Top 20 Things I Learned: Day in the Life of a Web Developer
A web developer designs and creates code to build an operational website according to the specifications of a client as explained at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com. They handle all parts of the website creation process, from laying out the website to making sure it functions as intended. If you are considering a career in this field, you will no doubt want to know what it is really like, which is where this article comes in, as it will look to list 20 things we learned when it comes to a day in the life of a web developer.
Getting caught up on emails and other correspondence
Once a web developer gets into the office, it is time to get organized for the day ahead. As per RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com, this includes spending about 30-45 minutes sifting through one’s emails and Slack messages. If there are messages that you need to respond to, now is the time to do it. Those that outline tasks you need to work on are also handled.
Checking for errors
Once one is done with their emails and other correspondence, most web developers will then proceed to check for errors and bug reports to see if any issues cropped up while they were gone, and then prioritize their to-do list accordingly.
Team meeting
Every morning, web development team members get together for an hour or so to discuss their weekly sprint goals. According to RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com, the team members talk about what they did the day before, what they will focus on their day ahead, and any obstacles they are currently facing. This allows team members to make sure they are on track as a team and to plan the rest of the week.
High priority tasks take precedence
Once the first meeting is out of the way, the real work begins. The web developer will get stuck into their high-priority tasks. This might be something leftover from the day before or an urgent bug that needs fixing immediately.
Getting stuck into the to-do list
If there are no emergencies, the web developer will go straight into their to-do list and get started on the next item on the agenda. Most companies use project management tools for agile planning and time tracking, so the web developer will get the next project from the tools and start tracking their time.
Pair programming
Most companies also practice pair programming, which means that, depending on the task, the web developer might sit with one of the other developers so they can work on it together, as articulated at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com. This is a fairly common practice in the web development industry, and it is designed to enable team members to pool their knowledge and brainpower to find the best solutions.
Submitting code for review
Once the web developer is done with a task, they will submit their code for review. The web developer will upload it to the testing server and GitHub with a comment on what they have done and why, any changes they have made, and instructions on how to test it. The web developer will then mark it for review so that the team sees it.
Code review policies
Most web development companies or companies that employ web developers operate a policy whereby all code has to be reviewed by at least one other team member, which is why version control systems are vital tools in this field as captured at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com.
Lunch out of the office
Most web developers try to make time for a lunch break at about 1 PM. Web developers tend to go out for lunch as they know how important it is to get out of the office and interrupt their workflow for a bit. Being able to disconnect from work for a bit is important as it will help you recharge and prepare you for the rest of the day.
Meeting the design team
After lunch comes the next round of meetings. This is where the web development team members meet with the design team for project handover. The design team will present its UI designs, walking the web developers through everything, and allowing them to ask questions and start thinking about how they might translate their designs into code.
Finalizing the meeting
As covered over at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com, the meeting between the web developers and the design team usually lasts about an hour, depending on the project. Once it is finished, the developers will make a card in their project management tool of choice summarizing this particular project, which is then added to the team’s backlog of tasks.
Taking on the next task
Once the meeting is over, everyone returns to their desks, and the web developer then takes the next card from the sprint planning column in the project management tool and then starts the time tracker to ensure that everything gets done on time.
The importance of a time tracker
When it comes to project management tools, web developers prefer using Ora, which comes with a time tracker as described at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com. The time tracker helps web developers to plan their time more efficiently as it gives every person a good overview of how much time they are spending on what, and they can make realistic estimates for future projects.
Tying up loose ends
Web developers will spend the last hour of the day tying up ant loose ends and getting ready for the next day. They will check the projects that they have submitted before lunch to see if they have been reviewed yet, and if they have, they will go through the feedback and apply all the changes requested, and then re-submit for further review.
Bug fixes
Once the web developer is done going through the feedback and replying as needed, they will then attend to any bug fixes or requests from the other developers, and review any code that has been submitted.
Learning
As a web developer, you can never stop learning as it is important to always be abreast of any new developments in the field. This is why web developers usually end the day by watching a video tutorial, if they have time, on some of the emerging topics discussed at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com.
There is a possibility of overtime
The day for a web developer usually ends between 5 PM and 6 PM. Generally, web developers don’t work overtime, unless there is something really urgent to deal with. There is usually a possibility of overtime when it comes to crunch time as far as projects are concerned.
Working outside their specialization
As outlined at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com, web developers typically specialize in either front-end, customer-facing development, or back-end, server-side development. While you will rarely find front-end developers working on back-end projects, exceptions occur for developers trained in full-stack development.
Freelance web developers
A freelance web developer typically begins the day reviewing their schedule and upcoming deadlines. These developers spend most of their day coding or debugging a site. Freelance developers must regularly discuss progress with their clients, handle administrative tasks like finances, and consistently hunt for new work opportunities.
Be prepared for a lot of coding
Finally, it is important to note that the bulk of the day for a web developer is spent coding, which is something you must be prepared for when looking to get into this field. It is also worth noting that exact coding responsibilities vary between front- and back-end developers.
These are some of the things to expect when it comes to a day in the life of a web developer, with more on this topic, and much more, to be found at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com.