Month: January 2025
-
Why I Chose Software Engineering: A Personal Story
I spent most of my early career in IT—first in IT operations, running around fixing people’s printers and setting up email accounts, and later in corporate IT sales. Let me tell you, the sales gig wasn’t bad. Wearing tailored suits, dining at fancy restaurants, sipping wine on the company’s dime—that was a vibe. But that’s…
-
Why You Need a Portfolio as a New Software Developer 💻🚀
When you’re starting out as a software developer, you’ll hear a lot about the importance of having a portfolio. Let me cut to the chase: it’s not optional—it’s essential. If you’re job hunting without one, you’re making life harder for yourself. Here’s why your portfolio can make or break your chances of landing that first…
-
5 Reasons to Choose JavaScript as Your First Programming Language 🚀💻
When you’re starting out in programming, choosing your first language can feel like standing in front of a buffet without a clue of what’s good. Trust me, I’ve been there. Let me save you the mental headache—go with JavaScript. Here’s why: 1. It’s Beginner-Friendly 👶 JavaScript has a gentle learning curve. You don’t need to…
-
Learning to Code While Life Was Throwing Curveballs 💻👶
When my temporary contract was ending, and my wife and I found out we were expecting our first baby, life got real—fast. But life doesn’t stop, right? Somehow, I managed to secure a full-time job (not exactly as a software developer, more like a semi-developer role). Today, I wanted to share the resources I leaned…
-
My Slow-Ass Journey to Becoming a Software Developer 🚀
Switching careers to software development wasn’t some overnight success story for me—it was a slow grind, full of mistakes, late nights, and a ton of trial and error. Here’s how it went down: I was working full-time because, let’s be real, bills don’t pay themselves. I tried learning Python, bought 3 books on Amazon… and…
-
Why Learning React Through Projects is a Damn Good Idea 🚀
If you’re just starting with React, forget boring-ass theory tutorials. The real magic happens when you roll up your sleeves and start building actual projects. Here’s why: 1️⃣ You Learn by Doing Documentation is cool, but projects force you to apply that shit. You figure out how components actually work, how useState and useEffect save…
-
💻 Building a Website in One Evening: Fast, Cheap, and Secure
So, I recently made my own website, DevUnwind.com, in just one evening. 🤯 The goal? Minimum effort, budget-friendly, fast setup, and secure. Here’s how I pulled it off in about 4–6 hours, and all it cost me was $30 CAD for a year. Step 1: Finding the Right Domain & Hosting I researched cheap domain…
-
🚀 Kickstart Your React Project with Vite (Beginner-Friendly Guide)
If you’re ready to dive into React and want to set up your project fast as hell, let me introduce you to Vite. ⚡ It’s a super-speedy build tool that’s perfect for modern React projects. Let’s break it down: Step 1: Set up your project 1️⃣ Make sure you’ve got Node.js installed. (Grab it from…
-
Getting Started with useEffect in React
If you’re diving into React and wondering how to handle side effects in your components, meet your new best friend: useEffect. 🛠️ What the heck is a side effect? 🤔A side effect is anything that affects something outside your component: How does useEffect work?It’s a React Hook that runs code after your component renders. Think…
-
Why LinkedIn Is Your Job-Hunting Power Tool 💼
It’s wild how LinkedIn has become the go-to platform for job seekers and professionals. If you’re not on LinkedIn, you’re probably invisible to most recruiters and hiring managers. Seriously, it’s that big. In my own experience across the USA and Canada, LinkedIn takes the #1 spot for job hunting, with Indeed following as a distant…