Getting comfortable with development

Learn how to get things running. Learn Unix commands, file systems, basic, git, css, html, and more. We use Amazon’s Cloud9 system to give to a remote Linux machine so there’s no installation problems or laptop requirements. You can learn at home no matter what your home computer is like. We also do video prep lessons one on one to prepare you for the course. These individual lessons are a great time to ask questions that have come up in your pre-work. We love using these sessions to get to know you.

Learning the Tools

We cover variables, loops, types, functions, conditions, arrays, hashes, classes, and all the other basics you’ll need to code in any language. We use Ruby, because it is the easiest way to learn Object Oriented Programming, but these skills are useful in a wide array of programming languages. The skills learned here are the same building blocks used in Javascript in the second half of the course.

Testing

Startups have been writing more and more tests. We start your introduction to testing early for two reasons: you need to be comfortable with writing tests in the spec syntax to keep code bases stable and reliable, and writing code in Test Driven Development style helps make you a better coder. You’ll program with the next goal in mind in an organized way.

Databases

We learn the theory of relational databases including the proper use of foriegn keys, primary keys, types, how to connect tables, normalized data, and joins. You learn SQL to write queries and insertions into databases. You will practice modeling domains in ERDs (entity relationship documents) to plan your database.

MVC

We learn the Model, View Controller paradigm. We learn how to create a system of RESTful routes to handle all CRUD requests. We learn how Rails uses MVC: connecting us to the database through our model classes, shaping what the user sees and experiences in the view files, and setting up variables and logic in the controllers.

Instagram Clone

We clone Instagram to work on how to apply our fundamentals to real world apps. We use Devise to learn Authentication and Authorization. We use Bootstrap to learn how to leverage external stylesheets so we’re not always writing our CSS from scratch. We learn ActiveStorage to handle the photos (which introduces the students to the distinction between saving images in the database versus a cloud service).

First Project

The first project focuses on reusing all the skills from apps like Instagram put towards your own idea. Past students have created apps for meeting other bicycle enthusiasts, managing HR requests, blogs about sheep, etc. Students must create an app that uses login, CRUD, and custom visuals to create the first piece of your portfolio.

Javascript 101

We go over the history of Javascript taking the syntax that we learned during Ruby and translating it to the world of Javascript. We pay attention to the syntactic differences like let, var, const, anonymous functions, fat arrow syntax, etc. And we also stress the paradigmatic differences like what it means program along a functional paradigm. We will use JS for both object oriented programming and functional programming, but we’ll push students towards thinking in functions.

Interacting with the DOM

You will learn how to interact with the DOM with native javascript. You will be able to walk up to anyone’s computer, right click and start coding. By getting comfortable with the native functions you will be able to adapt to use any frontend framework. No matter how the industry changes you will be prepared.

jQuery

jQuery is used on 80% of websites. You learn jQuery’s place in Javascript history and which native functions have equivalent functionality. Learning jQuery basics will let you find, hide and create DOM elements on the fly, and understanding jQuery will make ReactJS easier.

Advanced CSS

We will work on using advanced display properties like display: grid, display: flex, border-radius, transition, and animations to let you create sites that stand out. If the client can dream it, you can render it.

Class versus Function Components

The community has shifted to using functions over classes as components in ReactJS apps, but most apps and sample code on the internet still use the class paradigm. You will have to learn this.state, render(), componentDidMount9(), setState(), etc in addition to creating simple functions as components.

Group Project

You will work in a group for a few days on a ReactJS game assigned to your group. This assignment is a combination of practicing React and learning intermediate git. By collaborating with other developers you will have to use branches, pull requests, and merges to solve conflicts in your group’s code. This simulates what the real world will require of you: teamwork.

Hooks

We will learn useState, useEffect, and useRef to give us the ability to have state and perform API calls while still using functions over components. Mastery of useState in particular is necessary to keep track of state in your ReactJS components.

React-Router

ReactJS is known for single page applications, but most applications made in the library for production use actually have multiple pages. React-Router gives you the ability to map components to paths so that you can simulate a traditional web app.

APIs

Application Program Interfaces and API endpoints give use the ability to connect apps with json messages and data. You will learn how to connect your frontend apps to your backend apps. We will create Rails apps that connect to ReactJS apps so you can practice passing data back and forth.

Firebase

Relational databases have been challenged in recent years by so-called no-SQL databases aka non-relational databases. We will show you how to create an app that connects to Firebase and how to store non-relational data there for easy storage and retrieval without migrations or ORMs.

Professional Coaching

You will completely redo your LinkedIn profile, AngelList profile, and resume. We will show how to present yourself. We will coach you on the kind of language to use, places to apply, and how to describe your experience. You have to learn but you also have to learn how to find the opportunities that will take you further.

Final Project

The final project requires you to use a frontend app with some kind of backend component whether that’s a Rails app, Firebase, or some other API. This is the final piece in your portfolio after the Rails project and your group ReactJS game. These projects are a great opportunity to show what you have learned, and some students have been able to take these projects even further.