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Back-end programming languages: Which should you learn first?

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Back-end programming languages: Which should you learn first?

Back-end development can be an interesting and exciting career path. Like other Web Developers, Back-End Developers are in high demand. You can also expect to make a decent living, with the average salary for these developers being $122,445 in the U.S.

If you’re considering a career in back-end development, you’re probably wondering which programming language you should learn first. Ultimately, it depends on your career goals. There are multiple languages used for back-end development, and each has further applications in other fields.

To help you decide, we’ll explore some of the most popular programming languages used by Back-End Developers and their various applications. But first, let’s start by looking at exactly what back-end development is.

What is back-end development?

The back end of a website consists of web servers, applications, and databases. Back-End Developers write the code for applications that run on the webserver and queries that they embed in these applications to allow them to interact with databases.

The back end of an application provides data for the front end, which runs in the web browser and formats and renders raw data into the finished web pages you see. These applications are called APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) and usually return data in a JSON text format. Other back-end applications can generate complete web pages with only back-end code.

To learn more about the field, check out our article on a Back-End Developer’s role and responsibilities.

Finding the best back-end development language for your goals

Before we start looking at the programming languages you have to choose from, there are a few questions you should consider. What kind of back-end applications do you want to work on? Which industries do you want to work in? And since most of these languages also have other uses, what other types of development are you interested in?

Knowing the answers to these questions will help you decide as we look at each programming language. You might also want to ask a Back-End Developer for advice. Reach out to developers you know or find them on Stack Overflow and ask about their favorite languages.

Back-end development programming languages

Now that you know what back-end development involves, let’s explore some of the most popular programming languages used in the field. Each language listed below is used for back-end development, but we’ll also touch on some of their other applications.

JavaScript/Node.js

Until the creation of Node.js, JavaScript was originally a language used only in web browsers. Node.js is a JavaScript platform that can run by itself without a web browser. It’s used on web servers and allows developers to create complete back-end applications with JavaScript. There are also frameworks like Express that enable you to build back-end web apps and APIs with JavaScript.

With JavaScript’s wide range of applications in front-end development and Node.js extending its use into the back end, being familiar with both will allow you to build complete web applications without learning another language. This is great if you’re considering a career as a Full-Stack Developer.

Java

Java is a multipurpose, object-oriented programming language used extensively in business to build enterprise-scale web applications. So, if you plan on developing web apps in the corporate world, you’ll likely run into Java.

The Java Enterprise Edition (Java EE) provides web development technologies for enterprise developers like distributed computing, web services, and other features that make creating complete business applications easy. Java Servlets, JavaServer Pages, and the Spring Framework are commonly used for Java web development by big companies, small companies, and single developers.

Learning Java for back-end web development means you’ll be well-prepared for a career in enterprise development. It’s also a great choice if you’re interested in mobile development, as it lies at the heart of many Android apps.

Python

Python is a general-purpose, multi-paradigm programming language used for scripting, automation, data analytics, data visualization, machine learning, web development, and more. Its easy-to-read syntax and versatility make it a favorite among new developers.

Python is commonly used for back-end development, but with third-party frameworks like Flask and Django, you can use it to build complete web applications. Python’s especially popular among startups because these frameworks expedite the process from prototypes to live sites.

Along with back-end development, Python’s capacity for data analytics and machine learning means it’s a great choice if you’re considering a career in data science.

PHP

PHP, which stands for “PHP: Hypertext Processor,” is an open-source programming language created specifically for web development. Today, you can find PHP in over 75% of all websites that use a server-side scripting language.

PHP is easy for beginners to pick up because it can be embedded in HTML files and has many built-in functions that may not come with other back-end languages. It’s also used widely to develop content management systems and e-commerce platforms, like WordPress, Drupal, and Magento, so knowing PHP means you can also create plugins and themes for these and other widely-used CMSs written in PHP.

Ruby

Ruby is a general-purpose programming language used for scripting, DevOps, static site generation, and web development. Ruby’s popularity in web development stems largely from its Ruby on Rails framework, which gives developers a set of tools and reusable code that they can use to speed up development time. Many programmers learn Ruby simply so they can use Ruby on Rails to build and deploy web apps quickly.

C#

C# is a modern object-oriented, general-purpose programming language. Microsoft created it for development on the Windows operating system using the .NET framework, where it became the top web development language used on Windows in ASP.NET. The language has since been updated so that it can run on Linux and even Mac OSX. C# is a good choice for web development if you plan to develop applications for multiple operating systems.

Getting started as a Back-End Developer

There are many back-end programming languages out there, but hopefully, the information above will help you find the one that’s best for you. To get started with any of these languages, use the courses listed below:

If you’d prefer to learn everything you’ll need to know all at once, check out our Back-End Engineer Career Path. In this Path, you’ll learn how to program with multiple languages, use them to build projects that you can use to build a portfolio, and more. You’ll also earn a certificate to include in your resume upon completion.

