“If one thinks that they know it all about cybersecurity- this discipline was probably not explained appropriately to them.”- Stephane Nappo
With the rise of information technology, businesses have to opt for digital transformation. They leverage best-in-class web development languages to create applications that cater to the unique needs of users. Such apps gain traction and reach a wider audience from all over the world.
But that traction can be harmful as it also attracts hackers. They exploit the weak aspects of the web application security or the vulnerabilities of your app to steal valuable dat a. This can cause some serious damage to business and their customers.
More and more cybersecurity breaches are happening even in the government and large business organisations. The scale of harm such attacks inflict is only getting bigger. And in a time when eCommerce is booming, every customer and online store is at risk. Every digital payment system and its users are at risk. So what to do now?
Business owners and developers need to implement measures that safeguard various aspects of web apps. Therefore, we present to you an ultimate guide on web application security.
Here, we will go through the basics of the concept, its importance, how it works and what best practices you can implement for its success.
What Is Web Application Security?
If any vulnerabilities are present in your app then cybercriminals can easily exploit it. Therefore, it becomes necessary to form web security policies for the protection of your apps. It helps you apply the best security measures like multi-factor authentication, maintaining privacy status and user state, WAFs, cookies validation and more.
The purpose behind implementing these best practices is to validate all the user inputs. The purpose here is to identify the source of the user input and check if it is malicious or not. The input will be processed only if it is confirmed that it won’t be a security threat to the app or its data.
Along with strengthening the security of their apps, users also need to keep an eye out for online threats that might corrupt their personal computers. If you are someone who works from home then nothing can provide you enough security than an anti-virus application.
You have to identify the potential threats, formulate a strategy to handle them and follow it strictly. We will provide you with a few best security practices for your web apps but before that, we need to know why web app security is so important and how it works.
Importance of Web Application Security
From online shopping to digital banking, web apps are dominating in almost every field. But the popular ones also become an easy target. They are proficient at finding and exploiting the weaknesses or the vulnerabilities of the web app may it be in open-source code, a design flaw, access control, APIs or third-party integrations.
Attacks commonly targeted towards web applications include:
Insecure deserialization
Cross-site scripting
Brute force
Cookie poisoning
Sensitive data disclosure
Credential stuffing
SQL Injection
Session hijacking
Formjacking injections
How Does Application Security Work?
Any approach you take to secure your web app will be about addressing any specific weakness or vulnerability. Web App Firewalls are utilised to monitor and filter the web traffic between an app and its users. This helps in defending against various cybersecurity attacks.
These firewalls are configured with policies that help in determining which traffic is safe and which could pose a threat to the app. WAFs can do a phenomenal job of blocking malicious traffic. The purpose here is to prevent malicious traffic from reaching the app and accessing its confidential information.
Web app security best practices
1. Attack your website
The best defence is to attack. No, you don’t have to attack your attackers but your application. Knowing how your enemy thinks will provide you with the best protection. And your enemy thinks of attacking your web app.
You can implement all the best security practices and tools you want but nothing can prepare you like actually simulating the attacks. An attack makes the weaknesses and vulnerabilities of your app visible.
You can hire experts to run such attacks in an isolated environment. It is to prevent inflicting any harm on business processes attached to the apps. You can do it for yourself but unless you are a cybersecurity expert, you won’t be able to do it effectively and hence you won’t get any good information from this approach.
Non-technical people, beginners and amateurs can’t completely understand how security protocols work and where they fall short under attack. Therefore, you need to conduct various cybersecurity attacks like sensitive data leaks, XSS, broken authentication, DNS spoofing, SQL injection, CSRF and more under the supervision of an expert.
2. Invest in an SSL certificate
A Secure Socket Layer certificate will encrypt the data of your app and pass it through a protected network. This prevents hackers from seeing or intercepting it.
Your app might have sensitive business and user information like usernames, passwords, addresses, bank details, credit/debit card details and more. Getting an SSL certificate will hide all that data from the attackers.
Google has announced that every web app must have an SSL certificate if it wants to rank higher in its search engine results.
It’s a simple technique that ensures the users of the Google search engine that the websites they will visit through search results will be completely secure. Now, if you want to provide a payment system on your app then you will need to obtain the PCI licence and for that, you need to have an SSL certificate. If you are wondering that with such importance, an SSL certificate might be expensive, then you are mistaken. It only costs around $8.00/year.
3. Read and educate
Hackers can be lethal if your staff isn’t well-educated on the subject of cybersecurity. An educated staff is tough to fool even with social engineering attacks.
You can get updates on the latest trends and technologies through popular blogs and YouTube videos. Your information must help you gain an edge over hackers. Uneducated users can easily fall victim to even non-targeted attacks.
4. Backup your data
Cyber attacks won’t come with a warning and they won’t even give you time to react. So, you have to regularly back up your data. It ensures that even if you lose against an attacker, you won’t lose your data. They might take down your site but if you have maintained a data backup, you can go live within a few hours.
Now, where to back up your data? It is highly recommended that you use cloud-based storage devices. They are comparatively safer and are easily available in addition to hard drives which can be stolen or corrupted easily.
5. Scan your website
Attackers make malware scanner-proof but if you use quality scanners then you can detect and quarantine the threats that would have otherwise gone unnoticed and caused some serious damage.
Therefore, on a regular basis, you must scan your entire website, maybe once a month to stay clear of cyberattacks. But threats are not always injected directly into the web apps, they might emerge through your computer too. Therefore, scanning your app alone is not sufficient, you must also scan your computer regularly.
Scanning your web applications will help you find and remove potential threats and vulnerabilities.
6. Keep your software up to date
As your staff needs to stay updated with the latest trends, your software also needs to be updated. If you leave it be, your software will slowly become outdated and such apps can be easily compromised.
Therefore, if you want to keep the attackers at bay, you have to keep updating your web apps. In some platforms, updates are done automatically, but some apps demand manual updates.
So, look out for your app and update it regularly. Only an updated app can protect sensitive information from attackers.
7. Manage your passwords
Some people tend to forget complex passwords because it would be careless of us if we wrote them down somewhere. What if the attacker can get a hold of it? Well, every now and then, you can keep changing your passwords. But many people hate that too.
Also, setting an easy password is not an option because it will be easier to crack. Now, you can apply constraints on your app while users set their passwords. It will help them set a difficult password.
It advises users to utilise different characters, symbols and numbers to make a strong password. It is said that setting a 14-digit password is good as it makes it difficult to guess with brute force and bots.
In addition to a strong password, a user can implement two-factor verification to strengthen the security of the application.
A 4-6 digit code is sent to the user for two-step verification. Only after entering that code, the user will be authorised to use or access the app. If after multiple attempts, the user fails to provide the authentic code, the app would automatically block the IP address of the user.
Final Thoughts
The online marketplace has become highly competitive. We won’t know which means a hacker would use to attack your web apps. It is the duty of the owner and the developer to fortify every wall, as the attack might come from any front.
First, you have to secure the weak and vulnerable sections as we discussed in this blog. It will prevent them from exploiting any opening to your fort.
Advanced arsenal can be of big help as the hackers also use modern attacks like DNS spoofing, CSRF, SQL injection, DDoS, and XSS. You not only need to know how these attacks work but also need to have advanced technology to nullify those attacks.
