Whats Next After RoR and JavaScript?
As I move along through my job search, I have discovered that most companies looking to hire software engineers are looking for candidates with a more well-rounded tech stack than I currently possess. This is based on job postings that I found for entry level/junior software engineers and have applied to with either no response or a “no” response. There’s only so many times you can rework a resume with the same information. With that revelation, I decided to put together a list of technologies that will benefit me on my journey to landing my first tech role and thought I’d share it.
My background is mostly in Ruby on Rails and SQL for the back end and JavaScript, React/Redux, HTML/CSS for the front end.
AWS — Amazon Web Services
Amazon Web Services or AWS is the leading cloud platform which provides more services and functionality than any other provider. Such services include infrastructure technologies, machine learning and AI, data lakes and analytics, and Internet of Things. AWS has in place enough security requirements to even appease the military and global banks, so it’s a pretty big deal. With that being said, I chose to start off with an AWS Machine Learning course that Coursera is providing for free at the moment. This course is for intermediate level programmers and will supply you with a professional certification upon successful completion.
React Native
Like React, React Native was created by Facebook and is a mobile application framework that can be used to make applications for both iOS and Android, as well as Web and UWP. Since it is compatible with both major platforms, it helps in saving precious development time and it has accumulated large community support because of it. With React Native, there is no need to learn Java (Android) or Swift (iOS) because you are using JavaScript, HTML and CSS to construct your applications. Our phones have become a dominant and necessary facet of our lives, so being able to build upon the technology that people use everyday is vital to developers which is why I want to understand how it works from the new perspective of mobile development.
Python
Of all the applications I have come by, Python has been the most prominent language requirement. Right from the Python docs, Python is described as “an interpreted, object-oriented, high-level programming language with dynamic semantics. Its high-level built in data structures, combined with dynamic typing and dynamic binding, make it very attractive for Rapid Application Development, as well as for use as a scripting or glue language to connect existing components together.” Now, thats something that I’d like to get my brain on. Unlike other languages, Python is very fluid in that it can be used to build web and desktop apps, machine learning, blockchain, supports multiple programming paradigms, and has a robust library with many open source frameworks, among other things. Such a dynamic and popular language will be a powerful tool in any developer’s arsenal.
Though I have only listed the next 3 technologies I plan on learning, 3 is actually a larger number than you’d think. When learning how to program, it is better to be able to put your focus into one new thing and learn it 100% than try to learn everything all at once, only retaining a superficial grasp. At least thats what works for me. I would rather be a master of one (at a time), than none, all at once.
Again, here are the links to the free courses I am aiming towards in case anyone else wants a crack at them. Let me know in the comments if you have any similar suggestions!
