Category: Tech Insights

In this article, the goal is to show how to implement drag-and-drop of 2D shapes using MVVM pattern with PRISM and SQLite database. 2D Shape Drag and Drop in WPF using MVVM, PRISM, and SQLite” involves building a graphical user interface (GUI) for a desktop application in Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF). The goal of this project is to implement a drag-and-drop feature for 2D shapes, which is a common requirement in many applications. The application will be built using the MVVM (Model-View-ViewModel) design pattern, which is a widely used design pattern in WPF and Silverlight applications. MVVM separates the presentation logic from the business logic, making the code easier to maintain and test. The project will also make use of Microsoft Prism, which is a set of libraries that help developers build WPF, .Net MAUI, and Silverlight applications that are loosely coupled, maintainable, and testable. Prism provides an implementation of MVVM and provides additional services such as event aggregation and module management. Finally, the application will use SQLite as the database technology for storing data.  

2D Shape Drag and Drop in WPF 

The drag-and-drop facilities provided by WPF are designed to be highly flexible and customizable to support a wide variety of drag-and-drop scenarios. Drag-and-drop supports manipulating objects within a single application or between different applications. Dragging-and-dropping between WPF applications and other Windows applications is also fully supported. The requirement for 2D Shape Drag and Drop in WPF stems from the need for a user-friendly interface for manipulating and arranging shapes in the application. This functionality will enable users to easily arrange shapes according to their needs, improving the overall usability and user experience of the application. 

MVVM design pattern 

MVVM is a design pattern that separates the presentation logic from the business logic, improving the maintainability and testability of the code. By using MVVM, the application will have a clean and well-structured architecture, making it easier to understand, modify, and extend in the future. This pattern ensures the UI of the application and the underlying presentation and business logic is separated into three separate classes: the view, which encapsulates the UI and UI logic; the view model, which encapsulates presentation logic and state; and the model, which encapsulates the application’s business logic and data. 

Microsoft Prism 

Microsoft Prism is a framework that provides a set of libraries and guidance for building WPF applications using MVVM. It helps to simplify the implementation of complex MVVM scenarios and provides a set of common components and services that can be reused throughout the application. 

Implementation of Microsoft Prism in the application 

In the 2D Shape Drag and Drop application, Microsoft Prism will be used to implement the MVVM design pattern, handle navigation, and manage the dependency injection. This will improve the overall structure and maintainability of the code. 

SQLite Database 

SQLite is an open-source, lightweight, self-contained, and zero-configuration relational database management system. It is a popular choice for embedded systems, mobile devices, and web applications because of its small size, low memory footprint, and high performance. SQLite supports the SQL standard, including transactions, ACID compliance, and multiple concurrent connections. It can be used to store, organize, and retrieve data in a structured manner, making it a powerful tool for managing data in applications. The SQLite database can be used in C#.NET applications with the help of ADO.NET, LINQ, and Entity Framework. In the context of the project “2D Shape Drag and Drop in WPF using MVVM, Microsoft Prism, and Sqlite,” the Sqlite database would be used to store and manage the data related to the shapes being dragged and dropped on the WPF canvas. It is ideal for use in desktop applications and can be used to store and manage the data for the 2D Shape Drag and Drop application.  

Implementation of Sqlite in the application 

In the 2D Shape Drag and Drop application, Sqlite will be used to store and manage the data related to the shapes and their arrangements. The SQLite database can be managed using ADO.NET, which enables developers to interact with the database using C# code. 

Drag and Drop functionality  

The drag-and-drop functionality will allow users to select a shape, drag it to a desired location in the user interface, and drop it to complete the arrangement. This functionality will be implemented in the WPF application using the MVVM design pattern and Microsoft Prism. 

Implementation of the drag-and-drop functionality 

The drag-and-drop functionality will be implemented using event handlers in the ViewModel and event triggers in the View. The ViewModel will handle the logic for the dragging and dropping of shapes, while the View will display the shapes and handle the user interactions. The data related to the shapes and their arrangements will be stored in the SQLite database and managed using Entity Framework Core. 

Steps to demonstrate the implementation of 2D drag and drop shapes using MVVM, Prism, and SQLite 

• Set up the project using the MVVM pattern and Prism framework. 
• Create a SQLite database to store the shapes and their positions. 
• Create a shape model class that includes properties such as shape type, position, and size. 
• Create a view model that interacts with the shape model and the SQLite database. This view model should have methods for adding, updating, and deleting shapes. 
• Create a view that displays the shapes and allows users to drag and drop them. 
• Use the view model to update the shape model and SQLite database when a shape is moved. 
• Implement the drag-and-drop functionality using events or commands, depending on the framework you are using. 

Note that this is a high-level overview and you will need to do further research and implementation to achieve the full solution. 

Database Configuration and Development Tools 

Database Configuration 

This section considers the Database Management System Used in the development process. 

• SQLite Database 
• Name: Shape_db 

Development Tools 

• Visual Studio 2022  
• Microsoft Windows  
• C#.Net  
• Dependencies/Libraries Below PRISM packages are for creating loosely coupled application and adding the color picker to the toolbar  

PROJECT LAYOUT IN VISUAL STUDIO 

DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT APPROACH 

Design Patterns  

The following Software development patterns were adopted for the development of this test project 

• Structural Pattern: Adapter Pattern, Decorator Pattern  
• Behavioral Patterns: Strategy Pattern, Command Pattern, Observer Pattern etc. 
• Creational Patterns: Singleton Pattern 

Development Approach 

Object Oriented Development Approach was adopted to keep the implementation process of the project clean, easily maintainable, and readable. 

GUI Descriptions 

Start-Up Window 

• The application start-up Window contains a toolbar, Toolbox, drawing Canvas and Items Pane
• The toolbox contains the shown WPF controls 

DRAGGING SHAPES TO CANVAS 

The user should be able to drag an item from the toolbox and place it on the drawing canvas. The selected item should be placed on the user’s drop location.

BLUE COLOR HIGHLIGHTING ON A SELECTED SHAPE 

The enables the user to select any item on the canvas by clicking it, then a blue rectangle will appear around any selected item(s) and selected item(s) can also be dragged around the canvas. 

STROKE COLOR 

The Stroke Color tool on the toolbar was used to change the border color of the selected item on the drawing canvas.  

FILL COLOR 

The Fill Color tool on the toolbar as shown below was used to change the fill color of the selected item(s) on the drawing canvas.  

ITEMS PANE 

The Items Pane displays a list of shapes. A shape is only shown if it is present on the drawing canvas. Each shape was only displayed once on the Items Pane irrespective of how many times it appears on the drawing canvas.  

SELECT FIRST ITEM 

A user can select several items on the drawing canvas by selecting the appropriate shape on the Items Pane and selecting an option from the Selection Criteria tool on the toolbar as shown in Figure below. Select the first item: When this option is active, the first item of the selected shape that was dropped on the drawing canvas is selected. 

SELECT LAST ITEM 

When this option is active, the last item of the selected shape that was dropped on the drawing canvas is selected  

MIDDLE ITEM 

When this option is active, the middle item of the selected shape on the drawing canvas is selected  

If the total number of the selected shape is even, two shapes should be selected. If the total number of the selected shape is odd, one shape will be selected  

SELECT ALL ITEMS 

When this option is active, all items of the selected shape on the drawing canvas are selected  

SAVE ITEMS 

A user can save the drawing by clicking the ‘Save’ button. When this happens, the current drawing is saved to a SQLite database. 

LOAD 

A user can load a saved drawing by clicking the “Load”button in order to populate the drawing Area with all the saved shapes in the SQLite Database. 

In conclusion

The use of MVVM, PRISM, and SQLite in this project provides a well-structured and maintainable codebase, making it easier to implement the drag-and-drop feature for 2D shapes in WPF. 

The Model-View-ViewModel (MVVM) pattern is a software design pattern used to separate the presentation layer from the business logic in a WPF (Windows Presentation Foundation) application. This pattern was designed specifically for WPF, but it can be applied to any .NET platform, including C#. 

The MVVM is a variation of the Model-View-Controller (MVC) pattern and is used to separate the user interface logic from the business logic. In MVVM, the Model represents the data and the business logic, the View is the user interface, and the ViewModel is a mediator between the Model and the View. 

The ViewModel is responsible for exposing the data from the Model to the View, and it also takes care of any UI-related logic, such as handling user input and displaying data to the user. This allows the View to be completely unaware of the underlying Model and business logic, making it easier to maintain and test the application. 

To implement MVVM in C#, you will need to create a ViewModel class and a View class, and then bind the View to the ViewModel using data binding. Here is an example of a simple MVVM implementation in C#:  

In the above example, the ViewModel class exposes a single property called “Message”, which will be displayed in the View. The View is a WPF Window and sets its DataContext to an instance of the ViewModel. The DataContext is used to bind the View to the ViewModel. 

In the XAML code for the View, you can bind the ViewModel’s “Message” property to a TextBlock control: 

In this example, the TextBlock’s Text property is bound to the ViewModel’s “Message” property. When the ViewModel’s “Message” property changes, the TextBlock’s Text will automatically update to reflect the change. 

In figure 1 above, each of the MVVM Sections are detailed below: 

Model: This component represents the data and the business logic of an application. It is the source of truth for the state of an application, and it is responsible for storing and managing the data used by the application. 

View: This component represents the user interface of an application, and it is responsible for rendering the data provided by the model to the user. The view is only concerned with the presentation of the data and should not contain any business logic. 

ViewModel: This component acts as a bridge between the model and the view. It is responsible for exposing the data from the model to the view in a format that is easily consumable, and for handling any actions initiated by the view. The ViewModel should not contain any information about the view, but it should provide the data and behavior that the view needs to display and manipulate the model. 

In this diagram, the arrows indicate the flow of data and updates between the components. The Model contains the data and business logic of the application, and the ViewModel acts as an intermediary between the Model and View. The View displays the data from the ViewModel, and the ViewModel updates the View when the data changes. 

The key advantage of the MVVM pattern is that it provides a clean separation of concerns between the Model, View, and ViewModel. This makes it easier to manage and maintain complex user interfaces, particularly as the application grows in size and complexity. Additionally, it makes it easier to test the application, as the Model and ViewModel can be tested independently of the View. 

In summary, the MVVM pattern is a powerful architectural pattern for building user interfaces and is well-suited for modern UI frameworks. By following the MVVM pattern, developers can enjoy the benefits of a clean, maintainable codebase, and can more easily test and debug their applications 

The Stepwise creation of the Model-View-ViewModel Pattern 

• Step 1: Create a ViewModel class. The ViewModel is the core of the MVVM pattern and acts as the intermediary between the Model and the View. It holds the data that needs to be displayed in the View and provides methods for updating the Model. 
• Step 2: Define the Model. The Model represents the data and the business logic of your application. It should contain the data that needs to be displayed in the View, and any methods or operations that manipulate that data. 
• Step 3: Connect the View and ViewModel Once the ViewModel and Model are defined, the next step is to connect the View and ViewModel. This can be done using data binding, which is a mechanism that automatically updates the View when the data in the ViewModel changes. 
• Step 4: Implement the View The View is responsible for displaying the data in the ViewModel. It should be designed to be as simple as possible, and should only contain the necessary UI elements for displaying the data. 

Summary  

Model-View-ViewModel (MVVM) is a design pattern used in software development that separates an application into three distinct components: model, view, and view model. The purpose of this separation is to make the code more maintainable and testable, and to separate concerns. 

You’ve been searching for a job for a while now and just got your invitation to an interview. Congrats! What are you supposed to do next? Don’t take your first touchpoint with the recruiter lightly. It may be just the first stepping stone in your potential career at the company, but an important one at that.  

In the first round of the interviewing process, you will most likely be competing with a large pool of equally experienced professionals – according to Zippia research, up to 20% depending on the number of applicants and their qualifications – that will be condensed into a shortlist of candidates for the second round. That’s why you should start asking yourself how to best present yourself to your interviewer, what are some common first interview questions, and start preparing right now.  

The first interview with a recruiter, also known as a screening interview, is a meaningful conversation that helps identify the best candidates for further consideration. It allows candidates to demonstrate their qualifications and suitability for the job. Being well-prepared for this interview is crucial because the recruiter’s decision determines if you will move forward in the hiring process. Here’s where this preparation guide might be useful! Continue reading to get the insights, tips and tricks to pass the interview with flying colors. 

How to Prepare for Your First Interview 

Before heading out to your first interview, here are a few things you might want to do to come prepared: 

• Prepare answers for typical interview questions. It’s easy to find online lists of typical interview questions to get a peek at what you may expect once you meet up with the recruiter for the first time. Look for resources created by recruiters themselves, as who else is the best candidate to give you all the insight and relevant information on the topic? In fact, this is the exact reason why this article has come into being. 
   
• Practice speaking your responses aloud. Confidence is a trait that you want to express during the interview. If you are second-guessing yourself and don’t want to trip over your answers, practice them ahead of time. 
   
• Thoroughly investigate the company and position you’ve applied to. Have a clear understanding of why you have chosen to apply for the position, what made the company stand out, how you see yourself fit into the team, etc. This shows your enthusiasm and makes the time you spend with the recruiter during the interview worthwhile for both parties. 
   
• Review your resume. Get ready to be asked about your experience. This is the information that you should know off the top of your head. However, it’s a good idea to go over it before the interview and look at your work experience with the eyes of a recruiter. Does your resume showcase your expertise? Is your experience consistent and industry relevant? You may want to customize your resume to fit the job you are applying to so that it is a good representation of yourself as a professional.

Common First Interview Questions 

To help you in your preparation, here is a list of 14 common interview questions frequently asked by recruiters in the initial screening process. By knowing these questions and preparing answers to them, you could improve your chances of getting the job you want.

1. Can you tell me about yourself? 

This common question helps the interviewer evaluate your communication abilities and get an overview of your background and experiences.  

2. What do you know about our company? 

Don’t hesitate to do your research before showing up at the interview. This shows your sincere interest in the company and its mission and helps you present yourself as a good fit for the role. 

3. What interests you the most in our position?   

By answering this question, show your enthusiasm and understanding of the position, highlighting how your goals and values align with specific aspects of the job.  

4. What motivates you professionally?   

Highlight what motivates and engages you, whether it’s the challenges, personal growth, making a meaningful impact, or working in a collaborative environment.  

5. What made you decide to switch to another company?  

It’s important to maintain a positive tone throughout your response and avoid speaking negatively about your previous company or colleagues. Focus on the opportunities and growth the new company offers.  

6. What are your professional goals for the next 1 or 2 years?   

When answering the question, it’s important to demonstrate your commitment and dedication to the role, as well as your ambition and alignment with the company’s needs.  

7. Could you provide more information about your experience with …?  

Share details about your specific experience, expertise, or any relevant accomplishments related to this question. To prepare for this question, think about your expertise and align it with the job description of the company.  

8. Could you describe a project in which you were involved?  

Please provide a small description of a specific project you have previously been involved in. Include information about the project’s purpose, your role, responsibilities, and key challenges you faced. Take this question as your chance to showcase how you can bring value to the company, deliver valuable results, and problem-solve.  

9. Could you please provide more details about the team composition of your most recent project?   

This should include information about the team hierarchy, roles, responsibilities, and the number of team members involved. Kindly highlight your understanding of the team dynamics and structure within the project.  

10. What is your level of proficiency in English?   

This question is commonly asked when applying for international or English-speaking business opportunities. It’s important to accurately evaluate your skills and provide an honest response. You may mention relevant language proficiency certification, experience working in an English-speaking environment, communicating with international clients, etc. 

11. What are your salary expectations for this position?   

Before the interview investigate the market, evaluate your value as a specialist, and consider the total compensation package, including benefits, bonuses, vacation period, and professional development opportunities. A good idea would be to provide some specific number or a range, however, still be flexible.  

  12. What type of employment contract are you able to sign?   

It’s important to research and understand different types of contracts available based on the country and context. Think about your preferences in advance while being open to alternative options.  

13. How soon can you start a new job after accepting a Cooperation Offer?   

Think about your existing commitments and any practical factors that might influence your start date. At the same time, it’s good to show your flexibility in meeting the organization’s needs if necessary.  

  14. Do you have any questions for me about the company or the role?  

Before the interview, make sure to research the company. Look into their mission, values, recent news, and job description. This will help you come up with relevant questions.  

By preparing well for the interview with the recruiter, you will be able to make a positive impression and stand out among other candidates for this position. 

Questions to Ask Your Potential Employer During Your First Interview 

The interview isn’t over with you answering all the tricky questions and logic puzzles. After all, it is a conversation. So, once the recruiter asks if you have any questions, take the chance to show just how seriously you are considering this position. Show your sincere interest and investment in the job. Here are some examples to ask a recruiter at the end of your first job interview: 

• Can you provide more details about the responsibilities and day-to-day tasks of the role? 
• What are the key skills and qualities you are looking for in the ideal candidate? 
• How does the company support professional development and career growth for employees? 
• Can you tell me more about the company culture and values? 
• How does the company measure success and performance for this position? 
• What are the biggest challenges someone in this role may face? 
• How do you support work-life balance for your employees? 
• Can you describe the typical career path for someone in this position? 
• How does the company handle remote work or flexible work arrangements? 
• Can you tell me more about the company’s mission and long-term goals? 

Remember to make this a conversation, practice active listening and ask relevant questions.  

Conclusion 

While you are still in the recruitment stage for a new job, your first task is to prepare for the first interview and cover all your bases. You need to be well-informed about the company and position you’ve applied for, and just as well you need to know how to present yourself as the best candidate for the job. Review common first interview questions and take your time to prepare for that first meeting with the recruiter you’ve been waiting for. Luckily, recruiters are just as interested in talking to qualified professionals, so you can engage in a conversation and derive a lot of value at each stage of the interviewing process if you take your time to prepare and treat it as part of the job. 

After the interview, a good idea would be to send a thank you email to the recruiter, express your appreciation for the interviewer’s time and consideration, reiterate your interest in the position, reiterate key qualifications that make you a strong fit for the position, and address any concerns that popped up during the interview by providing clarifications and extra information in a positive and concise manner. 

Good luck with your job search! If you fancy learning more about opportunities at Symphony Solutions, check out our open vacancies. 

Full-stack developers are one of the most sought-after professions in the IT industry. They are typically proficient in the front and back end of engineering and development of web process applications, with some experience and knowledge in UX design and in database architecture. For the flexibility and extensive skill set, full-stack developers are one of the most high-paying jobs in the IT industry. The estimated number of open roles in the US alone as of March 2023 concluded to around 4,452 according to Glassdoor, with the annual income ranging from $63,000 to $190,000.  

Who is a Full-Stack Developer?  

A web developer or engineer proficient in both the front-end and back-end of web development is known as a full-stack developer. In this way, they offer a service from start to finish and can work on projects that involve databases and creating websites that are visible to users. On the front end, they are responsible for the user interface, meaning the visual elements of the website or what the end user sees, and browser compatibility. On the back end, they are responsible for the maintenance of the underlying components, such as servers, APIs, and databases. Full-stack developers might also collaborate with clients during the project planning phase.  

In general, full-stack developers have a broad range of skills and are responsible for the entire development process of a website or application, from design to deployment.  

What Does a Full-Stack Developer Do?  

The role of a full-stack developer on a project calls for a hefty list of tasks and responsibilities on the part of the developer. When working full-stack, one might be involved in developing different app components and functionality, creating the visual part of the website and optimizing these websites so they work both in web browsers, on desktops, and on other devices like smartphones and tablets.  

Let’s explore what skills and the learning path an upcoming Full-Stack Developer might need to pursue.  

Front End:  

HTML  

The term HTML or Hypertext Markup Language refers to the markup language which is used to create the structure of a webpage. It is one of the strongest languages for building websites and is easy to learn. Tags are used to represent the HTML elements. On the website, those tags create the structure and act as placeholders for the page content such as text, images, and other media.  

CSS  

CSS or Cascading Style Sheets is a declarative styling language that is used to establish what the website is going to look like. Selectors in CSS are patterns used to select the elements on an HTML page and rules that specify the styles to be applied to the selected elements. This way you can go through the website elements previously determined by the HTML tags, and give them a certain look in terms of layout, color scheme, style, etc. Note that CSS is a styling language, and it doesn’t change the structure of the website, that’s the job of HTML. Additionally, while CSS is used to enhance the visual representation of a webpage, it doesn’t add any functionality.  

jQuery  

jQuery is a JavaScript open-source library which is a collection of JavaScript functions. It can be used to create code that is easy to read, concise, and reusable. jQuery functions can be used to make the navigation and manipulation of the Document Object Model (DOM) easier, which is the structure of a website represented as a tree-like structure, and to perform common tasks such as event handling, animation, and making AJAX requests.  

AJAX  

Ajax is a full-stack web programming concept that lets web applications send and receive information from servers without requiring a full-page refresh. Which allows web applications to retrieve data from the server in the background, without interrupting the user’s interaction with the page. It utilizes XML, JSON, HTML, and JavaScript to assist in the creation of web applications that are better, faster, and more interactive.   

ReactJS  

ReactJS is a JavaScript library that is used for creating user interfaces. It is particularly useful for full-stack developers because it enables them to reuse UI components and manage the state of those components. As well as create large and complex web applications that allow changing the data without reloading the page. React is a component-based library, which means that the developer can break down the UI into small, reusable pieces, making it easier to manage and maintain.   

Back End:  

SQL  

One of the primary tools developers use to communicate with a site database is SQL or Structured Query Language. It is an essential part of any full-stack developer’s skill set. Any system that stores data in row-and-column table formats uses SQL as its default programming language.  

Flask  

The Python web framework Flask gives developers the resources, libraries, and technologies they need to create a web application.  

Node.js  

Developers can test their JavaScript code on Node.js before deploying it to the environment. Node.js is so widely used that it has an established community where developers can go for support, and they organize conferences and events every year.  

Python  

Python is a popular computer programming language used to create software and websites, automate tasks, and analyze data.  

Ruby on Rails  

Ruby on Rails is primarily used to build web platforms. It is generally a good choice if you are looking for high performance, reliability, and fast results.  

Other Essential Skills:

Git and Github  

What distinguishes the two? To put it simply, Git is a version control system that enables you to manage and monitor the history of your source code. You can manage Git repositories with the cloud-based hosting service GitHub. GitHub is made to help you manage open-source projects that use Git in a better way.  

GitHub tracks the various modifications made to each iteration and hosts your source code projects in various programming languages. Therefore, “Git” refers to the version control system; a tool that lets developers keep track of how often their code is changed.  

Through command-line features, issues or threaded discussions, pull requests, code review, or the use of a collection of free and paid apps in the GitHub Marketplace, developers have all the tools they need to deliver better code.  

Database Storage  

You can automatically back up and protect important data with electronic data storage. Full-stack developers should have proficient knowledge of database management and understand how to work with database storage efficiently.  

Design Fundamentals  

Basic design skills are necessary to create products that give users experiences that are meaningful and relevant. That is known as user experience (UX) design. This includes the design of the entire acquisition and integration process of the product, including branding, design, usability, and function.  

Generally knowing the basics helps the full-stack developer to better understand what the end user needs and do both front and backend of a website without external help from designers.  

NPM  

For the Node JavaScript platform, the package manager NPM is used. It intelligently manages dependency conflicts and places modules where Node can find them. It can be set up to support a wide range of applications. It is typically employed for publishing, discovering, installing, and developing Node programs.  

HTTP and REST  

Web interactions like loading webpages, streaming video, and other forms of communication between web browsers and web servers are powered by HTTP, which stands for HyperText Transfer Protocol. The translator between the frontend and backend is REST, which stands for “Representational State Transfer.”  

Web Architecture  

The process of designing, developing, and putting an internet-based computer program into operation is known as web architecture. Frequently, web engineers plan these projects for a specific reason, organization or brand, as these websites contain valuable data and functionality for the client. It’s important to create a proper web architecture that would meet client requirements.  

Essential Soft Skills for a Full-Stack Web Developer  

“Likability is a soft skill that leads to hard results.”

Mo Bunnell.  