I hope the insights provided in this article are helpful. Still, cybersecurity is a vast topic, and every app is a different case. Know your web apps well, know how they can be attacked and know how you can defend them. That’s the gist of the security best practices.
Web designers are essentially translators with artistic and creative objectives. They take design concepts and translate them into a programming language that various software can understand. This language or code in turn becomes the basis for a specific computer or web function.
In this way, web designers drive the creation and function of the digital programs and applications we use daily. They are directly connected to making the platforms that will allow others to access content, order products, check financials, connect with friends, and much more. Since these functions are valuable to such a wide user base, inclusion is a prominent concern of web designers today.
Let’s dive into inclusive web design principles, how to integrate them, and why they ultimately benefit all users.
Inclusive Design Principles
Inclusive web design goes beyond simply adhering to accessibility standards. Accessibility, according to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), focuses on the nondiscriminatory user experience (UX) of people with disabilities. It ensures people with disabilities can equally access, navigate, and interact with web content. Inclusive design takes a more broad and overarching stance.
Inclusive web design, sometimes referred to as universal design or design for all, partners with the situational discrepancies of diversity to ensure people from all backgrounds can utilize web resources. It is founded on the principles of accessibility, usability, and diversity or inclusion. To reach all audiences, it takes into account physical or cognitive accessibility, computer access, computer literacy, culture, age, education, and more.
In action, these inclusive design principles have the power to benefit all end users. A great example is when Facebook focused on accessibility and usability by including video subtitles and captions for its video content in 2015. By 2016, according to Digiday, 85% of video views were happening with the sound off. Captioned videos not only helped users with auditory impairments but also users in myriad environments.
Integrating Inclusive Design Principles
One way to start integrating inclusive design principles is to do an accessibility and usability audit of your website or project. This is a simple way to check for synergy between developers and their UX since it’s easy to lose connection with what a general end user’s experience will be while designing. There are even web accessibility audit checklists that can be downloaded for use if you are unsure where to start with assessing your design.
Testing your website or project with real end users is a vital next step to integrating an inclusive design. You must gather a diverse pool of users with varying abilities and backgrounds. Then focus on how your UX design is meeting user needs by analyzing their website journey. You can do this analysis through interviews, surveys, sitemaps, A/B testing, eye tracking, and other testing methods. Tests should reveal a non-biased picture of a site’s usability.
Once you have audited your site and tested it for inclusion, you will need to address any discrepancies. This can be as simple as redoing code to add contrasting colors or include more descriptive image text, or it can mean a complete overhaul of your website. If it seems daunting, consider utilizing a UX design course to gain hands-on experience designing code with UX at the forefront. Gaining additional learning is an excellent way to elevate your coding to be more inclusive.
Benefits of Inclusive Web Design
Inclusive web design is useful to everyone. Intuitive design, contrasting icons, keyboard compatibility, voice-to-text, descriptive images or icons, and other coded elements serve every end user, regardless of their demographic. Essentially, inclusion should lead as the standard for designing universally beneficial web applications.
Inclusive design is not only useful to most users; it is essential to those with temporary or long-term disabilities. According to the World Health Organization, over 2 billion people in the world live with a disability. Individuals who rely on assistive technology can only access about 10% of the websites on the internet meaning 90% of websites don’t meet minimum WCGA requirements. Since inclusion is built on the principle of accessibility, simple inclusive design structures make a world of difference to the billions of users who currently can’t access common online content.
Inclusive design also benefits elderly users. According to the American Psychological Association, by 2060 the number of people over the age of 65 is expected to double to 98 million. Inclusive design can make technologies that help older adults — like banking applications, telehealth services, medicare websites, smart sensors, and more — accessible to this growing demographic. This benefits millions of users who may need navigation, visual, or auditory assistive technologies to access imperative online functions.
Conclusion
Web designers utilize code to create the digital interfaces and functions that we use daily. In this role, they’re responsible for making applications accessible to a large group of real end-users. Inclusive web design — guided by the principles of accessibility, usability, and diversity — has the power to do just that. You can integrate it by auditing and testing a site or project and then altering the code to fit the UX needs of a diverse user base.
Inclusive design principles in action benefit all users with more useful and easier-to-navigate functions. They are also essential to people with disabilities and older adults. In this way, inclusive design can elevate your code by making it more accessible and thereby valuable to your end-users.
‘Tis the season to celebrate people in your life with the perfect holiday gifts, and if they happen to be coding wizards, hardware enthusiasts, or coffee aficionados, We at Developer Nation are here again with our most curated list of 10 must-have items that will make the eyes of Developers in your life light up. Read on for our top picks and discover the ideal presents for the tech-savvy minds who make the digital world go around.
Before we get started, let me quickly tell you about our Emerging Technologies Developer Survey in which you can participate and win some of the gifts mentioned here and more.
1. Desk Mat: This doesn’t need any explaining but is a must-have for every Developer Desk.
2. GaN Charger:Supercharges any workspace with a GaN Charger. The compact and efficient charger uses Gallium Nitride technology, providing faster and more efficient charging for all their devices. A good 10W charger can charge your laptop, phone and more at the same time. Our recommendation is UGreen or Anker.
3. Hardware Crypto Wallet Ledger Nano S Plus: They say if you don’t keep your cryptos in your own wallet, you don’t own it. So, keep your developer’s cryptocurrency safe and sound with the Ledger Nano S Plus. This hardware wallet provides top-notch security, ensuring all digital assets are protected from cyber threats.
4. Yubikey 2FA Hardware Security Key:This is a must-have; you might have noticed us giving away many of these lately as part of our survey prize draws. This device adds an extra layer of protection to online accounts, making it an essential tool for any developer serious about safeguarding their digital identity.
5. Pourover Coffee Brewing Kit: Fuel late-night coding sessions with the v60 Pourover Coffee Brewing Kit. Give your developer the gift of barista-level coffee, enhancing their productivity and adding a touch of luxury to their work breaks.Our recommendation is one from Hario.
6. Aeropress Coffee Brewing Kit: For the developers who are always travelling but appreciate good coffee, the Aeropress Coffee Brewing Kit is a game-changer. Compact and efficient, it’s perfect for busy coding days when time is of the essence.
7. Raspberry Pi 5:Unleash the creativity of your favorite developer with the new improved and powerfuk Raspberry Pi 5. This mini-computer opens up a world of DIY projects, from home automation to gaming, making it an ideal gift for those who love to tinker with technology.
8. Zima Board:Dubbed as advanced hacked single board computer, it’s definitely much more powerful than the Raspberry Pi, thanks to x86 Intel CPU. It offers tons of I/Os including dual Gigabit Ethernet, and a PCIe which is phenomenal. It’s an ideal computer to run your personal cloud, Network Attached Storage or Media Servers.
9. Rubber Duckies: “Quack the C0de” Sometimes, the best debugging partner is a rubber duck! These adorable desk companions serve as silent sounding boards, helping developers troubleshoot and unravel coding conundrums.
10. A Book – “Soul of a New Machine”:Feed their minds with “Soul of a New Machine,” a classic in the world of tech literature. This Pulitzer Prize-winning book provides insight into the world of computer engineering, making it a captivating read for any developer.
11. USB C Cable Checker: It can be frustrating to identify the right USB cables. They all might look the same, but some don’t support Thunderbolt, high-speed data transfer or fast charging. So a USB C checker like this or this or even an advanced one like this can really come in handy.
