Category: Programming

Programming, Tech

Battles Below No Coding

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Z-Daddy believes in me, I can’t handle this pressure.
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There comes a time in every person’s life when they have to do the unthinkable, the unimaginable, the most preposterous thing they could ever think of doing. What is this thing you ask?

No, it’s not having kids. It is learning. To some learning is fun while to others, it’s the very bane of existence. Why is learning such a pain? Well aside from increasing the formation of wrinkles in your grey matter, the very pain of failure is what draws us away from venturing forward with exploring our ideas.

Thankfully, we have reached a height in technology where learning our desired interests is more accessible. This gives way so that we may dive into action with little to no hesitation.

Now, let’s say your idea is to build a website or application and you have no clue as to how to write a script, don’t worry. There’s an app for that.

bearded man feeling confused.
Mark: But Z-Daddy, I can’t code.
Z-Daddy: Mark, you didn’t read the script. It’s no code for no coding.
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No Problem No Coding

You may or may have not during your time surfing the vast internet seen the term “low-to no-code” and wondered, “What in the Sam Smith hell is that?”

Low-code, better known in a formal setting as Low-code development platform (LCDP), is a development environment used to create applications through a graphical user interface (GUI).

A quick thing to note is; no code simply means there is no need for coding. This differs from the old way of building websites and applications that were constructed via lines and lines and lines of code. Low-code roots can date back to the 90s and early 2000s even though the actual platform made its presence in the market in 2011.

Instead of running out to learn programming languages such as Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML), Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), and JavaScript (JS), low code provides users with the basic logic followed by a drag-and-drop style of website building.

So, if you remember the days of being in kindergarten fitting shapes into holes and you just so happen to be that one special child thinking you can fit a square into a round hole and there’s nothing anyone can tell you differently.

You might not be a developer and may be a better fit for management. Also, in case this wasn’t common knowledge, this site is a low-to-no-code platform.

man in black suit raising both hands.
Bro, she was dancing on me, and this rapper guy was like “ZEROCLAY NATION GET YOUR HANDS UP!” And I was like this.
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Easy Yet Difficult

So, what is being said here? Am I saying that this is so easy a caveman can do it? I would say almost yes and no. Yes, for the fact that learning a few complex programming languages are not required to begin putting websites together.

No, because some coding (programming) knowledge could be handy in certain circumstances. Individuals can become familiar with learning User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) with a few rounds of practice in this environment. I say practice because I remember my first few times of trying to place elements a certain way without coding and boy can I tell you it was…well, interesting.

If you could imagine, it was like playing the claw machine, you managed to grab the item and bring it over close enough only for it to drop. Rinsing and repeating this action leads to high blood pressure frustration and baldness. My experience was jarring, that’s all I’m saying.

Back on board, this route is better since one doesn’t have to worry about laying down paragraphs of code and debugging. Developers who have had to find a problem as to why an image or element wasn’t showing up only to find after hours and several self-contained arguments later it was attributed to a typo will tell you, not only can debugging get out of hand if unchecked but can also be a nightmare.

For people looking to start a business, low code works out great as once wireframing is complete and plans are nearing their final stages, the product can reach to market quicker than traditional web development.

close-up photography of black gorilla
He did say it was so easy a caveman can do it…maybe there’s hope.
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Garnering a Wage Above

Wondering if working with low code would garner you a job? The short answer is yes but not just by itself. In this wide world of IT, the tendency of being a Jack of All Trades and Master of None seems to be the theme.

As mentioned earlier, you would gain some self-study of UI/UX by using a platform to get yourself familiar with the functionality and after some time gain a little understanding.

Following this with some online courses would see you better as they provide more depth and go beyond just how a webpage looks. Taking other courses in web development would also improve your likelihood of employment as you can not only become familiar with the basic programming languages but also build a portfolio as you go.

According to Glassdoor the average salary of a low code developer (may be named “entry-level web developer”) makes about $81,567 which is a decent amount of coin if you don’t have to skill to perform rap battles in a shelter.

man rapping on stage.
ZEROCLAY NATION GET YOUR HANDS UP! YOU AIN’T GOTTA TRY WHEN HE SCRIPTINGTHEWHY!
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Made it this far and found this to be entertaining? Then a big thanks to you and please show your support by cracking a like, scripting a comment, or plug-in to follow.