Interactions and cohesiveness of a team are just as important as writing the code. Soft skills like patience, empathy, communication, and time management are essential for developers to increase their job market value and be a good addition to any team. Full-stack web developers can also use their positive attitude to build great relationships with the clients they meet throughout their careers and expand their professional network.  

Time Management  

As a soft skill, time management is a must. The ability to properly manage your time includes meeting deadlines, prioritizing tasks, and knowing how to set goals. As an IT specialist how you manage your time with your tasks may reflect on the work of the entire team and the success of the project.  

Communication  

In the industry, effectively communicating with your teammates is the key to your success. If everybody is on par with what to do, the project will go smoothly without major blocks or setbacks. Of all the soft skills, this is probably the most important one and hardest to master. Full-Stack Developers are involved in every part of project development so it is important to be able to communicate with different team members and departments so that everyone is on the same page.  

Problem-Solving  

A set of soft skills for dealing with difficult, unexpected, or complicated workplace issues is known as problem-solving. The mastery of this skill will make you an attractive asset to any employer, even if you are applying to an entry-level position. This means that you should not only be able to recognize the problem and come up with a plan of action, but also predict any issues before they arise and act accordingly.  

Accountability  

Workplace development experts and corporate leaders alike encourage employees to “take accountability” for their role and strive for excellent performance. Therefore, accountability is one of the most widely promoted soft skills in business. When you work in a team, it is extremely important to take responsibility not only for your own tasks but the project as a whole.  

Creativity  

Creativity relates to many of the other soft skills mentioned above, such as coming up with a creative solution to communicate with your team or finding your way out of a problem. This skill can be useful in every field and industry, not only in IT. Creativity can help you work your way out of issues that you encounter every day in your work, resolve any workplace conflicts, propose ideas for the project, communicate efficiently with the client, etc.  

Where can I learn?  

In our day and age, learning to code is as simple as ever. A lot of websites offer free training from professionals, certification courses, webinars, insightful articles, and practical advice from established experts in the industry. Then there are books, podcasts, YouTube tutorials, at-home practice projects, and other traditional learning methods that can help you get closer to your professional goal. Although there are always exceptions, many full-stack developer internships are made available to students who are actively pursuing a Computer Science degree. This provides up-and-coming developers with the opportunity to earn money while learning on the job.  

If you’re just starting out in your journey to Full-Stack Development, you may want to take a look at some of the websites that offer a general overview or professional courses, like Udemy, Skillshare, freeCodeCamp, OdinProject, Simplilearn. Many of the courses are available for free but you may also want to pursue certifications from reliable companies that will get you a job easier in the future.  

Summing up  

Pursuing the path of the Full-Stack developer is not an easy task. It’s very challenging but also rewarding at the same time. The demand for professionals is increasing every year, which is one of the reasons why it is so worth it. There are many important skills that you need to acquire to get started, and you should remember that you will never really stop learning to build a successful career as a Full-stack Web Developer.  

Overview 

React has taken the world of frontend web development by storm, skyrocketing in popularity in record time. Some say it’s because Facebook is behind it, while others attribute its success to its reactive nature and deliberate decision not to include everything, forcing users to include 3rd libraries, unlike, say, Angular. Regardless of the reasons, one thing is for certain: React isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. 

Now, don’t get me wrong – React isn’t perfect. It’s not a one-size-fits-all solution and can come with some compromises (good luck with SEO if you’re using client-side rendered React apps). But for the majority of modern front-end needs, it does a darn good job. That’s why it’s important to make sure that such a widely used technology is being used in accordance with React security best practices.  

If you would like to create React app content security policy or simply need to learn more about React security, you are in the right place. In this article, I’ll be diving into the most common vulnerabilities in web applications built with React and covering some key security concepts related to JavaScript code in general. So, buckle up and get ready to beef up your React security game! 

Common Vulnerabilities in Web Applications 

If you would like to understand how to handle the security in react applications, you need to understand some of the common vulnerabilities to watch out for and know who can prevent and react to security breaches. Here are some of the vulnerabilities you should know: 

XSS Injections 

One of the most common vulnerabilities, XSS, is basically the injection of malicious JS code in the user’s browser via a web application. There are several types of XSS attacks, but to put it simply, malicious code can come from anywhere our frontend reads some data from: 

• Reflected XSS – The user clicks on a URL crafted by the attacker containing some encoded JS statements, which are then read & executed by our frontend 
• Stored XSS – Attacked has injected the DB of our app with some malicious code, and when this data is returned by the backend, our frontend tries to display it and accidentally executes it 

Normally, XSS is protected against by strict escaping of all potentially malicious inputs. In React, this escaping is done automatically when using JSX binding syntax, but still, the developer has the ability to disable this behavior and make the application vulnerable to XSS injection. 

Example: 

HTML & DOM Injections 

There are some valid scenarios where we want to manipulate the underlying DOM structure directly, although, in the majority of cases, this is a signal that we are misusing React framework. Architectural concerns aside, this also introduces some potential security risks, just as in the case of usual XSS vulnerabilities.  

Example: 

Server-Side Render Injections 

Similar to server-side SQL injections and similar, when using server-side rendered approach for React application, one may accidentally concatenate unsanitized strings to the output of ReactDOMServer.renderToString() and ReactDOMServer.renderToStaticMarkup() methods before sending it to the client for hydration. 

Vulnerable Dependencies 

This is something related not exclusively to securing React apps but any application in general. Developers should be careful about what libraries he includes in the project, as these libraries may have vulnerabilities on their own. Usually, this translates to some remote code execution exploits in the case of backend code (Log4j vulnerability as an example) or to XSS vulnerabilities on the frontend side. I’m not even talking about some malicious packages in public NPM that were harvesting sensitive data of applications that were using them 

Lazy Loading Modules 

When an attacker starts analyzing web applications for vulnerabilities, generally, his first step is to try to use the application as it is supposed to be used and understand what components it has. Even though it is not something directly related to technical security measures, it is a good practice to limit the amount of code that is sent to the user’s browser. Although this is mainly done to speed up the loading of applications and to improve performance, one more positive side effect of this lazy loading approach is to limit attacker knowledge & understanding of, for instance, whether the app has some admin console or other private modules inside. This, again, is not a definitive mechanism (for example, when using a translation library like i18next attacker can manually inspect translation strings which are usually transferred as one big JSON file, and gain an understanding from there), but it can make attackers’ life a bit harder. 

Conclusion 

Many developers are not aware of common React security vulnerabilities, but it may be an eye-opening experience to see them being exploited in action. Usually, keeping in mind that all inputs not controlled by the developer himself may be potentially malicious and sanitizing it before usage should solve the majority of potential React native security issues. This, again, is related to all development in general, not only front-end development with React. It may appear that vulnerabilities on the client side of web apps may not be as critical as, let’s say, backend-side SQL injection allowing attackers to steal all the data from the database, or access role misconfiguration, allowing a malicious user to gain admin-like permissions, but even these JS & HTML injections may result in a disastrous reputational and financial loss for the business. 

In case you have already been attacked, you may need to learn how did people react to the Equifax security breach. The case provides useful insights into how to handle security issues as they happen. 

When you design software, your code generates and uses objects, variables, and other data structures that need memory. But if you don’t manage that memory correctly, you could be in for a world of trouble. Memory leaks can cause your system to crash, deplete precious resources, and bring your performance to a screeching halt – leaving you feeling like you’re stuck in quicksand.  

To handle memory optimally, many programming languages and platforms use a process called garbage collection, an automated memory management process that identifies and frees up memory no longer used by a program. Garbage collection erases unneeded objects from a program’s memory to create room for new ones. Garbage collection has become an indispensable tool for many programming languages, such as Java, Python, C#, and JavaScript, among others. Therefore, knowing how garbage collection works and how to make the most of it is essential for any developer. 

In this guide, we’ll explore how garbage collection works and some of the most common ways it’s implemented in popular programming languages. 

What is Garbage Collection in Programming?  

Garbage collection is a process of automatic memory management in programming. This task is handled by a special Java Virtual Machine (JVM) component called the garbage collector (GC), allowing developers to focus on other parts of their code. 

The Mark & Sweep algorithm is the backbone of garbage collection. It has three main stages: 

• Mark – The garbage collector looks over the entire program’s memory area to figure out which objects are being used and which aren’t. It does this by marking every object that is currently in use. 
• Sweep – After the marking process is finished, the garbage collector removes any marked objects, showing that they are no longer being used.
• Compact – The objects that made it through the cleanup process are moved into one continuous memory block. This helps optimize memory usage. 

Using the Mark & Sweep algorithm, Python garbage collection, for instance, helps ensure that memory is used efficiently and effectively, improving your software’s overall stability and reliability. 

GC Implementations 

There are five types of GC implementations in the JVM: 

• Serial Garbage Collector 
• Parallel Garbage Collector 
• CMS Garbage Collector 
• G1 Garbage Collector 
• Z Garbage Collector 

 Let’s take a look at each one.

Serial GC 

The Serial GC employs a single thread to handle all garbage collection tasks, which makes it relatively efficient due to the absence of inter-thread communication overhead.  

In Java garbage collection, for example, the garbage collector uses a single thread to identify all live objects in the heap and then moves them to one end of the heap. This process is done while halting all application threads, known as a stop-the-world pause. Once the garbage collection Java process is complete, the application threads resume their execution. 

This GC execution type is best suited for machines with a single processor since it cannot take advantage of multiprocessor hardware. However, it can still be useful for applications with small data sets, even on multiprocessor machines.  

The Serial GC is the default GC on certain hardware and operating system configurations, and it can be explicitly enabled using the option: 

-XX:+UseSerialGC. 

Parallel GC 

The Parallel Garbage Collector (GC) is similar to the Serial GC but uses multiple threads to speed up the garbage collection process. This GC implementation is called a generational collector since it works on certain generations of objects in the memory heap. To activate the Parallel GC in the JVM, you can use the command-line option:

 -XX:+UseParallelGC.  

By default, this option will run both minor and major collections in parallel, which helps reduce garbage collection overhead. The Parallel GC is best used on multi-processor systems, so you can use the extra processing power to achieve faster and more effective garbage collection. 

CMS GC 

The Concurrent Mark Sweep (CMS) Garbage Collection (GC) is an efficient process that runs concurrently with your application and utilizes multiple threads for both minor and major GC tasks.  

As it does not compact live objects after deleting unused objects, your application experiences minimal pauses – making it a great choice for applications that require low pause times. However, running the CMS GC concurrently with an application may slow down the application’s response time.  

It’s worth noting that this GC implementation was deprecated in Java 8u and completely removed in version 14u onwards. Nevertheless, if you’re still using an older version of the program that supports it, you can enable garbage collection in Java using CMS GC using the option: 

 -XX:+UseConcMarkSweepGC 

In the case of the CMS GC, the application is paused twice. The first pause occurs during the initial mark phase, where the GC marks a live object that’s directly reachable. The second pause occurs at the end of the CMS GC phase to account for objects missed during the concurrent cycle when application threads updated the objects after CMS GC had completed. This is known as the remark phase.

G1 GC 

The Garbage First (G1) GC was designed to replace CMS GC and provide a concurrent, parallel, and incrementally compacting garbage collector with low pauses. It has a different memory layout, dividing the heap into equal-sized regions to enable multiple threads to trigger a global mark phase. It then identifies the mostly empty region and marks it as sweep/delete first.  

If an object is greater than half a region’s size, it classifies as a “humongous object” and is placed in the Old generation in a dedicated region called the humongous region. To enable G1 GC, use the option below in the command line: 

 $ java -XX:+UseG1GC 

Overall, G1 GC is ideal for large heap applications with strict latency requirements, offering low pauses and high throughput,  as it offers low pause times while still boasting high throughput. 

Z GC 

ZGC (Z Garbage Collector) is a low-latency, scalable garbage collector that was introduced as an experimental option in Java 11 for Linux. It was later made available for Windows and macOS operating systems in JDK 14 and has been promoted to production status from Java 15 onwards. 

One of the primary benefits of ZGC is that it performs all expensive operations concurrently, with pause times of no more than 10 ms. This makes it well-suited for applications that require low latency. ZGC uses load barriers with colored pointers to perform concurrent operations while threads are running, which helps keep track of heap usage. 

The core concept of ZGC is reference coloring, which means that ZGC uses metadata bits in reference to mark the state of an object. It can handle heaps ranging from 8MB to 16TB in size, and pause times do not increase with the heap, live-set, or root-set size. Like G1, ZGC partitions the heap but with the added flexibility of using regions of different sizes. 
 

To enable ZGC, the following argument can be used in JDK versions lower than 15: 

 java -XX:+UnlockExperimentalVMOptions -XX:+UseZGC Application.java 

 From version 15 on, the experimental mode is not required: 

 java -XX:+UseZGC Application.java 

It’s important to note that ZGC is not the default garbage collector. 

Conclusion  

If your program doesn’t necessitate rigid pause times, it’s recommended to take advantage of the default garbage collection programming that the JVM offers. In the majority of cases, this should work well for you. But, if you want to boost performance, you can modify the heap size accordingly. If you still need to attain the desired performance, you can customize the garbage collector depending on your application’s requirements. 

C++ and C, for example, are more primitive languages, so they don’t come with a garbage collector like Python or other languages. Memory management in these languages has to be managed manually by the programmer, using new and delete operators to allocate and deallocate memory on the heap. Although this gives the programmer greater control, it also requires more attention to programming to avoid memory leaks or dangling pointers. Some third-party libraries and tools offer C++ garbage collection features, though they are not included in the regular language. 

Overall, while many simple applications may not require you to think about garbage collection too much, it is essential for programmers who want to advance their Java skills to understand how garbage collection works. This knowledge can help you optimize your code and improve your software performance. 

This year’s World Economic Forum in Davos discussed how the cost-of-living crisis, rampant inflation, and rising unemployment, are affecting the current job market. While competition is expected to be intense, positive trends are emerging with 1 billion jobs predicted to be transformed by technology in the next decade. This underlines the importance for job seekers of knowing how to properly highlight their technical experience on a resume and increase their professional value in the job market. 

Importance of a Resume When Pursuing a Tech Job 

A resume is important for a lot of reasons, but the ultimate purpose is to get you an interview. It shows the potential employer that you are a good match for their company and for the role available. Your resume communicates your qualifications and your brand—who you are and what makes you different—to employers and recruiters. As a basic requirement for every job application, including referrals, resumes play an important role in the job search process. A well-written resume optimized to fit the role you are applying to helps you stand out and improves your chances of catching the interest of a recruiter. In a nutshell, a resume introduces you to potential employers, presents your qualifications, and secures an interview for you. It showcases your experiences, education, and skills in a standardized format which is easy for recruiters to read.  

Optimize Your Resume to Fit a Tech Role 

A skillfully written resume will help you present your years of experience in a distilled format, bringing attention to the value that a potential employee can derive from you. This is why it’s crucial to be mindful of what information you are putting on a resume, how you format it, and what message it is sending to the recruiter. 

What do recruiters look for in a resume, you ask? It depends. Different clients have different demands but in general, the areas of high interest for most recruiters are the work experience and skillset section. 

I look at the hard skills section, soft skills (sometimes inferred from the body of the resume), education (not always needed), certifications, when necessary, description of work done and the role you played in various projects contained in the resume. 

Okechukwu Sunday Ogayi, Recruitment Lead at Symphony Solutions 

Below are some tips for optimizing a resume:  

• Keep it concise: As the popular saying goes, “Less is more”. Some researchers claim that the average recruiter spends less than 10 seconds looking at a resume. To make an impression at first glance, highlight only relevant information about experience, skills and education history. No more than two pages is advised.   
• Compare with vacancies: Tailor the resume to the job by comparing it to the information in the vacancy or advert and using the relevant keywords. This step is important because most organizations now use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to screen resumes. In some cases, qualified candidates may fall through because the system does not consider their resume a match for the role.   
• Write to Fit the Role: You may wear many hats and be qualified for more than one position. This is why it is important to tweak and polish up your resume for every job posting instead of using a general resume to apply for different positions.   
• Highlight Achievements: Using the task + result format ensures that only relevant information is shared. The task + result format is a breakout from the STAR method where the Situation, Task, Action, and Result are highlighted. Focusing on only the tasks and results helps to summarize the achievement on the resume.  
• Visual Appeal: The most basic resume templates are the easiest to read. Use a simple layout and legible font. 
• Proofread: Check for spelling and grammatical errors. Wait a while and then take another look. 

‘Red flags’ or what to avoid in a resume: 

• Poor formatting; 
• Employment history without dates; 
• Multiple job changes in a short time; 
• Obvious spelling errors; 
• Listing a lot of hard skills without describing where they were used in work experiences; 
• Using fonts that are difficult to read; 
• etc. 

How to Show Your Technical Experience on a Resume 

We’ve established that tech skills and experience are what makes your resume attractive to a potential employer. What are technical skills? Why are they so important for a job seeker? 

Technical experience is the kind of skills and knowledge that you acquire when working in technology and engineering and using a complex toolset, either software or hardware, to accomplish your work tasks. 

Some of the tech skills that are in high demand in the current IT job market are: 

• Full stack development; 
• Mobile App development; 
• Manual testing; 
• Automation; 
• Big Data; 
• Cloud computing; 
• AI and ML; 
• Cybersecurity; 
• UX/UI design; 
• Technical writing; 
• and more. 

When writing your resume or CV, make sure you add a Skills section where you mention all the tech skills. Indicate the ones you are proficient in and the ones you are just familiar with. Mention where you used the listed skills in the description of work done in the Work history section. Your CV should be about things you accomplished in various job roles rather than the responsibilities you were meant to carry out. 

Tips on Making Your Resume Stand Out

• Describe and if possible, quantify your accomplishments and not just list your job responsibilities.   
• Highlight important information and relevant skillsets in the summary section.   
• Include Tech stacks used in each role, especially IT roles.   
• Use good fonts and format the resume properly. And finally, check for spelling errors.  

When applying for a job, you are aiming to fit into a well-tuned mechanism of an established team. Be mindful of the information that you are putting on your resume and how you are choosing to present it. This is a way to build up your professional persona before your potential employer even gets a chance to meet you. Show the value that you can bring to the company and the project. Showcase your industry expertise and highlight your accomplishments. 

Writing a Cover Letter for a Tech-Heavy Resume 

In addition to a resume, cover letters are increasingly growing their importance in the process of applying for a job. They are essentially a gateway to your resume. A cover letter is a one-page document that better expresses why you are a good fit for a position. Write it in a persuasive tone and focus on highlighting or providing more context to the information on your resume. Recruiters spend more time reading cover letters than resumes – 1 minute vs. 10 seconds. Considering this fact, it’s a safe bet to invest a few extra minutes into polishing up your cover letter and making it appealing. 

Your cover letter should take this format:  

1. Introduction – write a captivating introduction and express your interest in the job. The introduction is the first thing that the recruiter reads and often determines if they will read the whole letter or send it to the bin.  
2. Body – In the body of your letter, emphasize the relevant skills and achievements. You may either adopt a storytelling format or use bullet points.  
3. Conclusion – Always close the cover letter with a short appreciation note and a summary of why you are a good fit.

Also, don’t forget to indicate how you can be contacted and refer the recruiter to your resume for more information. When sending a cover letter, you are starting a conversation for potential future collaboration. Make it polite and inviting. 

Sample Cover Letters Summarizing Technical Experience 

Example of a detailed cover letter:

In Conclusion 

Properly composed, a resume becomes your entry pass to a job interview where you will be able to showcase all your skill and expertise in real time. Preparation is just as important as performance. If you have what it takes to succeed in a job position, you need to translate the same knowledge and confidence to the recruiter who first encounters you through a standard-size sheet of paper, putting you into a confined space that you need to use wisely. 

FAQs 

Microservices have become the go-to architectural style for many developers and businesses. And for good reason! Microservices allow developers to create smaller, independent units that work together seamlessly to form a larger application.  

The result? Greater scalability, flexibility, and resilience compared to traditional, monolithic architectures. In this article, we’ll dive into the world of .NET microservices and show you how to take advantage of this powerful approach. So, buckle up, and let’s explore how to build microservices on .NET together!  

Building Microservices with .NET 

Before explaining this process, here is a microservices using .NET core code example: 

The microservices using .NET core code sample above have a single endpoint for retrieving a MyModel object by ID. The controller relies on an interface IMyService to retrieve the MyModel object, and this interface is executed by a separate class MyService. the separation enables the easy swapping of the implementation of the service if there is a need to change the underlying data source or modify the behavior of the source. 

.NET provides several tools and frameworks to build microservices. One of the most popular is ASP.NET Core, which is a cross-platform, open-source framework for building modern, scalable web applications. It provides a powerful set of features and tools for building highly scalable and performant microservices. Here are some key steps for building microservices with ASP.NET Core: 

1. Choose an architecture: Microservices can be built using a variety of architectural patterns. It’s important to choose the right architecture for your needs, considering factors such as scalability, security, and manageability. 

2. Design your API: A microservice’s API is its interface to the rest of the world, so it’s important to design it carefully. ASP.NET Core provides a flexible set of tools for building RESTful APIs, including support for JSON, XML, and other data formats. 

3. Define data models: Microservices often require the storage and retrieval of data. ASP.NET Core provides support for a variety of data stores, including relational databases, NoSQL databases, and in-memory data stores. You’ll need to define the data models that your microservices will use, taking into account factors such as scalability and performance. 

4. Write the code: Once you’ve defined your API and data models, you’re ready to start writing code. ASP.NET Core provides a rich set of libraries and tools for building microservices, including support for dependency injection, logging, and configuration. 

Another important aspect of building microservices is communication between services. To facilitate communication, you can use a variety of technologies, including HTTP, gRPC, or messaging queues. You can also use libraries such as the .NET HttpClient to make HTTP calls to other services or the .NET gRPC Client to make gRPC calls. 

Finally, it’s important to consider testing your microservices to ensure they work as expected. You can use tools such as xUnit or NUnit to write unit tests for your services, and you can also use integration tests to test communication between services. In a microservices architecture, integration tests are especially important because they allow you to test the communication between services. For example, you might write an integration test to verify that a service can successfully call another service and receive a response. This can help you catch problems with the API design or with the data being passed between services. 

Deploying Microservices with .NET 

After creating microservices using .NET core, you’ll need to deploy them to a production environment. There are several options for deploying microservices, including on-premises, in the cloud, or using a combination of both. 

For cloud deployment, you can use services such as Microsoft Azure or Amazon Web Services (AWS). These services provide a variety of options for deploying and scaling microservices, including virtual machines, containers, and serverless functions. You can use tools such as Docker or Kubernetes to package and deploy your services as containers, which can simplify the deployment process and provide greater flexibility and scalability. 

Deploying microservices using .NET Coreinvolves several steps that must be performed to ensure successful deployment and smooth running of microservices in a production environment. 

5. Package and containerize the microservices: This step involves building microservices using ASP.NET core 5.0 and docker. This allows the microservices to run consistently across different environments and helps with easy deployment. 

6. Publish the container images: After the microservices have been containerized, the next step is to publish the container images to a container registry like Docker Hub or Amazon Elastic Container Registry (ECR). This makes the container images available for deployment.

7. Deploy the microservices to a cluster: The microservices can be deployed to a cluster of servers running a container orchestration platform like Kubernetes. This allows for easy scaling, management, and monitoring of the microservices. 

8. Configure and manage the microservices: Once the microservices have been deployed, they need to be configured and managed. This includes setting up environment variables, secrets, and configuration files, as well as monitoring the health and performance of the microservices. 

9. Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD): To automate the deployment process and ensure that the microservices are always up to date, a CI/CD pipeline can be set up. This allows for the automatic building, testing, and deployment of the microservices whenever code changes are made. 

It’s important to note that deploying microservices or scoping and organizing .NET microservices using event storming or other means, can be complex and requires careful planning and consideration of factors such as scalability, security, and reliability. However, by following best practices and utilizing the right tools, it’s possible to deploy microservices with .NET effectively and efficiently. 

Another option for building microservices using .NET is to use a platform-as-a-service (PaaS) provider. Platform as a Service (PaaS) is a cloud computing model that provides a platform for deploying and running applications without the need for managing infrastructure. PaaS providers offer a complete solution for deploying and managing applications, from the operating system and middleware to the application itself. This makes PaaS a convenient option for deploying microservices, as it takes care of many of the operational and management tasks, freeing developers to focus on writing code. 