We hope these gifts will make the developers in your life feel truly appreciated. If we miss any must-have items on our list, Share your suggestions in the comments below, and let’s make this holiday season the most tech-tastic one yet! Happy coding and happy holidays!🎄
The blog is submitted to Developer Nation by Metaschool. Join Metaschool to start your Web3 Journey today!
Before we dive into the world of Rust, Consider Joining our Emerging Technologies Developer Survey and have a chance to win amazing prizes like Ledger Nano S Plus & case, 2x Raspberry Pi 5, 5x YubiKeys Hardware 2fa keys and more.
The survey aims to get insights and perspectives from developers to understand better-decentralised tech and emerging technologies and their impact on the development industry.
The Rust programming language is fast, memory-efficient and statically typed. As with most other languages, Rust was launched to address and bridge some significant gaps within coding and development. For instance, it is common for developers to face memory errors in languages like C++, which can multiply into problems like miscalculations, missing allocations, malfunctions, unresponsiveness, and spontaneous restarts, to name a few. Rust specifically addresses the issues of memory errors and concurrent programming.
Moreover, it is an ahead-of-time compiled language. This means that if User A compiles a code and gives the executable to User B, User B does not necessarily need to have Rust installed to run the program.
Rustaceans unite for safety. Source: Github
Today, Rust is considered to be a good alternative to old and big-shot languages like C++ and Java in different capacities. Many web2 and web3 developers are opting for it as their primary language for coding. In fact, many have switched to Rust despite having languages like Java as their first programming language.
Origins of the Rust programming language
Designed by Graydon Hoare, the conceptualization of the Rust programming language started in 2006. Not many know but Rust was named after the rust fungi which happen to be a specialized plant pathogens with several unique features.
Hoare was working at Mozilla Foundation while he was developing this fungi-inspired programming language. He worked on it for quite some time and in 2010, Rust officially became a Mozilla project. Five years later, in 2015, Rust 1.0 got launched, and Mozilla became its legal and financial sponsor.
In 2021, the formation of Rust Foundation was announced, and soon after Rust management shifted to the foundation and the rest is history.
What is Rust used for?
Rust was first majorly used for performance enhancement, security strengthening, and memory management. Later on, it started being used to write smart contracts, build decentralized applications, and mint tokens.
Developers also use Rust so that they can ensure memory safety and thread safety and eliminate as many bugs as they can while compilation. And Rust’s rich “type” system also
comes in handy. The programming language is said to have a diverse, and enhanced type system that allows users or developers to flexibly describe their types and determine how the objects associated with these types can interact.
What makes Rust well-suited for blockchain development?
Rust has definitely gained quite some traction in recent times. It has grown popular, especially in the blockchain industry. The primary aim or goal of any programming language is to serve its programmers to the core and Rust knows this very well.
Source: Metaschool
1. Easy to learn and write code
Rust is comparatively simpler and less complex to write code on. This is not really the case with some popular languages that are used in blockchain development. For example, messing around with threads on languages like C++ while writing code can be quite difficult. And if you go installing dependencies on C++, be ready for nightmares. Rust addresses these problems within the language itself.
From its vast libraries and multi-purpose frameworks to its super useful tools, Rust provides a unified ecosystem where you can go and get all the information you need about the language. This is essentially due to Rust being properly and carefully documented. Thus, coding is made ridiculously easy on Rust. No doubt it remains the most admired language.
2. Has a robust memory management system
The second reason which makes Rust a well-suited language for blockchain development is its memory management. Memory management happens to be a key challenge in developing complex systems like that of blockchain. Rust provides safety to blockchain memory without garbage collection. Garbage collection (GC) is a memory recovery feature that is built into programming languages such as C++ and Java. While it is a feature not without benefits, it has some drawbacks, too. For example, in languages like Java, GC can lead to runtime overhead, resulting in problems for large-scale projects such as coding a blockchain. Thus, Rust does not support garbage collection.
3. It’s also quite fast
While C++ and Rust are strong competitors C++ tends to be a tad bit faster than Rust. However, Rust’s memory management system comes in handy here. It makes the execution of codes an extremely easy and stress-free process. Rust came a little late so it really observed the challenges faced by developers while coding in languages like C++.
Additionally, Rust has a large number of add-ons that adds to the overall speed of the language. Be it the serialization of structures or asynchronous programming, Rust has got libraries, tools, and frameworks to do the needful.
Blockchain projects built with Rust
When it comes to projects using Rust, there are several in the web3 space. Let’s take a quick look.
1. Solana
Solana, a proof-of-stake (PoS) blockchain, has been using Rust to write smart contracts. It’s a strong competitor to Ethereum and home to diverse blockchain-based web3 applications. From Solana dApps to Solana smart contracts to Solana NFTs, Rust has been efficiently leveraged to code these diverse web3 applications on the Solana blockchain.
Rust is used to build tools for developing and interacting with Near Protocol. These tools include wallets, compilers, and explorers. Additionally, Rust is used to create and write dApps and smart contracts as well, respectively.
3. Polkadot
Polkadot, a famous blockchain, is built upon a blockchain framework called Substrate. The Substrate framework is coded with the Rust programming language and allows to create blockchains like Polkadot. This shows that Polkadot would probably not exist without Rust. Rust also helps the blockchain in implementing its core runtime which is responsible for executing smart contracts. Polkadot’s interoperability vision consists of parachains that run parallel to its blockchain. Rust is greatly used when it comes to the development of parachains.
4. Acala Network
Acala is a blockchain network that uses the Rust programming language in many different ways. Some of the constituents of Acala’s infrastructure were designed and coded with Rust. These include the consensus engine, wallet, and run-time. Rust is a recommended language for the development of parachains and used to write smart contracts on the network.
5. Comit
A cross-blockchain network that facilitates trustless cross-blockchain applications like Bitcoin, Solana, etc. While cross-blockchain communication is not a new thing, Comit leverages the Rust programming language to do the needful. Comit has a GitHub repository with a bunch of projects, all built using Rust.
6. Exonum
An open-source, enterprise-grade blockchain framework that helps businesses, governments, and professional organizations securely bring blockchain projects to life. Exonum majorly employs Rust for its projects. From the look of it, Exonum seems to be quite inspired by Hyperledger Fabric. It also has a well-curated blockchain repository on GitHub.
7. Bonfida
Another open-source project that we have is Bonfida. It is a free token vesting program that is made completely on Rust. It is also built for the Solana blockchain. Bonfida helps you in determining, say, how many tokens are to be released at one time. It makes a decent vesting tool powered by Rust. Bonfida also has a list of projects and programs on Github that you can check out.
8. Fe
Did you know that there is a replacement for Solidity called Fe? You can use this language to write smart contracts on Ethereum. What is mind-boggling is that Fe is created on Rust and it serves as an alternative to Solidity. That’s too many languages. It also offers precise gas estimations along with other cool features. Do you think you would want to use Fe to develop smart contracts and dApps? You can also check out their GitHub.
9. Astar
Lastly, there is Astar, which is the future of smart contracts for multichain blockchains. What this means is that you can write smart contracts and by using Astar, you can deploy it to multiple blockchains. Astar proudly calls itself the dApp hub for future blockchains. Astar also has a GitHub repository that you can check out.
