My JavaScript Story

Panel: Charles Max Wood Guest: Jeff Cross This week on My JavaScript Story, Charles speaks with Jeff Cross. Jeff has been working on Angular and JavaScript for the past five years with Google and now with Nrwl, which he created in the past year. He got started with programming around 12 years old when his Mom taught him and his siblings how to create websites using FrontPage. He then worked as a web designer utilizing Flash and joined an agency when he was in his 20’s that focused on Flash. Jeff talks about his path to his success and the different steps it took him to get to where he is today.  In particular, We dive pretty deep on:

• How did you get into programming?
• HTML and FrontPage
• Dreamweaver
• GeoCities
• Gifs
• Started off as a web designer
• Flash
• Object-Oriented Programming
• JavaScript
• Backbone
• From JavaScript to Angular
• Node Programming
• APIs
• Deployd
• Angular Team at Google
• What have you contributed to angular?
• Embarrassing stories
• Consulting
• NX
• And much, much more!

Links:

• FreshBooks
• Nrwl
• Deployd
• Linode
• @JeffBCross
• @nrwl_io
• Nrwl Blog

Picks: Jeff

• Things App
• Charles
• Apple Air Pods
• Astro Reality

Panel: Charles Max Wood Guest: Merrick Christensen This week on My Angular Story, Charles speaks with Merrick Christensen. Christensen works at a company called Webflow, where they try to empower people to create software without code. The company is similar to Squarespace or Wix, except they give 100% design control to the client. Christensen talks about his journey into programming, starting by creating websites for his childhood band. He moved on from Microsoft to Dreamweaver, and his Dad got him started with some freelance jobs to create websites for people, which really sparked his interest. Christensen discusses his path to where he is as a programmer today. In particular, We dive pretty deep on:

• How did you get into programming?
• Getting into JavaScript
• Infogenix job
• Red Olive job using Flash
• Got into JavaScript through ActionScript
• Discovered Moo Tools
• Flex
• Steve Jobs says no Flash on iPhone
• Why Moo Tools and not jQuery?
• Liked flexibility of JavaScript
• How did you get into Angular?
• Angular was trendy at the time and was easier to use
• New code base with React
• Backbone
• Programming as an art form
• Webflow
• Meta-layers
• Working a remote job
• Framework Summit
• Angular, React, View, and Backbone
• And much, much more!

Links:

• Linode.com/MyAngularStory
• Webflow
• Squarespace
• Wix
• Framework Summit
• @iamMerrick
• MerrickChristensen.com
•  

Picks: Merrick

• Sho Baraka
• Grid Critters
• Flex Zombies
• Charles
• Fresh Books
• Lyft
• Game Vice
• Audio-Technica 2100

Panel: Charles Max Wood Guest: Dean J Sofer This week on My JavaScript Story, Charles speaks with Dean J Sofer. Dean currently works at PlayStation now and has recently taken a step back from open source recently. He first got into programming because his Dad was really into technology, and he first started off with scripting and creating portfolio websites. They also talk about his time using Angular and what he is working on now. In particular, we dive pretty deep on:

• Episode 95 JSJ
• Dean intro
• Realized he prefers working at larger corporations
• How did you first get into programming?
• Dove into computers because of his Dad
• Started with scripting
• Creating portfolio websites
• CSS, HTML, and MVC
• Node scripts
• Took a visual basic class in High School
• Liked being able to create things that other people could interact with
• Cake PHP and Node
• What was it that made you want to switch over to JavaScript?
• Angular
• What was it about Angular that appealed to you?
• Why he went searching for Angular
• Angular UI
• Don’t be zealot when it comes to frameworks
• Create states in your application
• Is there anything that you are particularly proud of in your career?
• And much, much more!

Links:

• Episode 95 JSJ
• Cake PHP
• Node
• JavaScript
• Angular
• Angular UI
• Dean’s GitHub

Picks Charles

• Brandon Sanderson Books
• Writing Excuses Podcast
• Life, the Universe, and Everything Conference
• Bullies by Ben Shapiro
• Fire and Fury by Michael Wolff

Dean

• Wallaby.js
• You Suck at Dating Podcast

Panel: Charles Max Wood Guest: David Luecke This week on My JavaScript Story, Charles speaks with David Luecke. David currently works for Bullish Ventures, which is a company that builds APIs and mobile web applications for clients using their open source tools. He first got into programming when he got his first computer and started programming using Delphi with Pascal. They also touch on how he first got into JavaScript, Feathers JS, and what he is working on now. In particular, we dive pretty deep on:

• David intro
• How did you first get into programming?
• Tinkered a lot with electronics as a child
• Delphi with Pascal
• Planned on doing an apprenticeship computer programming
• Went to University and got a CS degree
• How critical do you think a CS degree is?
• Having a CS degree helps you to pick up things faster
• How did you get into JavaScript?
• Did some website development in the beginning of his career
• Java
• Dojo and JavaScript MVC
• Works a lot with React Native now
• What products have you worked on that you’re proud of?
• Feathers JS
• How did you come around to creating this?
• In-server architecture idea at university
• What are you working on now?
• mySam
• And much, much more!

