Being a computer programmer comes with a lot of perks. This includes the ability to command a computer to do practically anything and everything. Since the role involves communicating to a computer in a language that it understands, programmers are required to learn and understand at least some (if not all) computer programming languages.
Each language has specific features. JavaScript is one of the many popular languages in computer programming. To be very productive in applying these languages, there are certain tools designed to help the process. Read further and find out the six tools that changed JavaScript for me.
1. XState
XState helps in building and interpreting finite statecharts and state machines. Many believe XState, which is like a library for JavaScript and TypeScript, is a strong competitor of Redux.
The reason for this is that Redux, in most cases, does largely half of what XState is capable of.
For instance, if you find yourself producing state machines in all React components while using Redux for the infinite or extended state, you might want to give XState a chance.
State machines implement a particular set of "rules" on a logic structure in a way that allows for a finite amount of states. There are a limited number of events that are able to trigger transitions between states.
And then an extension of finite state machines, statecharts, offer many advancements and ease the width of many problems stemming from the use of flat finite state machines. Such problems include communication with machines, delay in transitions, transient states, nested states, parallel states and several others.
2. Visual Studio Code (VSCode)
This tool is one of the best code front-end editors, reconceived, optimized and free for developing and correcting contemporary applications.VSCode can boast of enviable features including brilliant code completion, support for debugging, snippets, syntax highlighting, embedded Git and code refactoring.
It’s established on open source and operates everywhere. Yes, it thrives on almost every operating system and since it comes with a lot of great features, there is no need to worry about the support of any platform.
Although it works well with JavaScript, when running with TypeScript, the result is beautiful, fast, high quality, you're able to find errors before compiling is complete. It is almost like having x-ray eyes, not missing much.
3. TypeScript
TypeScript is a superset of JavaScript that acts in accordance with plain JavaScript. It is mainly purposed for the establishment of large software applications and source-to-source compiles to JavaScript. With the potential for errors in coding, having a tool like TypeScript that catches errors during trans compilation is awesome! This means you get to minimize the number of errors that occur while coding.
Although it takes some time to get the hang of it, once you do, it makes it all worth it. TypeScript is cooperative with Object-Oriented and Functional programming. With Types, several conversations dissipate, and you’re able to save the time people would usually take to understand your code.
Also, you’re able to effectively utilize your coding resources to their full extent courtesy type constraint while essentially discovering how to use a whole library without applying a manual.
There is still room for more development with Types in TypeScript, but even with what we have currently already massively equips the front-end. Having it is like running a race on foot with three times the speed of a race car. You can use types to create and implement the proper use of interfaces.
As TypeScript advances, it is quickly adopting fresh ECMAScript features. And so instead of using JavaScript in its plain form, why not try TypeScript which also has a lot of features to make the JavaScript experience bearable.
4. React
React is basically a front-end open source library for JavaScript that has features responsible for developing user interfaces or user interface (UI) elements.
It can be utilized as a base in the building of mobile or single-page applications. It is not a whole framework but encompasses just the right amount of pizazz in assisting the development of user interfaces.
Furthermore, it supports functional programming, something every coder will appreciate. It communicates complex concepts with minimum syntax.
It only gets better with each new edition as more Javascript Style Sheets (JSS) is trans compiled to stable Cascading Style Sheets and more TSX is enhanced.
5. FP-TS
You could view FP-TS as a library for typed functional programming in TypeScript. It assists programmers using TypeScript with well-known patterns and trustworthy abstractions from typed functional languages.
It is a very much needed tool in effectively utilizing TypeScript. When using an ordinary pipe with this tool, intermediary variables are not needed because data flows seamlessly unlike when Ramda’s pipe is used and lots of errors are detected. The contrast is that FP-TS puts pipe input first rendering the inference of TypeScript a satisfactory one.
In JavaScript, Ramda’s style is absolutely justifiable idiomatic code, but TypeScript’s absence of right-to-left inference renders it “invalid” or in some cases, hard to use. And so, to save yourself some trouble, you could try using the FP-TS version of pipe in place of Ramda’s.
With FP-TS, you will rarely encounter null and undefined errors because of its idiomatic and complete support for the administration of Option. Option basically shows whether or not there might be value.
6. Ramda
This is practically a serviceable reference centre for JavaScript programmers. It is what many will call a utility library. Ramda focuses on invariability and functions free of side effects since its functions are mechanically curried, which allows for the development of freshness. It's built with regard for composition and attention on a well-designed and consistent interface.
It also serves as a good utility library that helps you avoid repeating codes even when you’re starting a whole new project because with Ramda you’re sure to find all generic recyclable functions with an extraordinary practical-first interface.
Ramda is great with transducer functions. Transducers eliminate the weight of performance when an array of functions are combined. And so, with Ramda having this feature, it means it allows for maximum productivity in getting quick responses. This is because it allows for you to compile as many functions as possible, and it will only recapitulate the pile and apply the stacked functions once instead of several times.
We hope you found this article useful. Here at Cloud Employee, we assist both developers looking for work and companies looking to hire dedicated offshore developers across many technologies. Talk to us, learn more how Cloud Employee works, or see our Developer Pricing Guide.
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