Variables on Rust are completely immutable. There have been cases when data have been tried to be changed or modified. However, Rust ensures that you can rest assured about your variables remaining immutable. If you are a beginner and you are not too sure about variables, you have the option to turn your immutable variables into mutable ones.
2. Data types
Each value that you see on Rust belongs to a certain data type. This helps Rust to determine which value is specified to which data type. There are two major data types that have sub-types and they are as follows:
a. Scalar
The scalar data type represents all the singular values within Rust. There are four primary sub-type of the scalar data type and they are as follows:
integer: a number with no fractions. For example, 5 is an integer but 5.5 is not an integer.
floating-point: opposite of integers, floating-point numbers are numbers that have a fractional component to them and these are the numbers with decimal points. For example, 5.5 is a floating-point number but 5 is not.
booleans: the boolean type has only two values. It can either be true or false. In Rust, this type of data is specified as a bool.numeric: numeric operations include the basic DMAS rules which include the addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication of numbers.
b. Characters
The char type is the most primitive alphabetic type.
c. Compound/collections
Compound data types, as the name goes, group multiple values into one type. There are two primitive compound types – tuple and array.
tuple: a tuple is a general way of grouping together several values with various types, into one compound type. Tuple happens to have a fixed length. Once you have declared a tuple size, it can’t grow or shrink further. Tuple is created by writing a comma-separated list of values inside parentheses.
array: another way to achieve a compound type with respect to your data is through an array. In an array, you have a homogenous group of data types, unlike a tuple in which you have a heterogeneous group of data types.
3. Functions
Functions in Rust are yet another concept. They are used to encapsulate a block of code that happens to perform a specific task. They can have input parameters and return values. Rust functions have a clear signature, including the return type, and can be called from other parts of the code. They play a fundamental role in structuring and organizing Rust programs.
4. Comments
This is an interesting concept in Rust. Comments in Rust allow you to add explanatory or descriptive text to your code that is ignored by the compiler. Rust supports two types of comments: single-line comments, which are distinguished by / /, and multi-line comments, enclosed between /* and */. Comments are useful for documenting your code, providing context, and making it more understandable to other developers or to yourself when revisiting the code in the future.
5. Control flow and loops
Rust coding is the executing of statements and expressions. Control flow in Rust determines the order in which these statements and expressions are executed. These expressions and statements are specified by if and else statements or match expressions.
a. Conditions
In Rust, conditions are typically expressed using if and else statements or match expressions. They allow you to make decisions and execute different blocks of code based on whether a condition evaluates to true or false.
b. Loops
The loop keyword tells Rust to execute a block of code over and over again until you stop it. Thus, unbound looping is a feature of Rust, unlike Clarity. Moreover, if you have commanded a certain condition, looping will continue until that condition is met.
Ownership in Rust enables it to make memory safety guarantees without the need for a garbage collector or GC. GCs are often used in languages like Java but Rust does not entertain such a feature. Ownership basically is a set of rules that govern how a program manages memory.
As far as borrowing is concerned, it is a mechanism that allows multiple references to access and uses a value without transferring ownership. It enables safe and efficient resource sharing. Borrowing is governed by strict ownership and borrowing rules enforced by the Rust compiler to prevent common issues like data races and dangling references.
7. Structs
Structs, short for structures, are user-defined data types that allow you to group related data together. They share similarities to classes in object-oriented programming and provide a way to define custom data structures.
8. enums
Enums, short for enumerations, are data types that allow you to define a type by enumerating its possible values. Enums are useful when you have a fixed set of values that a variable can take. Values in enums are called variants. They can either be associated with a data type or be empty.
9. Methods
Methods in Rust are functions that are defined within the context of a struct, an enum, or a trait implementation. They’re associated with a particular type and can access the data of that type. Moreover, they can also help you define behavior specific to the type.
10. Error handling
In Rust, error handling is achieved using the Result type and the panic! macro. The Result type represents the result of an operation that can either be successful (Ok) or contain an error (Err). It allows you to handle and propagate errors in a structured manner.
11. Tests
In Rust, Tests allow you to write tests for your code to ensure the code behaves as it is expected to. There is a specific attribute that is written as #[test] and they are capable of asserting certain conditions which they do using the assert! attribute.
Rust tools, libraries, and frameworks for development
1. Tools
The Rust programming language uses some industry-grade tools which help developers tremendously and they greatly add to one’s overall efficiency. These tools are as follows:
a. Rustfmt
This particular code is handy as it automatically formats your code on Rust, making it easier to read, write and maintain. In fact, the Rustfmt tool also reformats your code into community code style. For context, a community code style is a set of conventions and guidelines followed by the Rust community when writing code.
Source: rust-lang/Github
b. Clippy
Clippy is an interesting and useful Rust tool that developers can use. It helps catch common mistakes within a Rust code. There are three distinct ways to use Clippy in your code.
Simply add Clippy to the entirety of your code. There is always a .bazelrc file which is actually your workspace file. You can simply add the following to your file and it will apply to the code as a whole, as in to all Rust targets:
Execute the Clippy checker on a specific target by using the rust clippy(name, deps) command where name indicates a unique name for the target and deps signifies target/s to run Clippy on.Finally, one can execute the Clippy checker on specified targets by using this command rust_clippy_aspect(name)
c. Cargo Doc
Cargo is a whole package manager for Rust. It is essentially a build tool with multiple commands. Cargo is majorly focused on dependency resolution and ensuring a reputable build. One of its commands is Cargo Doc. Cargo Doc helps build a package’s documentation. Documentation in coding is of immense importance because if you can’t read it, you can’t write it. The output of Cargo Doc is in rustdoc’s usual format.
2. Libraries
Coding libraries happen to increase a developer’s overall efficiency. Libraries usually have pre-written, reusable, tried and tested chunks of code that reduce your work and help you simultaneously. Here are the top 3 Rust libraries:
a. Hyper
Handling and making HTTP requests in Rust is a common phenomenon and an action that is performed more than once. This also includes parsing the results. Hyper, as a library, makes handling HTTP requests an easy process for developers.
b. Tokio
Tokio is an event-driven, non-blocking I/O library for writing asynchronous applications. It has different features such as a task scheduler, asynchronous sockets, etc.
Source: tokio.rs blog
c. Iced
Iced is a valuable cross-platform GUI library used by developers who code in Rust. It is mainly focused on simplicity and type safety. Additionally, it has features like a responsive layout, built-in widgets like scrollables, text inputs, etc.
3. Frameworks
In coding frameworks are crucial. They provide assistance in the development process. Here are some of Rust’s popular frameworks.
a. Serde
A lightweight and general purpose that deals with serialization and deserialization of Rust data structs in an efficient fashion.
b. Actix
Actix is a more specific framework. It is a high-performance, actor-based web framework that isolates requests and improves the scalability and performance of web applications.
c. Rocket
As mentioned at the beginning of this guide, Rust has a rich type system. Rocket, as a framework, utilizes Rust’s type system to provide a simple and secure development experience. It also has a set of macros (a code that generates a code) and abstractions to simplify web development.
How to write a basic smart contract in Rust
Create a new Rust project.
