Web development is one of the fastest growing careers in the tech industry. And despite what you may think, it actually requires a unique combination of both discipline and creativity. We sat down with our Web Development instructor, Douglas Gough, for some insiders tips on how to successfully create and enhance user experience when starting out in the business.

Tip #1: Choose A Code Editor And Stick To It

As a developer, finding your flow is fundamental to building a great user experience. To achieve a state of flow, you’ll need to choose a code editor and stick to it. Learn how it highlights your code, how it indicates errors in your code, what keyboard shortcuts it provides, and how it integrates with your other development tools. Choose an editor that is widely used and stick to it until you have a really good reason to change.

Tip #2: Use A Version Control System

A version control system (VCS) tracks the changes you make as you’re developing a project. It lets you “roll back” to an earlier version of your code if something goes wrong. This provides you with the sense of security and freedom that you’ll need so that you can think creatively and try new things. Many people use FTP when they first start out, and most of them switch to a version control system like Git after losing a project to an FTP error. Save yourself the pain and embarrassment by using Git or another VCS from the start.

Tip #3: Learn The Underlying Concepts

Being a web developer requires that we learn many different programming languages, web applications, and frameworks. It can be overwhelming when you’re starting out, and the internet is full of conflicting opinions about what is best and what you should learn. The most important thing to learn is the underlying concepts and patterns. You’ll pick up the patterns as you gain experience, but you can get a head start by installing and working with a few different technologies. For example, try to build a blog on a few different systems and pay attention to the similarities.

Following these 3 tips will help you create a development environment where your creativity and innovation can flow freely, which will help you create better code and ultimately better user experiences.

Want to find out more? Attend our Web Development Career Q&A or browse our Web Developer courses.