Links:

• Bullish Ventures
• Pascal
• JavaScript
• Dojo
• JavaScript MVC
• React Native
• Feathers JS
• mySam
• David’s GitHub
• @daffl
• David’s Medium

Picks Charles

• Merge Cube
• Primo
• Octagon Augmented Reality Cards
• CES

David

• Idieyoudie.com
• How to Fix Facebook—Before It Fixes Us by Roger McNamee

Panel: Charles Max Wood Guest: Jonathan Carter This week on My JavaScript Story, Charles speaks with Jonathan Carter. Jonathan is a PM at Microsoft and has been a web developer for over 15 years. At Microsoft, he’s had the opportunity to work on tooling, platform pieces for JavaScript applications, and many other things. He first got into programming when his uncle let him shadow him and the IT department he had working for him, and this is where he was first introduced to software and the idea of working with computers as a career. They talk about his proudest accomplishments within the JavaScript community as well as what he is working on now. In particular, we dive pretty deep on:

• Jonathan intro
• Asure
• How did you first get into programming?
• Interest in creating a website
• Dual enrollment in high school at local community college
• Started off with VB6
• Uncle was very active in his programming start
• .net
• Scrappy boredom mixed with curiosity led to him actually getting into software
• Everyone comes into programming differently
• Your past is important in explaining where you have ended up
• Node.js on Asure
• How did you get into JavaScript?
• Worked at a newspaper in the software division
• Ajax
• jQuery
• Wanted to write better apps
• CodePush
• Stayed in JavaScript community because it brings him inspiration and excitement
• Likes to be able and look back on his past projects
• App development for fun
• Is there anything that you are particularly proud of?
• Profiling tools
• Liked building tools that meet people where they are at and simplify their jobs
• Qordoba
• React Native
• And much, much more!

Links:

• JavaScript
• Microsoft
• Asure
• Node.js
• jQuery
• CodePush
• Qordoba
• React Native
• @LostinTangent
• Jonathan’s GitHub

Picks Charles

• Anti-Pick: Intellibed
• Tuft and Needle

Jonathan

• Notion
• Doomsday by Architects

Panel: Charles Max Wood Guest: Johannes Schickling This week on My JavaScript Story, Charles speaks with Johannes Schickling. Johannes is the CEO and Co-Founder of GraphCool and works a lot on Prisma. He first got into programming when he started online gaming and would build websites for gaming competitions. He then started getting into creating websites, then single page apps, and has never looked back since. He also gives an origin story for GraphCool and the creation of Prisma.  In particular, we dive pretty deep on:

• Johannes intro
• How did you first get into programming?
• Always been interested in technology
• PHP to JavaScript
• Creating single page apps
• Self-taught
• The problem-solving aspect keeps people coming back to programming
• Always enjoyed math and physics
• Programmers make up such a diverse community
• How did you find JavaScript?
• Has used a wide range of front-end frameworks
• Node
• WebAssembly
• Opal
• What drew you into doing single page apps?
• Like the long-term flexibility of single page apps
• Don’t have to worry about the back-end right off the bat
• GraphQL
• What have you done in JavaScript that you are most proud of?
• Open source tooling
• GraphCool origin story
• What are you working on now?
• Prisma
• And much, much more!

Links:

• JavaScript
• GraphCool
• Prisma
• PHP
• Node
• WebAssembly
• Opal
• GraphQL
• @_Schickling
• @GraphCool
• GraphCool Blog

Picks Charles

• PopSocket
• DevChat.tv/YouTube

Johannes

• Gatsby
• GraphQL Europe
• GraphQL Day

Panel: Charles Max Wood Guest: Gordon Zhu This week on My JavaScript Story, Charles speaks with Gordon Zhu. Gordon is the founder of Watch and Code. The mission of the company is to take total beginners and turn them into amazing developers. He first got into programming by trying to avoid programming. He studied business in college and was really interested in the internet, leading him to have to learn coding. He talks about the importance of being focused, especially in the beginning, and the ability to figure things out. In particular, we dive pretty deep on:

• Watch and Code
• How did you first get into programming?
• Studied business in college
• Peak
• Two different eras of programmers
• There is more than one way to get into programming
• Culture is promoting a new way of thinking about technology
• Black Mirror
• How did you get into JavaScript?
• Marketing, product management, and engineering
• Angular
• Tried to avoid JS and focused on Python
• Importance of focus
• The ability to figure things out
• How to spend your time in the beginning
• Current focus
• Focus gives you freedom
• Reading a lot of code
• What are you proud of?
• And much, much more!