2. Add the ink_lang crate to your project.
3. Create a counter.rs file in your project.
4. Write the following code in the counter.rs file:
5. Compile your project using the cargo build command.
6. Deploy your contract to a blockchain network.
The future of Rust as a programming language
In core software, Rust is used pretty much everywhere. Be it operating systems, drivers, and server infrastructure, Rust always has an answer and a way. Gradually, it has made its place in the blockchain space as well.
Several agree it is an upward trajectory for Rust from here because of its speed (which is almost as much as that of C++) and increased safety. To add, before Rust, languages like Java, C++, etc. were some of the fastest languages. Rust’s key selling point became its safety along with speed.
Due to this and more reasons an industry shift is being seen in which developers will start adapting to Rust. Thus, the future of Rust as a programming language looks bright for now. Only time will tell if that is going to stand true.
FAQs
What kind of language is Rust?
Rust is a, high-level, statically-typed programming language.
What are the top 5 blockchains that use Rust?
The top 5 blockchains that use Rust are
1. Polkadot
2. Elrond
3. Solana
4. Near Protocol
5. Hyperledger Sawtooth
Is Rust better than C++?
There is no one answer to this question. Rust and C++ are both great languages in their own capacity. If Rust has better framework support then C++ has a more rich library. So, it depends on what you are looking for. And if a language fulfills that, it is definitely a better language.
Which is faster, Python or Rust?
Rust is more memory efficient which makes it faster than Python.
Are Rust developers in demand?
Since Rust has been gaining popularity in the blockchain space, Rust developers have been in great demand.
What is the salary for Rust developers in 2023?
The average salary of a Rust developer in 2023 is 127k USD per annum. The base salary is between $60k USD (minimum) and $250k USD (maximum).
Credit data APIs are revolutionizing how we think about and use credit information. If you’re looking to keep pace with this evolution, understanding credit data APIs is crucial. They’re not just tools; they’re gateways to more informed financial decisions.
Understanding Alternative Credit Data
So, what exactly is alternative credit data? Think of it as the financial information not typically reported to major credit bureaus. This includes your rent payment history, gig economy income, utility bill payments, and more. This data is a gold mine for lenders who want a comprehensive view of your creditworthiness, beyond just a credit score.
The Rise of Alternative Lending
Here’s where it gets interesting. Alternative lending offers loans and credit outside the traditional banking system. This is particularly important if you, like many others, find the traditional credit system too restrictive. Credit data APIs are at the heart of this transformation, making credit more accessible and fair.
Types of Alternative Credit Data Used in APIs
Now, let’s talk about the types of data these APIs use.
Spending Patterns
Understanding how you manage your money is key. Lenders look at your spending habits, which include transactions from bank and credit card accounts, to assess your financial stability.
Bill Payments
Regular bill payments, like utilities, phone, and insurance, are indicators of financial responsibility. Timely payments demonstrate your reliability in managing finances.
Rental Payments
Your rental history is a strong indicator of creditworthiness. Consistent, on-time rent payments show lenders that you’re a trustworthy borrower.
By analyzing these varied data points, credit data APIs provide lenders with a comprehensive view of your financial health, enabling them to make more informed lending decisions.
Challenges and Opportunities
Innovating in the world of finance is not without its hurdles. The use of alternative credit data, while transformative, brings a set of complexities. For starters, integrating this diverse data into existing systems can be technically challenging. There’s also the issue of data accuracy and privacy concerns.
Nevertheless, the opportunities that arise from these challenges are immense. Credit data APIs democratize access to credit, breaking down traditional barriers. They allow for a more holistic evaluation of creditworthiness, potentially opening doors for those previously excluded from the financial mainstream.
By adopting these innovative tools, we’re not just optimizing lending practices; we’re fostering a more inclusive and fair financial ecosystem. This shift towards more equitable finance is not just beneficial—it’s necessary for building a financially inclusive future where everyone has access to the credit they deserve.
Integrating Credit Data APIs in Applications
So, how do you start integrating credit data APIs into your applications? Here’s a quick guide that can help:
Step 1: Research and Select the Right API
Start by researching various credit data APIs. Look for ones that are renowned for ease of use and robust integration capabilities.
Step 2: Understand API Documentation
Once you select an API, thoroughly read its documentation. This will give you an understanding of its functionality and integration process.
Step 3: Set Up Your Development Environment
Prepare your development environment for API integration. This might involve setting up specific software or tools as recommended by the API provider.
Step 4: Implement the API
Begin the implementation process by integrating the API into your application. Follow the instructions provided in the API documentation closely.
Step 5: Test the Integration
After integration, rigorously test your application to ensure the API is functioning as expected. Pay attention to data accuracy and response times.
Step 6: Review Security and Compliance
Ensure that your application complies with relevant data protection and privacy regulations. This is crucial when dealing with financial data.
Step 7: Seek Inspiration and Resources
For additional guidance, look at examples of successful API integrations. Many websites offer valuable insights into topics like embedded software development, which can be helpful in API integration.
Step 8: Launch and Monitor
Once you’re satisfied with the testing, launch the integration. Continuously monitor the API’s performance and user feedback for any necessary adjustments.
Future Trends and Predictions in Credit Data APIs
As we look towards the future, credit data APIs are on the brink of a transformative shift. These technologies are evolving rapidly, promising to redefine the way creditworthiness is assessed and financial services are delivered.
Let’s delve into some of the key trends that are shaping the future of credit data APIs.
Enhanced Predictive Analytics
The integration of advanced analytics will take credit data APIs beyond mere assessment to predicting financial behaviors. This will involve using AI and machine learning to analyze spending patterns and financial histories, offering deeper insights into borrower behavior.
Increased Personalization in Lending
Credit data APIs will enable a more personalized approach to lending. They’ll cater to individual financial situations, allowing for more tailored loan offerings and interest rates based on a comprehensive financial profile.
Greater Financial Inclusion
These APIs are poised to significantly expand financial inclusion. By considering a broader range of financial data, they will open up credit opportunities to underserved populations, who traditionally might not have qualified under conventional credit systems.
Integration with Emerging Technologies
Expect to see credit data APIs interfacing with emerging technologies like blockchain for enhanced security and transparency. This will not only streamline lending processes but also provide more secure and efficient ways to handle sensitive financial data.
Final Thoughts
Credit data APIs are more than just tools; they are the catalysts for a more inclusive financial system. They empower you to make better financial decisions and access credit in a way that traditional systems can’t match. As you embrace these innovations, remember, you’re not just keeping up with technology; you’re shaping a fairer financial future.
It is an exciting time for web designers as there are many opportunities to create innovative and engaging websites that meet the needs of the future. In this article, let’s talk about the future trends in web design. In the end, we will also talk about some tips as to how you can keep up with these new trends that are changing the digital landscape.
Data-driven Design
The first future trend with innovations that we must discuss is data-driven design. Web designers are using data analytics to help them tailor their designs. This helps in improving user experiences further. So, they are stepping beyond intuition and focused on analytics instead.
For example, web designers are using A/B testing, user feedback, and analytics to understand the behavior of users. This is making the online world more user-oriented.
Cyber-Security and Privacy-Focused Web Design
As the concerns related to data breaches and privacy increase, web designers are prioritizing privacy-focused web design. They use HTTPS, a strong authentication methods to protect the end user’s privacy.
Immersive User Experiences with AR and VR
Immersive technologies such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are having a significant impact on web design. These technologies can create more engaging and interactive experiences for users.
