Day in the Life of a Web Developer: 20 Tips for a Web Developer
As explained at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com, a web developer is a programming professional who turns web designs into operational sites by writing lines of code. If you are considering a career in web development, you will want to know what it is really like once you land that first role. This article will look to list 20 tips on a day in the life of a web developer to provide some real-life insight.
Getting started with the day
Most web developers prefer getting into the office early enough before the hubbub starts as per RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com. They see this as the best time to get some peace and quiet, as it gives them the chance to get organized for the day ahead.
Getting caught up with correspondence
A web developer will usually spend their early morning, once they get settled in, sifting through emails and Slack messages. If you are a zero-inbox person, you will want to remain with only the emails in your inbox that are open tasks that you need to work on or respond to, and archive everything else.
Checking for bugs
Once one is done with the emails and Slack messages, a web developer will then check for errors and bug reports to see if any issues cropped up while they were gone. According to RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com, this will also prioritize one’s to-do list accordingly.
Team meeting
Team meetings form a crucial part of the work day for a web developer. These meetings are important as this is where team members get together to discuss their weekly sprint goals. These meetings are where you will also discuss ongoing projects, brainstorm ideas, or speak about new strategies to boost your business or clients’ online presence.
High priority tasks
With the first meeting out of the way, as a web developer, you will then get stuck into your high-priority tasks. This might be something left over from the day before, or an urgent bug that needs fixing. If you are lucky enough not to have any emergencies, then you can start on your to-do list.
Project management tools
Most web development teams use a project management tool as articulated at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com. This allows for agile planning and time-tracking. As a web developer, this is where you to the project management tool you use to get the next project and start tracking your time to ensure you hit your deadlines.
Pair programming
Some offices also practice pair programming. This means that, depending on the task at hand, as a web developer you might sit with one of the other developers so that you can work together. This is a fairly common practice in the web development industry, as it enables developers to pool their knowledge and brainpower to find the best solutions.
GitHub
Once you are done with a task as a web developer, you submit your code for review as captured at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com. You will need to upload it to the testing server and GitHub with a comment on what you have done and why, any changes you have made, and instructions on how to test it.
Interrupting your workflow
When lunchtime comes, most web developers prefer going out for lunch as they think it is important to interrupt their workflow for a bit and get their minds off of things. When out eating lunch, you can talk about other topics that aren’t related to web development.
Second round of meetings
Immediately after lunch usually comes the second round of meetings. This is where you meet with the design team for project handover. The design team presents their UI designs, walking you through everything, and you can ask questions and start thinking about how you might translate their designs into code.
Research
As a web developer, you should also take some time to do some research on new technologies and tools that could improve the way you develop sites as covered at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com. As a web developer, it is important to stay on top of trends in the field to stay competitive.
Collaborate with members of other teams
A web developer will also collaborate with content creators or graphic designers to review the text and images that will be placed on the website, and where they will fit into the layout. You will need to ensure that pages are properly laid out and visually appealing to users.
Reviewing the day’s work
As the day winds down, as a web developer, it is always a good idea to review the day’s work as described at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com. This allows you to see what progress you have made and whether you hit all targets set for the day while also allowing you to test your websites one more time.
Tying up loose ends
As a web developer, you will also spend some time at the end of the day tying up any loose ends and getting ready for the next day. This is where you sort out any issues that have arisen during your work during the day.
Going through feedback
You will also need to take time to check the projects that you have submitted earlier on in the day to see if they have been reviewed yet. If they have, you will need to go through the feedback and apply all the changes requested, and then re-submit for further review.
Meeting with clients
Meeting with clients and management will also be a great part of your workday. Communication is a crucial skill in this field as discussed at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com. Web developers speak directly with clients about their site vision and user needs or obtains this key information from management.
Writing code
Web developers spend most of their time writing code for websites in languages like CSS, HTML, and Java. Therefore, if you don’t like to code, then you might want to avoid this career path as the bulk of your day will be spent writing code.
Working hours
Most web developers are employed full-time, which typically translates to 40 hours a week, eight hours a day as outlined at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com. Additionally, you might have to work overtime to complete projects on time. Web developers can also be freelancers, which means they get to determine their business hours.
Happiness level
The happiness level as a web developer depends on the circumstances. According to studies, this is one of the best jobs out there today. Freelancers in particular find it extremely rewarding and satisfying, especially when they have a chance to balance their work with other life activities.
Stress level
Like any other job, this one also carries specific responsibilities and risks. Stress is something that comes with the territory when it comes to life as a web developer. Some of the stressors include time constraints, complex coding, and demanding clients, among others.
As always, if you are looking for more on this and other related topics, then look no further than the excellent RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com.