Links:

• JavaScript
• Watch and Code
• Peak
• Black Mirror
• Angular
• Python
• @Gordon_Zhu
• Practical JavaScript

Picks Charles

• 4k Camcorder
• 25 ft XLR Cables
• Zoom H6
• Roland R-09
• USB-C Dongle Docking Station
• ScreenFlow
• PB Works

Gordon

• How I Built This podcast
• Stay Tuned with Preet podcast

Panel: Charles Max Wood Guest: Quincy Larson This week on My JavaScript Story, Charles speaks with Quincy Larson. Quincy created Free Code Camp, whose goal is to build a huge community of people who will then contribute to the project so that they can help more people learn code for free. Quincy first got into programming when he wanted to find a way to get teachers out from behind the computer and into the classrooms. This revealed to him how powerful technology was and really got him interested in learning more code. He feels very strongly about the importance of accessibility and strived to make his camp as accessible as he could so he could reach the most people with it.  In particular, we dive pretty deep on:

• Free Code Camp
• How did you first get into programming?
• Previously a school director and teacher
• AutoHotkey
• How did you get into JavaScript?
• Focused on the problem of learning the code
• Free Code Camp was his main focus as a programmer
• The importance of accessibility
• Free Code Camp curriculum
• New update launching soon
• Build projects in order to get a certificate
• 6 certificates in total
• What is the work breakdown with Free Code Camp?
• Editorial staff now
• Free Code Camp YouTube Channel
• Writes on Medium
• Loves the fact that he gets to help others and positively affect their lives
• What else are you working on now?
• Beta.freeCodeCamp.org
• Expanding Free Code Camp Directory
• And much, much more!

Links:

• Free Code Camp
• AutoHotkey
• JavaScript
• Free Code Camp YouTube Channel
• Quincy’s Medium
• Beta.freeCodeCamp.org
• @Ossia
• Free Code Camp Medium

Picks Charles

• VRBO
• Mesquite, Nevada
• Upside.com

Quincy

• The state of machine learning in JavaScript
• Tensor Fire

Panel: Charles Max Wood Guest: Jeremy Likness This week on My JavaScript Story, Charles speaks with Jeremy Likness. Jeremy works for Microsoft currently and first got into programming when he was kept home while having a sunburn and taught himself how to type in a program into his family’s TI-99 4A computer and then later moved on to the Commodore 64. They stress the fact that you can be a successful programmer, no matter your background and they talk about the pros and cons of being a cloud developer advocate. In particular, we dive pretty deep on:

• How did you first get into programming?
• How much Microsoft is in the different programming aspects
• Cloud developer advocates
• Azure
• TI-99 4A and Commodore 64
• C and C+
• You don’t have to go the traditional route to be a programmer
• Having a CS major is not the only way
• How did you get into JavaScript?
• Discovered the internet in college
• Career focused on Web apps
• jQuery
• Backbone.js
• Hands-on career with the code
• He did consulting for 10 years
• Linux
• How has your earning changed?
• His biggest fear was getting out of touch with the realities of day-to-day programming
• Pros and cons of being a cloud developer advocate
• Community, Content, and Connection with engineering
• And much, much more!

Links:

• Microsoft Cloud developer advocates
• Azure
• JavaScript
• jQuery
• Backbone.js
• Linux
• @JeremyLikness
• Jeremy’s Blog

Picks Charles

• BusyCal

Jeremy

• Dwitter.net
• Hello World: The Film
• Node.js documentation on Azure

Panel: Charles Max Wood Guest: Todd Gardner This week on My JavaScript Story, Charles speaks with Todd Gardner. Todd is one of the co-founders of Track JS, which is a JavaScript error monitoring service. He first got into programming in Jr. High when he and his friends played around with computers they had dumpster dived for from their school in order to play video games. In High School, he learned how to create websites so that people could register for his LAN parties online. They also discuss the importance of finding passion in what you do as well as what Todd is most proud of contributing to the JS community. In particular, we dive pretty deep on:

• Track JS
• Stack trace
• Telemetry
• Decodes errors that are actually good to focus on
• How did you get into programming?
• Warcraft video game
• Started programming past gaming in High School
• LAN parties
• Pearl
• The importance of passion in programming
• C#
• He didn’t start off with programming as his focus
• Find the thing that inspires you and go do it!
• How did you wind up on JavaScript?
• Working as a consultant
• Knockout vs Backbone
• .net contractor to JS contractor
• Node JS
• What are you most proud of in JS?
• Understand that you’re never done with a JS app
• What are you doing now?
• And much, much more!

Links: 

• Track JS
• @ToddHGardner
• Todd.mn

Picks Charles

• Eternium
• The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It by Michael E. Gerber
• My Business on Purpose Podcast
• Jamie Masters 
• Profit First by Mike Michalowicz
• The 12 Week Year by Brian P. Moran

Todd

• Smart Things
• Rage