Whichever path you choose, we’re happy to help you find your way and wish you the best on your back-end development journey.

How much do Data Analysts make?

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How much do Data Analysts make?

Modern businesses collect and generate huge amounts of data, and they rely on data professionals to help them make sense of it all. Still, not every company needs the multidimensional skills of a Data Scientist. For many smaller companies, a Data Analyst is more than enough. So, if you’re considering getting into the field, now’s a great time to do so.

But, before you sign up for a career in data analytics, you’re probably wondering how much a Data Analyst makes. Below, we’ll explore the average salaries for Data Analysts by location, industry, and experience level. Or, if you’d rather jump right into building the skills you’ll need to excel in this career, check out our Data Analyst Career Path.

Data Analyst salaries based on location and industry

According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary for Data Analysts in the U.S. is $67,294 per year. Still, your salary as a Data Analyst will depend on your location. LinkedIn and Indeed tell us that the average Data Analyst’s salary ranges from $63,000 to $71,053 a year.

To break it down even further, Data Analysts in North Carolina have the lowest average salary at $49,690. Data Analysts in states like New York, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, D.C., and Washington generally earn slightly higher than the given average. Still, in most states, you can expect at least $60,000.

Industries with a higher demand for Data Analysts tend to provide higher salaries. For example, CareerFoundry found that Data Analysts in the mining industry can earn as much as $117,000. Other high-paying industries include information technology, healthcare, finance, insurance, and professional services.

Data Analyst salaries based on experience

Of course, your experience will also influence your salary as a Data Analyst, as well as your responsibilities. Entry-level Data Analysts design business solutions based on the insights they derive from their data and earn about $54,272 on average.

Mid-level Data Analysts with 2 – 4 years of experience earn a slightly higher salary at $70,123 and perform many of the same tasks as their entry-level counterparts. Senior-level Data Analysts with 4 – 6 years of experience take on bigger projects and help train new analysts. Once you get to this point, you can expect a salary of around $87,713.

Lastly, the highest-paid Data Analysts are consultants who work directly with a company’s executives, managers, and clients. These analysts, with 6 years of experience or more, can earn an average of $106,234.

Still, once you launch your career as a Data Analyst, there are several steps you can take to demand a higher income. Indeed recommends building on your technical expertise by learning more programming languages, creating side projects, and transitioning into data science or data management fields.

What do Data Analysts do?

As we explained above, Data Analysts work in a variety of industries. They may be most closely associated with the financial industry because of its heavy reliance on data. There’s also a great demand for Data Analysts in healthcare, marketing, retail, insurance, and technology.

Generally, Data Analysts take large amounts of data in any of these fields and analyze it for trends and patterns — making predictions and finding insights that can better inform a business’s decision-making.

A Data Analyst should be good at handling numbers, details, and managing multiple tasks. You’ll also need to know how to present your findings in a way that your teammates (both technical and non-technical) can understand.

Data analytics itself is changing in instances where big data is involved. Big data refers to any set of data so vast that the standard programs and methods are not adequate to process it or analyze it. If you can show a prospective employer an understanding of the changes happening in the data analytics field, you could land a higher role with more responsibility and compensation.

How to become a Data Analyst

Ready to kick off your career as a Data Analyst and start chasing the salaries listed above? First, you’ll need to learn programming languages like SQL, which is used to query data from relational databases, and R or Python, which are used to organize, analyze, and visualize data. Use any of the courses below to start learning these languages:

Or, if you’d rather build all of the skills you’ll need at once, check out our Data Analyst Career Path. We’ll teach you how to use the languages above, along with libraries and frameworks like pandas and NumPy, to analyze datasets and communicate your findings. Plus, as you complete the Path, you’ll create projects that you can use to build a portfolio, and we’ll even give you some tips on passing your technical interviews once you’re ready to start looking for an entry-level position.

What is R used for?

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What is R used for?

Many of the computer programming languages you learn about are general-purpose. You can use them to build all types of applications. However, other programming languages are designed for a specific task and become well-known because they do that task more efficiently or make programming the solution easier. R is one of these specialized programming languages.

R is a programming language created by statisticians for statistics, specifically for working with data. It is a language for statistical computing and data visualizations used widely by business analysts, data analysts, data scientists, and scientists. Let’s look at more details of the R language to see what makes it different.

What makes R unique?

R is unique in that it is not general-purpose. It does not compromise by trying to do a lot of things. It does a few things very well, mainly statistical analysis and data visualization. While you can find data analysis and machine learning libraries for languages like Python, R has many statistical functionalities built into its core. No third-party libraries are needed for much of the core data analysis you can do with the language.

