Frontend Developer – Page 2

How to converse effectively with clients as a front-end developer

Posted on June 17, 2022July 21, 2022 by venkatesh

For front-end developers, communication is an essential skill. In contrast to backend developers, they have the active participation of stakeholders in their work. Whether working on a small website or a large-scale application, you will actively communicate with clients.

Speak with confidence

Confidence in your communication is a must to subconsciously convey to the client that you are an expert in your domain. Front-end developers have a lot to discuss with clients, project scope, design, timeline, cost, etc. Everything must be conveyed with the clear objective of informing the client.

If you are wondering how front-end developers include confidence in their communication, here’s an example:

Suppose you have a feature that will make a client’s site faster, then your tone must reflect that you know what you are talking about.

“I think it will help make your site faster” is an unappealing statement. Instead, you should use “By reducing the number of HTTP requests to the browser, I will significantly improve site performance.”

Here the difference is that you sound confident, and the client knows precisely what you will be doing and how it will affect the project.

A word of caution here is to keep in mind to be respectful. During large web projects, there will be thousands of elements and components to work on. Something will slip through the cracks, do not be accusatory. Gently discuss with clients about project requirements or missed tasks.

Communicate roadblocks with a strategy

Clients are an essential part of a business. To get them on the same page, you need to structure your conversations around their needs. It is vital to keep them informed and included in the development process.

Most front-end developers tremble when they have to communicate roadblocks with the client. But it is not that difficult; think of it the same as creating a website’s front page.

You think about the action you want the visitors to take. In this case, navigate the client through the issue without aggravation.

Have a call-to-action ready that speaks to the client and paves the way for communication.

Design the rest of the page, i.e., the conversation around getting the visitor (the client) through the conversion funnel (talking through the issue).

Let’s see it through an example. Suppose you face difficulty with a component design and think you can achieve it with another programming language. It would help if you initiated something like this.

“I have completed the registration module, but we should make the KYC process faster. Right now, you have suggested Vue.js, but it is limited in its scope in performance. We should use Node.js, which is much faster and can be deployed faster.”

Here you are making clients stick to the path you want to take, cementing your authority and expertise.

Set expectations

Establishing boundaries around the project’s scope, turnaround times, response times, and support is crucial. The first step towards this goal is to make the expectations clear from the beginning.

Define the expectations as accurately as possible. It will help the client be clear about the scope of work you will be doing and the timeline. Discuss the project’s timeline with the client before starting the project to minimize the risk of future disagreements.

Most clients like to work with developers who stick to their agreement and put in the hours promised. Set up a proper communication channel and time when you will hold meetings with the client for effective communication. Avoid engaging clients outside this time unless it’s necessary.

Be transparent about your pricing

Be it a rate-based project or fixed hourly rates, the project’s pricing is always the elephant in the room. The final project pricing depends on the complexity of the project and the features you are going to build. Not all features are created equal, and if you do not communicate this to the client, there will be a misunderstanding later on.

Eliminate any scope for miscommunication by putting your pricing in writing. Mention what features you will be working on and that any additional features will cost extra. Be open to the demands of the clients and their budgets. You can compensate for less pay by using technologies that offer better automation and faster delivery. For instance, if a client wants static pages in a JavaScript page, you can use GatsbyJS, which has ready-made static page templates.

Conclusion

Front-end developers are not the awkward, bespectacled geeks who fail to communicate with clients; they are professionals who deliver on clients’ requirements keeping them in the loop throughout the development process.

We hope these tips will enable you to talk to clients professionally about everything related to the project. The key here is to prioritize the needs of the client but demonstrate your value as well for a sustainable partnership.

Talent500 is a platform for front-end developers to explore remote work opportunities with fast-growing startups and Fortune 500 companies. Sign up today to join the pool of elite talent.

Things to keep in mind during front end performance testing

Posted on April 29, 2022April 29, 2022 by venkatesh

Developers need to perform several performance tests before launching a website or application. The back end and front end performance tests are mandatory to ensure that the application works properly and meets users’ expectations.

Front end performance testing helps you determine whether the built application is made as instructed by the developers or not. It tests browser-based applications or services for load speed, user interface design, responsiveness, and functionalities.

What is front end performance testing?

A front end performance test is a user-oriented test to check the usability of a program or a webpage. It verifies the presentation architecture of the system from the user’s point of view to ensure the functionality of various function buttons, tabs, and other display elements.

For instance, the performance testing of a school website will include inspecting all display elements and checking if they are in place and easy to navigate. Also, the front end performance test will affirm that other essential features such as access to the school curriculum, form downloads, and e-learning portal are operational.