Would like to give sincere thanks to current followers and subscribers, your support and actions mean a lot and has a play in the creation of each script.

Learning low-to-no code interests you? Script about it below.

Programming, Tech

She a First-Time Scala

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Learning a trade at any age is possible…unless you’ve done some wild things to fry your brain at a young age. Not judging.
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Have you ever thought to yourself, “I think it’s about that time I picked up a new programming language”? Followed by the thought, “I’m going to need a programming language that’s going to separate me from the herd and see me at the head of the line to better employment”.  

Well, if you ever followed the previous question up with a quick Google search (I chose Google because it doesn’t seem like anyone uses Ask Jeeves or Ask.com anymore) you’ll find that are a massive number of programming languages to learn, oh and there are categories they’re in which you can choose from also, which are machine, assembly, and high-level in case you didn’t know.

But while you have a mass number of languages to choose from, whether to begin learning fresh or to make an addition to your array of programming languages already learned, this one may have not been on your radar. It sure wasn’t on mine.

Today we’re going to be going over Scala, answering what, who, why, and if you could get into the programming field without a degree. And uh, spoilers ahead, since it is programming more likely you can get into this field as a developer without a degree.

So yeah, you don’t have to worry about burning a massive hole in your wallet trying to obtain one. By the way, if the person you’re dating or looking to date has no clue as to who Ask Jeeves is, they may be too young for you.

young gentlemen in black hoodie
After countless hours of coding, the time has come to print “Hello World”…in all caps.
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Its Scaling Time

So, here’s a bit of information, some of which I did not know since I don’t know every programming language out there but I’m learning something new with every script so there’s that. Apparently, Scala, unlike most people nowadays stands for something.

Scala is short for “scalable language” and like high-level programming languages, Scala is a general-purpose programming language. Scala received this acronym due to it being able to “grow with you”, which in short if you need it for something simple as running a line of code, it can do that and if you need it for something mission-critical, Scala can be your go-to as well.

This language focuses on object-oriented programming or OOP, and functional programming, and was also designed to handle some of the criticisms of Java.

And in case you didn’t know or weren’t aware of what functional programming meant, I got you on that. Functional means that there is a set of approaches taken to create clean and maintainable software.

Popular functional languages would include the likes of Python, Clojure, and Erlang. I’m familiar with Python, the other two languages I’ll be scripting about in the days to come.

An advantage of Scala resides in the ability to be able to run in the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) which makes it possible for both Scala and Java stacks to be run and incorporated.

You can more or less put Scala down to being the Swiss army knife of programming languages.

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Can no longer stand Bob, he has to go. All those in favor of getting rid of Bob, put your hands in the center.
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Scala Among the Many

Now, you may be thinking to yourself, “outside of the usual suspects, who are the people that use this language?” Well, I can tell you it’s the usual cast of suspects.

Software engineers, data scientists, and data engineers are prone to use Scala since Scala powers the data engineering infrastructure of several companies, in areas of content management systems, distributed applications, and finance-related applications.

Scala also powers data processing, cloud computing, and web development. Another thing that’s not going to be much of a surprise since data scientists were brought up is the fact that Scala is used for machine learning also.

Seeing all of this, you can pretty much tell there is a mass of developers that use this language.

To complement this, big-name companies the likes of Twitter, Nubank Walmart, Meetup.com, Amazon, Google, and the one company that has my undying hatred, IBM.

I’m not sure if this is current, it may have changed when this is uploaded but as of now, 952+ companies have reported using Scala within their tech stacks.

So, yeah if you’re going to be a developer or a big-name company or even a small start-up, you’re going to be using Scala at some point. As you can see, there are many areas to scale in.

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older man dressed as Santa Clause
That’s right, this programming language is more scalable than this guy’s waist size during the holidays.
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Scala in the Wild

So, you may be wondering to yourself, “how does Scala have much of a play in our world?” Well, since it’s one of many programming languages out there you could learn, it wouldn’t be much of a surprise if I told you, it’s everywhere.

Many developers are flocking to this language for a few of its features which sets it apart from other programming languages.

Features such as but not limited to; ecosystem, being an extensible language, creation of domain-specific language or DSL, object-oriented and functional programming, along with being able to run concurrently are just to name a few.

