NEXTJS Pro Shares Secret to Success for Web Dev Beginners | Jack Herrington, React Summit Speaker

Summary

In this video, Dave interviews Jack Harrington, a full-stack principal engineer and the creator of the 'Blue Collar Coder' YouTube channel. They discuss Jack's coding philosophy, emphasizing the importance of testing code regularly during development. Jack shares his love for hiking in the lush Pacific Northwest, and talks about new technologies that excite him, such as Astro and generative AI for user interfaces. He also previews his upcoming talk at React Summit 2023 and his Pro Next.js course. The video highlights practical coding advice, new tech trends, and Jack's approach to content creation.

Takeaways

• 🎤 Jack Harrington is a full stack principal engineer and runs the Blue Collar Coder channel on YouTube.
• 🌲 Jack lives in Portland, Oregon, and enjoys hiking in the Pacific Northwest with his wife and dog.
• 💡 Jack's main advice for beginner coders: Code, test, code, test continuously to make debugging easier and more efficient.
• 🎶 Jack emphasizes the 'rhythm of coding,' comparing it to playing music, where practice makes the process more fluid over time.
• 🔍 Jack spends time working through complex bugs, even with his own method of code-testing, showing the reality of the coding process.
• 🌟 Jack is excited about Astro, praising its team and content creator Ben Holmes for breaking down complex concepts like React Server Components.
• 🤖 Jack is especially intrigued by generative AI in UI design, which lets AI decide how to visually present data beyond just text.
• 🎙️ Jack will speak at the React Summit US on November 19th, focusing on generative UI and AI topics.
• 🎓 Jack recently released a course on Pro Next.js on dodev, covering both basic and advanced features of the Next.js app router.
• 📅 JS Nation and React Summit will have online and in-person events in November 2024, with discount codes available in the video description.

Q & A

Who is the guest in the interview, and what is his professional background?

The guest is Jack Harrington, a full stack principal engineer. He runs the Blue Collar Coder YouTube channel and has a course called Pro Next.js.

What does Jack Harrington enjoy most about living in the Pacific Northwest?

Jack enjoys the hiking opportunities in the Pacific Northwest, particularly the lush greenery, cliffside trails, and waterfalls. He also appreciates the flexibility of content creation, which allows him to explore these outdoor activities with his wife.

What advice does Jack give to beginners in coding?

Jack advises beginners to follow a consistent cycle of 'code, test, code, test' to avoid errors accumulating. Testing frequently helps to identify bugs quickly and makes it easier to debug as the issue is likely in the most recent code addition.

What does Jack mean by the 'rhythm of coding'?

Jack refers to the 'rhythm of coding' as the regular workflow of coding and testing continuously. It's a process of breaking down tasks into small, testable chunks, allowing smoother progress and fewer large debugging challenges.

What is a common mistake beginners make when coding, according to Jack?

A common mistake beginners make is coding continuously without testing. They end up with a lot of code and no clue where the error is, which leads to stress and difficulty debugging.

What new technology excites Jack the most right now?

Jack is excited about Astro, a new technology in web development. He admires its team and finds their work impressive. Additionally, he is fascinated by generative UI using AI, which he believes will revolutionize how we interact with machines.

What will Jack Harrington be presenting about at React Summit US?

At React Summit US, Jack will be discussing generative UI using AI. He will explain how AI can drive the user interface by choosing how to present information, beyond just text-based interaction, using custom UI components for richer experiences.

What does Jack find appealing about attending tech conferences like React Summit?

Jack enjoys tech conferences for the networking opportunities. He loves interacting with attendees, shaking hands, answering questions, and taking selfies. The conferences also provide a great platform for knowledge sharing and meeting fellow developers.

Where can people find Jack Harrington's content online?

People can find Jack's content on his YouTube channel 'Blue Collar Coder' (youtube.com/jherr), and he has a course on Next.js called 'Pro Next.js' available at pronextjs.dev.

What additional advice does Jack give to people who are learning from coding tutorials?

Jack advises learners to remember that people who make coding look easy in tutorials have likely gone through that code multiple times, like a musician playing a song they've practiced many times. He reminds learners that real-world coding can be more challenging, and it’s okay to get stuck occasionally.