Conclusion 

As established in the article, the benefits of using interfaces microservices .NET core include the provision of a flexible, scalable, and resilient approach to application development and deployment. By using .NET and its associated tools and frameworks, you can easily build and deploy microservices to meet the demands of your business. Whether you’re deploying on-premises, in the cloud, or using a combination of both, there are several options available to help you achieve your goals. With the right tools and approach, you can create microservices using .NET that deliver the performance and reliability your customers’ demand. 

What are the SOLID principles, why do we need them, and how to approach them correctly? 

In software engineering, if you want to have understandable, flexible, and maintainable object-oriented design SOLID principles is the direction to look at. SOLID is an acronym for five design principles which are actually a subset of many principles promoted by American software engineer and instructor Robert C. Martin (also known as Uncle Bob). They were first introduced in his paper Design Principles and Design Patterns in 2000. But the actual acronym was introduced later, in 2004, by Michael Feathers. 

Let’s look at each principle one by one. Following the SOLID acronym, they are: 

• The Single Responsibility Principle 
• The Open-Closed Principle 
• The Liskov Substitution Principle 
• The Interface Segregation Principle 
• The Dependency Inversion Principle 

The Single Responsibility Principle 

This principle states that “a class should have only one reason to change” which means every class should have a single responsibility or single job or single purpose. 

For instance, if we have a data model class, like let’s say Athlete, with the list of fields related to that entity, the class should change only when we change the entity. 

Following Single Responsibility Principle benefits us in: 

• Testing – less job for a class – less test cases; 
• Merge conflicts – less job for a class – less reasons to change a class – less merge conflicts 
• Lower coupling – less job for a class – less dependencies 

And just in general, it’s easier to deal with small, well-organized classes, where it’s pretty obvious what job the class does. 

But let’s have a look what happens when we omit Single Responsibility Principle. Let’s imagine that we have an app for GYM goers where a user can fill in his body parameters, like height and weight. They also can choose exercises, save their progress of adding weights in exercises, and also they can track their diet. 

Imagine there is a class AthleteService which handles athlete’s progress in the GYM, keeps track of the diet, and creates the progress graph. 

In this case our class has several reasons to be changed whether our athlete is working out in the GYM and adding some weights to the barbell or he/she is calculating the calories of their dinner, or they want to see the progress over period in the graph. We always go to the same class which is not a very good approach. But not only we are mixing up our gym and diet stuff in one class we are also mixing up our business and persistence logic which also violates Single Responsibility Principle. 

To achieve the goal of the single responsibility principle, we should implement separate classes that perform a single functionality only. 

For instance, for the GYM related stuff we will have BarbellWeightService… 

and separately BarbellWeightPersistence. 

And the same goes for the diet – NetCaloriesService… 

and separately NetCaloriesPersistence.

And, of course, the separate class for creating the graphs – GraphService.

Now, as you can see, each class has its separate job to do which exactly what the first SOLID principle states. 

The Open-Closed Principle 

This principle states that “software entities (classes, modules, functions, etc.) should be open for extension, but closed for modification” which means you should be able to extend a class behavior, without modifying it. 

To understand this principle let’s take a look at our last class which was the GraphService. I deliberately wrote it in a way that violates The Open-Closed Principle. The class has a method which creates a graph depending of its type – weights or calories in our example. But imagine that we want to add to our app a graph that shows changes in body weight over period of time. In this case we would have to change our  GraphService. 

To avoid this we should redesign a bit our GraphService. Instead of putting in the createProgressGraph method some business logic we should make an abstraction. 

And now the GraphService instead of being a class becomes an interface. 

And we will have separate classes for creating the graphs of different types which will implement the GraphSrvice.  

BarbellWeightGraph 

CaloriesGraph 

And now when we want to add the body weight graph we simply add one more implementation of GraphService – BodyWeightGraph. 

The Liskov Substitution Principle 

This principle states that “Derived or child classes must be substitutable for their base or parent classes”. In other words, if class A is a subtype of class B, then we should be able to replace B with A without interrupting the behavior of the program. 

This principle is a bit trickier than others, so let’s go directly to some code examples.  

Here we have an abstract class SmartWatch and the list of methods which represent what a smart watch can do. And let’s imagine that we have two smartwatches – Apple Watch and Garmin. Let’s start with an Apple Watch. 

An Apple Watch can do all the things that are represented by the methods in the abstract SmartWatch class, so we can say that both classes can replace each other without any issue for our program.  

And now let’s have a look at a Garmin Watch. A Garmin Watch can receive a notification, but can’t send a notification (at least mine can’t). So having this type of a program design violates The Liskov Substitution Principle. What is the solution here? The solution lies in having instead of one abstract class with a list of all possible features several interfaces with separate features. 

And now our Apple Watch can simply implement all the interfaces and our Garmin watch can take only those interfaces which have feature available for it. 

The Interface Segregation Principle 

This principle is fairly simple and it says that instead of having big interfaces with a list of different methods you should divide them into smaller ones, just with the specific behavior. In doing so we will avoid situations when we will be forced to implement features that we don’t need. Let’s get back to our GYM example and imagine having such interface. 

In this case our GYM goer will be forced to do all these activities every time he enters the gym. Pretty sure he/she won’t be happy about this. To avoid this overtraining and violation of the Interface Segregation Principle we should split our GymGoer interface into four separate ones. 

And now our athlete will be a lot happier to have the choice what to do in the gym and let’s say he/she decides that weight lifting and some cardio will be enough for today. 

The Dependency Inversion Principle 

The last SOLID principle is also a bit harder to understand at the beginning and it states: 

• We should depend on abstractions (interfaces and abstract classes) instead of concrete implementations (classes).  
• The abstractions should not depend on details; instead, the details should depend on abstractions. 

To understand what all this means let’s again look at some code examples and let’s stick with our GYM app. 

First start with an example that violates The Dependency Inversion Principle. 

We have three basic GYM exercises:

And now we can construct our workout routine using these exercises.

This simple class will work and our workout routine will definitely will make us stronger, but what if after some time we want to change the exercises or add some new ones. In this case we will be forced to change our WorkoutRoutine class which will violate The Open-Closed Principle.  

Also, the WorkoutRoutine class is a high-level module, and it depends on low-level modules such as SquatExercise, DeadLiftExercise, and BenchPressExercise. We are actually violating the first part of the Dependency Inversion Principle. 

Also, by inspecting the doWorkout method of WorkoutRoutine class, we realize that the methods doSquat, doDeadLift, and doBenchPress are methods bound to the corresponding classes. Regarding the workout routine scope, those are details since they are types of exercises. Thus, the second part of the Dependency Inversion Principle is violated. 

To fix these issues we need to add an abstraction, and in our case it will be an interface Exercise.  

And now we will change our classes that represent exercises. 

And the final refactoring is in our WorkoutRoutine class. 

What we achieved by all those changes is that the WorkoutRoutine class does not depend on lower level modules, but rather abstractions. Also, low-level modules and their details depend on abstractions. 

Conclusion 

In this article we covered SOLID principles, we started with a bit of history and then one by one we went through all five principles with the code examples of cases that violate the principle and the solutions how to fix the issues. Hope you enjoyed the reading. 

It’s no secret that the world of Information Technology (IT) is always evolving, and at Symphony Solutions, we strive to stay on top of the latest trends in IT. As we enter 2023, there are some hot skills that many companies are looking for to keep up with the constantly changing technology landscape. According to LinkedIn, out of the 10 most in demand hard skills in 2023, 7 of the 10 are IT related. Whether you’re already in the IT industry or considering a career in the field, it’s essential to stay current with the latest trends and demands. So, in this article, we’ll be exploring the top 10 in-demand IT skills for the coming year. Are you ready? Let’s dive right in! 

Most In-Demand Tech Skills 

The tech industry is booming and there are lots of exciting and lucrative skills to learn. Software engineering, SQL, Python, Java, data analysis, JavaScript, cloud computing, IT operations, AI and machine learning, and cybersecurity are all in high demand. By learning these skills, you can open up a world of opportunities and be at the forefront of innovation. So why not explore these fields and see where they can take you? Let me introduce you to some of the hottest skills in the tech industry right now! 

Software Engineering 

Have you ever considered a career in software engineering? It’s a fascinating field that allows you to design and create software applications that can be used in almost every industry. Not only is it incredibly satisfying to use your creativity to solve complex problems, but it’s also a field with plenty of opportunities for growth and career development. In fact, it’s estimated that the number of software engineering jobs will increase by 22% between 2020 and 2030, so the future looks bright! 

SQL 

Do you know about SQL? It’s an awesome skill that can lead to many opportunities in the tech industry. SQL (Structured Query Language) is used to manage and organize data in databases. It’s a crucial skill for any organization that deals with data, and there’s a huge demand for SQL experts! With the vast amount of data generated every day, companies need SQL experts to analyze and manage this data to make informed decisions. Check out this free course on Codecademy to get started.

Python 

Python is a popular and versatile programming language used for a wide range of applications, including data analysis, web development, and artificial intelligence. The popularity of Python continues to grow, with the TIOBE index ranking it as the third most popular programming language as of February 2023.

Java 

Java is one of the most in-demand programming languages in the job market. It’s a lucrative skill in 2023 because it is used by many companies and organizations to create robust and scalable software applications. 

Data analysis 

In 2023, data analysis will continue to be a critical skill in many industries due to the increasing reliance on data-driven decision-making. There are various resources available online where one can learn data analysis, including online courses, video tutorials, and documentation. Some popular resources include: DataCamp’s Data Analysis Courses.

JavaScript 

JavaScript allows developers to add functionality to their websites, such as pop-ups, animations, and interactive forms. One of the reasons why JavaScript is a lucrative skill is because of its widespread use in the industry. Many companies, from small startups to large corporations, rely heavily on JavaScript to power their websites and applications.  By learning JavaScript, you can uncover a range of career opportunities in web development, front-end development, and full-stack development. Mozilla Developer Network provides comprehensive documentation and tutorials on JavaScript and web development. 

Cloud computing 

Cloud computing allows companies to reduce their IT infrastructure costs, increase scalability, and access new technologies quickly. Many companies are looking for skilled professionals who can help them migrate to the cloud, manage their cloud infrastructure, and develop cloud-based applications. Amazon Web Services (AWS) offer a range of training and certification programs for cloud computing professionals (https://aws.amazon.com/training/). Their courses cover topics such as cloud architecture, security, and migration. 

IT Operations and Governance 

IT Operations and Governance involves managing and controlling the IT infrastructure, processes, and policies of an organization to ensure that they are aligned with the organization’s goals and objectives. This includes areas such as IT service management, IT risk management, IT compliance, and IT security. By managing IT operations and governance effectively, organizations can reduce costs, increase efficiency, and improve their overall performance. 

AI and Machine Learning 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are rapidly growing fields that are transforming the way we live and work. Overall, AI and Machine Learning are becoming increasingly important in our lives and in the business world.  

Cybersecurity 

Cybersecurity is like a shield that protects computer systems, networks, and sensitive information from sneaky hackers and cyber criminals. By using different security measures, like firewalls, antivirus software, and encryption, cybersecurity professionals help prevent cyber-attacks and ensure that important data stays safe and secure. Cybersecurity is an essential skill because it’s important for keeping businesses and individuals safe in an increasingly digital world. Plus, with the rising number of cyber threats, there’s a growing demand for cybersecurity professionals.  

2023 IT Salaries Overview 

And what about the salary for all the roles? It’s important to consider these various factors when evaluating salary ranges for a particular job or profession. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on education, certifications, additional skills, experience (the number of years you have spent in your profession), and location. 

Soft Skills You Need to Succeed at Tech Jobs 

While technical skills are important for success in tech jobs, soft skills are equally important for enhancing job performance, career advancement opportunities, and overall job satisfaction. 

• Communication 

Effective communication involves active listening, clear and concise messaging, collaboration, empathy, conflict resolution, emotional intelligence, and persuasion. These skills are crucial in building relationships, sharing ideas, and working with cross-functional teams. 

• Critical Thinking 

 Skills include problem-solving, decision-making, creativity, logical reasoning, and analysis. Developing these skills is vital for success in the tech industry. 

• Organization 

Being organized is key to tech job success. Manage your time well, prioritize tasks, pay attention to details, and plan ahead to tackle any challenge! 

• Empathy 

Empathy is a game-changer in tech jobs. By understanding others’ feelings, you can build better relationships, design better solutions, and make a bigger impact. So, don’t forget to be empathetic in your tech career! 

• Time Management 

Time management is a must-have in tech jobs. By managing time well, you can get more done, reduce stress, and impress your team. So, make sure to prioritize tasks, set deadlines, and stay focused to succeed in your tech career! 

• Resourcefulness 

Resourcefulness is an awesome skill to have in tech jobs. It allows you to think outside the box, come up with creative solutions, and adapt to new situations. So, don’t be afraid to explore new ideas and use all available resources to succeed in your tech career! 

Ways You Can Acquire and Master Relevant IT Skills 

So, you’re wondering how to learn the most in-demand tech skills? Acquiring relevant IT skills takes time, effort, and dedication. But with the right mindset and resources, anyone can learn and master new IT skills. Before you can begin acquiring IT skills, it’s important to identify what you want to achieve. You can get on-the-job training, take courses, watch YouTube videos, and read blogs. Keep learning and exploring! 

A great way to familiarize with the basics and get started in your professional path is online learning. Adding on to the resources mentioned previously, here are some of the best online learning platforms to acquire IT skills: 

1. Coursera is an online learning platform that offers courses in a wide range of topics, including IT. They offer both free and paid courses from top universities and institutions around the world. 

2. edX is another online learning platform that offers courses in IT and other subjects. They offer courses from top universities and institutions, as well as self-paced courses that you can take at your own time and convenience. 

3. Codecademy is a popular online learning platform that offers courses in coding and IT. They offer interactive courses that are designed to help you learn by doing. 

4. Udemy is an online learning platform that offers a wide range of courses in IT and other subjects. They offer both free and paid courses from expert instructors. 

5. Khan Academy is a non-profit organization that offers free online courses in a variety of subjects, including IT. Their courses are designed to be accessible to anyone, regardless of their background or experience. 

6. MIT OpenCourseWare is a free online resource that offers courses from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. They offer courses in IT and other subjects, and their courses are accessible to anyone, regardless of background or experience. 

These are just a few examples of the many resources available for learning IT online. Depending on your goals and interests, you can begin your exploration and build yourself up as a professional. 

And, what’s most important, Practice, Practice, Practice! Acquiring IT skills requires practice and application. 

In Conclusion 

Overall, developing relevant technical skills can help you discover many opportunities for your career and personal growth. It can lead to job security, high pay, flexibility, and an interesting and fulfilling career. So, if you’re interested in pursuing a career in tech, start developing your technical skills today and take your time to check our open vacancies. 

Knowing that teams are the most integral part of software development, companies need them to be high-performing and functional. 

Building high-performing teams may become critical and challenging for many companies, especially with the changes in the working mode, where the majority of the companies work a hybrid or fully remote setting or have teams consisting of employees from both working modes. 

Let’s go over the key characteristics of high-performing teams overall, and from there, delve deeper into the principles that contribute to building high-performing teams for the working mode mentioned above.

General Key Characteristics of a High-Performing Team 

Here is a short overview of what makes employees perform consistently well: 

• Clear communication of values and ensuring that employees embody the company values. 
• Defined expectations and regular feedback. 
• An environment of trust and commitment. 
• Engagement activities. 
• Enabling and supporting team members for continuous professional development. 

Once the company makes its policies easily accessible and understandable and regularly reinforces their importance, employees will start to consider them as a trusted source whenever they experience doubt in their day-to-day work.  

It’s important to transform company values into team values and ensure that they are truly accepted at an individual level. 

However, experiences, whether positive or negative, tend to happen in the opposite way when individuals are first impacted by action or behavior. 

Now, there comes the challenge of keeping the team committed to the tasks and the project. It’s not only about having the best resources with the right skills because you may be lucky enough to attract and hire them. But for them to perform at their maximum, it takes additional and continuous effort. 

It’s more about how to make them work together and maintain good work while embodying the company values and benefits. 

Key principles for teams that have been formed/are working in the workplace (brick and mortar mode)

These teams can bond more quickly and overcome communication constraints by providing support in real-time. The possibility to quickly allocate some time and meet with relevant stakeholders helps team members build relationships that create a foundation for future commitment. 

Efficiency improves over time by observing similar examples of behavior that empower the team members to take responsibility and become accountable for results. Communication improves over time as it is nurtured on an hourly, not just daily or weekly, basis. Best practices are quickly developed and easily accepted. Going the extra mile is a common behavior due to the supportive environment.  

When faced with challenges, team members have the chance to show their personalities, which may trigger some of them to communicate and rely more on similar to them. 

These teams embody company values and are very aware of the discrepancy between what they’ve been told/promised and what they are experiencing. 

The main challenge for this team when moving to a remote mode is maintaining discipline and conducting work more independently, avoiding compensating the office communication over communication tools. Becoming aware of the importance of being responsive in official communication is more than welcome.

Teams that have been formed in remote mode

Teams that have started working remotely from day one, more often than not, need to be written policies as their personal guideline. The company needs more time to reach out to every team member when it comes to values. It’s also not that easy to make them contribute to the company’s remote events or engagement activities for various reasons. 

The question is how to ensure they perform at a high level while also transforming into loyal and reliable employees who have recognized the company’s efforts to engage, recognize, and support them. 

The company should establish checkpoints and track the progress of engagement and the level of acceptance and relevance of the efforts made.  

A bigger picture and the project goals should be reinforced so that everybody can understand how they contribute over time (per month/quarter/year). This team’s behavior should rely on system reports and tools that can measure and support their efficiency.  

On the other hand, performance feedback should be more frequent, and coaching action plans with written and agreed action points should be tracked and followed up.  

The more team members are aware of their contribution and performance, the better and quicker corrective action can be set in place. 

Teams that consist of members who have worked in both ways

These team members are more likely to perform at a different pace and may need time to align priorities. Leading by example is one of the key aspects. Think of ways to provide equal opportunities to work and cooperate. It’s worth mentioning that every high-performing team tends to share certain values: 

• They are highly skilled and respect the skill sets of their colleagues;
• They are result-oriented and ready to go the extra mile to complete work;
• Team success is more important than individual goals;
• Readiness for continuous learning. 

Despite the differences between the company and project needs, the big question is how to make the team perform well over time. Therefore, work with them on developing strong work ethics by providing a clear Code of Conduct and social conduct of the company, as well as a clear definition of expected behavior supported by examples such as appearance, participating in meetings, attitude, respecting diversity in the team; introduce a zero-tolerance policy.  

On the team level, explain how dedication, accountability, and collaboration contribute to achieving team goals. Encourage trusted work and a spirit of reliability among team members: 

• Help the team understand and respond to the goals and accept leadership;
• Recognize and support the team every time they show good teamwork and collaborate on tasks together; 
• Set a clear vision when there is a need to go beyond what is expected (increased workload) and support each other;
• Encourage open communication that allows sharing concerns like lack of skill set, time bounds, and personal mindset, especially regarding remote teams. 

Make sure team members are challenged frequently or assigned to a specific task so that they reach and exceed their potential by: 

• a strong delegation of tasks; 
• creating an atmosphere of learning from mistakes; 
• being open to hearing the employee’s concerns or suggestions; 
• implementing non-financial and financial bonuses by giving team members tasks outside of their regular scope of work; 
• letting employees contribute to developing a curriculum or innovative approaches. 

Provide regular feedback and support the team’s needs by providing: 

• resources, tools, and training; 
• group training webinars; 
• tuition reimbursement; 
• attendance of relevant industry conferences; 
• continuous improvement of tech and soft skills. 

Top 3 exercises to introduce for boosting team performance

1. Create an example of a high-performing team every quarter; follow up on how the perception is changing and how the team is becoming more mature. 
2. Rotate team members across teams. Give them the opportunity to explore different projects and work with other team members. Encourage them to be flexible and adaptive. 
3. Discuss the top three strongest and weakest professional traits in the monthly meetings with the team and ask them to suggest a list of how they would like to be supported by others.  

Conclusion 

As Agile is all about communication, the methods of keeping the teams high-performing should be a matter of constantly exploring what works best given the circumstances and resources available. 

Therefore, the better you know your team members, the quicker you’ll find the best way to reach out to them, encourage them to respond, and make the most out of them by bringing the bigger picture of the project to the forefront. 

Create an inclusive environment by using different techniques tailored to different personalities and team dynamics that will help ensure that everyone feels as comfortable as possible to engage. 

FAQ 

The latest World Economic Forum’s Future of Work Report notes that humans and machines will spend the same time on business tasks by the end of 2025. This means that big data, machine learning, and artificial intelligence technologies will take the center stage in enterprise operations. Among the professionals who will be instrumental in realizing this future are data scientists.

But what are the skills for data science, and how much will they be in demand? Well, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that careers in data science will grow two-fold between now and 2029. Typically, data scientists leverage mathematics, statistics, software, and programming skills to gather, analyze, infer, and draw customer insights from data. That said, here is a complete guide on the 2022 data science skills checklist.

What Are the Skills for Data Science Professionals?

Employers often look into certain skills and capabilities when hiring professionals to uncover information and insights from big data. Data science skills sets are segmented into technical and soft capabilities, which when combined enable data scientists to bridge the gap with all business stakeholders and achieve desired outcomes. Here is a close look into data scientist required skills.

Technical Data Science Skills

Some of the most important data science skills that employers consider before hiring candidates include:

AI/Machine Learning
Organizations are moving away from traditional AI/machine learning algorithms, originally termed “black boxes”, thanks to their ambiguity in deriving predictions, based on respective inputs. Current job seekers in the data science field should be well-versed with explainable machine learning technologies, such as SHAP and LIME. These innovative techniques help data scientists to create explanatory models with better logical communication for predictive options. Other algorithms that you should understand in this file include Naïve Bayes classifiers, decision trees, and random forests.

Statistical Analysis
A typical day for a data scientist involves applying multiple statistical techniques and concepts to big data environments. With that in mind, it will help if you’re good at statistical analysis and its application to data science, such as probability, variance, distribution curves, as well as standard deviation. Having a technical background in these concepts will help you to gather, aggregate, analyze, and interpret data, to present findings to business stakeholders. In other words, you need statistical analysis skills to help your potential employer draw insights from raw data.

Understanding of SAS and Other Analytical Tools
Employers require data scientists to have a strong, technical background in Statistical Analysis System (SAS) for business intelligence, and other associated tools for exploring and drawing business insights from large data sets. The adoption of SAS analytics is also increasingly becoming popular in machine learning and data science. Besides using SAS to create easy and insightful analytics, professionals in data science should also be able to integrate the solution with other basic business tools, such as Excel and Outlook.

Software Engineering
Aspiring data scientists should have software engineering skills, especially if they are going to build and deliver multiple machine learning modules in the backend. All this typically happens in full-stack development, which requires in-depth proficiency in Python, R, Java, JavaScript, and Scala programming languages. Other software engineering skills for data scientists are DevOps and MLOps. DevOps and MLOps are both software development strategies that focus on collaborations between developers, operations, and data science. While DevOps focuses on application development, MLOps focuses on Machine Learning.

Big Data
Big data, the backbone of data science, is arguably one of the fastest growing sectors globally, now standing at $274.3 billion. This is one of the most in demand data science skills. Job candidates in data science-related fields should understand the basic concepts of big data, types of data in big data environments, as well their applications. These skills should extend to the 5 Vs of big data, including volume, value, variety, velocity, and veracity. Lastly, a data scientist should understand the 5 A’s of big data, such as agility, accuracy, adoption, automation, and accessibility.

Writing SQL Queries & Building Data Pipelines
Although data scientists don’t take fundamental classes on programming and coding, they learn these skills out of necessity, to perform their roles in big data environments, such as writing SQL Queries and building data pipelines. A recent survey by Kaggle, a subsidiary of Google reveals that nearly 80% of data scientists use Python programming language, while another 40% use SQL in their current job positions. All the same, prevalent programming skills for data science that most employers look at include Java, C, C++, and Julia.

