Front-end Web Development/Notes

Notes from previous Front-end Web Development classes.

Class for 2016-12-19: back-end web development

This class is all about the seedy underbelly of web development: the backend! It is tailored toward front-end developers wanting to get a taste of how things come together on the server. We'll talk about PHP, then Node, then Rails.

During the recap period, we will set up your computers. But it's best to do this before arriving if possible. Here are the steps used for class preparation:

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THE EASIEST WAY

Come to the class in person and get the USB stick from Jeffrey. Then follow the below "easy" steps without having to download anything.

THE EASY WAY

If you would like to follow along, the easiest option is to run a virtual machine.

• Install VirtualBox AND the Extension Pack
• Download this preconfigured Ubuntu virtual machine (2.89GB)
• Double-click the .ova file. You should check the "reinitialize the MAC address" step.
• Start the machine after installation and you're all set!
• System username and password are both "front-end". Feel free to change them if that's uncomfortable.

THE HARDER WAY

If you don't want to use a virtual machine, or would like to set your computer up for further work on your own.

Linux

• To set up Node.js installation, run:
  • curl -sL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_7.x | sudo -E bash -
• Install required packages: sudo apt-get install -y nodejs lamp-server^ ruby ruby-dev zlib1g-dev libsqlite3-dev
  • (Press Enter at any prompts.)
• Install Express: sudo npm install -g express-generator
• Install Rails: sudo gem install rails

OS X

• Upgrade to at least OS X 10.9, preferably the latest (currently macOS Sierra).
• Install the Xcode developer tools:
  • xcode-select --install
• For Node.JS:
  • Install Node.JS: http://nodejs.org/
  • Install Express: npm install -g express-generator
• To install Rails, run:
  • sudo gem install rails
• For PHP, install MAMP: http://www.mamp.info/en/index.html

Windows

(I recommend sticking with the aforementioned virtual machine setup, or installing a Linux partition, as it is somewhat difficult to set things up on Windows.)

In all cases where there is a choice, choose 64-bit (x64).

• Install Git for Windows: http://www.git-scm.com/ (all default settings)
• For Node.JS:
  • Install Node.JS: http://nodejs.org/ (all default settings)
  • Install Express by opening Git Bash and running:
    • npm install -g express-generator
• For Rails:
  • Install the latest Ruby from http://rubyinstaller.org/downloads/
    • When installing, choose to "add Ruby executables to your PATH".
  • Install the Ruby Development Kit by following these instructions: https://github.com/oneclick/rubyinstaller/wiki/Development-Kit
  • Install Rails by opening Git Bash and running:
    • gem install rails
• For PHP:
  • Install the Visual C++ 2012 Redistributable: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=30679
  • Install WampServer: http://www.wampserver.com/en/

THE HARDEST WAY

Install Node.JS, NPM, Express, Apache, PHP, Ruby, and Rails individually. Good luck!

Lecture video

Class for 2016-12-12: Working from professional mockups, cont'd

We will continue working off of our mockup and apply responsive code in the process.

Mockups and assets can be found here.

Lecture video
Lecture materials

Class for 2016-12-05: Working from professional mockups

We'll take the knowledge we gained from looking at the box model, positioning, media queries and CSS3, and work off of a mockup to make a site that could pass as a professional design.

Mockups and assets can be found here.

This class will require the use of Harp, a static web server, as we'd like to make this as realistic of a project as possible. As a bonus, we'll learn how to use preprocessors like Sass to help us with our code.

Lecture video
Lecture materials

Class for 2016-11-28: Modern CSS

We'll talk about a number of topics concerning modern CSS development: CSS3, browser support, BEM, and responsive design (for mobile devices).

We'll start on this multi-column page and make it work on mobile.

Lecture video
Lecture materials

Class for 2016-11-14: CSS positioning

We'll focus on positioning of elements: using absolute, relative, or fixed positioning to put the elements anywhere we want on the whole page. We'll use this mockup along with these assets to put together a page that demonstrates positioning.

Lecture video (no recap)
Lecture materials

Class for 2016-11-07: CSS floats & flexbox

Floating and flexbox are two methods behind creating websites with multiple columns, navigation menus, and basically any block element that's stacked horizontally. We'll learn about them by taking a look at some examples, discuss the pros and cons of each, then take a mockup and create a site from it.

Lecture video
Lecture materials

Class for 2016-10-24: Redux

We took a look at React last week. There are a few aspects that we could probably optimize, by reducing the amount of props passed between components, and the amount of unnecessary renders. Redux will help us achieve that goal. We'll continue working on the React app we made last week.

To prepare, make sure you have the current version ("Latest Features") of Node.js installed.

