Welcome to the Need2Nerd podcast! This is all about being a developer and entrepreneur. I go over recent news and answer nerd (programming and development) and entreprenerd (business, freelance and entrepreneur) questions.
Hi,
I just released my Complete Freelancer course, where you will quickly learn how start, and build a very profitable freelance business.
This BRAND-NEW course (released July 16 2018) is based on my 20+ years as a entrepreneur, freelancer and developer. I’ve worked as a freelancer for years, and have hired freelancers for years. I’ve been on both sides of the deal …. that’s why this course is unique and so valuable.
Course highlights:
Comes with 5 freelance templates, to jump start your freelance business!
Lessons are in both video and podcast/audio format … for people who want to learn on the go.
Includes an 8 page e-book that outlines the course in bullet points for easy reference.
Students are already telling me it is the most complete and to-the-point freelance training these ever seen!
Check it out: Complete Freelancer.
Thanks!
Stefan
Without a degree, your best chances of getting work is with a small business. Over 80% of small businesses use PHP to power their websites. So that makes PHP the #1 choice for those with no degrees.
WordPress is also widely used by small business, and WordPress is created with PHP, some JavaScript, HTML5 and CSS3. Together, these coding languages are part of what is called the web stack. Learn the web stack and you will open up MANY job opportunities.
PHP is old and sucks – no?
LOL! No! Old PHP from the 1990’s wasn’t very good, but much has changed since PHP4. Today PHP is at version 7 and it has all the ability and security as any of the other mainstream languages including:
… So don’t let uninformed nerds convince you that somehow PHP has problems. It doesn’t.
If PHP is the top language, what are the others?
JavaScript is #2 and Python is #3.
How to pick the best language for you?
After 23 years of writing code and building real software, my philosophy is to be language neutral … all programming languages have their strengths and weaknesses. The choice of language just depends on:
… You may love Java, but if there are no Java jobs where you are, what’s the point? So the best approach is to learn the fundamentals of programming and then with your new nerd-eyes, you will be better able to judge which path to go on. I recommend learning the web stack and Python.
… All my students will tell you, you can’t go wrong with that! Check out what my students think about my courses:
– Click on the above image to view the testimonials.
I created a video on the best programming languages if you DON’T have a degree:
Stefan Mischook
For database driven websites (web apps,) typically the biggest bottleneck is the database. So be sure your database is optimized. With SQL based databases, that starts with proper table design and smart indexing. That will handle 98% of websites performance needs.
In terms of client side code (HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript,) it comes down to lazy loading strategies, the use of CDNs, and being sure you don’t have boatloads of JavaScript slowing everything down.
How about image optimization?
Back when I started building websites, in the day of the dinosaurs (1990’s)we used to be concerned about image size, and how ‘big’ the webpages were in terms of kilobytes … but we live in the YouTube generation now, with high speed mobile internet, HD and 4k video being watched on smartphones. That means that a data limitation is typically NOT the bottleneck anymore … it’s processing (of code) on both the client and server.
If you are reading this, you probably want to learn modern web design and development, or you may already know how to build websites, but you want to become really confident in your web skills … just like all my students who took my unique web design and programming training course.
After you take my course, you will be amazed at how much you know! Below, you will find a few student quotes, screen captured from YouTube comments.
Thanks!
Stefan
Evil, evil, evil Wix!! That is the cry of many web designers. Will Wix kill web design? Short answer: nope.
Why won’t Wix just kill web design?
Simple answer: Wix doesn’t do it all, and frankly, professional web designers should just embrace Wix as an optional tool. Yes, some small business will opt for Wix (or some other web builder,) but many will realize sooner or later, that it does have its’ limits. When small business owners figure this out, in comes the modern web designer of 2018 and beyond!
Consider this:
There has always been an evolution in the software field. What I have seen over and over again in the last 23 years, is the promise of amazing leaps forward, where we ONLY end up with gradual improvement.