Data Analysis
Another thing that shouldn’t miss in your data science skills checklist includes data analysis, which will help you extract data from secondary and primary sources, before reorganizing the same in easy-to-read formats. That means having an in-depth understanding of Structured Query Language (SQL) to process or compute voluminous data sets. You’ll also need hands-on skills in spreadsheet presentations, given that your employer might need summarized spreadsheet reports.

Data Visualization
Data scientists are involved in the whole process of data analysis, from the top to the bottom, including presentation, which requires strong data visualization skills. This proficiency extends to knowledge in prevalent tools, such as D3.js or Tableau that can help you create various types of data visualizations, such as:

• Scatter plots
• Pie charts
• Bubble charts
• Line and bar graphs
• Heat maps
• Histograms

Hands-on skills in these types of data visualization as well as the respective tools for creating them will help you communicate business-ready insights in a detailed, meticulous storytelling approach for in-depth comprehension.

Data Wrangling / Feature Engineering
One of the top technical data science skills in 2022 is feature engineering or data wrangling. Typically, having data wrangling skills means you can transform one data set format to another as you build models, explore feature upgrades, or perform deep dives. At the same time, you should be able to extract features from raw data using your feature engineering skills.

Natural Language Processing
Technical proficiency in natural language processing, popularly abbreviated as NLP is a must-have skill if you want to be employed as a data scientist in any industry. As an extension of artificial intelligence (AI), NLP is increasingly becoming popular in the race to business automation. Organizations are already employing their use cases in building chatbots and virtual assistants, as well as monitoring consumer engagement on social media platforms. As a data scientist, you’ll also use NLP to run sentimental analyses of target audiences or extract specific texts from big data.

Deep Learning
A majority of data scientists work with AI and Machine Learning technologies. However, there is a rising trend in employment, where these professionals are hired to execute machine learning applications using advanced methods, such as deep learning. Data science skills to learn in Deep Learning include neural network application in creating advanced analytical models. Typically, you’ll need hands-on skills in various algorithms, such as

• Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs)
• Long Short Term Memory Networks (LSTMs)
• Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs)
• Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs)
• Radial Basis Function Networks (RBFNs)
• Multilayer Perceptrons (MLPs)
• Self Organizing Maps (SOMs)
• Deep Belief Networks (DBNs)
• Restricted Boltzmann Machines (RBMs)
• Auto-encoders

Soft Skills Needed for Data Science

As noted earlier, there are various data science soft skills that can enhance your chances of getting employed, including:

Data Intuition
Data intuition is probably the most critical among all soft data scientist skills, especially when it comes to big data environments. A good professional in this field should have innate intuition that enables them to look beyond apparent reports of data analyses to draw valuable business insights from them. However, acquiring this soft skill should worry you that much if you are a junior data scientist as it comes with experience and exposure to different big data projects.

Great Communication
It goes without saying that an ideal candidate for any job position should have strong written and oral communication skills, data science positions not being an exception. Your skills should extend beyond gathering and extraction of data to great communication skills which will enable employers to gain from your services. Moreover, mastering good communication skills means a successful career as you can always communicate your thoughts and ideas without shying off, something that can propel you to senior data science positions.

Proficient at Working with Unstructured Data
Working with unstructured data can be pretty much challenging, as opposed to structured data. That’s why employers look for skills beyond technical proficiency in unstructured data tools. For instance, a data scientist who exhibits patience can wait for relatively long periods to detect new and changed data. At the same time, patience comes in handy because you have to manage and analyze unstructured data manually, as well as derive valuable insights from it.

Developing Metrics
A good data scientist should be able to measure results against the effort put into work. That means having soft skills in metric development, which essentially translates to creating a metric, writing it in code, and automating a pipeline for periodic monitoring. Most importantly, you should be creative in coming up with metrics that other members of the organization can easily follow and relate to. On top of that, a data scientist should know how to calculate and present metric findings to business stakeholders.

How to Improve Your Data Science Skills & Learning Resources

Data science can be a lucrative and fulfilling career in the long term if you know how to make yourself indispensable in your new organization. Among the tips that most professionals employ is improving their skills. With that in mind, here is how to improve data science skills through online courses and self-learning websites.

Online Data Science Courses

One of the best places to learn or improve your data science skills is online, where several courses are available for both beginners and ongoing. For instance, you can improve your skills by registering at:

• Harvard University Data Science Certificate: Covers various data science fields and awards credits in at least 4 certificate courses, including data sampling, data analysis, data prediction, data management, and communication.
• Code with Google – Applied Computing Series: Offers an advanced Machine Learning Crash Course through video tutorials, hands-on exercises, interactive sessions, and case studies.
• California Institute of Technology Learning From Data Course: Caltech’s professor Yaser Abu-Mostafa can give you video course instructions on data science algorithms, as well as features a Q&A.
• Master of Information and Data Science (MIDS) at UC Berkeley School of Information: Offers live class courses for ongoing data science professionals to hone their skills when it comes to solving problems using complex data.
• Udacity: Offers online lessons that teach in-demand tech skills to help practising data science professionals be ready for future jobs.
• Coursera: Offers industry-recognised Azure Data Scientist Associate Certificate, which is ideal for both experienced and entry-level data analytics professionals.
• Cloud Academy: Teaches practical data science skills with a special Python course. Users can access the digital training tools remotely.
• Udemy Courses: The platform matches data science students with global tutors for tailored courses. Alternatively, learners can purchase tutorial videos that are published every month.

Online Data Science Tutorials

Innovative data scientists should always learn on their own to improve and stay on top of emerging big data trends. Prevalent data science tutorials that can facilitate this include:

• Codementor: Offers beginner and professional tutorials on data analysis, an introduction to machine learning, and how to choose the right software package for data analytics.
• Topcoder: This source gives you access to industry experts for career insights, as well as video tutorials that teach the basics of data science concepts. It can be a good place for networking too.
• KDnuggets: Offers beginner tutorials on the whole concept of data science, from gathering, sorting, analyzing, and interpreting, to visual presentation.
• Flowingdata: Dr. Nathan Yau, Ph.D., prepares course tutorials that help data science professionals to improve their presentation, analysis, and understanding of data with regard to current trends and real-life scenarios.

Other Resources for Improving Your Data Science Skills

• The Open Source Data Science Masters: You can sign up on this resource to access fats science tutorials, books, or even online study groups to improve your current skills.
• Learn Data Science by nborwankar: Offers data science tutorials through IPython Notebooks that cover linear regression, data analyses, and random forests, among other data science fields.
• Data Science Weekly: Data science professionals can sign up for weekly newsletters from this resource to get updated on the latest job listings, trends, and industry news.
• FiveThirtyEight: Data scientists who want to specialize in politics, economics, health, or sports niches can check this resource for relevant podcasts and insights from industry experts.
• Simply Statistics: This resource offers a heap of articles authored by Jeff Leek, Rafa Irizarry, and Roger Peng, to help data scientists improve their skills.
• International Conference on Machine Learning: The conference supports budding professionals in machine learning to increase the tech’s awareness and support its application in various fields of data science.
• Reddit: This platform offers a well-connected online community of data scientists and related experts who share valuable insights to help each other solve complex problems using data.

Summing Up

Data is arguably the new digital gold, taking over key business operations at a faster rate than you can imagine. A profession that touches on business data, such as data science has a promising future, as far as modern enterprise applications are concerned. Use this guide to know the data scientist required skills in your respective field to get a certification or improve your proficiency. You can also check our blog section for insightful articles on data science and engineering professions.

Today, 80% of businesses plan to automate work processes within five years and consequently now more than ever, there is a huge demand for software developers. In fact, the surge has already started. A huge leap in active software developers occurred worldwide from 18.2 million to 24.3 million between 2013 and 2021 —and the number is predicted to reach 45 million by 2030!

However, while programming is an essential skill for anyone looking to start a career in tech, choosing the right language to learn is not easy. There are hundreds of options out there, and more are being created every day. So, how do you know the best programming languages to learn in 2023?

The answer, of course, depends on what you want to use the programming language for. Different languages are better suited for different tasks. Some languages are more popular than others, and some languages are more in-demand by employers.

In this article, we will take a look at the top 10 programming languages for 2023. These languages are selected based on their popularity, usefulness, and ease of learning.

What Is a Programming Language?

A programming language is a system of notation for writing computer programs. It is used to create a set of instructions that a computer can understand while performing tasks.

There are dozens of popular programming languages, and each one has different syntax, or rules, that dictate how the instructions are written. Which means some languages are easier to learn than others, and some are great for particular tasks compared to others. For example, some languages are better suited for building websites, while others are better for creating apps or working with data.

Programming languages come in two variants – statically typing and dynamically typing.

Static typing is a style of typing in which variables are given a specific type when they are declared and are known at compile time. Dynamic typing, on the other hand, is a style of typing in which variables are not given a specific type, but instead are checked during run time.

Both static and dynamic typing have their advantages and disadvantages. Static typing can help to avoid errors by catching type errors at compile time, while dynamic typing can be more flexible and easier to use.

In subsequent sections, we’ll take a closer look at a few of the common choices – grouping them by typing – and help you decide the best programming language to learn in 2023.

So, without further ado, let’s jump right in!

Statically Typed Languages

Go

Go, also known as Golang is an open-source programming language that was created by Google in 2007. It has been used for many different purposes and is now used by multiple big companies including Google, Dropbox, Twitch, and Uber. With between 1.2 to 2.7 million Golang developers, it’s easy to see why it’s one of the most popular languages out there.

Learning Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Skills Needed: Golang can be learned by someone who already knows one or several programming languages, particularly Python, PHP, and C++.

Pros:

• Easy to use and simple to understand
• Rich in features and functionalities
• Built-in web server & a standard library
• Adaptable to C programming
• The programme can be modified and executed instantly
• Backed by Google

Cons:

• Its generic features frustrate many developers
• Library support is very limited
• Is not versatile
• Lack of GUI library

Platform: Cross-platform (desktop)

Popularity: Increasingly becoming popular, especially among data scientists.

Average Annual Salary: $164,824 / yr

You can check out this Getting Started with Go specialization course to see if this language fits you.

Kotlin

Kotlin is another best programming language to learn in 2023. It’s easy to learn and can be used for Android development as well as backend services. It was designed by JetBrains in 2011 and has been well received by Java developers who want an alternative but still want the familiarity of Java syntax/style.

Companies using Kotlin include Pinterest and Coursera.

Learning Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Skills Needed: Knowledge of programming languages, especially Java

Pros:

• User-friendly
• Great Java interoperability
• Clean and intuitive syntax
• Supported by both Google and JetBrains

Cons:

• Compilation speed varies
• A low developer talent pool
• Learning resources and tutorials are limited compared to Java

Platform: Desktop, Mobile, Web, Server.

Popularity: Increasingly popular among Android application developers.

Average Annual Salary: $132,558 / yr.

Check out this Kotlin for Java Developers course to see if you are interested in Kotlin.

C#

C# is a general-purpose, object-oriented programming language developed by Microsoft and first released in 2000. C# combines the syntax of C++ with object-oriented features that allow you to write code that runs faster than other languages with similar functionality. This makes C# ideal for games, web apps and mobile apps.

Learning Level: Intermediate

Skills Needed: Basic background in coding.

Pros:

• Object-oriented programming
• A high-level language that can access memory
• A broad range of .NET capabilities
• An integrated development environment (IDE)
• Inbuilt garbage collector

Cons:

• There are some limitations to C#’s performance
• Learning C# isn’t easy
• .NET platform dependency
• X-Platform GUI is poor

Platform: Cross-platform, including mobile and enterprise applications.

Popularity: It is considered one of the most popular programming languages, following Python and C++.

Average Annual Salary: $108.256 / yr.

If you are interested in learning C#, this Comprehensive approach to C# Fundamentals is the best place to get started.

Swift

Swift is a programming language developed by Apple that runs on macOS and Linux. It was originally released in 2014.

Swift is a general-purpose programming language that runs on the LLVM compiler infrastructure. It has a reputation for being fast and efficient. It has a small but dedicated community, and it has become a powerful tool for writing apps for iOS, macOS, Windows and Linux.

Learning Level: Beginner to Intermediate.

Skills Needed: Zero coding skills are necessary.

Pros:

• Easy to learn
• An organized syntax
• There is less code
• Faster than similar programming languages
• Source code is open

Cons:

• The language is still young
• Third-party tool interoperability is poor
• Does not support iOS older versions

Platform: Mobile (Especially iOS)

Popularity: Swift is the 15th most popular programming language on TIOBE, and it is widely used to develop iOS apps for the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.

Average Annual Salary: 96,856 / yr.

If you are interested in learning Swift, check out this course on Introduction To Swift Programming.

Typescript

Typescript (or TS) is an open-source typed functional programming language developed by Microsoft in 2012. It was originally proposed as a superset of JavaScript but has since evolved into a fully-fledged modern language with static typing, class inheritance, generics and more.

Typescript offers better support for functional programming and static typing (like Java) along with many other features like type checking and error-prone syntax removal.

According to the 2021 State of JavaScript Survey, TypeScript is the “most adopted technology for that year.”

Learning Level: Intermediate to Advanced

Skills Needed: Requires some familiarity with JavaScript.

Pros:

• Rich IDE support
• Early bugs spotting
• Quick refactoring
• Object-oriented programming (OOP)
• Cross-platform and cross-browser compatibility

Cons:

• You must first be familiar with JavaScript.
• Code can be bloated

Platform: Web

Popularity: According to the 2019 Developer Survey by Stack Overflow, Typescript is one of the most popular programming languages with a 73.1% acceptance.

Average Annual Salary: $71,299 / yr.

If you think that Typescript is the right programming language to learn in 2022, get started with this Introduction to TypeScript course on Udemy.

Scala

Scala combines the finest features of functional and OOP programming languages into a single, unique high language.

Scala has fully supported object-oriented programming since its inception and has been used for developing high-performance software. This makes Scala one of the most preferred languages for the development of large-scale applications and it is also integrated with Java, which makes it easy for developers to develop complex applications using both languages.

Netflix, Twitter, and the New York Times are among the businesses that use Scala.

Learning Level: Experienced.

Skills Needed: Java, Python, C, and C++ skills needed.

Pros:

• Faster than Python
• The best for data analytics
• Excellent performance

Cons:

• It has a small community presence.
• There isn’t much backward compatibility available in Scala.
• The complexity of Scala’s features and concepts makes learning more difficult.

Platform: Cross-platform.

Popularity: Scala’s popularity has suffered as a result of its complexity. It is presently ranked 26th on the TIOBE 2022 index.

Average Annual Salary: $149,152 / yr.

To see if Scala is the right fit for your career goals, check out this Effective Programming in Scala course to learn more about the language.

Java

Java is a very popular programming language that has been around for decades so it’s no surprise it’s one of the most popular languages on this list.

Java is used for many different types of applications, including web applications and mobile apps. It’s also very easy to pick up if you’ve never programmed before.

Learning Level: Beginner Level (Java is considered to be quite easy for beginners to learn).

Skills Needed: Servlets and JavaServer pages, Scripting languages like HTML, CSS, and JQuery, Markup languages like XML and JSON, Web frameworks.

Pros:

• Automatic Garbage Collection
• Object-Oriented Programming Language
• Java is Simple to learn
• Maintenance is inexpensive and economical
• Portability feature
• Security is a key feature of Java
• Supports multithreading
• Platform-independent

Cons:

• Poor performance and slow response time
• GUI needs improvement
• Backups are not available
• Requires a significant amount of memory
• Extensive and complex code
• Not free

Platform: Cross-platform (Windows, macOS, Linux, and Unix operating systems)

Popularity: Java remains one of the most popular and widely used programming languages in the world. According to the TIOBE index for November 2022, it is the third top programming language for developers.

Average Annual Salary: $99,713 / yr.

If you are looking to learn Java in 2023, a good place to start is this Introduction to Java course offered by Learn Quest on Coursera.

Rust

Rust is a systems programming language that offers speed. It’s designed to be fast, safe, reliable, and long-lived. It also has a strong focus on safety and concurrency thanks to its “zero cost abstractions,” which means that It can help you write programs with excellent performance profiles fairly quickly.

Rust targets systems programming where other languages like C or C++ raise problems with memory errors and concurrent programming.

Learning Level: Intermediate/ advanced level.

Skills Needed: Basic experience in system programming.

Pros:

• Ensures memory safety while delivering high performance.
• Concurrent programming is supported.
• Has a vibrant development community
• Ensures backward compatibility and stability.

Cons:

• It does not have an efficient garbage collection system.
• A bit slower than Ruby and Python.
• It has a steep learning curve.

Platform: Cross-platform (Windows, macOS, Linux, and Unix operating systems)

Popularity: Rust is a very popular language. On Stack Overflow, it has remained the number most loved language followed by Python.

Average Annual Salary: $129,484 / yr.

If you are interested in a career as a rust developer, then you may want to check out this Rust Programming For Beginners course on Udemy.

Dynamically Typed Languages

PHP

PHP is a server-side scripting language designed for web development with a strong focus on object-oriented programming (OOP).

PHP was originally created by Rasmus Lerdorf in 1994, who released it in June 1995. It has evolved over time but still remains popular today due to its popularity in web applications and other web services (like WordPress). It also offers great performance because it was designed from the ground up with speed in mind.

If you are thinking of the top 10 programming languages in 2023, PHP must be top on the list.

Learning Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Skills Needed: Basic background in programming.

Pros:

• Free and open source
• Independent of platforms
• An excellent library support system
• Easy-to-use
• There is no need to write lengthy code

Cons:

• It is not suitable for building large web applications
• Does not allow for modification or change
• Not much in terms of security
• Error handling is poor

Platform: Desktop, Mobile, Web.

Popularity: Very popular. Powers 77%+ of websites.

Average Annual Salary: $98,395 / yr.

Check out this PHP course if you want to know how to build web applications in PHP.

Ruby

If you are looking for a career as a programmer, then you should learn Ruby. It is one of the top 10 programming languages in 2023.

Ruby is a server-side scripting language that was designed and developed in the mid-1990s by Yukihiro “Matz” Matsumoto. Ruby allows developers to build software in an easy way and uses a simple syntax. It is used in many web applications including Rails, Sinatra and Merb.

Ruby on Rails is a web application framework written in Ruby that helps you build better web applications faster. Some of the popular companies using Ruby include Airbnb, Groupon, GitHub, and Shopify.

Learning Level: Beginner Level

Skills Needed: Basic coding proficiency in languages like CSS, HTML, and JavaScript and some experience in web development.

Pros:

• A robust community of ruby developers
• There is less code to write
• Robust library
• Enhanced readability of code.
• This is an easier language to learn.

Cons:

• Performance issues
• Flexibility issues
• Inadequate documentation

Platform: Web

Popularity: Ruby has been ranked by W3Techs as 5.6% of websites whose server-side programming languages are known.

Average Annual Salary: $129,532 / yr.

Want to learn more about Ruby? Check out this Introduction to Ruby course.

R

R is an open-source programming language that was created by Ross Ihaka and Robert Gentleman at the University of Auckland, New Zealand in 1993 as a means to make statistical computing easier.

R has grown into one of the most popular languages for statistical analysis, data science and machine learning today. R makes it easy for developers to create complex statistical models using just a few lines of code.

Learning Level: Intermediate Level.

Skills Needed: Javascript, Python, and Math skills.

Pros:

• Open Source
• Adaptable to any platform
• Machine Learning Operations
• Exceptional data manipulation support
• Constantly growing

Cons:

• It is difficult to learn
• R lacks basic security measures
• In comparison to Python or MATLAB, R is slower
• It consumes a lot of memory
• Poor documentation

Platform: Cross-platform (Windows, macOS, Linux, and Unix operating systems)

Popularity: R is the 12th most popular programming language as of October 2022, according to the TIOBE index.

Average Annual Salary: $77,817 / yr.

Check out this Introduction to R Programming for Data Science course to see if R programming is a good fit for your career goals.

JavaScript

The Javascript programming language is another one that’s growing more and more popular every year because it’s an extremely flexible tool that can be used in many different contexts. It’s also easy to learn because of its simple syntax structure. If you know any HTML or CSS then you’ll be able to figure out some basic JavaScript code right away!

Learning Level: Beginner to Intermediate Level.

Skills Needed: Knowledge of HTML and CSS.

Pros:

• Innately fast
• Versatile
• Easy to understand and learn
• Good compatibility with various programming languages Reduced server workload

Cons:

• Client-side security
• Poor Support for older browsers
• Lack of debugging facility
• Only supports single inheritance

Platform: Cross-platform.

Popularity: Javascript is definitely the most popular programming language in the world. In fact, javascript powers about 97.4% of all the websites in the world.

Average Annual Salary: $96,051.

If you are interested in learning Javascript, check out this JavaScript for Beginners Specialization.

Python

Python is the best programming language to learn in 2023 if you’re interested in web and software development. It is a general-purpose language and can be used to create different programs for different problems. It has a huge community of programmers and can be used by developers and non-developers.

Learning Level: Beginner to Intermediate Level

Skills Needed: The basic understanding of programming.

Pros:

• Python is simple to learn and understand.
• It increases efficiency.
• There are several libraries and resources available for Python.
• It is adaptable.
• Python has an active community.
• It is free and open-source.

Cons:

• Python has a speed limitation.
• Runtime mistakes are possible with Python.
• Python uses a lot of memory.
• It is not very suitable for mobile computing.

Platform: Cross-platform.

Popularity: Python programming language is the most popular and most commonly used programming language in the world. According to the TIOBE index for November 2022, it is the number one top programming language for developers.

Average Annual Salary: $102,528 / yr.

If you are interested in learning Python, check out this Python for Beginners course on Udemy.

Wrapping Up

It’s never too late to learn a new programming language. In fact, there are many reasons why learning a new language can be beneficial, including the potential to give your career a boost. This article provided a list of some of the best programming languages to learn in 2023.

So whether you’re looking to boost your career or simply want to try something new, these choices are a great place to start.

Happy coding!

FAQs on Programming Languages to Learn

Sports betting operators worldwide are exploring the potential of mobile applications, considering the rapid growth of both the gambling industry and the use of mobile devices. According to market research conducted by Technavio, the sports betting industry is expected to grow by USD 134.06 billion in 2020-2025, with significant growth of 39% in the APAC region with China and Australia as the key players in the markets. This makes for tough competition, so naturally betting operators will be focused on differentiating themselves from their competitors.

A significant influencer on success are the sports betting app features that directly impact the overall user experience of the gaming app. This starts with the most basic functionality such as the ability to create your personal account in order to place bets and ti withdraw your winnings, to far more advanced features such as integration with VR and wearable devices or the creation of a social betting app.

In this post, we shall look over what all these apps have got to offer, from your regular sports fan or to a seasoned bettor.

Top Features to Нave in a Sports Betting App

Modern advances in technology make it possible to “equip” your sports betting application with a wide range of features to cater to a bettor’s needs and enhance their user experience. There what we might term a main, or core set of features that are a must-have for any kind of application, some will be specific for the gambling industry, and then there are best in class, highly innovative technologies that are just making their way into the industry. Depending on what tech solutions the and integrations the business stakeholders developers choose to implement in the application, they can create a sports betting app that will attract players, engage them in betting, and deliver an excellent user experiences. Innovations present an exciting opportunity for them to create something unprecedented and revolutionary.

One should also keep in mind that certain app features are dictated by the specifics of the gambling industry. Betting operators have to adhere to strict regulations in regulated jurisdictions and take into account local legislation if they want to bring their app to the global market. Building sports betting apps is not an easy task but do it well and the rewards are significant. Thus, you want to deliver an app that is not only excellent for the user, but remains compliant.

Let’s take a look at some of the must-have sports betting platform features to consider introducing into your application:

• Login and registration can be available with email and password, or with a social media account. Different options apply to regular users and admins. For instance, creating user accounts may be age restricted and depend on location, if the user is trying to access your app from a country that you are not licensed to operate in or prohibits gambling altogether.

