5 Simple Steps to Become a Frontend Developer

7 February

Frontend development can be incredibly rewarding and fulfilling, but it takes practice to get there! Here are the five simple steps you need to follow in order to become an excellent frontend developer and grow your skills to the next level.

1) Learn HTML & CSS

HTML and CSS are skills that you’ll need as a frontend developer. These languages allow you to create websites and interactive interfaces by building code from scratch. While there is some overlap between front-end and back-end coding, front-end developers will likely spend most of their time actually using HTML and CSS. Find an online course to learn HTML or pick up one of these books, since both HTML and CSS are easy enough for beginners to learn on their own, for example with this course. The Web Developer Bootcamp can also help you gain experience quickly through practical exercises.

2) Learn JavaScript

It doesn’t matter what front-end languages you learn, but it does matter that you learn JavaScript. There are many JavaScript libraries and frameworks, like React, Vue, Gatsby, or AngularJS, which can make developing apps easier. But if you understand basic JavaScript commands, you can use pretty much any framework. And if your goal is to build one-off applications as opposed to full-blown apps, then basic JS knowledge is all you need anyway. One of my favorite free resources for learning JS (and coding in general) is Code Academy. It has a great balance of here's how and why, which I personally love.

3) Learn React

React has a bit of a learning curve, and it can take months or even years to learn all its tricks. But once you’ve got React under your belt, you’ll have an easier time picking up other JavaScript frameworks, like Vue. Also, have a very famous React-based framework named Gatsby(JAMSTACK) which you can easily master with Free Gatsby Bootcamp. You’ll also get familiar with one-way data flow, which is essential for writing clean code—and nearly every developer says they love working with React because they don’t need to worry about DOM manipulation. The best way to learn any new framework is by building something from scratch that gets used by lots of people—so create a website using React and make sure to give back (donate some code!) when you publish.

4) Learn Git and GitHub

Before you can start creating your own websites, you have to learn how to store your code on GitHub. Using Git and GitHub together is incredibly useful, as it allows you and other developers access (and ability) to collaborate. It also creates a central repository for your projects that’s easily accessible by anyone in your team—or even just someone who wants to see what you’re working on. The easiest way for beginners is to use Code School's TryGit tutorial.

5) Build Something Cool

If you have an interest in web development, but you’re not sure where to start or if it’s right for you, try learning by building something cool. If your employer doesn’t have time to help you learn, or you don’t work at a company that has developers, there are tons of resources online that can help. Codewars is a good place to start; It lets you choose from different projects and build up your skills over time. Or check out freeCodeCamp —it features hundreds of lessons on everything from CSS basics to JavaScript fundamentals.