For example, VR can transport users to different worlds, such as a virtual showroom or a product demo. AR can overlay digital information in the real world. An example of this could be providing directions or product information.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence also has a profound role in shaping the digital landscape. AU algorithms are personalizing the user experience. They study the user behavior and match it with their demographics to provide users with a customized journey.
AI can also automate tasks such as image optimization and code generation. Apart from making your life easier as a web designer, AI can also help you communicate with users through AI-powered chatbots. So, you can engage in real-time conversations with users and guide them.
So, AI is ultimately shifting the landscape of the online world.
Voice User interfaces (VUIs)
Apart from Artificial intelligence, VUIs are becoming increasingly popular. Web designers are starting to incorporate them into their designs. VUIs allow users to interact with websites using voice commands, which can be more convenient and accessible than traditional input methods such as typing and clicking.
Apart from VUIs, conversational design, such as chatbots, is also changing the digital landscape.
Visual Storytelling
As we move forward, the secret of future web design is visual storytelling. One of the best tools for this is WooCommerce product videos. Product videos breathe life into otherwise static websites. Using this plugin for your online business, you can showcase your products in action. This will help your customers visualize your products beforehand.
Apart from its marketing benefits, visual storytelling also helps to build a connection with the audience. It develops understanding and trust. You can enhance your user engagement as well.
Minimalistic and Sustainable Design
The importance of minimalism is growing in the digital world as well. Users prefer clean layouts and simpler designs now. This enhances the user experience by simplifying navigation and prioritizing content.
The rule is that every element on the website should serve a purpose.
Motion UI
Motion UI is a technique that uses animation to create more engaging designs. Motion UI can create animations that guide users through a website, highlight essential elements, and provide feedback on user actions.
For example, Motion UI can be used to create an animation that shows a user how to fill out a form or how to use a product. It can also be used to create animations that are visually appealing and engaging.
Motion UI is a powerful tool that can be used to create more engaging and user-friendly websites.
Micro-interactions
Micro-interactions are small but meaningful interactions between a user and a website. Micro-interactions can provide feedback on user actions, confirm changes, and make the user experience more enjoyable.
For example, a micro-interaction might be a button that changes color when the user hovers over it or a sound effect that plays when the user completes a task.
Micro-interactions are a subtle but essential part of the web design process. By carefully designing micro-interactions, web designers can create a more enjoyable and user-friendly user experience.
Apart from that, micro-interactions can also be used to convey complex ideas with just one click.
Accessibility
Accessibility is becoming increasingly important in web design. Web designers are increasingly focused on creating accessible websites for all users, including those with disabilities.
This includes using accessible fonts, colors, and layouts and providing alternative text for images. Accessibility also ensures that websites can be used with different input devices, such as screen readers and keyboards.
By making websites more accessible, web designers can help to create a more inclusive digital landscape.
What factors are shaping the Future of Web Design?
To understand the future trends in web design better, let’s also talk about the factors that are shaping these trends.
The rise of blockchain technology: Blockchain technology has the potential to revolutionize the way we design and interact with the web. Blockchain can be used to develop new web design tools and techniques.
The increasing importance of data: Data is playing an increasingly important role in web design. Web designers use data to understand user behavior, personalize the user experience, and optimize websites for performance.
The growing popularity of low-code and no-code tools: Low-code and no-code tools are making it easier for people to create websites without learning to code. This is democratizing web design and making it more accessible to a broader range of people.
The rise of the metaverse: The metaverse is a virtual world expected to become increasingly popular in the coming years. Web designers must create new and innovative ways to design and develop websites and applications for the metaverse.
Tips for Web Designers to Keep Up with the Latest Trends
Now that you understand the exciting future trends of web design, let’s talk about some tips as to how you can keep up with these new developments.
Keep up with the latest trends and technologies. Read industry blogs and articles, attend conferences, and experiment with new tools and techniques.
Focus on creating immersive and engaging experiences. Use immersive technologies such as VR and AR, AI, and Motion UI to create websites that are more than just static pages.
Make your websites accessible to all users. Use accessible fonts, colors, layouts, and provide alternative text for images.
Optimize your websites for performance and security. Use optimization techniques and performance testing tools to ensure that your websites load quickly and perform smoothly.
Conclusion
As a web designer, you must prepare yourself for the future instead of losing your value in the highly competitive market. You should keep yourself updated about the latest trends. For example, you can learn about immersive technologies such as VR and AR, AI, Motion UI, micro-interactions, and accessibility. Also, do not hesitate to experiment. Try new tools and techniques in your web design and personalize them according to user behaviors. Remember, the world is changing, and so should you!
In this Developer Nation broadcast episode, Ayan interviews Adrienne Tacke, a Senior Developer Advocate at Cisco, discussing her career journey and the field of developer advocacy. Adrienne shares her unexpected path into software development, starting with an internship during college. She emphasizes that a computer science degree isn’t necessary for a successful career in development; a passion for learning and an eagerness to explore new technologies can be equally valuable. While a degree can provide a solid foundation, ongoing learning is key, and it’s beneficial to grasp foundational computer science concepts even without formal education.
Adrienne discusses her transition to developer advocacy, driven by her desire to share her journey through conference speaking. She highlights the joy of travelling and connecting with various developer communities worldwide. However, she also mentions the challenges faced by developer advocates, including multitasking, burnout risk, and maintaining high-quality content creation. While the role offers numerous rewards, it comes with hard work and demands attention to balance and prioritization. The conversation sheds light on the behind-the-scenes work and the multifaceted nature of developer advocacy.
Intrigued by Adrienne’s journey and the world of developer advocacy? If you want to dive deeper into her experiences, challenges, and the vibrant field of developer relations, don’t miss the full episode. Tune in for a wealth of insights and inspiring stories.
If you’re looking for some of the best practices to ensure cross-platform app design consistency, then you’ve come to the right place. This blog will cover all the aspects of maintaining consistency and how to build a fully functional application.
App development is a vast field and comes with many challenges to face. One of the challenges is to keep the UI design sustainable on all the platforms. That is why designers need to perform multiple techniques and methods to ensure that apps are working perfectly fine.
Why Consistency Is Important in UI Design?
UI design is the most important element of any application as it grabs the user’s attention. The more seamless and clean the UI design the less frustrated the users get. 7 out of 10 apps get deleted because of their bad UI design.
So, again consistency is key, keep the UI design uniform and let the user control the accessibility and have full control over the app.
But first, let’s put light on the difference between the three app platforms.
A. How Are Cross-Platform Apps Different From Native and Hybrid Apps?
Businesses always demand an app that can work even on the old versions of Android and iOS. A large number of users have old smartphone models, so no user should be left out.
Only a designer can have the best knowledge of all three, so let’s see how they are different from each other.
Cross-platform VS Native VS Hybrid Apps
Each of them holds significance in app development, however, you can differentiate between them based on these parameters.