• User Onboarding / Betting Guide for the user is a great way to introduce a new player to the app, show them around and explain how to place bets, what functionalities are available, etc. A starter guide can be implemented as interactive pop-up instructions that the user encounters when first opening the app, setting up the account specifications, or placing the first bet. Furthermore, a betting guide page would be helpful for players that are new to betting and gambling to get them familiar with how it works.

• Personalized dashboard for the user is what your user sees every time they open up the app. Players want to have the features that they use most often right at hand. Also, the dashboard is where you place personalized recommendations to cater to the user’s likes or encourage them to explore something new that will be to their taste. This was the case with Graphyte when they introduced a smart lobby with personalized product recommendations. All this is made possible with AI/ML integration that allows to collect data on user behaviour in the app and analyse patterns which can be later used to generate personalized recommendations. At today’s level of technology, AI content personalization can be done seamlessly and help create a genuine experience for the user.
• Admin Panel or a separate dashboards should be set up for the admins, as they need to use functionalities that differ from that of a user dashboard. Admins need access to user management – access to user accounts, option to add or ban users from the game, view transaction history; sending notifications, content management for adding new events, user and game statistics.
• Creating a wager should be simple and intuitive enough to let the user do it without hesitation. Allow the user to set their own picks and bet amounts.

• Search with a filter option for wagers allows your users to easily filter out wagers by date, status, sports, players and their average betting rates, etc. What’s more, app developers can leverage AI technologies to create a powerful search engine with strong personalisation that is self-learning, basically putting it one step ahead of any other search option you can possibly offer to your user. AI-powered smart search helps your users find exactly what they need with pristine precision. A great example of this is Graphyte’s intelligent search engine. With AI technologies they built a search engine for betting and gaming sites that allows a bettor to look up events or game results in a fraction of a second. Search results are personalised to that particular user so that they get exactly what they need. And it being AI, the smart search engine only keeps getting better and self-calibrating itself to each individual user and their needs.
• Payment integration is an important feature to implement in sports betting app development since you want your users to be able to easily place their bets and withdraw winnings. This can be done in a few different ways, the first obvious one being enabling users to link their cards. However, some users may run into issues if they are from a location that places restrictions on online gambling. In 2020, the UK Gambling Commission decided to ban credit card transactions for gambling, and that same year one of Australia’s major banks came to the same decision, even though Australia boasts one of the biggest gambling markets worldwide.
  It’s good to offer more varied payment options for the user in case they are restricted to use one or the other. Consider such payment gateway integrations as Stripe, Netller, Skrill, Cardinity, and others. Bitcoin payment integration is also on the rise and as relevant as ever in the iGaming industry. Allow the user to add multiple payment options and let them link their accounts to their in-app wallet for easy one-click bets.
  The main thing is that the payment should be easy, but secure. As in the case with Ladbrokes Coral, they created an optimized and systematized payment solution which allowed them to subsequently cut costs and save revenue, as well as introduce additional features for the users.
• Real-time live scores help keep the users interested and encourage them to gamble more frequently. This is particularly relevant for sports betting, especially certain kinds of sports. For instance, this feature is often implemented in football betting apps.
• Notifications are a must to keep the user informed about the game outcomes, final ranks and match summaries. These can be in-app or push notifications. A good rule of thumb is to not go overboard with push notifications. Otherwise, instead of being a useful feature it may turn into a nuisance. If a piece of news is important for the bettor to know and is time sensitive, that’s when you know to use push notifications.

• Live Streaming of games and competitions is for the user’s convenience as they can place bets while following the game. If you are integrating live streaming in your app, consider utilizing cloud technologies, lest you want to spend a fortune on maintaining servers. Make sure to include match schedules and alerts for when the stream starts so that the player can get good use of this feature.
• Multi-language support becomes necessary once you have a growing audience in language-specific locations. This adds on to the personalized experience of the user and encourages the growth of that specific market share even more.
• Security is essential for betting platforms as the user discloses to the app personal and banking information in order to place bets or withdraw winnings. Security in iGaming is important to protect the user from harmful data leaks. To be resilient to cyberattacks and fraudulent activities, it’s crucial to build sports betting apps that are secure by design.
• Predictive analytics and deep player and team performance data along with player and team stat prediction integrated with sports betting allows the player to plan out their bets, see win probability and expected revenue depending on the collected and analyzed daіta. It’s a good way to generate more interest in using the app and placing bets. The bettor will be likely to enjoy the games and placing bets more as they become familiar with team and player insights, start recognizing trends, and make more informed decisions.

• Cross-platform compatibility is something to consider when you want to expand your market reach and also allow your users easy access on just about any platform. If some users have their preferred way to access a betting app, there is an intersection that represents bettors that don’t have a preference and switch between platforms and devices. These will be the most dedicated players that don’t limit themselves to only one outlet and are willing to place bets anywhere and anytime.
• Tracking statistics and results when offline would be useful for players who have low connectivity. This way, even if a player loses internet connection, they won’t miss out on checking game results and stats.

Some More Features to Consider

The next features are not necessarily ‘must-haves’, but you may as well top up your app with a few of these. Others may require a bit more effort to implement and take more time to hit the target. Still, it’s good to know your options.

• Social features are all kinds of functionality that is closely linked to social media platforms with their focus on providing a place for people to get in touch, share information and opinions. Users may follow one another, send private messages, comment on and share in-app news and posts to their social media accounts.
  Public chats or forums are an interesting way to start conversations and invite users to be more active in the app, making it a fully-fledged community. Apps that provide this functionality are called social betting apps, which are social media and betting all in one. Social betting gives a platform for engaged bettors to interact with peers, share tips and advice, and start conversations. These are large sports betting communities that exist within an app.
• Checking bet slip in app is targeted at bettors who prefer to place their wagers at a betting shop. This innovative feature allows customers to scan their shop bet slip and monitor bets in the app. This way they can enjoy placing bets in the way they are used to, yet still get to experience the convenience of using a betting app and following bets on the go.
• Immersive game experience with AR/VR is making rounds in the gaming and betting sector as it allows players to watch their favourite sports in virtual reality with 360-degree videos of games or training. This feature does not come as first on the list of our ‘must-haves’ because it does require the user to have a VR headset in order to get a fully immersed experience. However, with technology becoming more mainstream and available to just about anyone, there’s no saying when it will become an integral part of all apps for betting.
• Exclusive Odds is something that a bookmaker can offer as a way to persuade the bettors to opt for using their betting app to get that extra boost rather than going to the more familiar betting shops. This feature is more of use to them because they want to make a shift in the way they offer their services. However, relevant for now, it may quickly become redundant as betting shops are rapidly closing down and we are observing this transition to online gambling even without the need for that extra push. Moreover, new bettors that just discover the world of sports betting may start out as mobile betting app users from the get go.
• Bonuses and discounts are something you may consider as an extra feature to spice up the players interest although, as practice shows, this is now becoming obsolete for a couple of reasons – everyone offers bonuses and discounts so it’s not exactly the feature to put you above competition, and there are only so many free spins the player can use before it gets boring. Ultimately, your target audience is not as thirsty for freebies as they would be even five years ago. But if it doesn’t cost you an arm and a leg, you may just throw this one in there as well for good measure.
• IoT integration caters to those bettors who are active users of wearable devices, such as Apple Watch, and therefore are quick to jump on the opportunity to place bets no matter where, no matter when. Major bookmakers have already introduced such integrations into their apps. As the technology becomes more widespread and accessible, as long as you provide people the opportunity, placing bets with a simple tap on your smartwatch can be a regular part of a bettor’s experience, similarly to how they just as quickly got used to betting on their smartphones. It’s just another step forward in technological progress.
• Sports news is a good addition to your sports betting app. Your users may want to have access to all the relevant news about their favorite sports in the app. Although, some may consider it more of a “nice to have” feature and stick to strictly betting functionality. Sports news is a fun way to keep your player informed, and also it can be used alongside social features, e.g., commenting on news pieces.

Conclusion

Sports betting application development has its challenges and specific requirements that come with the industry. Nonetheless, bookies worldwide are swiftly moving forward with their shift to online applications to be used by bettors on smartphones or other devices, making sports betting as accessible as ever, all things considered. Development of betting and gambling apps requires impeccable technical skills, a real feel for the market, and a lot of dedication. Starting from providing all the must-have features to creating a seamless user experience with UI/UX design.

As was the case with Ladbrokes Coral, they developed a bold new user interface with optimized bet placement and new functionalities leveraging cloud native technologies – all of this allowed them to achieve record high customer satisfaction.

And keep in mind that developing apps for bookies is a multifaceted endeavour. The multitude of features you can offer to the bettor seems to be never-ending as it’s always topping up with new technological advancements. That’s where you need a development team of top experts with relevant experience in sports betting software development and a portfolio of industry-leader clients. When done wisely, you not only deliver excellent betting experiences to your users, but potentially create an engaged and dedicated community around your app.

It’s amazing how Java remains among the top development languages and platforms for so long, and by now it’s probably older than some of the developers that are using it.  
In 2021 it’s still in the top 5 according to the StackOverflow Developer Survey 

All thanks to the Java technologies innovation. The platform is evolving to meet the needs of the community and the global industry trends. Java keeps up with the serverless architecture, data science, IoT and reactive programming. 

The Symphony Solutions Java team has analyzed and presented their selection of the latest Java technologies and worldwide software development trends that influence the platform. Let’s continue to inspect what is sure to hit the spot, what remains relevant and what are some of the entirely new predictions. 

Machine Learning with Eclipse Deeplearning4j 

Eclipse Deeplearning4j is gaining popularity in Java nowadays. It is a library for machine learning written in Java for use in the JVM environment with its first preview released in March 2020. 

Developed specifically to be used in the JVM environment, it is compatible with other JVM languages. Deeplearning4j is considered a high-level framework that is used for building neural networks. This means that the toolset empowers you to perform a wide range of tasks that have to do with clustering and classifying data, as well as data analysis for high level predictions (e.g., weather forecast, predictions for the stock market, etc.). 

Deeplearning4j is used in cybersecurity for detecting fraud or anomalies, which makes it invaluable for use in fintech, e-commerce, and other sectors that require enhanced security for sensitive data protection. It can be integrated with other ML platforms (RapidMiner, Weka, Prediction.io). Some interesting use cases include retraining and deploying models in JVM microservice environments, mobile devices, IoT, etc. 

New features in Java 14 and 15 

Java versions 14 and 15 have introduced new features that make for a more streamlined and clean code, making the life of Java developers worldwide easier, allowing them to focus on creating the most value without getting lost between lines of code or drowning in neverending documentation. 

Some of the new features that were introduced and should be on your checklist are the following: 

• Record is a new type of class introduced in Java 15 to reduce boilerplate code and make it easier to create immutable data objects. 
• Switch expressions have been established as a standard feature since Java 14, and are now able to return value and assign it to the corresponding variable.  
• NullPointerException is another Java 14 feature, which is a step-up in debugging, as it points out the null variable and the name of the call that threw the exception.  
• Hidden classes, introduced in Java 15, are a useful feature for developers who work with dynamic bytecode or JVM languages. 

In fact, any regular Java programmer could probably tell you about their pick-of-the-crop new features introduced in Java releases 12 through 17, as there surely is something to pick from with Oracle rolling out a new LTS release every two years, next to the quarterly updates for the previously introduced versions. 
Though the most used is still Java 8 version, the latest versions are starting to gain momentum in 2021. 

Java Concurrency 

Java concurrency is another popular technology in Java. Concurrency programming, means that multiple programs or applications can run simultaneously, which is supported through multithreading and synchronization. It’s a lightweight process that allows accessing data from different threads, that in Java constitute the path that is followed whenever a program is being executed. 

Threads are created by the Java Virtual Machine when you run the program, which may work with multiple threads simultaneously to run a Java application. Concurrency varies depending on other processes that run in the operating system – the number of threads that can run concurrently on a normal CPU depends on the number of processors in the system, whereas a high-volume application can run thousands of threads with GPU without interruption. 

Java concurrency helps improve the throughput of the program and optimize the process, as you can run parts of the program in parallel and reduce the time that is required to complete a time-consuming task faster without reduced efficiency. 

What’s coming to replace Spring Boot

 Spring Boot is still the most trending Java-based framework that is used for creating microservices. It’s gained its popularity due to a gradual learning curve and simplicity of integration with other Java frameworks.  

However, we are observing new frameworks rising to their popularity that may well become an alternative, that are more lightweight and perform on par or better than Spring Boot. 

Vert.x 

Vert.x is another lightweight alternative to Spring Boot from Eclipse foundation. It is used for building reactive applications that are resilient and highly scalable. Vert.x is based on an asynchronous and non-blocking execution model. It also supports the use of multiple languages. When comparing Vert.x to Spring Boot in one of our latest articles, the former is vastly outperforming in terms of speed of processing concurrent requests, CPU and memory usage. 

Azure is the cloud competitor to AWS 

We can now observe steady growth in the popularity of Microsoft Azure as a competitor to AWS. What does it have to do with Java trends, you may ask? 

Java is the programming language of choice when it comes to cloud computing, due to the ease of use and it being possible to run the same program on different platforms. This makes selecting the right cloud environment oftentimes a big concern for Java developers who want to get the most out of the cloud services provided. For now, AWS is the cloud provider of choice for the majority, although Azure is catching up and generating a fanbase of its own. In fact, Microsoft Azure is working closely with the Java community on providing resources and tools to Java developers who want to work with cloud-native applications. 

Java developers may choose Azure as their prefered cloud computing platform for some or all of the following reasons: 

• Windows integration. 
• Built-in analytics tools. 
• Strong PaaS solution. 
• Highly visual and easy to use UI (little to no coding required). 
• Reliable storage capabilities and secure data encryption. 
• Active directory library for Java. 
• Fully managed cloud infrastructure. 
• Continuous integration and deployment tools. 

Whatever is your reason for opting for Microsoft Azure, the main point is that you meet your objective. And as practice shows, Azure has a growing popularity among startups and independent software vendors, and it’s used by more than 95% of Fortune 500 companies. 

Java Technologies and Trends In Retrospect: 2018-2019 

Java 10 and Java 11 

Our 2018 list of the latest Java technologies started with, well, Java. It was around that time when Java switched to releasing new versions every six months instead of three years. Fast releases mean more innovation. They also mean fewer differences between versions and a more complicated Long-Term Support (LTS). That’s why Oracle decided to provide LTS once every six releases or three years. Unfortunately, though, this only concerns the commercial support contract from Oracle. Public updates and other releases will only be updated for six months – until the next version comes out. 

Java 9 was the first incremental release, and two more came out in 2018: Java 10 and Java 11. Java 10, released in March 2018, introduced the local variable type inference and a new garbage collector interface. These features were supposed to simplify writing Java applications. But Java technologies innovation didn’t stop there. Java 10 has an improved JVM which is going to make it easier to use Docker containers. Java 11, released in September 2018, has all the features mentioned above plus it’s the first LTS support version since Java 8. The next LTS version will be released in September 2021. 

Keep Сalm and Learn Kotlin 

Kotlin has every chance to become a programming marvel. According to the Stack Overflow Survey 2018, Kotlin was the second most loved language among developers. In 2021 the interest to this language is still high – it’s in the top 15 on the list of the most loved languages among developers though the interest is a bit decreased. The Symphony Solutions Java team has already given their credit to this programming language. 

The language was designed to be loved by Java developers. It’s 100% interoperable with Java code, so much so that classes written in Kotlin can be mixed up with classes in Java and the solution will work seamlessly. Seriously, any Java library can be used within Kotlin. And since a lot of gigantic enterprise systems and Android applications use Java, a new and lightweight Kotlin is a gift to Java developers. 

While you may think it’s just another Java Virtual Machine language, Kotlin was designed by JetBrains, a company that knows a thing or two about the perfect Java IDE. Developed with the gaps of other JVM languages in mind, Kotlin is an expressive language (read: less error-prone) that’s not as verbose as Java. Its data classes and list operations reduce boilerplate code, and Kotlin offers nullability-safe extension functions and higher-order functions all Android developers will appreciate. 

Though Kotlin has some interesting use cases, it’s the Android apps niche that can and probably will propel it. It’s now the first-level language for Android app development. Google’s appreciation for the language and the commitment to support Kotlin means a lot for its future growth and popularity. It will be interesting to see if Kotlin finds its place in enterprise applications development or not. 

Reactive Java 

Reactive programming is nothing new, but it’s become more relevant than ever. The volumes of data are skyrocketing; the computational power is increasing. Users demand software integrity, fast updates, and non-stop synchronization. Processing numerous events becomes a pain in the back(end) for Android. It’s time to switch to a programming paradigm where you define the source of data and the consumer of that data. 

RxJava, first released in 2013, is still being quite actively used to this day. It is the reactive extension (API for implementing reactive programming) for the JVM. When you connect the consumer to the source of data, RxJava pushes the data to the consumer. This library can help developers build asynchronous, concurrent and resilient Java applications. It also makes the code look less bulky and more elegant. 

From Microservices to Serverless 

One of the most significant global trends in software design from 2018 up to these days is the shift from microservices to serverless architecture, and the current Java technologies also couldn’t resist it. Let us refresh your memory. The microservices architecture means that the system is modular and all of its components can be changed or replaced independently without harming the system. Microservices remain a popular way of building complex systems that comprise independent components, and Java developers find their ways around overcoming any shortcomings microservices may present to get the most out of the microservice architecture in Java. Since serverless is still at times a luxury solution with the cost of development and maintenance, we are not taking microservices off the shelves just yet. 

The serverless architecture means that you can build and deploy the code without having to configure the underlying servers. But the best part about serverless computing is that it breaks modules down into parts smaller than microservices. This allows almost infinite scaling. Also, that level of modularity gives developers a chance to visualize complex processes going on in their software, so it’s much easier to improve performance, reduce bottlenecks and even make architectural decisions. To sum up, the serverless approach gives you granular control over the architecture of a solution and simple horizontal scalability. 

So, how do you go serverless with Java? Two words: AWS Lambda, a serverless computing platform. All you have to do is create an AWS Lambda Function and implement a predefined interface. 

AWS Serverless Java Container 

The Java wrapper known as aws-serverless-java-container  (version 1.7) makes working with AWS Lambda easier. A Serverless Java Container natively supports API Gateway proxy integration for Lambda with request and response mappings. You can also create custom model mappings using VTL. The AWS Gateway API starts each Lambda as a container and then translates API Gateway proxy events into the request format that’s accepted by the Lambda. 

However, containers have the limitations of a single request at a time. Secondly, the bulkier the application, the higher the latency. To avoid this, the code footprint should be as small as possible with a minimum of required dependencies. 

If you want something smarter, though, look up Service Bloks. They are cloud-native apps that combine the advantages of microservices with the scalability of serverless functions. A basic service block consists of a Service Core and Functions. A service core is a Spring Boot application, and it’s responsible for communication and dispatching events to serverless functions inside a block. 

Data Science with Java

You can use Java pretty much anywhere, and data processing is no exception. The fact that Java is a high-performance, general-purpose, compiled language just proves the point. No matter what popular framework you choose, Hadoop or Apache Spark, there’s a well-supported Java client or implementation to work with. Not to mention clients for all sorts of SQL and NoSQL databases. 

Thanks to a big community, there are many libraries for data processing and cloud computing as well as machine learning. Keeping your ETL production code, data processing, and machine learning in the same ecosystem is obviously a good idea. 

Of course, Java is not perfect. Because it is a wordy programming language, Java isn’t the best fit for R&D or statistical applications. That’s why data scientists choose dynamically typed languages like R and Python instead. Competing with R is especially hard since it was created for statistics and research. Despite that, Java is successfully being used in Data Science thanks to its ubiquity, performance and seamless integration of the data science code into an existing solution. 

Java Maximizes Its Effects on Scripting Languages 

Not every programmer is a pro in Java development, but Java’s effects on other languages are something many of them experience. Just think of the massive number of languages that are now executed on the Java Virtual Machine. Various widely-appreciated scripting languages were written using Java, created for or ported to the JVM. This allows them to make use of the rich Java ecosystem. 

Java developers sometimes choose scripting languages as a quick and easy solution for tasks like prototyping, algorithms and mathematics. They are especially helpful when you need to perform a complex task in a minimal number of steps. 

Think of Groovy, JRuby and Jython. These popular and tightly Java-integrated scripting languages can help developers incorporate scripts originally written in Ruby or Python with Java libraries. You can get extra info and some JRuby inspiration by reading success stories on GitHub. 

Java has also become one step closer to scripting languages with the introduction of Java Specification Request (JSR) 223. Along with Java SE 6, which includes built-in support for script engines, it provides a standard interface and API to interact with dynamic languages running on the Java platform. 

Java Development Propels IoT to the Productive Future 

Another niche where Java leads the pack is IoT architecture environment. According to the IoT Developer Survey by the Eclipse Foundation, Java is the favorite language for building IoT solutions. And the future Java trends predict the same, due to its interoperability and portability. All thanks to JVM, as it lets developers write code locally and then move it to small pieces of hardware like chips. Java is one of the best choices for cloud and gateway development from the entire IoT infrastructure. Isn’t it convenient to use the same ecosystem for data measurement, collection and analysis? 

At the beginning of 2019, Oracle also updated the Java Card platform which provides security for smart cards and other limited-memory device applications. Version 3.1 of the platform offers increased support for IoT devices. 

Summing Up 

There are numerous reasons why Java keeps landing among the top technologies for business and web. It’s the combination of simplicity and robustness, the popularity of Android and web applications, and, of course, an enormous, friendly community. 10 million developers can’t be wrong. 

Although no fundamentally new Java technologies are going to be delivered anytime soon, the platform is flourishing and has no intention to stop. The latest Java technologies follow global trends in software design and development. This includes reactive development, serverless architecture, and data science. The rise of the JVM languages, the breakthrough of Kotlin, and the perfect match of Java and IoT infrastructure prove that Java has no intention of stopping in future. 

You may have noticed that some of the Java trends overlap with the previous years’ tendencies. That’s no surprise since the Java platform manages to balance beautifully between stability and innovation, and continues its influence on the rest of the programming world. 

At Symphony Solutions, we care about Java and are always eager to discuss modern Java technology. Check our open Java job positions and do not hesitate to apply! 

Oracle rolled out Java 17, the next long-term support release of Java in September 2021. Today we will focus on the Java new release features, which can be used in the daily development lifecycle. 
All features are generally available and enabled by default, except if they are labeled with one of the following: 
Preview – features are fully specified and implemented, but not yet considered to be final. They are considered to be almost complete, waiting for an additional round of real-world feedback. These features have to be explicitly enabled. 
Experimental – features are less stable and more likely to change. They also have to be explicitly enabled. 
Incubator – modules are non-final tools and APIs, and are distributed in separate modules. 
All the features I’ve singled out have been officially added to Java and are past their preview phases. 

Let’s take a look at 14 essential features from Java versions 12 to 17. 

Java 12 features 

1. Java 12: File mismatch() method 

The method mismatch(Path, Path) compares two specified files and returns the index of the first byte where they differ or -1 if they don’t. 
The return value will be in the inclusive range of 0L up to the byte size of the smaller file or -1L if the files are identical. 
File relationships and their mismatch return values can be described as in the following table: 

Files Relationship	Files.mismatch(Path, Path)
Same File	-1 (match)
Copied File	-1 (match)
Different Files, same content	-1 (match)
Different Files, different content	>0 (mismatch)
Soft-linked	-1 (match)
Hard-linked	-1 (match)

Now, let’s take a look at two examples. In the first one, we’ll create two identical files and compare them, but in the second one we will create two different files with different content. 

    @Test
    public void givenIdenticalFiles_thenShouldNotFindMismatch() throws IOException {
        Path filePath1 = Files.createTempFile("file1", ".txt");
        Path filePath2 = Files.createTempFile("file2", ".txt");
        Files.writeString(filePath1, "Java 12 Article");
        Files.writeString(filePath2, "Java 12 Article");

        long mismatch = Files.mismatch(filePath1, filePath2); // match
        assertEquals(-1, mismatch);
    }
    
    @Test
    public void givenDifferentFiles_thenShouldFindMismatch() throws IOException {
        Path filePath1 = Files.createTempFile("file1", ".txt");
        Path filePath2 = Files.createTempFile("file2", ".txt");
        Files.writeString(filePath1, "Java 12");
        Files.writeString(filePath2, "Java 12 Post");

        long mismatch = Files.mismatch(filePath1, filePath2); // mismatch -> return with byte size of smaller file
        assertEquals(7, mismatch);
    }

2. Java 12: Collectors.teeing() in Stream API 

It is a new static method teeing to java.util.stream.Collectors interface which allows to collect using two independent collectors and then merge their results using the supplied BiFunction. 

