Hot New Web Dev – August 2024

Welcome to Hot Web Dev August 2024, featuring the latest technology and web development news. This month’s edition covers JavaScript and PHP which you may love to hate. Learning resources include React mastery and Laravel goodness and the tool of the month is an algorithm godsend.

JavaScript is Hot, but PHP is not

JavaScript is hot, but PHP is not. I have seen a common rise in PHP haters in the last decade with echoes among JavaScript fans. With people following trends such as JavaScript for web development and the increasing popularity of Node JS frameworks and libraries such as React and Vue, this left PHP well behind in the popularity stakes. PHP has fought back in recent years with major updates to its ecosystem increasing its speed, with a faster JIT compiler, and adding features such as better error handling.

Why would you choose PHP? Building web pages in the early 2000s with PHP was relatively common as you could write HTML code inside your PHP files. As PHP is a server-side language you could also execute PHP scripts to work with contact forms, guestbook for example.

You will probably find that no one uses PHP in this way anymore. There are many JavaScript frameworks and even more tools to build and execute code. It can seem like a minefield to any new developer. Composer is the only package manager for PHP and it does its job. WordPress and Laravel are the dominant players in the PHP world and as a result, PHP is still up there because of it. Why don’t you give it a try?

Learning Resources

It’s that time of year again, and many students will embark on their first year in advanced education. If you are going into your first year at college or university, you can find the best student resources and perks.

Back on to the subject of PHP and Laravel. Program with Gio has published a YouTube series on learning Laravel. If you fancy learning a JavaScript Framework you can find the ultimate React zero-to-hero in 50 lessons.

Coding Resources

AI has been all the rage since ChatGPT arrived in 2022. Is AI and Natural Language Processing your thing? You may want to look at the costs and resources required to create a GPT model. If you are a visual person working with a MySQL database and struggle to understand the output that it gives. Try MySQL Visual Explain to help understand what’s going on with the detailed queries and output it in a more user-friendly manner.

The role of a web designer has changed over the last twenty years with the role more in-depth than just creating a website with HTML and CSS. To stay on top of things there are many must-have skills to master more than web design.

WOW Tool Of The Month

This month’s tool of the month is more of a reference tool in the form of a website that gathers a list of algorithms together in one place. The Algorithms offer popular algorithms such as search algorithms including binary search and sorting algorithms such as quick sort. Other categories include machine learning, graphs, neural networks and many more. Many of the algorithms come in varying programming languages including the popular Python, JavaScript and Java as well as C, C++ and many more.

The Best of the Rest in August 2024

• Want To Level Up Your C++? Build These C++ Projects!
• Linux File System and Permissions: A Detailed Guide
• Mastering CSS: Essential Tips for Web Developers
• Here are the 10 Best Practices to Enhance Web Security
• 7 Tips for Taking Your SEO Strategy to the Next Level in 2024