Comprehensive front-end performance testing is essential to deploy robust and usable applications and websites. Without a doubt, front end performance testing can be challenging. This article will explore these challenges and discuss ways to meet them.

1. Understanding the elements of front-end performance

You can’t fix the issue if you are unaware of its occurrence. Front-end testing tools like Google PageSpeed, Lighthouse, and GTmetrix provide an instant glimpse of essential front-end elements that QA testers must know.

Important metrics to know:

First Contentful Paint (FCP): According to Mozilla, “First Contentful Paint (FCP) is when the browser renders the first bit of content from the DOM, providing the first feedback to the user that the page is actually loading.” FCP is important to consider as it tells how fast the first text, image, and non-white canvas content is rendered when a user opens the URL. It is the first time when users have started consuming the page content.

First Input Delay (FID): It measures the time lapse between when a user first interacts with the web page, such as clicking a button, filling in a form, or any custom JavaScript-powered control, and when the browser can respond to the interaction.

Render-blocking resources: These are the resources that block or delay the browser from rendering the page content on screen, thereby increasing the load time. It can include stylesheets, scripts, and HTML imports. It is essential to eliminate render-blocking of resources to load the page faster.

Switch to HTTP2: Modern servers support a new version of HTTP Protocol, allowing web browsers to utilize multithreaded and multicore capabilities to make apps and web pages function faster. Using HTTP2 Protocol offers many improvements:

It can accept multiple simultaneous requests on the same connection.
There is no need to negotiate and re-create a link for each request, saving lost time.
It can send multiple files into one response (multiplexing).
It offers better compression (30% higher).

2. Testing in proxy and legacy browsers

While Chrome and Firefox have over 67% of the market share, there are other browsers too. You must test for proxy and legacy browsers as well. Browser use varies from country to country. For instance, UC Browser and Opera Mini have a significant market share in Asia.

Front end performance optimization tools like BrowserStack can help you create custom test cases depending on average internet speed in a market, network throttling, and type of device.

3. Testing 404 pages

Don’t skip testing 404 pages. In a research, Matt Hobbs discovered that the 404 responses clients receive could be huge. He found that most 404 reactions result from missing images, favicons, broken JS requests, CSS and font files, and more.

Testing and optimizing 404 pages is necessary. Include a small error payload in these pages to improve server response time.

4. Using Performance Diagnostic CSS

You can use CSS to identify some of the performance issues quickly. Tim Kadlec created the idea of Performance Diagnostic CSS, which is further inspired by Harry Robert’s code snippet.

If you visit the link above, you will see how brilliantly Roberts used CSS to highlight common issues like legacy format images, unsized images, and synchronous scripts.

Performance Diagnostic CSS can be an excellent front end testing tool to detect errors and issues that can cause performance issues visually.

5. RUM-solutions to monitor changes in performance over time

It is impossible to control your users’ digital experience and their level of satisfaction without a monitoring strategy. Real User Monitoring (RUM) tools can help visualize how users interact with your app or website from their perspective. You can automate continuous monitoring with front end testing tools like Calibre, SpeedCurve, and Site speed. These tools allow measuring business-specific metrics for performance enhancement. You can set your user-timing marks and automatic alerts to monitor performance changes over time for comprehensive testing.

Conclusion

Front end performance testing helps paint a complete picture of how your website or web app will perform in the real world. Factor in the insights we shared above to cover all the aspects prone to performance anomalies and get actionable insights faster.

Talent500 is the platform that lets you work from anywhere for the world’s best companies. Join our community and connect with global businesses.

Freelance and full-time opportunities for frontend developers

Posted on March 31, 2022March 31, 2022 by vallish

There are many reasons to become a frontend developer. The ability to create and improve user experience is not only fulfilling but a rewarding career. As a frontend developer, your role involves creating websites or web applications. As the technology is expanding, frontend developers are being tasked with more challenging goals. If creativity is something that inspires you and you can code in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, then there are too many opportunities for you.

Opportunities for Frontend Developers are aplenty. They are high in demand, both full-time as well as freelancers. In this article, we explore the opportunities available for frontend developers on both fronts.

Freelance vs full-time opportunities for Frontend Developers

About 1 in 6 frontend developers are self-employed. The trend took an upbeat ever since the pandemic has forced people to work from home. Today, most full-time, salaried frontend developers think about freelancing someday. While being a full-time frontend developer is a safer option, being a freelancer also comes with its perks.

If you are confused about choosing between the two, a comprehensive comparison of freelance vs full-time job opportunities for frontend developers will help you decide better.

We’ll start by exploring the pros and cons.