Every element passed to the resulting collector is processed by both downstream collectors. Then their results are merged into the final result using the specified merge function. 

Please note that this function helps in performing a certain task in a single step. We can already perform the given task in two steps if we do not use the teeing() function. It’s just a helper function to reduce verbosity. 

@Test
    public void givenArrayOfIntegerValues_thenCalculateMinAndMaxValue() {
        List<Integer> nums = Arrays.asList(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9);
        Map<String, Optional<Integer>> collect =      nums.stream().collect(Collectors.teeing(
                Collectors.minBy(Comparator.comparing(i -> i)),
                Collectors.maxBy(Comparator.comparing(i -> i)),
                (min, max) -> Map.of("min", min, "max", max)));
        assertEquals(1, collect.get("min").orElse(-1));
        assertEquals(9, collect.get("max").orElse(-1));
    }

3. Java 12: Compact Number Formatting 

CompactNumberFormat is a concrete subclass of NumberFormat that formats a decimal number in its compact form based on the patterns provided by a given locale. 

public static NumberFormat getCompactNumberInstance(Locale locale, NumberFormat.Style formatStyle)

The locale parameter is responsible for providing proper format patterns. The format style can be either SHORT or LONG. For a better understanding of the format styles, let’s consider number 1000 in the US locale. The SHORT style would format it as “10K”, and the LONG one would do it as “10 thousand”. 

Now let’s take a look at an example that’ll take the number of likes under this article and compact it in two different styles: 

    @Test
    public void givenNumber_thenFormatAsCompactValues() {
        NumberFormat likesShort = NumberFormat.getCompactNumberInstance(Locale.US,
NumberFormat.Style.SHORT);
        likesShort.setMaximumFractionDigits(2);
        assertEquals("5.5K", likesShort.format(5500));

        NumberFormat likesLong =
        NumberFormat.getCompactNumberInstance(Locale.US, NumberFormat.Style.LONG);
        likesLong.setMaximumFractionDigits(2);
        assertEquals("5.5 thousand", likesLong.format(5500));
    }

We can also parse compact numbers into long patterns: 

    @Test
    public void givenCompactValues_thenFormatAsNumber() throws ParseException   {
        NumberFormat fmt = NumberFormat.getCompactNumberInstance(Locale.US, NumberFormat.Style.LONG);

        assertEquals(5500L, fmt.parse("5.5 thousand"));
}

4. Java 12: Java Strings new Methods – indent() and transform() 

intent() method adjusts the indentation of each line based on the integer parameter. If the parameter is greater than zero, new spaces will be inserted at the beginning of each line. On the other hand, if the parameter is less than zero, it removes spaces from the beginning of each line. If a given line does not contain sufficient white space, then all leading white space characters are removed. 

    @Test
    public void givenString_IntentStringWithNumberThatGreaterThanZero() {
        String text = """
                Hi Symphony
                 Solutions
                      """;//First line does not have any space but in second one has 1 space in the beginning of line
        String newText = text.indent(1);//it adds  space in each line,therefore length should be increased plus 2
        assertEquals(text.length() + 2, newText.length());
    }

    @Test
    public void givenString_IntentStringWithNumberThatLessThanZero() {
        String text = """
                Hi Symphony
                 Solutions
                       """;//First line does not have any space but in second one has 1 space from beginning of line
        String newText = text.indent(-2); //it removes space in each line,therefore length should be decreased by 1
        assertEquals(text.length() - 1, newText.length());
    }

Transform() method allows us to call a function on the given string. The function should expect a single String argument and produce an R result. 
Let’s look at an example where we will use transform() method to convert a CSV string to the list of strings: 

    @Test
    public void givenString_thenConvertListOfStrings() {
        String text = "Hi,Symphony,Solutions";
        List<String> strList = text.transform(s -> Arrays.asList(s.split(",")));
        assertEquals(strList.size(), 3);
    }

Java 13 features 

5. Java 13: FileSystems.newFileSystem() Method 

public static FileSystem newFileSystem(Path path, Map<String, ?> env) throws IOException 

Java FileSystems newFileSystem(URI uri, Map<String, ?> env) constructs a new file system that is identified by a URI. This method iterates over the FileSystemProvider installedProviders() providers to locate the provider that is identified by the URI URI getScheme() of the given URI. 

    @Test
    public void givenFileName_thenCreateFileSystem() throws IOException {
        String zipFilename = "test.zip";
        final Path path = Paths.get(zipFilename);
        final URI uri = URI.create("jar:file:" + path.toUri().getPath());

        final Map<String, String> env = new HashMap<>();
        env.put("create", "true");
        try (FileSystem fileSystem = FileSystems.newFileSystem(uri, env)) {
            assertTrue(fileSystem.isOpen());
        }
    }

6. Java 13: DOM and SAX Factories with Namespace Support 

New techniques for creating DOM and SAX factories that support Namespaces have been added. 

//java 13 onwards  
DocumentBuilder db = DocumentBuilderFactory.newDefaultNSInstance().newDocumentBuilder();   
// before java 13  
DocumentBuilderFactory dbf = DocumentBuilderFactory.newDefaultInstance();   
dbf.setNamespaceAware(true);   
DocumentBuilder db = dbf.newDocumentBuilder();  

Java 14 features 

7. Java 14: Switch expressions 

Java 14 takes the switch to the next level. No longer a simple statement, it is now an expression, and so it can return a value! And by making this improvement we no longer have to think about break; Should one of your cases feed into a block of code, yield is used as the return statement of the Switch Expression, and we can assign this value to the corresponding variable. 

    @Test
    public void givenString_thenTestSwitchWithExistingCaseValue() {
        String color = "Blue";
        String adjacentColor = switch (color) {
            case "Blue", "Green" -> "yellow";
            case "Red", "Purple" -> "blue";
            case "Yellow", "Orange" -> "red";
            default -> {
                System.out.println("The color could not be found.");
                yield "Unknown Color";
            }
        };
        assertEquals(adjacentColor, "yellow");
    }

8. Java 14: Helpful NullPointerExceptions 

Previously, the stack trace for a NullPointerException didn’t have much of a story to tell, except that some value was null at a given line in a given file. 
Though useful, this information only suggested a line to debug instead of painting the whole picture for a developer to understand just by looking at the log. 
Now Java has made this easier by adding the capability to point out the name of the call that threw the exception, as well as the name of the null variable. 

int[] arr = null; 
arr[0] = 1; 

Earlier, on running this code, the log would say: 

Exception in thread "main" java.lang.NullPointerException 
at com.baeldung.MyClass.main(MyClass.java:27)

But now, given the same scenario, the log might say: 

java.lang.NullPointerException: Cannot store to int array
because "a" is null
As we can see, now we know precisely which variable caused the
exception.

Java 15 features 

9. Java 15: Text Blocks 

Starting from 2020, Java 15 finally supports text blocks! I am so excited by the fact that I no longer have to type dozens of “+” signs. I can simply do this instead: 

String json = """ 
"name":"Mammadali", 
"surname":"Alizada" 
"""; 

Text blocks now have two new escape sequences: 

1. \: to indicate the end of the line, so that a new line character is not introduced 
2. \s: to indicate a single space 

String multiline = """ 
A quick brown fox jumps over a lazy dog; \ the lazy dog howls loudly."""; 

String json = """ 
"name":"Mammadali", 
"surname":"Alizada" 
"""; 

In this example, we have improved readability of the sentence for the human eye, and no new line is added ->after “Alizada”.
Finally, text blocks only blocks, you can’t use them in a single line. 

10. Java 15: Hidden Classes 

A new feature being introduced in Java 15 is known as hidden classes. While most developers won’t find a direct benefit from them, anyone who works with dynamic bytecode or JVM languages will likely find them useful. 
The goal of hidden classes is to allow the runtime creation of classes that are not discoverable. This means they cannot be linked by other classes, nor can they be discovered via reflection. Classes such as these typically have a short lifecycle, and thus, hidden classes are designed to be efficient with both loading and unloading. 
Note that current versions of Java do allow for the creation of anonymous classes similar to hidden classes. However, they rely on the Unsafe API. Hidden classes have no such dependency. 

Java 16 features 

11. Java 16: Pattern matching for instanceof 

Pattern Matching is a means to get rid of needless casting after an instanceof condition is met. JVM automatically casts the variable for us and assigns the result to the new binding variable. For example, we’re all familiar with this situation: 

if (o instanceof Car) {
System.out.println(((Car) o).getModel());
}

Which, of course, is necessary if you want to access the Car methods of o. That being said, it is also true that in the second line, there is no question that o is a Car – the instanceof has already confirmed that. So, with Pattern Matching, a small change is made: 

if (o instanceof Car c) { 
System.out.println(c.getModel()); 
} 

You can even use Pattern Matching in the same line as the instanceof: 

public boolean isHonda(Object o) {
	return o instanceof Car c && c.getModel().equals("Honda");
}

12. Java 16: Add Stream.toList Method 

The aim is to reduce the boilerplate with some commonly used Stream collectors, such as Collectors.toList and Collectors.toSet. 

List<String> integersAsString = Arrays.asList("1", "2", "3");
List<Integer> ints = integersAsString.stream().map(Integer::parseInt).collect(Collectors.toList()); //previous version
List<Integer> intsEquivalent = integersAsString.stream().map(Integer::parseInt).toList(); //new version

Java 17 features 

13. Java 17: Sealed classes

Sealed classes are somewhat similar to final classes. When sealed keyword is accompanied by permits keyword, this indicates that a class or an interface can be extended or implemented only by specified classes or interfaces. Using sealed classes allows developers to know all possible subtypes supported in the given format. 

Let’s take a look at a simple example: 

public sealed interface Expression permits Addition {
    double perform(double x, double y);
}

final class Addition implements Expression, Serializable {
    @Override
    public double perform(double x, double y) {
        return x + y;
    }
}

//This statement gives compile error, because Expression interface does not allow to Log subtype
final class Log implements Expression {  
    @Override
    public double perform(double x, double y) {
        return 0;
    }
}

14. Java 17: Records 

Records are data-only classes that handle all the boilerplate code associated with POJOs. We can avoid all the unnecessary boilerplate code by using Records. Even though it doesn’t seem like a huge enhancement, it drastically increases developer productivity. 

That is to say, a POJO class like the following: 

public final class Person {
    private final String name;
    private final int age;
    private final String profession;

    public Person(String name, int age, String profession) {
        this.name = name;
        this.age = age;
        this.profession = profession;
    }

    public String name() {
        return name;
    }

    public int age() {
        return age;
    }

    public String profession() {
        return profession;
    }

    @Override
    public boolean equals(Object obj) {
        if (obj == this) return true;
        if (obj == null || obj.getClass() != this.getClass()) return false;
        var that = (Person) obj;
        return Objects.equals(this.name, that.name) &&
                this.age == that.age &&
                Objects.equals(this.profession, that.profession);
    }

    @Override
    public int hashCode() {
        return Objects.hash(name, age, profession);
    }

    @Override
    public String toString() {
        return "Person[" +
                "name=" + name + ", " +
                "age=" + age + ", " +
                "profession=" + profession + ']';
    }
}

Becomes this: 

public record Person(String name, int age, String profession)
{}

We no longer have to think about adding hashCode(), equals(), toString(). These are usually easily generated by a favorite IDE, but still for me this was a long-awaited feature! 

As you can see, Records are both final and immutable – there are no extending Records, and once a Record object is created, its fields cannot be changed. You are allowed to declare methods in a Record, both non-static and static, and implement interfaces just like with final classes. 

Conclusion 

Java remains the top programming language that is widely used by software programmers and is often recommended as the starting point for those just starting out in their careers. In this article, we have overviewed updates from Java 12 to Java 17. Of course, this doesn’t cover everything, but mostly the few that I found interesting. Hopefully, this gives you the gist of what they’re capable of doing. Looking at the improvements Java has delivered in one go, we can be sure that the Java platform is well-positioned for further development and growth in the cloud. So, if you want to become a software developer, you must learn Java to stay on track with the new developments. 

Reactive applications are scalable since workload grows and also resilient when failures arise. If an application has both scalability and resiliency, it means that the application is responsive. 

Vert.x is a toolkit used for building reactive applications on the JVM using an asynchronous and non-blocking execution model. As it is based on Netty, which is an event-driven and asynchronous network application framework, Vert.x helps build reactive applications using the event loop concept, which is an implementation of a Multi-Reactor pattern. 

An event bus always listens for new events. Whenever a new event arrives, it dispatches it to some handler that knows how to handle it.

The image above indicates a traditional implementation of the Reactor pattern executed by a single thread and reducing the concurrency issues as the pattern that guarantees no handlers is executed concurrently. However, it also implies that the event loop must never be blocked by any of the execution handlers since otherwise, it can decrease the whole system performance significantly. Vert.x brings a good approach here by using a Multi-Reactor pattern, which means using multiple event loops running on separate threads while still guaranteeing that no execution handlers will be executed concurrently. Multi-Reactor patterns use multiple event loops, which requires more CPU cores to increase performance.  

Another case is that even when we use multiple event loops, some events can still take a long time to be processed. In this case Vert.x provides using worker threads for costly executions.  

Vert.x Terminology  

Vert.x has its defined terms. Let’s go over the most well-known terms below:  

• Verticle 

Vertical is a part of Vert.x architecture. It’s a piece of code that can be deployed to Vert.x and is executed in a single thread. It can be considered as a controller handling servlet requests, and all communications are executed with events asynchronously.  

Vertical types:  

Standard verticles: All the code is executed within the same event loop.

Worker verticles: Not executed within an event loop, executed using a thread from the Vert.x worker thread pool. We should not block the event loop for long-running tasks, so it can use a thread from the Vert.x worker thread pool and not block the event loop at all. They can be executed by different threads at different times.

How to deploy a worker verticle?

You need to create an object from DeploymentOptions class and set its worker property as true. Finally, the deployment options must be used while deploying the verticle. Please check the simple example below: 

• Vert.x Instance  

A verticle is executed within a single Vert.x instance, which is executed on the JVM instance. If there are a lot of verticles, they will be simultaneously executed in the same Vert.x instance. Moreover, it is feasible to make multiple Vert.x instances clustered using Event Bus. 

It is like a container for verticles and also an entry point to API. 

• Concurrency  

The Vertical instance always promises that it is executed within the same thread. No deadlock or race condition will occur.  

• Event Loops  

Vert.x instance manages the number of thread pools to the number of CPU cores very closely.  

• Event Bus  

It is a lightweight distributed messaging system used for point-to-point communication, publish/subscribe messaging model, request/response model.

• Shared Data  

Passing and sharing data between threads is a very important concept in asynchronous programming. Vert.x provides both synchronous and asynchronous shared data functionality for this. The shared data feature enables users to use shared data between different verticles for the same Vert.x instance or a cluster of Vert.x instances.  

Vert.x uses Shared Map for global access of data.  

Vert.x Features  

Let’s look over a list of features characteristic of Vert.x that make it the framework of choice for many developers. What are the advantages of using Vert.x?  

• Handling concurrency and high scalability  

Vert.x is a lightweight event-driven and non-blocking application framework that allows developers to handle a lot of concurrency using a small number of kernel threads, so it increases the scalability of the application significantly.  

• Polyglot 

Vert.x is similar to Node.js but it is both polyglot and reactive on the JVM. It supports multiple languages like Java, JavaScript, Apache Groovy, Ruby, Scala, Kotlin. 

• Automatic failover(Resilient)  

In a cluster environment, if running a Vert.x instance fails, it will be automatically restarted on another node of the cluster. 

• Fast  

The way Vert.x addresses that problem is that any I/O work is put in a queue. Since putting a new task in a queue is not a particularly heavy operation, Vert.x is able to process hundreds of thousands of those per second.  

• Ecosystem  

Web APIs, databases, messaging, event streams, cloud, registries, security…  you name it. Vert.x has you covered with a comprehensive end-to-end reactive clients stack for modern applications.  

• Clustering  

A cluster manager is responsible for the discovery of nodes and sharing data within different Vert.x instances.  

To use a cluster manager programmatically in Vert.x: 

• Documentation  

The official Vert.x documentation is very extensive, nicely grouped by topic and with many manuals and examples in multiple programming languages. These examples are usually kept quite simple, which makes sense to not overwhelm the reader and to focus on one certain tool, as well as look over Vert.x use cases one at a time. 

• Lightweight  

It is very easy to integrate Vert.x into your project and its core library. It can also be used in a Spring Boot project, so you can take advantage of a dependency injection feature of the Spring framework inside a Vert.x project. 

Benchmarks for Vert.x and Spring Boot Framework 

The following are some examples of Vert.x vs Spring Boot uses, that illustrate how the two frameworks perform under various conditions with different concurrency levels. 

Vert.x example: 

Spring Boot example: 

Vert.x Test1	Spring Boot Test1
Concurrency Level: 10  Time taken for tests: 58.640 seconds  Complete requests: 1000000  Requests per second: 17053.09 [#/sec]  Time per request: 0.586 [ms]	Concurrency Level: 10  Time taken for tests: 205.175 seconds  Complete requests: 1000000  Requests per second: 4873.89 [#/sec]  Time per request: 2.052 [ms]

As you can see in the first test, Vert.x is significantly faster compared to Spring Boot. Let’s have a look at the CPU and memory usage during the test: 

• CPU and memory usage for Vert.x: 

• CPU and memory usage for Spring Boot: 

As expected from a lightweight framework, Vert.x consumes much less CPU and memory over time. But this is just a very simple test case. More interesting is the second test: 

Vert.x Test2	Spring Boot Test2
Concurrency Level: 10  Time taken for tests: 103.471 seconds  Complete requests: 10000  Requests per second: 96.65 [#/sec]  Time per request: 103.471 [ms]	Concurrency Level: 10  Time taken for tests: 106.633 seconds  Complete requests: 10000  Requests per second: 93.78 [#/sec]  Time per request: 106.633 [ms]
Concurrency Level: 100  Time taken for tests: 10.488 seconds  Complete requests: 10000  Requests per second: 953.46 [#/sec]  Time per request: 104.881 [ms]	Concurrency Level: 100  Time taken for tests: 11.779 seconds  Complete requests: 10000  Requests per second: 848.99 [#/sec]  Time per request: 117.787 [ms]

Because of the 100 ms waiting time in it, the minimum time per request is 100 ms in this test, so only the additional time is relevant here. With 10 concurrent requests, you can already see a slight advantage for Vert.x, but with 100 concurrent requests, the difference is much more obvious. Again as expected, Vert.x is significantly faster. Due to the use of fewer threads, Vert.x with its non-blocking approach performs a lot faster than Spring Boot, which needs to create at least 100 parallel threads in this example. 

What is the Future of the Vert.x Project?  

Vert.x has very good documentation that makes it easy to understand every detail with the help of simple examples. At the moment, it makes it a good option to use in terms of easiness of deployment and super performance as an async server. There is a great community with contributors who continue to fix the issues and release new features in Vert.x. It is also supported by the Eclipse Foundation community team. The strong community that has emerged around Vert.x makes it very easy to discover all its advantages, whether it’s through studying documentation or any Vert.x tutorial or example you may need to further explore the possibilities. 

Conclusion  

To summarize, Vert.x is a great toolkit when you want a non-blocking strategy in an event-driven architecture. It works with verticles, which provides a thread-safe environment. Vert.x makes it easy to write concurrent applications that scale effortlessly from a single low-end machine to a cluster with several high-end servers. Add the fact that you can use the most popular languages for the JVM, and you have a web developer’s dream come true! 

The online casino and gambling industry has changed significantly in recent years, with increased levels of regulation and a continued increase in focus on the topic of responsible gambling. The industry is keen to distance itself from the negative image associated with it in the past and to focus on ensuring that a safe, responsible, and entertaining experience is provided to users.  This change is constant and operators and platform providers need to keep abreast of the continual changes and updates in the regulatory frameworks across multiple jurisdictions. 

Where does Symphony Solutions sit within the iGaming value chain?  

The iGaming division of Symphony Solutions works with operators who are licensed and regulated and who do not carry out illegal operations. These operators are our customers. The customers of the operators are the people that register with the operator and who bet on sports or entertain themselves, playing the online casino games available on the operator websites.

FAQ 1:  Gambling is not legal in my country; can I work for Symphony Solutions? 

Absolutely, Symphony Solutions is not a Gambling operator, we are an international IT services provider and do not require a Gambling Licence. 

Responsible Gambling 

In addition to increased levels or regulation in a number of countries along with numerous states within the United State of America, the other area of ongoing maturity is that of Responsible Gambling. 

Over recent years a set of socially responsible initiatives were created to ensure the fairness and integrity of gambling operations were in place and to promote the awareness of problem gambling to end-users. These Responsible Gambling initiatives are active across governments, through control boards, and with the operators of casinos and sportsbetting operations. 

Broadly speaking the key areas that sit beneath the umbrella of Responsible Gambling are: 

• The exclusion of underage users – ensuring registration of underage users is not possible. 
• The protection of players at risk – making it easy for players to self-exclude themselves or to put in place financial limits on spending or time. 
• Accountable Marketing – making sure for example that advertising and marketing activities do not target children or players at risk that have self-excluded themselves. 
• Data privacy – ensuring that the end users’ data is private and that it remains private. 
• Online payment protection – ensuring that the system is reliable and secure so that customers can deposit, withdraw and transfer funds safely. 

Responsible Gaming procedures vary from country to country, in Sweden operators can set betting limits based on the financial information checks on end-users. In the UK the use of credit cards to pay for gambling is restricted. 

Our customers share a common goal, that goal is to ensure that gambling needs to be done at a fun and safe level, and we stand behind that ethos. 

FAQ 2: What about technology? 

The technology stacks being used are modern, often at the cutting edge. They are driven by new product development and are heavily influenced by the enormous size and scale of the systems required to support many thousands of transactions per second. It is not unusual to witness over twenty thousand transactions per second at peak times. 

Many of our teams are working to design and develop brand new products, products that are not only first to market but patented in multiple countries. Working on these new products will do wonders for your CV. 

From an infrastructure perspective, the typical iGaming systems are large and complex with a mixture of on-premise and cloud-based components.  AWS and Microsoft Azure are commonly used by iGaming operators that wish to leverage the benefits of cloud solutions. 

The advantages of working with iGaming projects from a development perspective: 

• Dynamic, highly transactional, large enterprise systems designed to work at scale.
• Great opportunity to grow both from technical and organizational perspective (working in an Agile environment). 
• Highly performant systems, with significant peak loads during large sports events. 
• Environment changes very fast (from MVP to release). 
• Working with top technologies – Serverless, Cloud, BI-Datawarehouse, etc.
• Being part of the design, delivery and launch of unique, first-to-market products. 

FAQ 3: Are Operators Agile? 

In short, the answer is yes. Whilst some are further along in their agile journey than others, most have recognized the benefits of agile product development and are familiar with working in a lean-agile manner. The majority of our customers have a number of SCRUM teams with some using Kanban. Other larger operators have worked with the Scaled Agile Framework utilizing multiple release trains. 

FAQ 4: What direction is the industry going? 

From a product development perspective, our customers want to continue to delight users, with new innovative games, games that feature live video streaming, so that customers can engage and immerse themselves in real-time. We are seeing a shift towards hybrid applications that bring elements of traditional games together with more modern game features, all designed to bring further excitement, and engagement with the end-users. 

From a geographical perspective, the growth in the US market is impressive, with many states having already legalized gambling we are seeing further growth as new states come on board. For these US-based operators, we see a focus on the user experience, with an understanding that a “using a copy and paste” approach of a European user doesn´t translate well to a US player experience. As a result, strong UX/UI and front end development skills are in demand. 

