Finished The 100 Days Of Code Working On WordPress Stuff Now.

So I finished the 100 days of code challenge. I really learned a lot! Feeling really strong with my HTML5 and CSS3 still have a ways to go with my JavaScript knowledge. Still, getting around JavaScript pretty well now.

I decided to spend the next two months working on WordPress and OpenCart stuff. I created a custom theme using a YouTube tutorial. That was a learning experience. I really liked the way the design came out and it is exactly what I wanted for the site.  I wanted a blog section and a photo gallery section and that was exactly what I created.

The Motorcycle Dude

Here is the Youtube video I used to create the WordPress theme.

I’m now experimenting with WordPress CSS styling and I’ll be looking into Elementor for designing WordPress websites.

 

Day 31 of 100 Days of Code – JavaScript

Currently on day 31 of my 100 Days of Code Twitter challenge. I’m learning a lot, but feel I should be accomplishing more. I’m currently coding at least 4 to 6 hours a day, somedays more. I just feel like I’m not moving quick enough.

Today I learned about Object Constructors and read the Objects chapter in JavaScript For Dummies. Also watched these Youtube videos and did the code along with the tutorial.

 

I also added some JavaScript to the website that displays the Date() when the page is open. I put it on the main page and a resources page I did today.

http://new-aeon-design.com/

http://new-aeon-design.com/resources/

The resources page still needs to be styled. I started that on the last blog post and haven’t done anything to it since, with the exception of adding the date and more links. Tomorrow I’ll add a button to the main page pointing to the resources section and fix the styling. I’m using an old stylesheet I’m no longer familiar with.

I also signed up on JScodebox and started doing some of the JavaScript challenges. Didn’t get very far, but I plan on working on them daily. https://jscodebox.com

I currently have three personal projects I’m working on, along with 1 client project. As well as my JavaScript studies I’m trying to code a little HTML and CSS daily. More than enough projects to keep me busy and no shortage of things to code.

I think the most important thing about learning to code is putting what you’re learning to use.  You have to find projects that interest you and ways to incorporate your current skill set.

I’ll be posting weekly updates about my experience during the 100 Days of Code challenge along with links to the projects I’m working on.

Day 18 of 100 Days of Code

I’m on day 18 of 100 Days of Code. I thought it might be a good idea to document it here for anyone that might want to follow along or take the 100Days challenge with me.

If you’re not familiar with the 100DaysOfCode it’s a Twitter challenge to code each day for 100 days. This is my second attempt. Last time I did it, I made it to around 70 days then summer happened 🙂

I will say this, in those 70 days I updated all my CSS and HTML5 skills. Honestly, being 50 and doing web design since the 90s… My coding style was dated to say the least. I couldn’t believe how much CSS and HTML have changed over the years. I’m really happy I took that challenge and updated those skill sets.

During this 100 Days of Code I’ve decided on focusing on all things JavaScript. This is something I’ve put off for a really long time. I can fumble around JavaScript, but I really don’t know or have a thorough understanding of the code. That’s now going to change.

18 Days into the challenge and I’ve been coding  daily between 4 to 8 hours per day. I’ve been working on HTML and CSS projects and spending at least 2 hours a day on JS (JavaScript) related projects.

Today I installed NodeJS on my local machine. I plan on setting up a local web server this evening following this tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8XF6AFGqlc

I’ve used PHP for awhile now, but never took the time to fully understand it either. I think learning NodeJS is a good idea because it can do a lot of what PHP can do, but I can do the backend development in JavaScript now instead of PHP. It just makes sense to kill two birds with one stone.

I also did another chapter of JavaScript for Dummies. I read Chapter 4 – Controlling the Flow of JavaScript

It covered a lot! Topics included while, if, if/else, for()loops, and much more. I plan on going through this chapter again and youtubing a tutorial for each expression or term. I have a better understanding of all these now, but I’d like to spend the next week getting a visual representation of each feature from Youtube before continuing on to the Functions chapter of JavaScript for Dummies.

On a final note I learned a little about functions yesterday and made a simple tip calculator web app. I still need to style the page and make a couple final adjustments, but the basics of the app are completed now. You can find it here. http://new-aeon-design.com/apps/tip_calculator.html

Well, that’s pretty much my last 24 hours of day 18 of my 100 Days Of Code. I’ll be posting a daily about this for anyone that’s interested. You can find out more about the 100 Days of Code challenge on Twitter by using the #100DaysOfCode hashtag or go to the website to learn more. https://www.100daysofcode.com

 

 

 

Working On A Site Redesign.

One of the things I love about working on personal projects is the freedom you get in your design. You can experiment a bit, play around with the code, test out different layouts. For the most part, there really isn’t any pressure to produce something extraordinary on the first attempt. On top of that, you can just keep hacking away till you come out with the perfect design and layout. Add something, take it away, add it back, then completely switch it up if you’d like.

You really can’t do that with client projects. For the most part, you get a feel for what the client expects, code out a couple different versions in a set period of time, and hope and pray the client is happy with one of the end results. If you’re reading your clients correctly and listening to what they want, this usually isn’t a problem.  They pick a design, you get it uploaded to the server, do a little beta testing looking for any bugs or glitches, and if all goes well, you move on to the next project.  Easy peazy!

I’m currently in the middle of a client project that is going well. In the meantime, I’m also redesigning bitcoindood.com and this site. I’ve learned so much in the first thirty days of doing the 100DaysOfCode challenge on Twitter, that I think I’m just going to hack away at my two personal projects and see what I come up with.

It’s been a long time since I just built something with no direction. In my opinion, those were always the funnest projects and gave birth to some of the best results. I’ve got a pretty good handle on the client project I’m working on. Over the next several weeks, I’ll be practicing all the new markup and css I’ve learned on my personal projects. My personal sites will probably be changing on a daily basis. I’m pretty excited to see what I come up with.

In other news I’ve signed up for a free eDX JavaScript course that I’ll be starting next week. Staying busy, keeping it fresh, and updating my skill set!