Introduction to the Series

#javascript #javascript30 #wesbos #webdev

Before heading into the first blog post, allow me to share a little bit about my experience as a web developer and why I took the JavaScript30 course.

Background

In 2014, I got my first contract as a WordPress developer. Two years later, I was working 70 hours a week as a freelance web developer while keeping a 25-hour-per-week part-time job. I couldn’t hang with the 95 hour weeks, so I quit the job and became a full-time freelance developer. For the next four years, I got by. I was just good enough to get contracts and make a little money from them. Early this year (2020), I landed a GREAT contract, the best one ever. Two months later, I lost that contract because my JavaScript skills weren’t at the level needed by the client.

Failure is a Strong Motivator

The loss of that contract made me question if I should even continue being a web developer. After a week or so, I decided to solve the problem. Over the following weeks, I leaned on my Coding Coach mentor Robert Mion to help me find a way forward that would help me fill in the gaps in my knowledge and skills. Along the way, I discovered Wes Bos’ JavaScript30 course and signed up for it. It was free and, what’s the worst that can happen -- I discover the course isn’t what I need and I find another one?

As it turns out, the JavaScript30 course was a perfect fit. What follows are a series of posts, one per lesson, where I share what the lesson was about and what I learned from it.

Turns out that I learned a lot more than just JavaScript. I’ll share those details as I write each blog post.

My Approach

Since I already have six years of experience as a web developer, I am approaching each lesson with a ‘let’s see if I can do this on my own first’ approach. In some cases, I was pretty close to Wes’ code. Other times, I couldn’t have been more lost if I had wandered into a strange land without a compass, precisely my experience with the first lesson.

So, let’s dive into the Javascript30 Drum Kit lesson and find out how I got lost so fast!

Top comments (5)

Habdul Hazeez • May 18 '20

Pardon me if I am wrong. The following is an excerpt from your post (emphasis mine):

In 2014, I got my first contract as a WordPress developer. Two years later, I was working 70 hours a week as a freelance web developer while keeping a 25-hour-per-week part-time job. I couldn’t hang with the 95 hour weeks, so I quit the job and became a full-time freelance developer. For the next six years, I got by. Early this year (2020)

2014 + (Two years) + (six years) = 2022.

Did I miss something?