in mind that you don’t have to come up with new projects every day. But you need to keep practicing every day. And while you’re coding, you’ll know the shortcuts of coding which can save a lot of your time.
2. Give away to open-source projects
If you want to learn the tricks of the trade, you need to start working on open-source projects. When you do open-source projects you’ll learn a lot from the industry experts. You can either contribute to the existing projects or you can add your code and ask for feedback. No matter which option you choose, it will ultimately lead you to a better understanding of your skillset.
And at the same time, you’ll get your bugs fixed without looking for any help elsewhere. In a fun way, you’ll get a chance to do some fun projects with some cool people. And in that, you’ll get a second or even a third set of eyes on your code. You’ll learn how to work more effectively in a team.
3. Teach others & improve your code
They are saying goes if you want to learn something for a longer period, the best approach is to start teaching the thing to somewhere else. Same goes for coding. If you want to get better at some code, all you must do is to start teaching it to someone else. By writing the basic concepts around which your code is based, you’ll be able to understand your code in a more structured manner.
You can also start a blog and share your secrets in that blog. Let other people know that you have a strong hand on a specific niche. Not only this will increase your visibility in the forums, after some time you’ll be treated like an expert.
4. Challenge yourself with something new every day
There are tons of web development tutorials out there on the web. While most of the concepts change as the industry grow, there is no harm in moving out from your comfort zone. Break the habit of working on a limited number of projects. Try out something new every day. If you’re a WordPress developer, try out a new theme. Pick the elements which you love and see how it can be redone with some innovation?
Even though you might not reach the level of an expert instantly, but this will form a solid foundation for you to grow fast and learn new things every day. Also, don’t forget that the code which is available on the website has already been written by coders. So, you’re not inventing something new. You’re just adding some features and trying what works and what is unnecessary.
5. Schedule some downtime
While it is necessary to code every day, it is important to schedule regular downtime. As crazy as it sounds, the amount of time that you spend not coding anything, is productive time. If you’re constantly working out, you’re burning out your brain. You need some time to recharge your batteries.
Therefore, it is crucial to schedule regular downtime. If for some reason you cannot take out time from your schedule, you can set into your calendar and set a reminder to stop working at a time of the day and relax.
6. To conclude it all
Before you rush towards implementing the tips which are mentioned here, keep in mind that programming and technologies go together. For this reason, it is necessary for you to stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in the field of programming.
To put it simply, the basics don’t change. If you pay attention to the underlying architecture rather than mastering that one new feature. And once you get a firm grasp on the fundamentals, mastering your favorite language will just be fun.
Also read: What are Mobile Application Development and Its Benefits?