Lecture video (no sound until the half hour mark)
Lecture materials

Class for 2016-10-17: React

React is a JavaScript UI library that's skyrocketing in popularity. We'll take the NoiseTwitter app we've made in jQuery and Angular and do it again in React, with the help of Create React App which will propel us into a modern JavaScript development environment. This class is an intro on just plain React in the DOM, but the next class will add in additional libraries like Redux, Normalizr, and possibly Reselect.

To prepare, make sure you have the current version ("Latest Features") of Node.js installed.

Lecture video
Lecture materials

Class for 2016-10-10: AngularJS

We'll learn about the basics of AngularJS (version 1), a popular client-side MVC application framework. Frameworks such as these make it easier to manage data-rich views by keeping everything in sync with each other. To understand how libraries like AngularJS differ from jQuery, we'll be taking our NoiseTwitter app and converting it from one that uses jQuery into one that uses AngularJS instead.

Lecture video
Lecture materials

Class for 2016-10-03: Forms

We'll create a Foundation-based landing page with a sign-up form. We'll learn about built-in HTML5 validation, but also use the jQuery Validation plugin to help us where browser support is necessary.

Lecture video
Lecture materials

Class for 2016-09-26: Ajax

We'll talk about Asynchronous JavaScript and XML, a technology that allows us to talk to a server without leaving the page. jQuery makes this easy. We'll add Ajax functionality to the Twitter app. We'll use this PHP file to test it out.

If you don't already have web hosting, please sign up for some at NearlyFreeSpeech.NET for free (or very cheap). Also, install the FileZilla Client.

Lecture video
Lecture materials

Class for 2016-09-19: HTTP, SFTP, and Git-based web hosting

We'll talk about file transfer: HTTP, which is the method of getting and sending information in the web browser; SFTP, which is a method of securely uploading files to a web host; and how to use Git to host a site.

We'll set up free web hosting accounts at NearlyFreeSpeech.NET (which you should sign up for now), and upload to them using the FileZilla client (which you should install now).

Lecture video

Class for 2016-09-12: Starting a new project

A text editor and web browser are all that's required to begin a project - but how about getting a head start? We'll talk about Foundation, a framework that gives us a head start with laying out a new site.

Lecture video
Lecture materials

Class for 2016-08-29: jQuery, cont'd

We'll continue learning about jQuery by focusing on the example we worked on last class. We'll add functionality to it that will make it seem more like the real thing.

Lecture video
Lecture materials

Class for 2016-08-15: jQuery

We'll introduce jQuery, a JavaScript library that makes web programming a whole lot easier. jQuery is the most popular of many libraries that allow us to interact with the document easily, while also providing us with a few tools that are missing from the base language.

To learn what jQuery can do, we'll add some scripting to this sample web app.

Lecture video
Lecture materials

Class for 2016-08-08: JavaScript, cont'd

We'll continue discussing JavaScript basics: arrays, objects, creating functions, and scopes.

Lecture video
Lecture materials

Class for 2016-08-01: JavaScript

We'll talk about JavaScript: making web pages interactive through client-side code. We'll use the console, which is part of the browser's developer tools, to demonstrate the basics of the language. This and next week's class can be treated as a general introduction to programming.

Lecture video
Lecture materials

Class for 2016-01-25: version control (Git) and the command line

This class is a general overview on version control and the command line. Most developers collaborate with their peers by using version control systems, which allows them to keep track of their work in a reliable fashion and push it to the web.

Again, this class isn't about web development per se - it's just an important introduction to using the command line to work with Git, one of the most popular version control systems. Everyone will create their own fork of a repository and check in their work.

During the half-hour before the class, we'll help people set up Git on their computers. On OS X, type git in a Terminal to get started. On Windows you should install Git for Windows. Also, please sign up for a GitHub account.

Lecture video
Lecture materials

Class for 2016-07-18: CSS selectors and the box model

CSS selectors are probably the most complex part of the CSS language, so we'll look at them further in-depth. We'll also talk about the box model, the display concept that makes words and containers on the web look like they do. All of this will be made easy with browser developer tools, which we'll learn how to use.

Lecture video
Lecture materials

Class for 2016-07-11: the basics

THIS is the class to attend if you are a complete beginner! We are starting the curriculum of this class from square one. We'll cover the very basics:

• Explaining "front-end" vs. "back-end"
• Explaining web apps vs. web sites
• Discussing tools of the trade
• Describing the separation between structure, presentation, and behavior
• Writing a basic HTML page
• Styling the page with basic CSS
• Adding a small amount of JS
• Explaining the role of front-end development as a job and career

No recap session for this class. Please show up before 8pm, as physical space is limited. Bring a laptop!

Lecture video
Lecture materials

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Class notes from previous series