But even with this specific use case, it is used in every industry you can think of because a modern business runs on data. Using past data, data scientists and data analysts can determine the health of a business and give business leaders actionable insights into the future of their company.

What is R used for?

Just because R is specifically used for statistical analysis and data visualization doesn’t mean its use is limited. On the contrary, it is a widely-used programming language. Academics, scientists, and researchers use it to analyze the results of experiments. In addition, businesses of all sizes and in every industry use it to extract insights from the increasing amount of daily data they generate.

Fintech

Fintech companies are companies that deal with financial services. R is used at many of these types of companies because money and statistics go hand-in-hand. Banks use the R language to create credit risk models and conduct other types of risk analysis. It is also used for fraud detection, mortgage modeling, volatility modeling, client assessment, and loan stress test simulations.

Research

The R programming language is widely used in academics and research. For instance, Cornell University teaches R in courses that require statistical computing. The University of California teaches students statistics and data analysis by introducing them to R, and many other universities do as well.

Retail

In retail and e-commerce, R is used for risk assessment and to create marketing strategies. For example, R’s machine learning capabilities are used to improve cross-selling and suggest better-related products at checkout to increase profits and sales. R is also used for sales modeling and targeted advertising in retail. Both Amazon and Flipkart use the R programming language for data analytics.

Government

The National Weather Service uses the R programming language to predict disasters and to forecast the weather. They also use the visualization features of R to create weather forecast images. In addition, the FDA uses R to evaluate drugs, perform pre-clinical trials, and predict possible reactions caused by the food products they review.

Data journalism

Data journalists use data to tell a story. They are journalists and data scientists who pull insights about our world and how we live from public data. This can be information from local government and police sources to tell a story about crime, financial data to show the state of a country’s economy or any other type of data that reveals an interesting pattern in how our world works. R is a popular language for data journalists because it gives them the ability to find these insights and generate stunning graphics that tell the story.

Social media

Social media has always been a data-heavy industry. We are tracked everywhere we go online. Every single action is stored in some database, waiting for an analyst to pull insights from it. Most social media sites’ only source of profit is the data they have on their users and targeted advertising. The R programming language is used for social media analytics, segmenting potential customers, and targeting ads.

Healthcare

R is heavily used in genetics, bioinformatics, drug discovery, and epidemiology. For example, in drug discovery, R is used to crunch the data gathered in pre-clinical trials and determine how safe a drug is. In epidemiology, it is used to predict how a disease will spread in a pandemic.

Manufacturing

Many companies use the R programming language to analyze customer feedback to help them improve the products they create. The Ford Motor Company uses R to analyze consumer sentiment about its vehicles and improve their design. John Deere uses R to determine how many spare parts and products they need to produce based on crop yield and other data.

Learn more about R programming

Ready to jump into the exciting world of data? Start with Learn R to learn how this powerful programming language works and become a data expert. You can then take your education further by learning how to analyze data with R or one of the other courses available in our R programming language course catalog.

Digest #153: Neurodiversity in Education

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Digest #153: Neurodiversity in Education

By Carolina Kuepper-Tetzel and Chiara Horlin

For today’s digest I teamed up with Dr Chiara Horlin who is a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in Psychology at the University of Glasgow and an expert in neurodiversity and what role it plays in education. She has co-founded The Neurodiversity Network (see below) as a resource to support and represent neurodivergent students and staff. Before diving into the resources, it is important to know what neurodiversity is. So, I asked Chiara for a definition of neurodiversity and why it matters for education:

Neurodiversity is an understanding and a recognition that not all brains are the same or work the same way. Much of this world is built for a typical type of brain, for people that think in a typical type of way. But in reality we all think differently, we learn differently, we feel and we experience moods differently as well and these differences are completely normal. Sometimes these differences are given specific labels like ADHD or Autism, but understanding neurodiversity means recognizing and respecting these differences. It also means understanding that neurodiversity can bring huge benefits to those with learning and thinking differences. An acknowledgement and a respect for these differences can not only reduce stigma around differences, but can also support people to build unique strengths and capabilities.

All ability and disability must be considered in a social context and education systems are one of those social systems that can cause a difference to become a disability or disadvantage where one need not necessarily exist. Much of our education systems are not designed to support cognitive or learning differences, but due to necessity are targeted at a ‘prototypical’ student. Neurodivergent students will always fall outside this prototype and an inclusive approach to what learning looks like, and what achievement looks like is essential in supporting them. Neurodiversity must be considered in the context of strengths, differences and challenges, and the metrics of success adjust accordingly. Neurodivergent people may have skills particularly suited to further education beyond school, such as proficient memory skills, a focus on detail, creativity, as well as passionate interests. and a strong desire to acquire accurate knowledge. Neurodivergent conditions nearly always present heterogeneously and so there are vast differences in coping mechanisms and skills. However, even when able to flex these unique skills, students have been reported to have a heightened risk for academic and personal challenges, do not have their social or academic needs met, and thus might not reach their full potential.