Plus, a little perk for developers, you are not required to use a semicolon after every statement like you have to with JavaScript or Java.

Not a big deal when you’re first learning to code but tends to be annoying because the computer will let you know by bombarding you with squiggly lines and error messages.

Scala is widely used due to its scalability on Java Virtual Machine or JVM for short, this can be seen with companies such as Netflix and Alibaba.

So, with seeing the number of people who like to Netflix and chill, you probably have been scaling from the couch and not even knowing it.

photo of keyboard up close
Sticky keys reveal an interesting browser history.
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Scaling to What Degree

Thinking about trying to scale your paycheck from $0 to infinity and beyond? While I did say in the intro that you’re not going to need a degree (yes, I am aware that having one helps) you are going to be required to have a deep understanding of fundamental concepts.

Things like variables, strings, data types, and loops are some of the things you need to know in order to build projects which in turn will help you build a portfolio (having one is a key item when seeking out work because people are going to want proof of working knowledge), where paired with fixing up your resume and applying to job postings will see you begin to scale your way to ascension.

A thing to note is, learning just one programming language isn’t going to be enough to even get you to the interview but if you learn one well enough and “dip the toe” in others, you’ll be able to add and adapt which to many companies makes an ideal candidate.

However, brace yourself for the proverbial mountain pile of “thank you for your interest in our company, but we’ve decided to go with other candidates at this time” emails that are going to plague your inbox and some of which will end up in spam.

Pimpin ain’t easy…and neither is trying to find an entry-level developer job that doesn’t require 8 years of experience.

Make it make sense.

woman with head down on table in exhaustion
When you’ve countless online courses and check your email only to find your 150th rejection letter.
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Made it this far and found this to be entertaining? Then a big thanks to you and please show your support by cracking a like, sharing this with whomever, scripting a comment, or plug-in to follow.

Would like to give sincere thanks to current followers and subscribers, your support and actions mean a lot and has a play in the creation of each script.

Think you have what it takes to learn how to Scala?

Script a comment about your first-time learning Scala.

Also, if you liked this script but thinking Scala might not be a good match for you then check out my script on Java.

AI, Cloud Talk, Programming, Security, Tech

Degreeless Teams and Loose Commitments

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people looking into a laptop
Lee: Guys, I don’t like going to scriptingthewhy. Let’s just go back to work.
Jenn: Lee, you’re the intern, your opinion doesn’t matter. Now go get us coffee.
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Have you ever been on a team and no matter what or how hard any of you try, nothing seems to mesh well? You all get along and work well together but none of the ideas any of you provide for a project you’re working on yields any positive results.

Suffering the same circumstances of just being another failed new year’s resolution where either you or someone on the team falls off track by getting distracted causing scope creep.

Or no matter the pace that’s set it seems not to be fast enough and you’ll never see the project done.  How would you feel if I told you that adopting a different framework from what you’re familiar with might be the remedy to your and your teams’ problems?

As I have mentioned in a script before, this might be another process you will come to trust.

young running down the road
Tim: I have to be more agile; I can do that with sprints.
Z-Daddy: That’s the wrong agile, you don’t have to do CrossFit.
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Full Team Full Sprint

What’s this crazy new process, this insane new wave of thinking that’s going to see your party moving along so you can get done sooner rather than later?

You might want to switch to Agile. No, not being more agile although I see what they did there, and you will too. Agile methodology is a way to manage a project by breaking it up into several phases.

In software development, Agile practices include requirements discovery and solution improvement through a collaborative effort of self-organizing and cross-functional teams with their customers or end users.

Instead of betting everything on a “big bang” launch, an agile team delivers work in small, but consumable, increments. I know what you’re thinking, no this would not work at a casino if you tried this approach. In fact, this would see you being asked to leave the table with two well-dressed gentle-for-right-now-men wanting to “question” you and you’d be lucky to leave with a broken hand.

The Agile Manifesto for software development was a declaration of unifying philosophy from frameworks like Scrum, Extreme programming, and Feature-Driven Development (FDD). The Agile Manifesto greatly departed from the waterfall-style project management approaches that were widely in use prior to that time.  

The Waterfall methodology is a project management approach that emphasizes a linear progression from the beginning to the end of a project. This methodology, often used by engineers, is front-loaded to rely on careful planning, detailed documentation, and consecutive execution.