FAQ 5: OK I’m interested to hear more! What projects are available right now? 

If you join Symphony Solutions you´ll be working for us and representing Symphony Solutions, helping to design and develop new products and applications for operators both in a business to consumer (B2C) environment and in business to business (B2B) focused organizations. 

We have a number of exciting projects working with top iGaming operators. 

From those based in the USA developing B2B solutions for the Casino and Sportsbetting verticals to those based in Malta with B2C brands. 

We have outlined a couple of them here for you to give you a taste of what is available. 

Avantage Entertainment – a top-tier US-based operator in both the B2C and B2B space.  
Casumo – a highly respected Malta-based operator with both online casino and sportsbetting products.  

Be sure to bookmark our vacancies for updates and information on the many other roles that we have. If you see a role that either you or indeed one of your friends might be suitable for, then share or apply! The future is bright.

With the rise of personal technology devices, a mobile phone has grown to be from a mere convenient means of communication to somewhat of a personal assistant. The smartphones of today for many professionals can even replace desktop devices or other “heavy duty” technologies.  

According to Statista, the number of mobile devices users in the last decade grew from 1,06 to 3,8 billion and is expected to further grow by hundreds of millions per year. 

Always on the go, you barely have to reach to your pocket and find a plethora of apps to assist you with school and work, lifestyle and entertainment. But, of course, for the smartphone owners to make good use of these apps, the development team’s job is to make sure that the mobile app is functioning without a hitch. A bug-free app speaks for itself and earns the company a good reputation and the trust and loyalty of their customers. This is where mobile app testing comes into play. 

Mobile application testing is a process of detecting defects, bugs in software that has been developed for the use on handheld mobile devices (most commonly, applies to smartphones and tablets). It is tested for functionality, usability and consistency. Mobile apps can come pre-installed on the device or may need to be downloaded and installed from software distribution platforms (e.g., Play Market, App Store). 

The team of test engineers applies QA best practices to ensures the quality of the app on every step of the development process. Let’s look over some ways of how to test mobile applications that are most common to use when preparing them to go out on the market. 

Types of Mobile QA Testing 

There are two types of mobile testing that need to be done:  

1. Hardware testing. Internal hardware of the device is tested, including processors, memory space, battery, screen size and resolution, camera, sensors, card slots, etc. 
2. Software or Application testing. The main purpose it to test the functionality of the mobile applications. Here you will need to differentiate between the types of mobile apps such as: 
   • Native apps – created to be used only on one platform (e.g., mobile, tablet)  
   • Mobile web app – server-side apps that allow to access the web on mobile via browsers (Safari, Chrome, etc.)
   • Mobile web app – server-side apps that allow to access the web on mobile via browsers (Safari, Chrome, etc.) 

These types of apps differ in the way they are developed and how they can be used and tested: 

• Native apps are created with a specific platform in mind whereas mobile web apps should work cross-platform.
• Native apps are developed with native SDKs, while for mobile web apps developers can use basic web technologies.
• Native apps are updated from Google play store or app store, while with mobile web apps this is done centralized.
• Native apps need to be installed on your mobile device; mobile web apps can be accessed and used without installation via mobile web browser.
• Mobile web apps can only be used with an internet connection, while native apps typically don’t require this. 

Why Mobile Testing is Important 

When testing applications on mobile devices, the QA engineer can face some challenges that are linked to the following nuances: 

• Wide range of mobile devices – various screen sizes and resolutions, hardware configurations, different brands especially for Android devices (HTC, Samsung, Huawei, Xiaomi, etc.); 
• Different mobile operation systems – Android, iOS, Windows, BlackBerry; 
• Different OS versions – IOS 10.x, IOS 11.x, Android 9.x, Android 10.x, etc. 

Types of Mobile Application Testing 

Mobile applications testing usually is designed to test for many different characteristics. Let’s look at some of the common types of testing to be used: 

1. Compatibility testing is handled on different OS versions, devices, screen sizes, cross-browser testing, etc. 
2. UI testing checks the theme and style of the interface correctness, buttons and menus, responsiveness of the app, etc. 
3. Performance testing analyses app performance with different network connection, battery usage, file sharing, etc. 
4. Installation tests checkhow the app behaves when repeatedly installed and deleted on the device.
5. Operational testing is designed to prove the stability and reliability of the app (e.g., data loss when updating from the store, backups and restoration for when the battery goes down, etc.).
6. Security testing performs to see if the user data is protected.
7. Usability testing detects if the application is simple in use, navigation flows are easy to understand, user experience is satisfactory. 

What else you should focus on while testing mobile apps: 

• How the application will work when switching to online/offline mode. 
• When something interrupts the application: 
  • Notifications from other apps.
  • Incoming phone calls.
  • Forced system updates.
• When you switch from album to portrait view or the other way around.
• Device going into sleep mode.
• When you lock/unlock your devices while the application is running in the background.

Basic Differences in App Testing: Android vs iOS 

1. First of all, there are a lot of different Android devices on the market with a huge variety of sizes, screen resolutions, etc. Basically, every company has its own standards.  
2. It’s much harder to develop and test on Android devices because you should make sure that every image, button, and other elements of the interface are not misaligned. 
3. Because of different companies developing on Android, software updated is not synchronized which can lead to problems with supporting. 
4. And of course, it leads us to the problems with security because of the variety of devices with Android.

What are the Differences Between Testing on a Real device vs. Simulator vs. Emulator 

Both simulators and emulators are virtual devices. A virtual device is a software which allows providing the same functions as a real device, although there can be differences with some functionalities like a phone camera, etc. 

Advantages of a Simulator/Emulator  

• When the deadline is coming and you have no time for purchasing a real device. 
• The vast numbers of mobile devices from different manufacturers creates problems, whereby the testers are not confident about which mobile devices to invest in for testing, considering the budget constraints. Emulators and simulators are tailor-made to specifically address this situation. 
• In most cases they are free.
• It’s easier to do web application testing, just copy and paste the link. 

Disadvantages of a Simulator/Emulator 

• You can’t verify battery scenarios.
• You are not able to simulate any interceptions like phone calls, SMS, etc. 
• They are not able to simulate the exact color display.
• Simulating memory-related issues.

Advantages of the Real Device 

You could say that all of the disadvantages of a Simulator/Emulator are an advantage of a real device. You can test all real based scenarios and be sure that the issue is not related to Simulator/Emulator specifics. 

Disadvantages of the Real Device 

• Money. Physical devices need to be purchased and to make sure that you are covering most of the popular devices, it will cost you much more than using some virtual devices. 
• There is a great variety of mobile devices from Apple and Samsung to Pixels and Symbian, and so on. With all this wide range of mobile devices and operating systems, it is very hard for the software testing team to arrange testing for all sorts of mobile devices while working under a considerable amount of budget and timeline related constraints. 

Mobile Application Testing Tools to Get you Started 

There’s an abundance of great tools that you can work with but here are some of the essentials that you might want to consider trying: 

• Charles proxy – Charles is an HTTP proxy / HTTP monitor / Reverse Proxy that enables the tester to view all of the HTTP and SSL / HTTPS traffic between their machine and the Internet. It’s a great tool to look for logs while you are using your application; 
• Android studio – it has the same functionality as Charles proxy. All you need is to connect your Android device with a wire and all the logs will be displayed in the Android studio. Works only with Android devices; 
• Xcode – mostly used for development purposes, but you can use it as an emulator of iOS devices. 

Bottom Line 

Mobile application testing comes as an important part of the product development process. How you approach it will determine whether your app will be a barely functional novelty or a daily staple in your customer’s life. For instance, Ladbrokes Coral focused on performance testing when preparing for UK’s greatest annual racing event and managed to support over two million user visits with no downtime, securing the brand’s reputation and popularity with the customers and increasing revenue. So, if you want to achieve similar results and see your app succeed, remember the following steps: 

• Identify what platforms you will support. 
• You should have at least a couple of physical devices. 
• Use tools which will help you with testing.
• Use different simulators/emulators to expand your testing coverage. 

Don’t forget that you are creating something that will potentially bring a better quality of life for your users. Your part is to ensure the good quality of the mobile app. If you want to help create high-quality mobile applications to satisfy even the most peculiar user, see our open QA vacancies and apply. 

Client interview has recently become an integral part of the hiring process, especially in the IT field. The most frequently asked questions from the interviewees sound like “Isn’t it the same as HR or Behavioral Interviews?”. The answer is yes and no. The main difference is in shifting the focus from general answers, even very well-shaped, to the customer’s needs and requirements as a primary source of prioritizing your skills.

Here are the most common areas of expertise that are covered during the client interview process, and some of them are not so obvious as they might seem at first sight.

Previous Experience

One of the popular client interview questions that you will hear, is some variation of, “Tell me about your job experience.” This question is more loaded than you might think — the interviewer may want to know how this experience has prepared you for the potential job. Thus, the main area of interest for any client lies in getting a better understanding of how your background relates to the position they are looking to fill.

It’s crucial to note that preparation for this question starts with compiling the resume. The primary idea is to point out and focus on that expertise which is of vital importance for both the client and the project instead of including all the skills and abilities that might be useful in general, but minor in terms of the project requirements.

This might seem not so easy; however, with a little preparation, you will be able to succeed.

Prepare your “elevator pitch” beforehand. Use short and simple sentences and active statements to demonstrate confidence and proactivity. Concentrate on the expertise the client is looking for. Quantify your experience. If applicable, use data to add proven value to your accomplishments. Illustrate your potential by showing how your previous work is directly connected to the requirements of the position in question. End with a goal statement. Mention what you want to achieve in this position. Be honest, BUT confident.

Past Failures

This is a typical behavioral job interview question, and such questions might be difficult. Negative experience is tough to talk about because your focus is on trying to present yourself from the best side. However, here is the main trick – by asking such a question, a client wants to decipher how good you are at failing smart and recovering, but not what your failure is in fact.

Talk about how you’ve used the experience to become better at your job and to avoid similar mistakes, provide examples. You may want to use the STAR method (Situation/Task, Approach and Results). Be short, about 2-3 min, and avoid talking about anything that jeopardizes your or your employer’s credibility. Pick a real failure but not anything too costly. Stay honest. Choose an issue relevant to the client’s area of interest.

Current Job

Despite a very clear message, this question is aimed at unveiling several aspects which the client is most interested in. Primarily, the idea of these questions is to investigate what level of problems the person works on – if it is operational/detailed, team level or strategic level.

Another area of interest is a candidate’s motivation for changing jobs – moving towards new opportunities or escaping from the job they dislike. It is a very sensitive issue that should be faced with a positive approach. Use the proper language and shift your mind and message from “I am dissatisfied with my current team collaboration” to “I am looking for a highly collaborative team”. Such a maneuver helps to “sell” yourself as a person who is looking for solutions instead of someone to blame.

Favorite Project

The client investigates how the position that they have fits with what you love and can do best, with what excites you.

You should want to balance what a client wants to hear (so you must read the position requirements in advance) with showing your real self, what drives you and what makes your eyes sparkle. This has to be at least to some extent an emotional conversation. Keep in mind that any hiring process is a “dialogue”, not a “monologue”. You need to show that you are a good fit for the position, but at the same time make sure that you feel it’s your cup of tea, otherwise, there is a threat of potential burnout or dissatisfaction.

Are You a Good Match? 

Sounds like a question in the competition, doesn’t it? Actually yes, but be careful! The majority of people will start talking about themselves: ‘because I am…” NO! Start with: “Because you said you need someone with expertise in architecture, right? Well, I did …” Give examples. START with a “you” statement.

When answering this type of questions, always talk about clients’ needs first, and only after tell about your unique expertise.

Don’t compare yourself to others. The only comparison option you might want to use is to show how the company will benefit by applying your expertise.

Motivation 

What, in your experience, motivates you best? What is your most successful job performance? Can you give us an example of this motivation in action in the workplace? You should want to show your strong sides as well as tell about the activities which keep you engaged.

Also, the client will want to see how you know to deal with disengaging environments, either tasks or people. It is easy to be productive while you are engaged, but how do you tackle issues if the conditions are reversed? Here your strategy is to show that you are adult and mature, that you know how to get yourself doing the things that you have committed to fulfil.

Expectations/Questions to the Client

Traditionally, any interview finishes with the questions to the client. Surprisingly, the majority of interviewees either neglect or underestimate those questions. This part of the interview seems kind of formal, however, it might be a perfect chance to bridge the company vision with the interviewee’s expectations.

Prepare questions to ask the client in advance. Look up their website to see what values they prescribe to the company and the client. Talk of a bigger purpose, company values that you want to be a part of. Talk about opportunities to contribute to others. Talk about opportunities to learn. In this sequence: being part of a big goal, contributing, learning.

If the questions were already covered, express gratitude and give summarizing feedback. This will show your genuine interest in the position and unveil your active listening skills.

Client interviews are an excellent way to “match” the person to the project. Other steps in the recruiting process can only tell you so much about the candidate. If you are looking for someone to fit a certain role, it’s good to know that they are aligned with the client’s view on the position, scope of responsibilities, even the project itself. The potential candidate may have all the right skills and experience but not for this particular project or client. It’s important to be able to elaborate on all that during the interviewing process, so client interviews have now become a big step in the right direction. 

– Roman Shevchenko, Recruitment Lead

Preparation and Building Rapport 

Prior preparation is a key factor for passing the interview successfully. Here are several more general tips on how to succeed in the process of the interview.

Meet with the Client Partners, Recruiters, Service Delivery Managers or other people in the company who have been in contact with the client. Ask about previous interviews, customer specifics and their main focus of interest. Also, check official client accounts on social media, the website and other available resources to look for the inbound information which might help in building a connection. Don’t ignore even minor details, they might matter!

Make sure you are aware of the format of the conversation and prepare all the necessary equipment. Is it a phone call or a video conference? Are there any additional tools you may need to use?

Wear an appropriate outfit: no tracksuits or pajamas with panda bears!

Adjust to the client’s style of communication: formal, semi-formal, a lot/not much of a small talk. Try to mirror non-verbal cues and body language, it will help to connect.

Ask clarifying questions if you are not sure about the message. Ask to paraphrase, to elaborate on the details, to type the message in the chat. Use any possible means until you are 100% aligned.

Client interview is always both a challenge and a great opportunity to polish your presentation skills! Stay prepared and good luck!

Nobody likes it when apps glitch and freeze. Especially when it happens at the most inconvenient moment. When we book a taxi, bet on a game at the last second, or turn into the wrong lane while using maps navigation on our phones. All this makes people frustrated and creates a bad experience with the product, brand, apps, and as a result, the download statistics go down. 
Every developer knows, “When download statistics go down, it’s time to analyze why crash and ANR statistics are up”.
One of the reasons for glitches, crashes and freezes can be memory leaks. Now we will talk about how to identify them in Android applications and how to deal with them. 

What are memory leaks? 

Most Android native apps are written on Java or Kotlin. That means that we have a Virtual Machine with aGarbage Collector (GC). 

“Garbage Collection deals with finding and deleting the garbage from memory. However, in reality, Garbage Collection tracks each and every object available in the JVM heap space and removes unused ones.” 

A memory leak happens when memory is allocated but never freed. This means the GC is not able to take out the trash once we are done with the takeout.  
Android has a 16ms drawing window, and the GC normally takes less time to deal with memory. When the heap of allocated memory is increasing in unevenly large portions and memory is not being deallocated, the system will force a larger GC to kick off, which pauses the entire application’s main thread for around 50ms to 100ms. 

Does my application have memory leaks? 

First of all, we need to find and detect memory leaks in the application. Let’s look over some of the ways and tools you can use to do that. 

• Android Studio Memory Monitor 
  Android Studio provides handy tools for profiling the performance of your app. One such tool is the Memory Monitor. Open the bottom tab in Android Studio while the app is running on a device or emulator. You can see how much memory your app has allocated at the moment. Memory heap will be increasing and decreasing depending on the actions that the application does at the moment. If you notice that memory is allocated but doesn’t get deallocated in a short period of time, this is probably what we are looking for. 
• Infer 
  Infer is a static analyzer tool made by Facebook. This CI tool helps you find possible null pointer exceptions and resource leaks, as well as annotation reachability, missing lock guards, and concurrency race conditions. You can read more on the getting started page.  
• ANR statistics on Google Play Console 
  Some of ANR (“Application Not Responding”) may be caused by big heap allocating and UII freezes for more than 50 – 100ms. You can check them on Google Play Consoles or read more here. 
• Crashes with OutOfMemmoryException 
  This is a 100% proven indicator that you have a memory leak. You should check all the resources and Context-related variables used in classes that you see on the crash stack. 
• LeakCanary 
  With its vast knowledge of the Android Framework internals, LeakCanary has a unique ability to narrow down the cause of each leak. This helps developers dramatically reduce OutOfMemoryError crashes. You can read more on the getting started page.  

How to fix Memory Leaks? 

• Contexts 
  Android SDK is full of classes that have Context as a parent class. Such classes and abstractions can be called “context-related”. Official documentation defines Context as such: 

“Interface to global information about an application environment. This is an abstract class whose implementation is provided by the Android system. It allows access to application-specific resources and classes, as well as up-calls for application-level operations such as launching activities, broadcasting and receiving intents, etc.” 

What we need to remember about memory leaks + context is that everything relating to Context, such as Activities, Services, Application, has a certain scope and a limited lifespan. So we can’t hold a reference to these types of classes because the state is rapidly changing.  
GC can’t clean resources when the reference of Activity or Context is present, but Activity is Destroyed and does not exist for us. 

You should not:  

1. Avoid using static variables for views or context-related references. 
2. Pass a context-related reference to a Singleton class. 
3. Improperly use Context. Use applicationContext() instead of activity context or view context when it’s possible. For example, for Toasts, Snackbars. 
4. Use a weak reference of the context-related references when needed. 

• Static and View References 

Just forget about static when you are working with context-related classes. You don’t need it in Activity for Views, and you don’t need to hold Context everywhere.

If you still can’t manage your logic without such a principle, your architecture or pattern can be wrong for that scenario. Use official guidelines and look into Dependency Injection or app\data\domain modules. 

  /*
     * -> Static and View References 
     * Bad practice: Static context-related variables
     */
    companion object {
        private lateinit var textView: TextView
        private lateinit var activity: Activity
    }

• Unregistered listeners 

Listeners and receivers, such as BroadcastReceiver, LocationListener, Bluetooth and BLE listeners, have a strong reference to Fragment or Activity, and they hold them until you unregister them.  

Carefully check your onCreate (onCreateView), onStart, and onResume methods. These lifetime methods typically have registered events. For each registered event, you should have unregistered opposing methods onDestroy, onStop, onPause.  

/*
        * -> Unregistered listeners
        * Note: Take care about jobs and architecture to avoid leaks. Use Android Work manager
        * or use RxJava or any safe jobs scheduling library.
        */

        private lateinit var leakyCountDownTimer: CountDownTimer
        private lateinit var leakyRunnable : Runnable
        private lateinit var leakyThread : Thread

        override fun onCreate(@Nullable savedInstanceState: Bundle?) {
            super.onCreate(savedInstanceState)
            startTimer()
            startRunnable()
            startThread()
        }

        override fun onDestroy() {
            super.onDestroy()
            /*
            * Bad practice: Don't stop runnables, threads and other timers on onDestory/onStop/onPause
            */
        }

        fun startTimer() {}
        fun startRunnable() {}
        fun startThread() {}
    }
}

• Inner classes and anonymous classes

Here we need to notice that the outer class should never have a static reference to the inner class. The inner class should never have a hard reference to the outer class, especially when talking about context-related classes.

Anonymous classes, such as Handler().postDelayed() or classes that emit a new thread (Runnable, AsyncTask), should stop and close this thread before being destroyed. Take care of every thread and resource that you have created.

/*
     * -> Inner classes and anonymous classes
     * Note: Take care about navigation and architecture to avoid bad practices with context-related variables
     */

    class SomeActivity : AppCompatActivity() {

        override fun onCreate(@Nullable savedInstanceState: Bundle?) {
            super.onCreate(savedInstanceState)
            leakyClass = InnerClass(this)
            leakyClass.goSomeActivity()

             //Some jobs here..

            leakyClass.goSomeActivity()
        }


        /*
        * Bad practice: Context-related logic inside inner class that may produce creating/destroying
        */
        private inner class InnerClass(private val activity: Activity) {

            fun goSomeActivity() {
                activity.startActivity(Intent(activity, SomeActivity::class.java))
            }
        }

        /*
        * Bad practice: Static variables of inner class
        */

        companion object {
            private lateinit var leakyClass: InnerClass
        }
    }

• Singletons 

The memory leak could happen when we initialize the singleton from the activity and pass a long-lived context-related reference to the singleton constructor when we initialized it. Singleton class will hold a reference to Context after destroying the initial resource.

Try to hold applicationContext() instead, or use Context as a parameter of Singelton methods.

 /*
     * -> Singletons  
     * Bad practice: Not application context variable inside Singleton
     * Bad practice: Not destroying context inside onDestroy
     */
    inner class SingletonClass(var context: Context) {
        lateinit var instance: SingletonClass
    }

• Bitmaps

Inefficient use of Bitmaps without recycling it. Managing Bitmaps may easily throw OutOfMemoryException.

Find out more about memory management for Bitmaps in the official documentation here.

Conclusion

Most of the time we spend on user stories, development, and distribution. That’s why we focus on building features, functionalities, and the UI components of our apps. 
We forget to focus on the core issue like performance and quality of the app, which is a major part of an application. 
Try to indicate memory leaks in your application and listen to this simple advice on writing code without unnecessary dependencies and excessive use of resources. Thus, you will certainly be able to protect the application from memory leaks. 
So to rehash, if you want to avoid memory leak scenarios, you should incorporate in your work these best practices: 

• Take care of context. 
• Use common architectures for Android projects, such as Clean, ViewModel, or UseCase Architectures. A clean and structured project is the best way for avoiding most issues. Here is the official architecture guide from Google. 
• Delegate referencing to DI and inject context-related references. 

Find out more about Android Performance Patterns on the official Google Developer channel on YouTube. 

After being a software tester for more than two years, I’ve gained knowledge and indispensable experience that I wanted to consolidate by getting properly certified. So, at the end of last year, I set a goal to pass the ISTQB Foundation Level certification and successfully obtained my credentials in December 2020. 

What is ISTQB foundation level certification 

The International Software Testing Qualifications Board offers different levels of software quality assurance certifications. ISTQB Certified Tester is one of the offered standardized qualifications available for Foundation, Advanced, and Expert levels of accreditation. 

ISTQB Foundation Level is the first accreditation level that you can obtain by passing an exam. It covers the basis that is required to be certified as a software tester, including both the understanding of theoretical fundamentals and practical knowledge. 

The exam is a multiple-choice test that consists of chapters, classified by difficulty (K1, K2, K3). There is a total of 40 questions. The passing grade is 65%, meaning that you are required to answer correctly a minimum of 26 questions to get the qualification. The Foundation Level certification is valid for life so there is no need to retake the exam any time in the future. 

How long to study for ISTQB Foundation exam 

Speaking about time frames, intense preparation for the certification took me a little bit more than 1 month before the final test. I was spending about 2.5-3 hours a day to study, and that’s counting only weekdays. This is not taking into account the fact that I took a theoretical course at Udemy beforehand. 

Resources used for ISTQB exam preparation:

1. Syllabus

Syllabus is the basis of all that you need to know for the ISTQB Foundation Level exam. It consists of general objectives, glossary, learning objectives for different knowledge areas, key concepts, references to sources (literature, standards, etc.). The syllabus is available on the ISTQB official website.

However, the syllabus is not an exhaustive source of knowledge on software testing. It rather gives a comprehensive understanding of concepts and test techniques for all sorts of projects, including Agile. The syllabus discusses different types of software development lifecycles and methods not going into too much detail.

2. Glossary

This source helps a lot with unclear or unknown terms. There are 589 terms sorted alphabetically with definitions, synonyms, references, and versions. There is a Glossary app that you can download to your device or use the web version. You can use the basic search options or use advanced search to set filter criteria and change display options. And there’s an option to generate a pdf report, but you won’t necessarily have any use for it when preparing for the exam.

