Thursday, May 25, 2023

Front-end Development Overview

 

Keywords: Software development, Front-end development, software developer, Frontend Developer, Client-side, UI, UX, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Responsive Web Development, Frontend Security, skills, tools

·        Frontend development

o   refers to the client-side of Software development focusing on visual and interactive aspects of software, system, websites and applications that users engage with directly.

o   involves creating the user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) of a software or system or website or web application

o   It is the development of the user side where only user interaction will be counted. it consists of the interface where buttons, texts, alignments, etc. are involved and used by the user.

o   There are numerous connections between the frontend and backend. They all strive to build a useful website, app or software.

·        A Frontend developer

o   A Front-End Developer is a specialized type of software developer who focuses on the design, development, and maintenance of the visual and interactive aspects of a website or web application

o   responsible for crafting the user experience, translating design concepts into code that will display consistently across various browsers and devices.

o   implement the interface and aesthetics that users interact with directly, employing languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, along with frameworks and libraries to enhance functionality and user engagement.

o   As the architects of the digital user's first impression, they play a pivotal role in web development teams, ensuring that the site is accessible, responsive, and visually appealing.

o   A Front Developer Should have knowledge of Frontend Security.

o   Collaborating with back-end developers to integrate web interfaces with server-side logic and functionality.

o   Ensuring the technical feasibility of UI/UX designs and collaborating with design teams to bridge the gap between graphical design and technical implementation.

·        Responsive Web Development

o   Specifies that web applications should be accessible on devices of various shapes and sizes

o   Methods for Achieving Responsiveness such as Breakpoints (Web applications adjust width and height based on device characteristics), Flexible Images, Flexible Grids and Media Queries (defining responsive changes at specific points based on device characteristics)

·        Frontend Security

o   Frontend developer should Provide security to web pages for example in a section of login or signup that password given by the user must be secured and cannot be accessed by third party between the login session, same goes for the web pages where a payment statement or any other confidential data is transferred or stored.

o   Attacks that can make web page riskier such as DoS (denial of service) attacks, Preventing cross-site request forgery (CSRF) and Cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks

o   In DoS attack the attacker tries to access the web page from thousands of systems at the same time. The solution for denying this attack is we can use Firewall or other platforms which provide security from these kinds of attacks.

o   In CSRF attack the attacker puts some other buttons or suspicious element into your web page by using that the attacker can access the token that is present in your web browser. and by using that token they can access your data and can present any kind of missing behavior that can harm you. It can be prevented by using the md5 or sha256sum algorithm that is used to generate the token.

o   In XSS attack the attacker replaced some parts of the web page with similar looking components. for e.g. a user clicks a button for submitting the form but it sends all the crucial information like bank details to the attacker, or it starts downloading the malware files into your system.

·        Frontend Development Skills include:

o   Proficiency in Web technologies and Client-side Languages

o   Proficiency in Frontend Frameworks

o   Responsive design

o   Master the browser’s developer tools

o   Web performance

o   Version Control

o   Security Awareness

·        Key Responsibilities of Frontend Developer include:

o   Translating UI/UX design wireframes into actual code to produce visual elements of the application.

o   Collaborating with design teams to bridge the gap between graphical design and technical implementation.

o   Optimizing web pages for maximum speed and scalability across various devices and browsers.

o   Implementing responsive design to ensure the web application works well on a variety of devices and screen sizes.

o   Utilizing a variety of markup languages to write web pages and maintain brand consistency throughout the design.

o   Ensuring user input validation and implementing error handling to provide a robust user experience.

o   Collaborating with back-end developers to integrate web interfaces with server-side logic and functionality.

o   Staying abreast of emerging technologies and industry trends to apply them in projects and workflows.

o   Monitoring website performance, assessing analytics, and refining the front-end code accordingly.

·        Frontend Developer Tools can be categorized as:

o   Web technologies and Client-side Languages

o   Code Editors

o   Integrated Development Environments (IDEs)

o   Shell Scripting and package manager's tools

o   Frontend Frameworks

o   Responsive design and Prototyping tools

o   Browser development tools and performance testing

o   Version control systems

·        Frontend development popular tools:

o   Web technologies and Client-side Languages: HTML, CSS, JavaScript

o   Code Editors: Visual Studio Code, Sublime Text

o   IDE's tools: Visual Studio, IntelliJ IDEA, WebStorm.

o   Shell Scripting and package manager's tools: PowerShell, Bash, npm, yarn

o   Frontend Frameworks: React, Angular, Vue.js

o   Responsive design and Prototyping tools: Bootstrap, Figma, Adobe XD

o   Browser development tools and performance testing: Google Chrome DevTools, Lighthouse

o   Version Control systems and Hosting services: Git, GitHub, BitBucket