Translation, there’s an Everest amount of paperwork to do. So, if you look at it in a corporate way, Smokey the bear was right. You can prevent forest fires…by simply cutting down the forest.

Now, the following is in their words, and their wording is well… going to sound a bit interesting; “We are uncovering better ways to developing software by doing it and helping others do it.” Yes, this does sound like a spank me daddy moment. Come get yourself a Scrum Daddy. Okay, that was cringe, I’m sorry. Back to the manifesto,

Through this work, we have come to value:

  • Individuals and interactions over processes and tools
  • Working software over comprehensive documentation
  • Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
  • Responding to change over following a plan

That is, while there is value in the items on the right, we value the items on the left more.”

I think everyone would agree to add one more line saying, “pay to merit over able to punch the clock.”

a young man delivering items
Look at this and try not to have a Karen moment.
Karen: Sir, you don’t live here.
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Taste of Agile

You may be wondering, who in their left-wing corporate America mind follows this way of thinking to get a project done? Well, you’ll be glad to know that there are a decent number of companies that use teams who operate in this fashion.

Agile is the best methodology to follow in cases of complex projects. A complex project may have various interconnected phases and each stage may be dependent on many others rather than one as in simple projects.

The most well-known companies that use Agile methodology are Apple and IBM (yes, we’re still not on speaking terms), Microsoft, and Procter & Gamble. However, there are many other companies that use agile as well, to great effect.

Yes, I know it might not taste like it, but you will be surprised to know McDonald’s uses Agile.  As you can figure Agile methods are preferred for large and complex projects.

So the next time you decide to go get yourself some McDonald’s, take a big bite and don’t chew, I want to watch you from the corner of the room swallow and take comfort in knowing a team of people puts that juicy maybe-it’s-real-meaty big bun action together for you to enjoy.  

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two men sitting at a computer
Mark: Eric… I know it looks like you’re working on the project, but looking at your tabs I also see you’re…
Eric: It’s Stack Overflow, they just turned their colors to black and orange.
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Fixing Loose Ends

Ever thought about who and how this framework helps? Me neither until now. The Agile framework is a powerful tool that helps managers, team members, and clients work more efficiently and more effectively while delivering the highest quality product within the constraints of the budget.

You can think of this as an assembly line in a factory where the belt can go back and forth instead of just one direction. Agile produces important metrics like lead time, cycle time, and throughput that measure the team’s performance, identify bottlenecks and make data-driven decisions to correct them.

It seems like a lot of back and forth, but this is better than pushing a product out only for it to come back with a monolith list of items to fix. If you worked in the market of flipping houses, you will know that it’s the worst when you’re about to put the house on the market only to find more things that need fixing.  

young lady in graduation outfit.
Sarah: You mean I didn’t have to get a degree to join an agile team?
Z-Daddy: No, nor do you have to join CrossFit.
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Framing Degreeless

Do you need a degree to be Agile? Well with this being a framework and not job placement, you don’t need a degree however, many employers prefer candidates with a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, such as Information Technology.

The need to have a degree in the IT field or any other fields where people have displayed, they can land a job or start their careers without one, has always been one of those weird barriers put in place.

It’s like having a bouncer at a nightclub and to get passed him, you simply dress as a ladyboy. Companies, it’s okay, you don’t have to be in the closet anymore, stop keeping the degreeless jobless.

My ranting aside, you don’t have to be a person or team in IT to be introduced to Agile. Each team will benefit from collaboration, recurring interactions, recognizing failure early, incrementing fast results, and finally continuous learning. If you wanted a position, you could become a Scrum Daddy.

Scrum Daddies should have significant work experience working with Agile as well as excellent teamwork and communication skills. Always remember to be a good daddy and bond with your children.

older gentleman seat at laptop and on phone
Honey, we don’t have to worry about my hip, some guy named Z-Daddy said we were thinking of the wrong agile. So, cancel the CrossFit subscription.
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Made it this far and found this to be entertaining? Then a big thanks to you and please show your support by cracking a like, sharing this with whomever, scripting a comment, or plug-in to follow.

Would like to give sincere thanks to current followers and subscribers, your support and actions mean a lot and has a play in the creation of each script.

Do you find the Agile framework interesting?

Script a comment below about how you think it could help you.