A tip to pass the exam would be to focus only on those terms which are highlighted before each chapter in the Syllabus.

3. Foundations of Software Testing: ISTQB Certification by Rex Black and others

Practical part of the exam is not explained in the Syllabus. That’s why I was reading Foundations of Software Testing co-authored by Rex Black, Dorothy Graham, and Erik P. W. M. Veenendaal, which expanded more on such topics as test design techniques. But the book is not limited to that only. All of the topics are presented in great detail. If some chapters of the Syllabus are hard to understand, Rex Black and authors do a really good job explaining all that in his book.

4. Udemy course

In addition to the Syllabus and Rex Black’s book, I took the course on Udemy which was roughly 5 hours of audio lectures. As mentioned above, this was the first bit of preparation that I did before diving into intense study. I’d recommend doing the same, as it sets a good foundation for understanding the topics once you start studying them more in depth.

5. Company corporate course or any other ISTQB accredited course

It was much easier for me to study in a group as I had people with whom I could communicate directly and ask questions. It was a big plus having a whole group of QAs to discuss different certification related topics, especially practical tasks. It’s much harder to comprehend the explanations from the book yourself than if a real professional explains it to you in a simple way. This part was very important for me. Many thanks to Maryna Shulga, our ISTQB angel.

6. Sample exam questions with answers

There are 3 sample tests with answers that are similar to the real exam. I advise everyone to look through all of them at least 2-3 days before the certification. These sample exam questions can be found here.

Also, a good resource with questions and answers that I used was the book ISTQB Foundation Sample Exam Questions by Chhavi Raj Dosaj.

Tips how to prepare for ISTQB exam: 

1. Try to memorize the information, not just passively reread it several times. It is a much more effective way to understand what you’ve learned than rereading. The best way is to reproduce what you’ve learned in small portions.  
   
2. First learn then test yourself, not vice versa. It is really important to first read the theory on ISTQB accredited sources like the Syllabus on ISTQB website and try to memorize the information and only then take tests. The best option would be to test yourself after each chapter. And only use reliable sources. If you use some online open resources with mock tests, it is not proof of knowledge. Some of them have outdated info and this way you’ll learn things that are no longer accurate. What is even worse is when these tests have the wrong answers, and you’ll learn from these bugged tests which may lead to you failing the exam. If you still want to test yourself with online tests, make sure that the information they provide is reliable. 
   
3. Take tests right after each learned section. Read the Syllabus (for chapters that are harder to understand, read the previously mentioned Foundations for Software Testing by sections. After each section take a test at the end of the chapter, check how well you know the topic and grade yourself out of 100%. Go back to the questions you know worse and test yourself again until you understand the topic.  
   
4. Take the full version of the test with a timer. After you have finished all the chapters, test yourself by taking a full exam of 40 sample questions on the ISTQB official website. There are 3 examples of questions to choose from with correct answers and explanations. This not only helps you test your knowledge, but also get familiar with the test itself. The exam sheet will have similar questions and the same format. Here it is important to have enough time, so as not to have problems with any formalities during the exam. Therefore, I would recommend taking all the full versions of the test (40 questions) considering a limited time frame. Train yourself at home to take the exam for strictly 75 minutes (for non-native speakers) or 60 minutes (for native speakers). 
   
5. On the last day before the certification read the Foundations of Software Testing section 7.2 Taking the Exam and make sure to have a good night’s sleep. 

A few more tips on how to pass the exam: 

1. Be sure to test the system before taking the test. On the day before the exam, log in and get acquainted with the system – get used to the interface, pay attention to the navigation, fonts, scrolling, clock, flag colors for different labels. This will cost you less stress on the exam, and you will be able to focus just on answering the questions.
   
2. Don’t waste too much time choosing the right answer.  Don’t focus too much on the questions – remember that each question costs 1 point no matter if it’s K1 or K3 complexity level. Use the orange flags if you are not sure of the answer, then go back to the same questions later.  
   
3. Carefully read the task statement. A common mistake during the exam is the lack of attention and desire to answer the question quickly. Therefore, it is crucial to pay attention to what is required in a particular task, namely, to read the task description carefully. Be careful not to confuse such statements as IS and NOT, CORRECT and INCORRECT, TRUE and FALSE, etc. Here banal inattention will cost you 1 point. 
   
4. Use scratch paper to work out the answers. If you are not sure about the answer, try the exclusion method. Write down on the paper the options you’re sure about and decide logically on the remaining ones. Also, you can write down the task number which you have skipped to answer later. This way you won’t waste time scrolling in the system when you get back to it. And finally, scratch paper is useful as an extra safety measure if for any reason there are problems with the Internet and all your answers in the system disappear. You can simply copy them from the paper.  

Conclusion

Speaking about benefits after the certification, I started to use more professional vocabulary at work. Also, it was a great way to solidify all my knowledge and give myself a good confidence boost.

But what is a full-stack developer? How are they positioned in a development team? What is the difference between a software engineer and a full-stack developer? Is one better than the other? And how do you become one? The list of questions can go on, but there’s no better way to find out about the ins and outs of the profession than to ask the person doing the job.

We have talked to Dimitrij Subashev, a Software Developer at Symphony Solutions Skopje office, about what becoming a full-stack developer entails, the intricacies and nuances of the job, and his experience in his career journey so far.

1. Hi Dimitrij! Could you please introduce yourself firstly a little bit?

Hello everyone. My name is Dimitrij Subashev and I’ve been a PHP developer for more than 5 years now with overall experience in the IT industry of over seven years. I’m one of the few people that founded the Skopje office. I have been working on many projects here at Symphony as a PHP (back end) developer and I have decided to try what full-stack is all about ?

2. What is a full-stack developer?   

For me, it is to be a ninja developer ? Just kidding! But it’s really a person who has excellent knowledge and skills in back-end (server software) and front-end (client software). Let’s look into this a little bit more just to simplify things:

• Front end (using JavaScript, jQuery, Angular, Vue, etc.)  
• Back end (using PHP, ASP, Python, or Node)  

And let’s not forget about:  

• database (using SQL, SQLite, or MongoDB).  

Working with full stack has some advantages:  

• You can provide help to all of the team members  
• You can reduce the cost of the project  
• You can make a prototype very rapidly  
• You can switch between front- and back-end development based on requirements  
• You can reduce the time used for team communication  

and disadvantages:  

• Being a full-stack developer is increasingly complex  
• The solution chosen can be unsuitable for the project  
• And also, it is barely possible to be up to date with all of front-end and back-end innovations.  

3. How did you decide that full-stack development is for you?  

I didn’t decide that full-stack is for me, I just decided to give it a try, because these days we hear that companies are looking for full-stack  developers. So, I told myself let’s see what will happen. I want to see if becoming a full-stack developer is really  the top of the iceberg for being  a developer. And if it’s really possible to be that good in both areas.

It’s not that I don’t want to become a ninja developer ?   

4. What skills helped you when studying?  

Well, let’s see.  As I’m a back-end developer and I want to become a full-stack (I need to learn some front-end),  so in this case, I have some start advantage, unlike a beginner.  Also,  I have some knowledge in JavaScript, jQuery,  HTML, and CSS,  so all I need to learn is some front-end framework. Angular, Vue,  React… I had in mind one of  these.

So basically,  every experience that you have or even a beginner’s knowledge that you have can help you  in this process.

5. What does a full-stack developer need to know now? 

Hmm…  This is a tough question.  Maybe I won’t answer correctly but things are changing so fast in the IT world ?  

What the roles and responsibilities of a full-stack developer will be, largely depends on the project. But if you’re looking for a general go-to list to get you started, according to the internet, these are the skills that you absolutely need to have:

• HTML/CSS  
• JavaScript  
• Git and GitHub   
• Back-end languages  
• Web architecture  
• HTTP and REST  
• Database storage  
• Basic design skills  
• NPM  
• Soft skills  

And I think this is a short list of skills. The real list will be much longer.  

All I can say is that he needs to be really, really, really good in back end and front end. And from what I can tell, this experience comes with years of dedicated and hard work… Ten years of experience and more. 

6. What program languages/technologies would you advise to focus on?

Even if you are a full-stack developer, you need to spend a lot of time (and when I say a lot, I mean it) on tracking all the new things that are introduced by those technologies that you are working with.

Everybody suggests using technologies that are working smoothly together. For example, Laravel Vue, Java Angular, React Express, etc. But this does not mean that you can’t combine Laravel Angular.  And, of course, you should be aware of the most popular programming languages and what they are.

7. Maybe you can recommend some resources where you study, for example, front-end development or DevOps and Cloud, or other technologies, or tools you used for each one when studying.

There are many ways to learn some new technology. The internet is one big library (or as we developers say, Google knows everything). You can use any other site, especially dedicated ones for these things like Udemy,  Pluralsight , or many others (for most of them you need to pay though).

I, for example, use Udemy,  YouTube has some free tutorials, and there are a lot of sites that can be found on Google that explain everything step by step. And not to forget that the best way to learn is from an experienced colleague that is willing to transfer his knowledge to you.

8. What to start with?  

This is hard to answer because there are a lot of influencing factors here.  Does the person have some kind of experience as a developer, is it back-end or front-end, or is he a beginner? If we are talking about beginners, then the first step will be to decide what they want more and what attracts them more, whether it’s front-end or back-end. Whatever they choose, then they need to start with something for beginners and continue gradually to advance. That will be the starting point for them.  And if  they have some developing experience then it’s much easier for them, they will just start  learning the other end that they are missing, whether is it a back-end or front-end.

9. What were the challenges you faced when learning new skills?  

There are a lot of challenges in this line of the job as an IT developer. I can’t single out any specific challenge while I’m learning or working but the choice to learn something new is a challenge by itself and it’s not an easy task. You won’t become a ninja overnight ?

By the way, my biggest challenge is free time because family time is very important to me.  

10. What advice to become a full-stack developer would you give to those who are starting out on this path?

As I mentioned before, the first step for beginners is to choose either the back-end or front-end and to continue from there on, or if the person has experience with either one, then just start with the beginner’s lessons for the opposite end.  

Try it, feel it and you will see how it goes for you. Either you like it or you don’t. 

11. Is being a full-stack engineer worth it? Maybe you can express your thoughts on being a full-stack vs half-stack developer?  

As I’m not a full-stack developer yet, I can’t answer this question. But on the other hand, if you are a good full-stack developer and you are doing your job right, then I guess you are worth twice as much to the company. In that case, I think, these people are a must.

12. How would you summarize your experience? Any advice?

Ok, finally the end! ? So, as a summary, what can I say more than I haven’t said so far?

Don’t be afraid and try something new. You never know, maybe you will like the new technologies so much that you will change your career path completely, start working in it and never look back.

Or who knows maybe you will be the next full-stack developer.  

Whatever you do, do what attracts you and what you like. Never spend time learning something that you don’t like just because someone said that it’s popular now. Now it’s in, tomorrow it’s out, and you are stuck with something that you don’t like. So, know what you want, keep your focus on the goal and upgrade yourself as much as you can.

These are the valuable insights that Dimitrij kindly shared with us. Now we all know a little bit more about how to become a full-stack developer. It’s a process that requires a lot of work and dedication. It takes time. A full-stack developer is a versatile engineer that never stops learning and is involved in all processes in a development team. This is a role not for the light of the heart of feeble-minded. Just like Dmitrij said – it makes you a ninja.

Take it with a grain of salt but one thing is certain. If you set out on this journey, it will be demanding and you’ll never stop working on your own skills and evolving, but the reward at the end will be worth it. Full-stack development is a stimulating and exhilarating lifelong pursuit that opens up a wide range of opportunities. It’s what companies want. And you, as a developer, have all the power to make it what you want it to be, build your own path and maximize your potential. 

React is one of the most popular libraries for a variety of projects worldwide. A lot of people consider switching to it or are already working with it. Viktor Dojchinovski, React developer at Symphony Solutions took the initiative and made up a whole 12-week React course to upskill his colleagues during quarantine and help them become experts in this popular technology.

1. How did your path in the IT field begin?

I started learning web technologies more than 10 years ago. At that time the Adobe tools for creating web content were very popular, so I have started to learn to code in, very popular at that time, ActionScript 3.0 programming language. Since it was very close to the JavaScript programming language, very soon I switched to JavaScript, which I don’t regret

2. What was your first programming job? What was the first project where you used React?

My first full-time programming job came at the beginning of 2015 and comprised mostly projects related with other programming languages like PHP, the Laravel framework, AngularJS. Then somewhere around the start of 2018, I started to learn React, and around the middle of 2019 started to work on production ready projects with React.

3. What do you enjoy most about your work as a programmer?

The real joy in my life really comes from other things, and on the other hand, I love my programming job because it keeps the brain healthy and young. It is scientifically proven that mentally active people keep their brains young even in the late years of their life.

4. You have recently started your own React course inside Symphony Solutions. How exactly did the idea of this course come about and who will benefit from it?

The idea for the course was born in this chaotic corona time when I thought that probably there is something that I can do to help my company to stay healthy. And really the idea of upskilling was, let’s say, the most logical one at that point. So, feeling really strong in the field of JavaScript and also React, I said to myself, “Ok, let’s go on and try this.” And thanks to other guys and girls in the company it became a reality.

5. What is special about this course?

Yeah, the course is part of our Symphony Academy. This course has two level groups, one group is advanced JavaScript developers that are experts in some other JS framework, and the other is for Junior to Middle JS developers or even for QAs. The main goal of this course is to upskill our company in the field of React and its surrounding ecosystem because the newest trends show that React is by far the number one library for creating complex front-end applications. We are using a hybrid model for conducting the classes, namely, most of the people are following the classes online, and a few developers are physically present together with me in the Symphony offices in Skopje. But we have the full potential to go 100% online without any obstacles.

6. What do you like about teaching?

Teaching is great. When you teach, you are at the same time a student, and also the students are your teachers. Strange, but really true… I think this simple sentence tells enough.

7. Do you teach somewhere else? How do you combine teaching others with your full-time job?

Yes, I am also a teacher at another academy in Skopje for beginners. It is a bit hard to organize the time schedules, and it really requires you to be concentrated and do things quickly and optimally, but all that actually helps you become a better professional and better person in the end.

8. How do you follow professional trends? How do you learn?

Learning is really a never-ending story. I read a lot of technical books, participate in events, summits… Trying to keep up with the community, with reading technical posts, technical portals and so on.

9. What skills and knowledge does one need to start working with React?

React is a JavaScript library, so it is logical that JavaScript is a must if you want to dive into React’s world. And knowing JavaScript means knowing a lot of technologies, like project building stuff, version control stuff, some basic networking principles and many more. As for how steep the learning curve may be, it really depends on many things, whether you are from the web development world, or maybe you are a JavaScript developer in some other framework… but essentially, React has developer friendly syntax, which is true for all of the newly developed technologies.

10. What are the biggest advantages of React compared to other technologies for you personally?

React has a very big advantage in comparison to other technologies, and that is that it is developed with declarative programming principles in mind. Hopefully, someone who works with React knows the meaning of this.

11.  What do you think are React key benefits over Angular?

Angular is a full-fledged framework, which is like yet another layer over JavaScript, and it is very frequently said that it is much more self-opinionated. I have also experience with Angular and I cannot say that it is worse or better than React (and its ecosystem). Both are made by the smartest men around, and both have the potential for building complex applications of any kind. Yet, the React developers have made a huge step forward by implementing the declarative way of programming in its full potential, which I see as an advance compared to Angular.

12. What’s your favorite joke about developers/IT industry? Tell us one.

A beautiful girl says to a programmer, “I will do anything for you…”

The programmer, “Ok… teach me JavaScript.”

13. What are your morning rituals at work?

Well, I don’t have rituals… I don’t drink coffee in the morning, I don’t smoke… Let’s say that drinking water a lot is my daily ritual.

If you’re a front-end developer and you want to pursue a career in React, make sure to check out the recent React vacancies at Symphony Solutions. 

Do you ever scroll down your Facebook feed when all of a sudden, a button pops up, notifying you of new posts? Well, in this case, you’ve had first-hand experience with React. React came about in 2011 as a result of relentless attempts of Facebook to perfect the user experience of the Facebook application. It was released into the public two years later as an open-source JavaScript library used for building single-page and mobile applications and became quite a widespread programming language. Since then, fixes and improvements are being added multiple times a year with each consecutive release. One such addition was React hooks, which seems to have had a significant impact on app development and to this day remains a trendy topic. Let’s take a closer look and find out why that’s the case.  

React hooks were introduced in React 16.8 as a way to assign certain features to function components without the need to introduce classes. Function components were known as function stateless components before, as using state was primarily a characteristic available in class components. This means that in the past you would have to rewrite these components as classes, spending a lot more time and bulking up the code as a result. However, with the introduction of hooks in React, that has changed.

Why React Hooks?  

Since its initial release in 2013, React steadily grew in popularity and, by the time hooks were released in 2018, established itself as the most loved front-end framework for Web applications in the JavaScript ecosystem. Why the need for the change then?

Primarily hooks were designed to use stateful components without the need to introduce classes. Classes are confusing for both people and machines. The introduction of classes into your code requires a lot of writing and the logic might not always be straightforward. With classes you had to remember to call super(props) and bind methods in the class constructor. This might seem like a minor nuisance, but if it becomes part of your day-to-day life and takes up a significant chunk of your time at some point, you’ll have to start asking yourself if it’s really the best way to write code. New releases tried to handle this by introducing class fields and later higher-order components (HOC). However, it not only didn’t eliminate all the issues but resulted in new problems like over-wrapping of components and issues following the logic. 

React was in need of a new concept. Something to encapsulate all the functionality they were lacking with HOCs and render props. This is how React hooks came into existence. In no way does this mean that hooks are there to replace classes, higher-order components, and goodness knows what else. You can still use whatever you prefer depending on the project and your immediate need. However, you can’t deny that it’s nice having a choice for once. 

A few built-in hooks are already available in React. You can make your own custom hooks as well. The most used are useState and useEffect, that are used to control states and side-effects in React respectively. Some other hooks are useContext (which, alongside useState and useEffect, is one of the three basic hooks), useReducer, useMemo, and useRef to name a few.

useState Hook

This is one of the basic hooks, used for adding state in functional components. Previously, if you wrote a function component and decided to add a state to it, you would’ve had to rewrite it as a class. Now, you can do that with the help of useState hook by calling it directly inside your component.

useEffect Hook

Another one of the basic hooks, useEffect is used for side-effects and is in a way a combination of componentDidMount, componentDidUpdate, and componentWillUnmount. This hook tells React what the app needs to do after rendering and determines its communication with the end user. 

Rules of Hooks  

When using hooks, you need to adhere to some rules for them to work properly. Basically, there are two rules to using hooks in React.

• Only call hooks at the top level. Hooks can’t be called inside loops, conditions, or nested functions. This ensures that hooks are called in the proper order and work correctly. React relies on the order in which the hooks are called so it’s important to maintain the same order of calls on each render. Placing hooks inside loops or conditions may disrupt said order and the code won’t give you the desired result.

• Only call hooks from React functions. If calling hooks from regular JavaScript functions as opposed to React functions, you might disrupt stateful logic in a component.

Creating custom hooks  

One of the benefits of using hooks in React is that you can take them as a basis for your own custom hooks expanding the functionality and adding new features to your code. A custom hook is a JavaScript function that starts with use and calls on already existing hooks, extracting the component logic into a new function. Custom hooks allow you to reuse state logic, write cleaner code and avoid repetition. 

Pros and Cons  

So, it may seem like with the introduction of hooks, React has made it easier to write a concise and clear code without any unnecessary elements to it. But, as it’s usually the case, all newly adopted functions or features, hooks have their pros and cons. Let’s look at some of them. 

Pros  

• Simple and efficient  
• Easy to write, test and maintain  
• Allow creating re-usable components  
• Reduce nesting  

Cons  

• Need to be applied correctly. In case of a mistake, it’s harder to trace it down and correct it, as hooks are called and realized in a stack system.  
• You can’t call on hooks in class-based components so introducing hooks into older projects is complicated and expensive as it requires rewriting a lot of the code. It only makes sense to use hooks in new projects.

So, as you can see, the pros significantly outweigh the cons. As long as you are careful and precise about how you use them, hooks can be a valuable asset in most Reactprojects.

Summary  

In conclusion, we can all agree that React hooks are a great addition to the React framework. They remain on top of the popularity poll even two years after the initial release. If used correctly, hooks make your code clean and slick, reduce overstacking of components, thus making the code easy to follow. So, consider experimenting with them in your next project. Who knows? You might like it and make React hooks a staple tool in your coding.

You should understand that hooks aren’t just another level of abstraction, commonly prevalent nowadays syntactic sugar, or an additional wrapper for your code. No, it’s a fundamentally new approach. Don’t think of them as a replacement for the lifecycle, or a way to use state in functional components. This is like trying to find an exact equivalent of a word in another language: it’s not always possible to transmit the semantic connotation of the word. Hooks don’t use classes – that’s the main idea behind the concept and the motivation that the React team had in mind when creating hooks.

You can say that it’s a more declarative approach as opposed to imperative. The React team wanted to change the way you think when coding in React: perceive render not as an update but a completely new set of data for components. It doesn’t matter if we went through a complete lifecycle or just a re-render – in both cases, hooks will produce a completely new environment. So, you could say that the main strongpoints and benefits to using hooks will be uncovered once you change your approach to coding. 

YURIY KOVALCHUK, SENIOR REACT DEVELOPER AT SYMPHONY SOLUTIONS

Medicine, like any other discipline, has increasingly embraced AI and other digital-age technologies. In the past decade, we have witnessed the emergence of several technological advancements in the in-vitro fertilization (IVF) laboratory.

Ivan Adji-Krstev, AI enthusiast and Python/DevOps Developer at Symphony Solutions, is sharing his experience working with AI project and IVF laboratory.

1. What is AI and how did you get into this field?

It’s not something new, that’s for sure. In short, AI is development of computer systems like application or Robots to do something that humans can do, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making and more. As for me, it’s just another challenge. I created my first web page when I was 12, so I’m always into something new when it comes to IT. One blog post to another, video tutorials, then reading books and learning more and more about it. It becomes fun and challenging. It all begins with curiosity for new stuff.

2. What was your first project?

My first project was with Deep Learning/Computer Vision, trying to detect objects. By using the camera on my laptop I tried to detect some random stuff like objects in the room, for example, my watch. After some different experiments and apps on the way, EMBRY, the project I’m currently working on, was born. I can say EMBRY is my first big AI Project.

3. What do you enjoy most about your work with AI and particularly with NewBorn Clinic?

Well, EMBRY was totally different from the other projects I’ve worked on so far. My wife, who is an embryologist in the NewBorn Clinic, is the one under whose guidance the concept of this new AI technology shall be implemented in their lab. It’s always a pleasure when you work with open-minded people just like the team in NewBorn Clinic. They know their job best for the whole process.

4. How do you combine your own project with your full-time job?

Full time-job always comes first. It’s all about time management. If you love what you do you, won’t have problems. But on the other hand, I also have to be a responsible dad and this is something beyond comparison with anything else. It might have been hard at the beginning, but I managed it.

5. What are your key takeaways from this experience?

I learned a lot about IVF (In-Vitro fertilization). It’s a process that sometimes requires more attempts and a lot of patience. Knowing the satisfaction of the couples who have done IVF is one big thing for all those included in the process. And I think patience is the key factor for lots of things.

I will share all the insights from my experience during the event “How can Artificial Intelligence help in IVF?” on December 17. So, you all are welcome!

6. What skills and knowledge does one need to start working with AI?

Tips for beginners?Anything related to data science, algebra, statistics, and probability. These are the key points for AI. After that, any programming language is welcome, but I’ll go with Python. Look at Tensorflow, it has what it needs to start something.

7. How do you follow professional trends? How do you learn?

I learn every day by gaining new experience and I also read a lot on the Internet. I google a lot (smiley) and share information and experience with colleagues.

8. Do you know of any professional anecdote from your field?

The idea of how EMBRY was born is interesting. I was trying to prove my wife that I can detect mature eggs by using AI, and I was so happy when I did it because I was finally right about something (but don’t tell her).