My coding journey began with IIS DB for IIS 1.0 on Windows NT Server 3.5.1—a simpler era. The release of Active Server Pages brought with it the exhilaration of crafting web pages using VBScript, marking a revolutionary phase. Yet, as time marched on, the programming world continued to evolve.
A pivotal moment came in 2001 during an interview with Microsoft Consulting Services. Their primary concern? My familiarity with .NET. This spurred me to immerse myself in VB.NET and later, C#. This journey introduced me to DotNetNuke (DNN), a framework that was a godsend, making it redundant to craft monolithic web apps from scratch.
In a recent role where I was entrusted with 33 DNN websites, I encountered a smorgasbord of UI technologies, from Angular and React to VueJS versions 2 & 3. VueJS held a particular allure, but I discerned a growing trend: a tilt towards Next.js tutorials. It felt like a sign, and I was more than ready to heed it.
A significant epiphany came through Sonny Sangha's tutorial on constructing the ChatGPT Messenger 2.0 with React and Next.js 13 (Link). This was my introduction to the intricate yet powerful world of Next.js. Once engrossed in the tutorial, enhancing the app with features from Chat GPT/Copilot felt almost effortless. Yet, gaps in my knowledge persisted.
That's when I stumbled upon Antonio Erdeljac—a virtuoso of modern web tutorials. His content, especially the Airbnb clone (Link), refined my skills and acquainted me with tools like Upload Thing. His Discord clone (Link) and insights into Clerk for authentication further broadened my perspective. Each tutorial felt like solving a piece of a vast modern web development puzzle. Antonio's meticulous approach, where he elucidates the origins of his resources and demystifies the copying of npx and npm commands, sets him apart. In my view, he's the undisputed champion of developer tutorials on YouTube. Every new project he unveils feels akin to receiving a coveted LEGO Star Wars Ultimate Millennium Falcon 75192 set—a pure joy.
Along the way, ByteGrad's Fresh React Portfolio Website (Link) provided a refreshing take on portfolios, which I eagerly adopted. Elliott Chong's Quizmify (Link) blended AI with quizzing, unveiling a realm of possibilities I'm excited to explore. Currently, I'm weaving Quizmify into my portfolio site and have plans to integrate it into Antonio's LMS soon.
Reflecting on this journey, one sentiment resurfaces—the rejuvenated joy of programming. The contemporary tools and resources, ranging from Copilot to exhaustive online tutorials, have redefined accessibility and enjoyment in learning and development.
From my humble beginnings even before VBScript's inception to the dazzling world of Next.js, my trajectory underscores a timeless truth: "You can teach an old dog new tricks." Embracing change, adapting to novel technologies, and an unquenchable desire for knowledge fuel my enduring passion for coding.
Reference Links:
- Sonny Sangha's ChatGPT Messenger 2.0 Tutorial:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6Hq_EX2LLM
- Code with Antonio - Airbnb Clone:https://www.codewithantonio.com/projects/airbnb
- Code with Antonio - Discord Clone:https://www.codewithantonio.com/projects/discord
- ByteGrad's Fresh React Portfolio Website:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUKptmUVIBM&t=20204sGitHub: https://github.com/ByteGrad/portfolio-website
- Elliott Chong's Quizmify:GitHub Repository: https://github.com/Elliott-Chong/quizmify
- Sonny Sangha's LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/saajansangha/
- Antonio Erdeljac's LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/antonio-erdeljac/
- ByteGrad Website:https://bytegrad.com