From this it becomes clear that obtaining a full understanding of neurodiversity is important to support neurodivergent students in your classroom. Here are five resources to get you started.

Teach Us What We Need

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Teach Us What We Need

This essay, by Norah Rami, age 17, from Clements High School in Sugar Land, Texas, is one of the Top 10 winners of The Learning Network’s Eighth Annual Student Editorial Contest, for which we received 11,202 entries.

You can find the work of all the winners and runners-up here.

Teach Us What We Need

My one year of sex education involved learning to spell abstinence (100 percent effective) and watching videos of teenagers regretting premarital S-E-X (I just felt so dirty!). For a class called sex education, sex was hardly mentioned without the word “never.” Rather than give me the tools to make safe decisions about my body, I, like many teenagers, was left in the dark by our inadequate sex education curriculum.

In my home state of Texas, sex education is optional, and, if offered, the course must be “abstinence-centered.” However, in the fall of 2020, Texas announced it would update its sex education curriculum for the first time in 23 years. My friends and I wrote to our representatives asking them to include consent, contraception, L.G.B.T.Q. identities and sexual harassment in the curriculum, but our calls fell on deaf ears. Teaching consent was out of the question as it would give “yes to sex as an option on the table for teenagers”; the mere phrase L.G.B.T.Q. was ignored; and sexual harassment was reduced to sexual bullying with the definition of “you’ll know it when you see it.”

The blunt truth is teenagers will have sex. Rather than ignore the given, our education system has the responsibility to give them the tools to be safe. When it comes to conversations about our bodies, teenagers don’t need shame or fear — we need guidance. In today’s world, where teenagers are exposed to sex through television and the internet with skewed perceptions of consent and contraception, it’s more important than ever to address these topics often thought of as “taboo.”

By working toward comprehensive sex education, we invest in the future, combating poverty and mitigating inequality. Our current sex education system has been costly. Abstinence-focused education has been shown to increase rates of teen pregnancy, a key factor in a heightened likelihood of poverty and maternal mortality. Texas, with its abstinence-centric education, has one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in the United States. Our deficient sex education curriculum is condemning our children. This is compounded in cases concerning L.G.B.T.Q. education, where students often lack further guidance from parents and peers; inclusion can protect the health of L.G.B.T.Q. students by increasing awareness of protection and sexually transmitted diseases, and even promote tolerance through simple acknowledgment. Furthermore, by including consent in our curriculum, students learn to value individual boundaries and create a safer world of respect and autonomy.

While most teenagers won’t be using calculus anytime soon, sex education is pertinent both for their today and their tomorrow. It’s time to improve our outdated and inadequate system into one that doesn’t fail our students but rather empowers them to make educated decisions about their bodies.

Works Cited

Stanger-Hall, Kathrin F, and David W Hall. “Abstinence-Only Education and Teen Pregnancy Rates: Why We Need Comprehensive Sex Education in the U.S.” National Center for Biotechnology Information, 14 Oct. 2011.

Swaby, Aliyya. “Texas Education Board Approves New Sex Ed Policy That Does Not Cover LGBTQ Students or Consent.” Texas Tribune, 18 Nov. 2020.

Waller, Allyson. “Texas Board Revises Sex Education Standards to Include More Birth Control.” The New York Times, 20 Nov. 2020.

Python vs. JavaScript: Which should you learn as a beginner?

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Python vs. JavaScript: Which should you learn as a beginner?

When you start programming, it can be tough to decide which programming language to learn. Both Python and JavaScript are great choices for beginners, but what are the differences, and why would you want to learn one over the other? In this article, we’ll take a look at both languages to figure out which one suits you the best.

What is Python?

Python is a flexible, general-purpose programming language that’s a favorite of many developers because it’s concise and easy to read. It started as a language used for writing scripts and utilities, but it became popular and quickly spread to other uses. After all, it was created to be general-purpose.

Python is used for back-end web development to create web applications that run on the webserver. The language’s versatility allows developers to use a range of programming styles to develop both highly complex and simple web applications. Plus, Python web development frameworks like Flask and Django make the process even easier by providing prebuilt code that developers can include in their projects.

Python is also frequently used in data science, scientific computing, machine learning, computer vision, image processing, and more. Because of its easy-to-read syntax, many experts from scientific fields have developed third-party Python libraries that extend the language’s functionality.

This includes NumPy, which adds powerful numerical computational tools, and pandas, one of the most popular data analysis and manipulation tools. You can use SciPy, TensorFlow, or one of the many other machine learning libraries available in Python for machine learning. To visualize data in Python, you can use Matplotlib or seaborn.