Performance
Customization
App Data Security
Overall Cost
Market Competition
Factors
Cross-Platform
Native
Hybrid Apps
Performance
Depends on the framework
No limitation when it comes to speed
High development speed
Customization
Can be customized according to user experience
Has better UI capabilities because it can be customized
Hybrid apps can be customized
Cost
Best for low-cost and limited-budget
High-cost
Cost-effective
App data security
Able to protect the user data
Comes with built-in security features
Provides security to an extent with encryption
Market competition
Doesn’t take much time to build
Quite time-consuming
Same as CP saves time, and has reusable code
B. These 10 Expert Practices Will Maintain Consistency
These tactics are straight from a professional Android app development company. However, to ensure consistency it can be applied on other platforms as well.
i – Screen Size Adaptability
Start off with the screen size, as the devices are of different sizes and resolutions. Apps should be tested back-to-back on all the devices to ensure the screen size fits all the devices.
ii – Multiple Device Test
Experts suggest that when apps are all set to be launched, they need to be tested by the quality assurance manager. As a result, this will keep the app free from bugs and errors that keep meddling the user’s way.
iii – Keep it clutter-free
Mobile app UI design should be decluttered in the sense that when users find so many options and tap on one screen it fills the screen. This is another thing that designers should focus on to keep consistency.
iv – Work On Readability for Visual Consistency
Visual readability is the most essential of all, the whole app design will fail if it doesn’t attract the users. This includes; themes, fonts, color palettes, imagery, and icons. All of these are focused on ensuring the users don’t find any trouble with the outlay of the app.
v – Keep In Mind The Finger Taps
The more time the user spends on the finger taps the more annoyed they become. Finger taps should be friendly and fast, slow loading taps are frustrating and consume time.
vi – Intuitive App Navigation
App navigations are like finding a way on a map, but expert designers suggest that taps and options should be not hidden under layers of pages.
vii – Platform Rules Should Be Followed
All three platforms have some rules to keep in mind, so as per experts, each app’s standard should be maintained pre- and post-launch of the application.
viii – Readability
When designing cross-platform apps, if there is one factor that triggers the whole app user experience, it is Readability. As apps are developed for all screen sizes and resolutions, content should be readable without pressuring the user’s eye. Also, the content should be brief and not long paragraphs.
ix – Review UI Pattern For Internal Consistency
For internal consistency, all the app pages should be followed by a review to ensure that the app has a consistent pattern of UI allowing users to retain their memory and enhance their learning.
x – Research the platform For External Consistency
Lastly, no app can be developed on any of the platforms if it is not well-researched. All the apps have their standards set. So, in order to keep the elements consistent, research is the key. So, spend time on the practices followed by the professionals in many top app development companies.
C. Some Of The Best Frameworks For Cross-Platform Apps
These 3 frameworks are used widely by the developers of iOS and Android app development.
i – Ionic
Developers create unique and attractive UI designs with Ionic. They can even alter the code structure which helps them to make modifications in the app design anytime.
ii – Flutter
Flutter is another framework that is considered impressive for building apps for cross-platform applications.
Moreover, this framework doesn’t require continuous updating so that implies that it will help in maintaining a consistent UI design. Also, it can work on all sorts of new interfaces.
iii – React Native
No apps can be developed without having React Native on their hands. All the bugs and errors are fixed easily with it. Besides, the reason why React Native is given much consideration is because it requires one code for all which saves developers a lot of time.
Conclusion
These were some of the best expert tactics to ensure the UI design consistency of the apps.
DevOps is becoming more and more popular in the world of business. By streamlining the development and IT management processes, DevOps reduces organizational silos and produces a better final product or service for the customer.
However, DevOps is fundamentally reliant on strong collaboration. Without honest, open, and easy communication and shared working practices across your organization, DevOps will just be a buzzword.
If you want to introduce a true DevOps philosophy and culture to your organization, read on to learn how to develop and introduce collaboration in your DevOps teams.
What is DevOps?
DevOps refers to a set of practices and philosophies that aim to overhaul the culture of your organization – that means it’s quite difficult to get your head around what DevOps actually is.
It can be useful to start with an example. Let’s say, for instance, that you create a remote desktop software for iPad. Under a DevOps model, the people managing that software will be the same overall team that developed it. This means that any issues can be easily resolved as the management team will be true experts in the software.
DevOps is best thought of as an approach to software development and management that aims to overcome the gap between the planning and programming stage and the implementation and feedback stage. Rather than splitting the overall development process between a programming team and an IT team, DevOps creates one streamlined operation.
This can help you to draw on a wider range of expertise and skills, remove barriers to truly creative collaboration, and develop more effective operations.
In order for an organization to use a DevOps model, you must be prepared to break down the traditional divide between development and operations teams. This can take a range of different forms: you might choose to merge both operations together into one team or you might choose to integrate even more teams, such as those responsible for managing websites.
Why is collaboration so important in DevOps?
Because DevOps is all about getting previously separate teams to work together, it shouldn’t be a surprise that effective collaboration is what makes or breaks a DevOps model.
As automation – tools that make DevOps easier by automating processes previously divided between development and operations teams – is a key part of DevOps, some companies prioritize automation over collaboration. However, you have to remember that the tools are only as good as the people who use them.
Collaboration and communication is important from the very beginning of a transition to DevOps. That’s because people are naturally resistant to change – explaining why you’re overhauling existing organizational structures can create buy-in among employees. At the same time, you should show how collaboration can work in practice to produce better outcomes.
Without effective collaboration running through your DevOps team, you can probably assume that your processes will soon end up simply operating as before: divided between development and operations teams.
How to improve DevOps collaboration: a step-by-step guide
If you’re using a DevOps structure, therefore, it’s pretty clear that you need to always be developing and improving collaboration. Without this, you won’t be seeing any of the benefits that come with DevOps. So how can you improve DevOps collaboration in your organization?
1) Identify any clear collaboration problems
Before you start making any changes to your DevOps processes, you should take a step back and consider what is already working well and what can be improved. If there are any immediate issues, such as problems with your online telephone service that prevent engineers from working with each other, you should prioritize those.
You should also talk with employees from across the DevOps team. Their experiences will dictate what you need to focus on as you look to improve collaboration. You could also use business analytics tools to establish the effectiveness of collaboration in your organization.
2) Increase the visibility of everyone’s work
If you want people to work collaboratively on a project, they need to actually be able to see the work that is being done. Improving visibility should be a key part of any DevOps model – engineers should be able to see what each other is working on and the levels of progress across the team so that they know who to offer help to.
For some developers, this can be a daunting step. After all, it’s easy to feel protective or embarrassed about work in progress. However, full visibility will let everyone learn from what others are doing.
Achieving full visibility in the technology sector can be difficult. Despite this, you can improve visibility by finding a workflow software that lets the entire team see test results, feedback, and ongoing development. By encouraging engineers to download remote desktop connection tools, your team will be able to have visibility of each other’s work from anywhere in the world.
3) Remove barriers to information
In the traditional model of using separate development and operations teams, engineers who produced a piece of software wouldn’t have had access to most of the information about how that software worked in practice. This had a detrimental effect on their future work, as they couldn’t learn from their earlier efforts.
That’s why an important principle that supports any DevOps culture is free access to information. This is obviously true for information such as testing results but should also apply to your overall culture and mindset: if you work in an office, keep your door open during meetings.
While you’ll have to be careful to consider privacy and security regulations, try to grant open access to your data for all DevOps engineers. By having the same information to draw on, your engineers will find collaboration much easier.
On top of this, consider communication tools like transcription software. These can remove barriers for the entire DevOps team by ensuring everyone has access to notes from meetings and can search for and edit past meeting notes in collaborative documents.