Autonomy

As a salaried frontend developer, you have the safety of a monthly paycheck but when it comes to autonomy, the flexibility is minimal. Freelancers are their own boss, this gives them full autonomy to decide their hourly rate, where they want to work from, and how to run the business. If you choose to become a freelance frontend developer you will have more control over the tech stack. You can solely decide the right approach for delivering a project. But as a full-time employee, you are part of a development team and have to stick to the decided tech stack and approach.

Flexibility

Arguably the most appealing aspect of becoming a freelance frontend developer is the extreme flexibility. You get to work from home, or a coworking space or can become a digital nomad without breaking a sweat. At times, you might be required to work from client offices but the change in environment is more frequent. If you crave a routine in your work life, you are better off as a full-time employee working Monday to Friday.

However, the flexibility in your lifestyle as a freelancer is unmatched. You can choose to work from anywhere and decide when you want to work and when not. Such a lifestyle is incompatible with most full-time positions.

More per hour earning

Freelance frontend developer jobs pay you more per hour than you would make as a full-time employee. Most freelance developers charge anywhere between $80 – $250 an hour, rates that most salaried frontend developers can ever hardly achieve. That being said, the rates strictly depend on your experience and skillset. Also, as a freelancer, you will have no perks or benefits like paid leaves or sick days. You will have to handle marketing, contract negotiations, meetings, and handle days when you will have not enough clients.

Choose your tech stack

You cannot do a lot if your employer does not approve of the tool or programming language you choose. As a freelancer, you’ll always have a choice to choose the clients who approve of your favorite tools and programming languages. Rather than working on an existing codebase, you will start greenfields projects, thereby avoiding a pile of spaghetti-code and errors. But this freedom will come with experience and when you are getting started you will have to accept whatever work is available.

Work-life balance

As a full-time frontend developer, you will have to stick to deadlines and may not be able to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Being a freelancer, however, allows you to manage your work-life balance more efficiently. While you still have to deliver projects on time, you have the flexibility to work from home and spend more time with your family.

Work-wise you can choose projects that interest you rather than getting frustrated and conform to your team’s way of working as a full-time developer.

How to become a freelance frontend developer?

Plan ahead

It is important to plan ahead to understand the industry needs your clients belong to. Start by putting in the research to discover what your target clients are asking for and what skills or strategies you need to achieve the tasks.

As mobile internet access is gaining popularity over desktop PC access, mobile frontend development principles are high in demand.

Specialize skills set

Most freelance jobs for frontend developers are focused on responsive design. While responsive design is a bid categorical term you might want to specialize in a particular growing field to land clients easily. Deciding on specialization will also help you build a portfolio to support your growth.

Ecommerce frontend development is one of the fastest-growing areas. You can master product pages, shopping carts and checkout processes to easily find freelance frontend developer jobs in this niche.

A strong online portfolio

There is no better way to showcase your talent and explain your skillset. Building a strong portfolio allows potential clients to instantly realize the knowledge and skills you possess. The more vivid and versatile your online portfolio is, the stronger your chances of getting clients will be.Talent500 has already helped hundreds of freelance frontend developers land global clients. Be part of our elite talent network to kickstart your freelance career. Sign up today.

How to land a high paying remote job as a frontend developer

Posted on February 4, 2022February 4, 2022 by vallish

Landing a high-paying remote job with numerous perks such as paid vacation, fat bonuses, etc. is the dream of many frontend developers – pros and newbies alike.

Are you one of them? Have you been fantasizing about getting a remote developer job that pays you over $100k a year and allows you to travel the world?

Luckily, that dream is quite possible.

And that’s what this post is about. To show you practical tips for landing that remote developer job you’ve always dreamed of.

A note of warning, though: there’s nothing magical about these tips. And they won’t be so easy. As such, if you are looking for quick fixes or shortcuts, you are better off looking elsewhere. But if you are ready and willing to put in the needed work and persist, this post is definitely for you.

Let’s get started already.

In-Demand Skill Sets

Before setting out to find a remote frontend developer job, you need to pick up the right skillset. Or at least decide which skill to focus on first.

The thing is, front-end development is very wide, and the programming languages are nearly endless. React, Angular, Sass, jQuery, Vue.js, Typescript, CSS…the list is endless. Unless you are Albert Einstein, mastering all these languages is as good as impossible. The good news is that you don’t have to.

Just pick one or two languages and run with them. For example, you can pick React and then complement it with CSS or Sass (or both), and you are good to go. Not sure which language you can take up? Start with React. It is not only very popular but also in demand.

Need proof? As of right now, there are over 56,000 React Developer jobs on Indeed.

With that said, here are easy, practical steps to getting a remote job as a front-end developer.

“A goal without a plan is just a wish”….Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

What are your plans for securing that dream job? If you don’t have one yet, the tips below can help.