Getting started with Python

Ready to start learning Python? Check out our Learn Python 3 course, where you can learn fundamental programming concepts while building software using the most recent version of the Python programming language.

Since there are many uses for Python, you probably won’t want to stop there. Where do you want your new Python skills to take you? If you’re considering a career in data analytics, take your first steps into the field by Analyzing Data with Python. You can then take your skills further and learn how to Analyze Financial Data with Python.

If you’d rather venture into web development, check out either Build Python Web Apps with Django or Build Python Web Apps with Flask.

What is JavaScript?

The first version of JavaScript was designed to be a lightweight, simple language used to add dynamic features to web pages. While Java, Flash, and Silverlight were also once used in web browsers, they fell out of favor, and JavaScript became the only programming language associated with front-end web development. JavaScript works with HTML and CSS to create dynamic, modern web pages.

JavaScript has been updated over the years, adding more features that enabled developers to do even more in the web browser. Many front-end development frameworks written in JavaScript allow developers to create complete applications that run in the browser, including React, Vue.js, and AngularJS. JavaScript has come a long way from its simple roots.

Today, you can use JavaScript for more than just front-end development. With tools like Node.js, you can run JavaScript on a web browser. This means that you can now build both the front end and back end of a web application without switching programming languages. Plus, with frameworks like Express, you can create your own back-end services and APIs.

JavaScript is also used in mobile development to create apps that run on both Android phones and iPhones. React Native is a JavaScript library that gives developers the ability to use HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for mobile application projects.

Getting started with JavaScript

Want to learn more about JavaScript? Our Learn JavaScript course will teach you all you need to know to start writing JavaScript code while learning basic programming concepts.

But there’s just so much you can do with JavaScript that not all of it can be contained in one course. Where you go from there depends on what you plan on doing.

A lot of beginning JavaScript developers gravitate toward front-end development. If that is the path you want to take, then our Front-End Engineer Career Path can give you the skills you need to build complete front-end applications. Or, you can start with back-end development in our Back-End Engineer Career Path. If you’re up for learning both at the same time, check out our Full-Stack Engineer Career Path.

Of course, JavaScript can be used for more than just web development. If you want to dive into the exciting world of game development, try creating video games with Phaser.js. If you prefer virtual reality, then Learn A-frame could be the course for you.

Summary

Python or JavaScript? Which is the right language for you? You can build web applications with both, but with Python, you can create the back end of a web app, and with JavaScript, you can create both the front end and back end. Then again, with Python, you’ll also be able to do data analysis and machine learning and turn raw data into insights. Check out even more languages you can learn in our programming course catalog.

How to make your Front-End Developer portfolio stand out

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How to make your Front-End Developer portfolio stand out

There’s never been a better time to kickstart your career as a Front-End Developer. Not only are they in high demand, but with the rise of remote work over the past year, front-end development is a great choice if you’re looking for a high-paying tech job that lets you work from home. But where do you start?

After learning the required skills for the role and building a technical resume, creating a Front-End Developer portfolio is the next step in the job-seeking process. But, while many industries require portfolios, they look very different between roles — so knowing what to include is key.

To help you kickstart your career as a Front-End Developer, we’ve put together this guide that’ll help you create (or optimize) your portfolio. Below, we’ll explore what a Front-End Developer portfolio is used for and what you should include in yours to stand out from the competition.

What is a Front-End Developer portfolio?

A Front-End Developer portfolio serves to showcase your skills, past projects, and experience with front-end development. Potential clients and employers rely on this information when deciding whether or not you’re right for the job.

The benefits of having a Front-End Developer portfolio include:

  • Increasing credibility and visibility in a highly competitive industry
  • Creating trust with potential employers by illustrating your experience
  • Showcasing your variety of skills

The ideal portfolio should include several items. We’ve broken them down below to make the creation process easier.

What should be in a Front-End Developer portfolio?

Creating your Front-End Developer portfolio requires some work on your end, but it’s well worth investing the time. Here are the essential elements to include in your portfolio:

Logos might be small, but they send a strong message and heavily impact your potential employer’s first impression of your portfolio. As a designer, think unique. Include graphics and text that’ll stand out in their memory.

Add a tagline to highlight specific information

Communicate a strong message that tells visitors what they’ll find on the site. Recruiters go through dozens of applicants (if not more), and making your information easy to find can help you leave a good impression.

Polish your design

As a Front-End Developer, you’ll be responsible for creating beautiful web pages, so your portfolio should be polished, clear, and concise.

Usability should be your primary concern. The people who visit your portfolio should be able to navigate it easily without any confusion. After you ensure everything functions the way it’s supposed to, implement a creative, attention-grabbing design that appeals to your intended audience.