These days we can produce web apps and websites in a fraction of the time it used to take us, but the work for well trained web developers is still there, because the bar for modern websites is just simply higher today. The tools, push the bar up. Which is good!
So yes, some older practices/jobs go, but they are just replaced with new specializations in the field. To point, Wix. Yes, a non developer / amateur can put out a basic site with Wix, but they will often lack good UI, and especially UX skills, that make sites successful.
… Wix cannot account for good UX. Yes, Wix can make a site look good. But any experienced designer knows that UX is far, far more important than UI.
In terms of extended functionality, Wix now has a programmatic JavaScript layer for more advanced website customization. But you have to know JavaScript. So here is an example of how a good JavaScript coder who has UX skills, can work (and bill) in the Wix world.
For me, Wix is just another tool of the trade that smart web designers embrace.
If you want to learn web design and programming in record time, take my IWD course! It will make working with Wix, WordPress and vanilla web design, as easy as slicing an apple pie.
Stef
Mobile app development has moved toward hybrid apps, using the web stack (HTML5, CSS3 and JavaScript,) and frameworks like Phonegap or React Native.
But when it comes to the development of high demand (in terms of performance) mobile apps, using native languages like Swift for iOS and Java for Android is still the way to go. This might change with Googles Flutter framework.
Check out the video:
https://flutter.io/
https://facebook.github.io/react-native/
https://phonegap.com/
Thanks!
Stef
Someone asked me, if I had to pick the most important things you can do to improve your programming, what would it be?
Check out the video for details:
Learn Python 3 fast: http://www.killervideostore.com/python/
Learn web development: https://shop.killervideostore.com/
My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stefanmischook/?hl=en
Thanks!
Stefan
In the video below, I go over my top 7 web design teaching tips for teachers. Here are the bullet points:
1. Use the spiral teaching method
2. Self paced learning is best
3. Encourage students to use online training resources
4. Web Design software is NOT important
…. Watch the video to learn the rest.
The video:
Thanks!
Stefan
StudioWeb
Given the big moves in the cryptocurrencies this year (Bitcoin, Ethereum, LiteCoin etc,) I figured there must some programmer / developer jobs in blockchain! So I checked out a job site to see what was out there, and what skills companies involved with blockchain are looking for.
Programming languages
In terms of programming languages, it’s not just C++. There is a demand for a whole slew of languages including:
… And others. So when looking for blockchain related jobs, knowing the core of programming, regardless of the language, is the key. This will make you a much more valuable asset if you know your fundamentals well, so you can jump in and learn whichever language that is needed to do the job.
Frameworks and other support technology
Besides the programming languages, when working with crytpocurrency based business, you will likely be needing to know some of the following:
…. Again, depending on the specific job.
What’s a budding crypto coder to do?
My advice is to be sure you have a firm understanding of the foundations of programming, once you have that, the rest comes easy. Then you can learn about blockchain and supporting tech depending on the job you are interested in.
The key is to get past the hurdle of learning the foundational concepts and techniques in programming.
Hope that helps,
Stefan Mischook
Now that coding is widely recognised as a core skillset that students should learn, schools around the world are looking for code curriculums.
Too many code courses!
There are plenty of code courses out there, but unfortunately, the vast majority are created by coders who have no teaching skill, or experience. For adult students, you can get away with that, but when it comes to middle school and high school students, you need a set of courses created by experienced teachers.
What makes a great coding course for middle school and high school students?
It comes down to a few things:
Why use web design to teach code?
I am now going into my 7th year of working with schools to teach code, and I’ve seen great success with coding courses based on the coding languages of web design:
Web Design based coding courses are a great fit for schools for several reasons:
For schools and teachers who want to give their students an amazing coding experience, there is no better way than using the web design languages.
Full disclosure:
StudioWeb provides a fun interactive training platform and curriculum designed with the help of many teachers and their students across the US, Canada and places around the world.
Thanks for reading!
Stefan Mischook
StudioWeb
