I am still on my Backend Development study track. I was working through the API development section from The Odin Project’s Node.js course.
I continued to read through some of the support material for the API tutorial. The tutorial uses the CLI command called curl. I have used it a few times in the past but I am not very comfortable working with it. Now, this tutorial has used it outside of the basic HTTP GET method. It used some of the CLI option flags to set the method as well as provide HTTP POST request data similar to an HTML form submission. This opened my eyes to the program and highlighted why I should probably start using it more and get more comfortable with some of the other option flags.
I have used Postman before to test API calls and server responses but my knowledge with the tool is limited. The tutorial also referenced a tool called Insomnia which I have never used before. I want to try getting more comfortable with both. It will likely take some time but honestly, as I continue to work with more backend applications, I will end up finding and utilizing more of these helper tools.
For now, I think my goal is to improve on my understanding and comfort using curl since that is already built into my terminal. From there I will likely work with Postman and finally Insomnia. I have heard a few positive things about Postman whereas I have heard nothing about Insomnia. It may be great but it falls lower on the hierarchy because of the lack of notoriety… I don’t make the rules. Sorry.
Anyways that is all for now. It was interesting to get exposed to these sorts of tools but I still have a lot left to learn to become a Unicorn that is comfortable and proficient with both frontend and backend development.
TLDR;
Okay, so here are the highlights of what I did:
- Backend -> Continued going through the material on API development with
Node.jsfrom The Odin Project’s backend development course. Continued through the API tutorial. Looked into the Postman and Insomnia tools for testing API endpoints.
Goal For Round 8 of the #100DaysofCode Challenge
This is my eighth round of the “#100daysofcode” challenge. I will be continuing my work from round five, six, and seven into round eight. I was working through the book “Cracking the Coding Interview” by Gayle Laakmann McDowell. My goal was to become more familiar with algorithms and data structures. This goal was derived from my goal to better understand operating systems and key programs that I use in the terminal regularly e.g. Git. This goal was in turn derived from my desire to better understand the fundamental tools used for coding outside of popular GUIs. This in turn was derived from my desire to be a better back-end developer.
I am currently putting a pause on the algorithm work to build some backend/full stack projects. I primarily want to improve my skills with the back-end from an implementation perspective. I have improved tremendously in terminal and CLI skills but I lost focus due to how abstract the algorithm concepts got. I wanted to work on things that were more tangible until I can get to a position where I could directly benefit from improving my algorithm skills and theoretical knowledge. So that’s the focus right now. Build my backend skills and prove my full stack capabilities by building some dope projects.
Again, I still have no idea if my path is correct but I am walking down this road anyways. Worst case scenario I learn a whole bunch of stuff that will help me out on my own personal projects. Best case scenario I actually become one of those unicorn developers that go on to start a billion dollar company… You never know LOL.