Tip 1: Focus on high-paying companies

If you are going to be well-paid as a developer, the best thing to do is apply to clients willing to pay you handsomely. This set of clients understand your worth and are willing to pay you nicely.

How do you find such clients? The key is searching for them in the right place. And one good place to start is AngelList. On AngelList, you will find lots of vetted, well-funded startups that don’t shy away from paying developers nicely. Other online platforms to find high-paying clients include Workable and Stack Overflow

Regardless of the route you choose, keep in mind that the goal is to pitch high-paying clients. These include well-funded startups, established organizations such as Salesforce, Oracle, Google, and big agencies.

Tip 2: Know your salary expectation

Try and get a rough estimate of how much front-end developers make on average. Knowing this will help you adjust your salary expectation appropriately. Looking at different job postings, as well as websites like Glassdoor is a good idea.

Tip 3: Establish credibility to make people want to pay you more

There are lots of crappy developers out there that make finding good ones a bit hard. That said, it’s important to establish credibility as a developer to get the attention of a potential employer. In other words, a mere glance at your profile should assure a client that you are indeed a pro.

Here’s how you can begin:

Contribute to discussions – both online and offline – within your industry.
Share your thoughts on established online directories such as Quora, Medium, Forbes, etc.
Share testimonials of past clients you’ve worked with on your portfolio website or social media handles.
Volunteer for a charity cause.

These are just a few suggestions to help you get started!

Tip 4: Target countries and cities where developers are paid well

Like real estate, location also matters a lot when it comes to landing a high-paying front-end development job. You will want to target clients located in countries and cities with a high standard of living. Vancouver, Copenhagen, London, Raleigh, are some of them.

You should also keep your job search in countries with high demand for developers with good wages. The United States, The United Kingdom, Central Europe, Singapore, etc. are good examples.

Tip 5: Target the right job sourcing platform

There are a ton of websites where you can find remote work. However, not all of them were created equal. The right job sourcing platform should be able to connect you with a wide range of potential employers, and also give you the flexibility of choosing between long and short term projects, like Talent500. You could also try platforms like Upwork, AngelList, Stack Overflow Jobs, etc.

These are platforms you will find enterprise clients looking for talent like you.

Tip 6: Work on lots of freelance projects

You don’t necessarily need to work as a full-time developer for a company to rake in $100k a year. Chasing freelance gigs can even make you more and in a shorter time.

Should you aim to do ten projects of $10k, five projects of $20k, or two projects of $50k a year? Well, it all depends on how skilled you are at finding freelance projects. You can leverage websites such as X-team, Gigster, etc to find remote freelance projects.

Alternatively, you could ask for referrals from your network. You never know where it might lead you. If those aren’t working, consider running ads on Google to market your skills.

Tip 7: Work from cities with low taxes

One of the major benefits of remote work is that you can work from any corner of the world. Nevertheless, some countries and cities have unfavorable tax laws, and you will want to avoid them. They include Los Angeles, Washington, Illinois, Seattle, and a host of others. You might end up blowing up your earnings on taxes if you work from these cities.

What to do?

Move abroad to tax-friendly countries to maximize your earnings. They include the Cayman Islands, Monaco, Bahamas, etc. Surprisingly, the cost of living in these places is anything but costly.

Tip 8: Get help from established developers

What better way to become a highly paid developer than to learn from already established developers who are making it big time?

So, we scoured the internet to find tips and advice from high-earning developers. Here are some that we found:

Continually invest in your development. Most importantly, invest in skills that pay.
Master the art of marketing your skills.
Get certifications.
Get used to doing things differently.

Tip 9: Send cold pitches to startups

Is there a startup or organization you’ve always wanted to work for? Why not send them an email introducing yourself and stating what you can do for them?

For one thing, sending cold pitches saves you the trouble of competing with other developers for a job role. If you don’t have any particular startup in mind, head over to Crunchbase or AngelList. There, you will find a ton of companies you can pitch to, together with the contact details.

Better yet, you can check out websites such as The Muse or Venturefizz. You will also find a list of companies you can contact for a remote job role.

Tip 10: Attend startup events

Even though it is a remote role that you are looking for, you don’t have to keep your job search exclusively remote. It is always a good idea to connect with real people by attending startup events within or without your city.

Attending startup events affords you the opportunity to meet with startup founders and recruiters looking for talents like you. Not sure how to find such events?

Head over to Meetup.com or Eventbrite and plug in your city. You will find lots of upcoming events you can attend.

Landing a high-paying remote job as a front-end developer is anything but hard or complicated. By following the tips we’ve shared in this post, you are halfway to getting one.

Another way to get there reliably is to sign up for Talent500. Join a global network of developers, upskill efficiently, and position yourself for success amongst the top Fortune 500 companies. Get started today and sign up now!