Include relevant skills, education, and work history

As a Front-End Developer, you’ll want to showcase your familiarity with front-end languages like JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. Libraries and frameworks like React or AngularJS that help expedite development are also a plus.

List only the skills that are most relevant to the role you’re applying for. As we mentioned, recruiters go through many applicants, so they’ll be scanning for specific words and phrases.

Along with your skills, synopsize your education and include any certifications you’ve earned. You’ll also want to list any relevant work experience. Even if it was a non-technical position, find a way to tie it into your new role and explain how your skills transfer.

Add a downloadable resume

Give people the opportunity to choose how they want to access your information. Some will prefer reading it on the computer, while others may print out a hard copy instead. This is especially true in traditional work settings that have a human resources department.

Add your bio in an “About” page

Along with your skills and experience, hiring managers want to know a little about who you are as a person. Use your bio to share any relevant information that doesn’t quite fit elsewhere in your portfolio or resume. Share an anecdote about why you got into programming — tell your visitors why front-end development is your dream career. Explain what drew you to it and why.

Include a photo

People like to put a face to a name. This builds trust and shows people you’re a professional.

Use a picture appropriate for a portfolio. Formal attire is a plus. It’s all about the first impression, so make it count.

Make your contact information easy to find

If potential clients or employers need to wade through your portfolio to find your email address or phone number, they’ll likely take their business elsewhere.

Many people prefer using email, so consider making that your primary point of contact. Listing your email address as a clickable link is a plus, as recruiters can reach out to you directly from your portfolio. Lastly, you’ll want to add a phone number as a secondary contact option.

Add social media accounts

Only include links to active accounts with regular postings. These should go on the about or contact page.

A LinkedIn profile is a necessity. Everyone from freelancers to full-time employees should have one. It can serve as a resume on its own, but it’s also where job recruiters and clients go to find talent.

Establish a presence on industry-specific platforms. These include:

  • GitHub for developers
  • Dribbble or Behance for designers

Ensure the information on each account is current. Only include those accounts that are relevant to your industry.

If you’re including social media accounts like Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, follow a few important rules:

  • Never complain about an employer (past or present) or any of your coworkers.
  • Don’t post unprofessional pictures.
  • Avoid getting caught up in any drama.

Most employers or clients will check if social media accounts are included in the portfolio. Keep this in mind when posting.

List your specialties and services

Listing your specialties will help your portfolio stand out to clients and employers who are looking for specific services. For example, a small business owner may want to target only Front-End Developers who create websites for startups or smaller companies.

With such a wide array of skills and specialties in the tech industry, even for specific roles like Front-End Developers, listing your specialties is a great way to distinguish yourself from the competition. Plus, it’ll also help you screen unsuitable clients by decreasing queries from people who want something completely different.

Include testimonials and awards

Positive words from clients won’t go unnoticed by potential employers. This benefits all Front-End Developers, whether new or seasoned.

A testimonial can be something as simple as a few sentences about a specific service provided to a client. It can also be a review of a completed job.

Along with your clients’ testimonials, list any recognition or awards you’ve received. These can include:

  • An award for project involvement
  • Winning a contest
  • Placing in a hackathon or other relevant competition

Adding your clients’ testimonials and awards to your portfolio helps showcase your real-life experience, dedication to the industry, and creativity.

Include relevant projects

Your projects are one of the most essential components of your portfolio. By illustrating your proficiency with the tools in your tech stack, your projects will help recruiters gauge your capacity with the competencies required for the position.

If you haven’t completed any projects, don’t worry. The opportunities are endless. As a Front-End Developer, your projects should illustrate your ability to make attractive, functional web pages with beautiful visual elements and user interfaces. So, build a few websites. While you’re at it, test out some new languages and frameworks to add to your tech stack.

If you need help finding projects to include in your portfolio, check out our Front-End Engineer Career Path. Throughout the Path, you’ll refresh your knowledge of front-end tools and concepts and use them to build several projects that’ll showcase your skills to prospective employers. You’ll also earn a certificate you can feature in your portfolio or resume, and we’ll even give you some tips on how you can ace your upcoming technical interviews.

What is Java used for?

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What is Java used for?

The motto of Java is “write once, run anywhere.” And it’s true. You can find Java code just about anywhere. It is used in Android app development, web development, game development, smart devices, and so much more.

In this article, we will take a look at Java’s interesting history. Then, we’ll explore all the places Java code is used.

What makes Java interesting?

Java was developed by a group of developers at Sun Microsystems in 1995 and is now owned by Oracle. The goal of the developers who designed Java was to create a language that could run on appliances. They were already thinking ahead to the time we live in now, where houses are full of smart devices and smart appliances. This was one of Java’s selling points — that you could write your code once in the language and run that code anywhere. Not just on every operating system but every type of hardware.

