Front End Astronaut

The term "debugging" has a bit of a legendary origin story. It dates back to 1947 when Grace Hopper, a pioneer in computer programming, was working on the Harvard Mark II computer. The team encountered an error that stumped them, until they opened up the machine and found an actual moth causing the issue. They removed the moth and logged the first ever "debugging" process. The moth itself was taped into the logbook, which is now in the Smithsonian Museum . While we may not deal with literal bugs in our machines these days, the term "debugging" has stuck around, symbolizing the process of identifying and removing errors or "bugs" in our code. So, the next time you're debugging, remember you're part of a tradition that traces back to the very early days of computing! In this post, we're about to introduce ourselves to the art of debugging frontend issues. We'll use the most powerful tool at our disposal - the browser devel...

This time, we're diving into the world of Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA) and discovering how ARIA attributes can improve the accessibility of our websites. In this guide, we'll discuss the basics of ARIA, the importance of ARIA attributes, and practical tips for implementing them to create more accessible websites for users with  disabilities. Additionally, we'll touch on screen readers and assistive technology across various operating systems and devices. So, let's get started! The Basics of ARIA ARIA, or Accessible Rich Internet Applications, is a set of attributes and techniques designed to enhance the accessibility of web content and applications. ARIA attributes provide additional information about elements on a web page,  making it easier for assistive technologies like screen readers to understand and interact with the content. The Importance of ARIA Attributes ARIA attributes play a crucial role in making modern web applications more accessible to ...

Today, we're going to explore the world of keyboard-friendly interfaces and learn why it's essential for creating accessible and inclusive websites. In this guide, we'll discuss the importance of keyboard navigation, the challenges that some users face, and practical tips for designing keyboard-friendly interfaces. So, let's dive in: The Importance of Keyboard Navigation Before diving into practical tips, let's discuss why keyboard navigation is so important. Many users rely on keyboard navigation for various reasons, such as mobility impairments, visual impairments, or personal preference. By ensuring your website can be easily navigated using only a keyboard, you create a more inclusive experience  for all users, regardless of their abilities or input method. Also, I personally faced situations where I had to work for clients that could be liable legally for not complying with minimum accessibility standards, so this might be a also a good reason to pay attention ...

Today, we're going to explore the world of semantic HTML and learn why it's essential for creating accessible, maintainable, and user-friendly websites. In this guide, we'll discuss what semantic HTML is, why it's important, and how to incorporate it into your projects. So, let's dive in! Understanding Semantic HTML Semantic HTML refers to using HTML elements that convey meaning and context about the structure and purpose of the content they enclose. It's a way of writing markup that provides more information about the content, rather than merely describing its presentation.  By using the appropriate  semantic elements, we can improve the accessibility, search engine optimization (SEO), and maintainability of our websites. The Importance of Semantic HTML Before diving into practical tips, let's discuss why semantic HTML is so important: Accessibility : Assistive technologies, such as screen readers, rely on the structure and meaning provided by seman...

Hello fellow developers! Today, we're going to explore the world of web accessibility. This is the first post of a series on this topic. While it may not seem like the most exciting topic, it's an essential one to understand. I personally enjoy working on doing accessible web applications, it has many advantages. Accessibility is all about ensuring the digital world is inclusive and user-friendly for everyone, regardless of their abilities or disabilities, but not only that. So, let's dive in and learn how to create websites that are usable by people with disabilities, following the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) . The Importance of Web Accessibility Before we dive into the practical side of things, let's discuss why web accessibility is so important. An estimated 15% of the global population has some form of disability, which means that inaccessible websites can exclude a significant number of users. Furthermore, ensuring your website is accessible can als...

Recently, I had the opportunity to participate in Sitecore’s Hackathon 2023 . It was my first hackathon experience, and I have to admit that I was both excited and nervous about it. The thought of working with a team to develop a simple application in just 24 hours seemed daunting, but I was ready to take on the challenge. The event was fun, challenging, and exhausting, all at the same time. It was a great chance to put my skills to the test and learn from my colleagues. As an associate frontend architect at Verndale , I was happy to see that several teams from our company were participating in the hackaton. This allowed us to compare our experiences and share our knowledge. I participated in the hackathon with Sandy Foley and Cristhian Castro, two colleagues from Verndale . It was the first time that we had worked together, so it was a great oportunity to get to know them and learn about their strengths and skills. We worked well together, and I was impressed by their creativity and d...

  Hello everyone! I'm excited to share with you my favorite VS Code extensions that have helped me boost my productivity and workflow, first as a developer and now as a frontend architect at Verndale . After some time trying other tools, I've been using VS Code as my go-to Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for a while now and have come across some fantastic extensions that have helped me write cleaner code, automate repetitive tasks, and save time. So, without further extra hassle, let's take a look at the extensions I've added. Edit Hosts File This extension allows me to edit my hosts file directly from within VS Code. This is especially useful when I'm working on local development and need to switch between multiple environments quickly. With this extension, I no longer need to open my hosts file in a separate editor, edit it, and save it. I can do it all from within VS Code. EditorConfig for VS Code This extension allows me to maintain consistent coding st...