A frontend developer is responsible for developing everything that will be processed on the client-side and will be shown to the user on their device (computer, cell phone, tablet, etc). Right here, on this page, everything was programmed by a frontend dev, as well as every other website you navigate on.
Frontend includes every code the navigator processes on the user side. In other words, every website element that can be seen by the user, from interface configuration to contact form.
If you are interested in frontend dev career and is confused about where to start, here are the main subjects you should study to boost the early stages of your frontend dev career.
Programming logic and algorithms
To be a developer, programming logic always comes first, side by side with algorithms. The main reason is that by understanding these, it will be much easier to learn new languages. Afterall, many modern languages use the same data structure principle.
At first glance, it might seem like a too theoretical work, but it will be worth it. These first steps will come a long way when it comes to solving daily coding issues.
HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
There are three programming languages that are pretty much the base of all frontend dev work: HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
HTML in certain way builds the visual base of a website, while CSS is a language focused on styling the elements. JavaScript will communicate with backend to perform some pre-programmed actions when the user interacts with certain elements.
It seems like quite a lot of information, right? However, it is important to take the first steps and start from the ground up. Little by little, you will realize that each of these languages have their own patterns and, from there, it will be much easier to face the advanced concepts of each.
Pro tip: Focus on learning these three first and only than advance for a framework/library. With a solid knowledge base, it will be much easier to use and understand frontend libraries and frameworks.
Where to study basic HTML, CSS, and JavaScript: Coursera
Frameworks and Libraries
In a frontend life, frameworks are not fundamental to build a website, but knowing how some of them work is very important. The main reason is that these platforms can speed up website and system development, being quite applied by organizations daily.
There are multiple frameworks and libraries (also known as “libs”) aimed at facilitating and standardizing the creation of websites and system’s base structure. Currently, the most famous are React, Angular and Vue.js.
There are multiple libraries that provide standardized components (like buttons, tables, loadings, and others) to use on projects, allowing the developer to focus more on business-related components and less on creating and styling each component. The most famous libraries are Ant Design (for React), Angular Material (mostly used on projects developed with Angular), and Vue Material Kit (for Vue.js).
Other very interesting libraries that can be quite helpful for those starting on frontend are Bootstrap and jQuery. These are mostly applied for simpler projects, like institutional websites for instance.
In addition to the websites recommended here, it might be worth to check YouTube videos from specialists on each of these subjects. Also, if you know anyone in frontend development, don’t hesitate to ask for help!
And don’t forget, when you become a pro in frontend development, apply to one of our remote positions to boost your international career in development!