However, it would be quite a few decades before smart devices became a way of life. Despite this, Java still became popular and for a completely different reason. Java was released about the same time the Internet was born. Java had a feature called applets that could run inside a web browser. A lot of web applications were built in Java when most websites still consisted of static pages.

Java gave web developers the ability to build dynamic websites that reacted to user input, and its popularity took off from there.

Java was also based on the C and C++ programming languages, which were very popular. C++ was usually the programming language taught in computer science courses in those days, so many programmers were familiar with it, even today. They could apply that knowledge of C++ to programming in Java.

What is Java used for?

Java can be used in many different applications, but here are the most popular ways the language is used:

Android mobile apps

Java is the official language for Android mobile app development. In fact, the Android operating system itself is written in Java. Even though Kotlin has recently become an alternative to using Java for Android development, Kotlin still uses the Java Virtual Machine and can interact with Java code. Today, Android has 85% of the global market share for mobile devices. Therefore, developing Android apps is probably the most popular use of Java just because of the prevalence of Android phones.

Desktop applications

Java has been used to create desktop applications since its inception. AWT, Swing, and JavaFX are Java libraries that give desktop application developers pre-built components like buttons, menus, and form fields that they can use to build full-featured desktop applications.

Web applications

Java first became popular as a web development language because it provides applets that can run in a web browser. Applets are a thing of the past, but Java is still very popular for creating back-end web applications, which run on a web server. Now web developers use Java technologies like Struts, Servlets, or JSP instead of Applets to create all types of full-featured web applications.

Game development

Java is a free, open-source language. Many game developers use it because they can get started without paying any licensing fees and because of the powerful Java 3D game engine, JMonkeyEngine. Some video games written in Java include Tetris, The Sims 3, Space Invaders, Street Fighter II, and Contra. One of the best-known Java games, Minecraft, was created by a single developer.

Big data processing

Java and big data go hand in hand. Many of the top applications used for big data are written in Java. Hadoop is a Java framework that helps data scientists process large datasets. Spark is a tool that data scientists use for stream processing, machine learning analytics, and other big data processes. Storm handles real-time data streams. All of these frameworks are written in the Java programming language.

IoT applications

Java was originally designed to run on all types of hardware, making it one of the main programming languages used for the Internet of Things, or IoT. IoT refers to a network of physical devices that connect and exchange data over the Internet. The devices include smartwatches, wearables, smart TVs, smart lighting, and more.

Distributed applications

Many distributed applications run in a cloud environment and are designed to scale when the load changes. But distributed applications are not necessarily easy to deploy and manage. Java provides the Java Intelligent Networking Infrastructure or JINI to make distributing applications simpler. JINI is an infrastructure to provide, register, and manage distributed Java applications.

Cloud-based applications

Java is also heavily used in cloud-based applications. Because of its low cost and wide use, many companies use it to develop SaaS, IaaS, and PaaS services in the cloud.

Enterprise Development

Java is used heavily in enterprise development to build intranets and internal software for all types of businesses, big and small. Java Enterprise Edition (Java EE) is specifically designed for enterprise development. It comes with network applications, web services, and a scripting environment that make setting up an intranet with Java simpler.

Getting started with Java

Ready to get started with Java? To start learning, check out our Learn Java course, which will teach you basic programming concepts and introduce you to building complete applications with the Java programming language. To explore even more of what you can do with this popular language, you can learn how to build Android apps with Java or take more of our Java courses.

40 Educators Join The New York Times Teaching Project

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40 Educators Join The New York Times Teaching Project

The Learning Network is thrilled to welcome 40 distinguished educators to our second cohort of The New York Times Teaching Project. These middle and high school teachers, chosen after a competitive selection process, hail from 19 states and represent a diversity of subject areas, including U.S. history, English language arts, mathematics and philosophy. What unites these 40 educators is their passion for bringing the mission of The Times — helping people understand the world through on-the-ground, expert and deeply reported independent journalism — to their students and school communities.

We will kick off the program with a four-day virtual institute in July, during which participants will explore new ways to use The Times and The Learning Network; learn more about behind-the-scenes journalism; and begin to create their own innovative curriculum projects for their students. The program continues through the 2021-22 school year as participants work on their curriculum projects, collaborate virtually and share ideas with their fellow cohort members, their schools and the larger Learning Network community.

Meet these 40 educators in the slide show above. As this school year continues, we hope to tell you more about each of them, share their expertise and show you how you can adapt their curriculum projects to your own classroom.

Alexa Arboleda | DC International School, Washington, D.C.

Candice Autry | Sheridan School, Washington, D.C.

Christopher Anderson | Algonquin Middle School, Averill Park, N.Y.

