Learning New Technologies

Learning new technologies can be a difficult thing to start, let alone master. In this episode we discuss how we started with new technologies and how to expand those introductions into mastery with a given framework, plugin, or other product. Segment 1 - Getting Started Identify Objectives Ensure that your selected technology cover as many of your objectives as possible Sometimes your objective is just to learn a given technology - with no specific project objective(s) Do the "My First App" example Most documentation have users go through a first introductory app to get them started quickly Use this first app as a way to get your foot in the door - use it as a foundation for your project, or as a learning platform Documentation Open Don't shy away from documentation - I always have it open! As you look up each and every piece of a given technology you're slowly learning its ins and outs Eventually you won't need the documentation to complete a given task Easiest Start  There are typically a lot of different ways to get started with a given technology (ie install via npm, use via CDN, etc.) Use the easiest starting point - probably the one that compliments your existing development environment - so that you don't get caught in a rut trying to learn how install something Find the fastest route to learning Segment 2 - When to Learn New Technologies Personal vs Client Work Projects You must find the balance between learning something new, or using something familiar because you're working on your client's time Let the client know what you're doing or planning, they may want you to work on learning a new technology - maybe they want a new feature Do extensive research into a given technology to prevent issues down the line, costing you time and your client needless money Performance Sometimes performance becomes important when applications get large, make sure you use the technology that best compliments your objective and gives the best performance For example: NodeJS is good at concurrent connections Popularity Popular apps typically have a job market Learning React or Angular, as of writing this, would put you in a good position for finding a job You can also participate in an up and coming technology to get into a growing community Need Sometimes you have no choice but to learn a new library, framework, language, etc. Segment 3 - Get Up and Running Quickly Researching Google your issues Check documentation At this stage ensure that the tech can cover all your needs Watching/Reaching Tutorials Before commiting, watch some YouTube tutorials to see if you like any of them If you continue working with the technology you now have a reference/video series to learn more Documentation Great documentation can make learning a lot easier Bad documentation does the exact opposite, makes it harder Community Take a look at the community and try to avoid toxicity Check various communities (ie Reddit, Discord, Stack Overflow, etc.) Your own "My First App" Choose a simple function that might be a single piece of a project Gives you a good view on learning and implementing Web News - Cell Phone Longevity & Endurance Battery life on cell phones is typically not great, after several product generations of fighting for better battery life (specifically more capacity), it seems that consumers have given up to a degree Android seems have issues managing background tasks Apps dont' close completely sometimes Sometimes they close too early from the "recent apps"  Manufacturers try and combat this by having various battery management software added to their Android versions More efficient processors like those in the Snapdragon 600 series offer more efficient battery usage, but don't offer flagship speed like those in the 800 series Flagship phones have the best features and specs, but typically lack in battery life Android phones seem to drop in battery performance when you're on the go - GPS turns on a lot even when not navigating You can find us on... Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | RSS Medium | YouTube | GitHub | Spotify