4) Celebrate bravery
Collaboration can be an intimidating concept, especially if your developers are used to working in small siloed teams. That’s why creating a culture of collaboration is so important. One great way to do this is by publicly celebrating those engineers and developers who were brave enough to experiment with other engineers.
You should point out that collaboration is often a risk; developers will be worried about failing publicly. Celebrating the process of collaboration – even if the outcomes are failures – can be a really powerful way to develop a collaborative mindset among your DevOps team.
This culture of collaboration is also important when it comes to hiring; you shouldn’t just rely on technical screening. Instead, look for potential employees who are able and willing to collaborate effectively.
5) Mix up your teams
Many companies fail at DevOps by pursuing a DevOps model in name only – they don’t actually integrate the development and operations teams. Sometimes, building a successful DevOps team will require you to specifically diversify the subteams that deal with certain problems.
If you’re new to DevOps, you might want to buddy up developers with operations engineers. Forcing them together will encourage a collaborative practice to develop, while also speeding up the process of integration between the two teams. You should carefully consider the different skills of your employees and buddy up those with contrasting experiences and strengths.
It’s also important that you consider how to have a varied range of perspectives across your DevOps team. With remote working tools like RealVNC becoming more and more sophisticated, you can hire the perfect people for your team without having to worry about their location – this means that you can easily diversify your DevOps team as you grow.
6) Cultivate a DevOps mindset from the very top
Whether you’re a developer or engineer working in a DevOps team, or a member of your company’s management team, you have a responsibility to grow the DevOps mindset through your words, actions, and working processes.
This is especially important for leaders – they should model what good collaborative work looks like in practice by being open, accessible, and approachable. They should respect the insights of every team member and encourage them to put forward their views and opinions.
An important part of encouraging the DevOps mindset from the top of the organization is by providing opportunities to upskill your employees. This can let team members who originally worked solely as early-stage software developers build skills that are more applicable to the holistic and integrated environment of a DevOps workplace.
This will help to grow a collaborative DevOps mindset as employees will feel more confident and secure in their own skills, meaning that they’re more willing to risk failing publicly by working collaboratively.
Collaboration: the key to a successful DevOps mindset
If you want DevOps to be more than just another buzzword in your organization, it’s vital that you find ways to develop and improve collaboration between your software developers and engineers.
Our guide to collaboration in DevOps will help you achieve this. By increasing visibility and removing barriers to information, some of the practical issues hindering collaboration will be overcome.
You can then start to focus on growing a collaborative mindset among your employees. Start celebrating collaborative work and model this from the top – soon, you’ll have a successful DevOps team working in harmony!
Front-end development is really the closest coding gets to connecting directly with users. Every choice you make impacts the experiences people have with websites and mobile apps. This makes your skills and creative perspectives as a developer extremely valuable to organizations that need online resources. Which, let’s face it, is pretty much every organization today.
That said, the digital landscape is constantly changing. To keep being successful as a developer, you need to have a good understanding of what the future of front-end is likely to be and how you can navigate it. Let’s dive a little deeper into this issue.
In-Demand Features and Tech
As a front-end developer, one of the keys to not getting left behind is to embrace the technology and features that clients are prioritizing. This isn’t just the elements that are popular now, but also those that are likely to demand in the foreseeable future. Nobody’s expecting you to be both the master of all skills and a technological Nostradamus all rolled into one. Nevertheless, there are a few areas of front-end dev it’s worth keeping on top of.
Chatbots
Businesses are increasingly considering chatbots to be a front-line customer service and informational tool. It is, therefore, important to be adept in making conversational platforms that are relevant to specific clients’ individual needs and integrating these into websites. There are various platforms to help with this, including DialogFlow, which uses Google’s natural language processing (NLP) tools to support voice and text-based conversations.
Offline accessibility
Businesses naturally want their consumers to be able to engage with their web resources or apps easily and conveniently. Unfortunately, low network connectivity and dropped signals can disrupt this. One of the solutions is establishing offline accessibility. This is why it’s important to know how to implement effective caching, data storage, and information retrieval procedures. They let users interact with resources to some extent until connections have been restored.
Autocoding
Artificial intelligence (AI) driven coding tools can’t replace the creativity of developers. Nevertheless, it’s worth considering that autocoding platforms can be tools for efficient development. Starting to identify where to strategically automate some aspects of coding can streamline processes. On one hand, this gives you space to dedicate your attention to creative and problem-solving aspects. On the other, it makes you a more agile contributor for clients whose needs can change quickly.
Developing Collaboratively
As a front-end developer, it can certainly feel as though you’re operating pretty independently. Nevertheless, there are ways you collaborate on projects. This can be with clients or back-end developers, among others. These collaborations are likely to continue being important in the foreseeable future. To be left behind, you need to stay on top of how the nature of collaboration is likely to change.
Some of the aspects to be aware of include:
Collaborating remotely: One of the great advantages of the digital landscape is that companies have access to talented contributors across the world. This means that collaborating remotely, potentially between different time zones is likely to be key to your future in front-end development. Start getting familiar with tools that make these easier, like project management platforms and digital whiteboards for asynchronous ideation.
Collaborating in the metaverse: Virtual spaces are looking increasingly likely to be the future of online interactions. Therefore, you’ll need to start exploring not just how to develop for the metaverse, but also how to meaningfully collaborate with others within it. It’s wise to start testing out platforms for ideation meetings and perhaps even prototyping. Importantly, learn how to maintain the security of the data and ideas you’re sharing with others in these spaces.
Additionally, no matter how you approach your collaboration, communicating your plans and ideas will always be vital to success. After all, there are various stakeholders connected to your front-end development and your actions in any project can impact those of other people. Mistakes here can cause conflict and may affect clients’ and other collaborators’ buy-in to your ideas.
Therefore, you need to adopt effective strategic plan communication measures. These include taking the time to suggest regular all-hands meetings that allow everyone to stay informed about the details of the project and feel meaningfully involved. You can also provide greater clarity on the goals and details of the development project with engaging visuals rather than just text explanations.
Maintaining Your Abilities
Not getting left behind in the future of front-end also means understanding that you need to pay attention to how effectively you’re functioning. There are likely to be challenges ahead that you’ll need to navigate. As a result, paying some attention to maintaining your ability to be a technical and creative contributor is essential. This isn’t just good for your professional efficacy, but also for continuing to enjoy what you’re doing.
Start by committing to seeking out opportunities to upskill. Even if you’ve already achieved a high level of development aptitude, there are always areas for improvement and diversification. Importantly, research into in-demand features and tools can give you the data to target the most relevant abilities. Perhaps above all else, be open to following your curiosity.
Another key to maintaining your abilities is to be aware of potential health risks associated with your work and mitigate them. For instance, computer vision syndrome (CVS) is an eye condition that can arise from prolonged screen time. This is due to strain from repetitive eye movements, closeness of screens, and even exposure to blue light. Be mindful of symptoms of such conditions, like regular headaches or light sensitivity. Importantly, take preventative steps by scheduling regular screen breaks and optimizing your computer setup.
Conclusion
Understanding the future of front-end development can help you more effectively prepare for it. This can include getting to know the likely in-demand features and tools, alongside best practices for working collaboratively as the landscape changes. Nevertheless, it’s important to understand that you can’t guarantee what the future will hold. Stay on top of industry news and have conversations with your professional network. This can help you to catch the early signs of changes so you can adapt in good time.