Sharon Bunyan | Jettie Tisdale School, Bridgeport, Conn.

Jocelyn Burlew | Mason Middle School, Mason, Ohio

Jessica Castiblanco | Hoover Middle School, Albuquerque

Javier Gonzalez | Hollydale School, South Gate, Calif.

D’Essence Grant | KIPP Academy Middle School, Houston

Katelyn Janssen | Glen Hills Middle School, Glendale, Wis.

Amber Joseph | East Side Community High School, New York, N.Y.

Taylor Kockenmeister | Honors Academy of Literature, Reno, Nev.

Jenna Konstantine | Stephen Gaynor School, New York, N.Y.

Maura Raleigh | Central Middle School, Evergreen Park, Ill.

Kate Rennie | Kenilworth Junior High School, Petaluma, Calif.

Daniel Riggs | Ida B. Wells Middle School, Washington, D.C.

Valeria Rodriguez | Daniel Ortiz Middle School, Houston

Kenton Shimozaki | STRIVE Prep – Federal, Denver

Cori Abdolhosseinzadeh | Montbello Career and Technical High School, Denver

Maria Bartlett | ASU Preparatory Academy – Casa Grande, Casa Grande, Ariz.

Yumiko Bendlin | Keio Academy, Purchase, N.Y.

Kristen Fischer | Carlynton Junior-Senior High School, Carnegie, Pa.

Jordan Harris | North Shore Senior High School Tenth Grade Center, Houston

Lora Hawkins | Franklin School of Innovation, Asheville, N.C.

Celene Ibrahim | Groton School, Groton, Mass.

Rama Janamanchi | Lawrence School, Sagamore Hills, Ohio

Jonathan Lancaster | Bergen County Technical High School, Teterboro, N.J.

Brian McCormack | Lyons Community School, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Elizabeth Mee | Alliance Leichtman-Levine Environmental Science High School, Pasadena, Calif.

Rachel Nichols | High Tech High International, San Diego

Sarah Older Aguilar | Vistamar School, El Segundo, Calif.

Magen Rodriguez | Brooklyn Collaborative Studies, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Marcus Soule | The Governor’s Academy, Byfield, Mass.

Marla Sperling Reich | Freehold High School and Freehold Township High School, Freehold, N.J.

Jessica Stamler Cook | Big Sky High School, Missoula, Mont.

Anne Tommaso | Yarmouth High School, Yarmouth, Maine

Tom White | Morgan County High School, Madison, Ga.

Shreya Vora | The Nightingale-Bamford School, New York, N.Y.

Kristian Ward | Kingsway Regional High School, Woolwich Township, N.J.

Alexis Wiggins | The John Cooper School, The Woodlands, Texas

Faydra Womble | SandHoke Early College High School, Raeford, N.C.

It Took a Global Pandemic to Stop School Shootings

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It Took a Global Pandemic to Stop School Shootings

In March of 2020, when we received notice that we would be subjected to the chaos of a hastily put together online class due to the pandemic, I felt a small core of relief amid the roaring vortex of confusion and negativity inside of me. While I lamented the loss of prom, sports and social interaction, I was secretly grateful: no more traumatizing active shooter drills, no more instinctive searching for exits every time I entered a room, no more running for my life. Despite my isolation, I was safe at home.

During the yearlong lockdown, school shootings dropped to historic levels. In fact, March of 2020 was the first March in 18 years with zero school shootings. Of the 10 total reported school shootings in 2020, five of them occurred in January, before the first mass quarantine.

As we inch closer to achieving herd immunity through vaccinations, schools have begun to reopen, with more students returning to in-person classes. With this steady renewal of prepandemic life comes another indication of normality: gun violence. In 2021, there have already been 17 reported incidents of gunfire on school campuses across the United States, despite most schools still operating at a limited capacity.

No student should have to go to school wondering if they will leave in the afternoon. School is a place for learning, not violence, but our lawmakers and politicians have enabled a society where school shootings are so common, they barely warrant a headline. Even an inept administration with no preventive mask messaging could stumble their way to the fastest vaccine development in the history of modern medicine; yet no administration has been able to brainpower their way to a vaccine for gun violence. So far, the most effective solution to ending school shootings has been a global pandemic that sent the entire world into lockdown. As the Covid-19 pandemic comes to an end, it is time to focus on the true pandemic for the youth of America: school shootings.

Works Cited

Cramer, Maria. “Mass Shootings in Public Spaces Had Become Less Frequent During The Pandemic.” The New York Times, 19 March 2021.

“Gunfire on School Grounds in the United States.” Everytown Research, 12 April 2021.

Maxwell, Lesli, Holly Peele and Denisa R. Superville. “School Shootings in 2020: How Many and Where.” Education Week, 2 March 2021.

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