aimeeknight/ama

Ask me anything!

Hi there 👋, my name is Aimee Knight

Software Engineer and Cloud Architect

Having worked professionally in software development for over a decade, my expertise spans MLOps, cloud infrastructure, Kubernetes, and application engineering. For a comprehensive compilation of my conference talks, blog posts, and podcast interviews, please refer to my GitHub projects below and AimeeMarieKnight.com.

Skills: Node / JS / MLOps / Kubernetes

 

ama's Issues

Why the switch from Ruby to Javascript?

Hi Amy,

I really enjoy listening to your stories on the JS Jabber. I recall hearing you mention that you switched from Ruby to Javascript, and if you don't mind, I was curious - what made you make the switch? Better potential opportunities? A keener interest in the front end?

React Ecosystem

I've learned JavaScript fundamentals and I'm now beginning to build apps with React. What I'm curious to know is, what does a complete React application entail? So far, what I understand is that

React - Manages the View Layer
Redux - Manages state for the application
Manage Server-Side Data - ???

So my big question is: How are companies that use React/Redux handling data on the back-end?

I've been recommended learning how to integrate React/Redux apps with the Meteor (which I believe uses a MongoDB). So I'm leaning towards learning how to integrate my react/redux apps with Meteor AFTER I feel more comfortable with React and Redux. But I'm just curious to see what is happening in the real world.

Angular vs React

Hello,

I was wondering which framework is better for beginners who understand the basics of JS and have written their own apps in JavaScript, Angular or React?

Baltimore JS Community

I was listening to the 'Finding a Job' on JSJ and heard you currently live in the Baltimore Area. I know about several js communities in the DC area but not a lot in Baltimore. Can you share ones that you were/are involved in? I would love to get more involved and I truly believe the best way for me to level up my coding skills is to become more active within the JS community.

Also, great podcast episode on JSJ.

Getting better with CSS

Aimee, first off, thank you so much for all your contributions helping new (and old) programmers like myself learn and mature as a coder.

My question is regarding css. I've been spending so much time trying to learn React and javascript, that my CSS skills have been neglected. I seem to do just enough to get it to work while I have focused on the JS portion of my SPAs. Any hints/tips/advice/resources on learning and advancing my CSS chops?

Thanks!

switch stements

I have heard many sides to this story, mostly from non JavaScript developers especially those coming from a c# background. Are case statements in JavaScript bad to use, why or why not?

Outsourcing - effects on jobs

Just started listening to Javascript Jabber - great podcast. I only have 200+ podcasts to catch up. I listened to podcast #180 and it brought this question to mind.

How does offshoring affect developers getting jobs in the US? Is programming a dead end career in the US due to outsourcing?

I am an IT manager in a major financial firm and we outsource 80% of our programming jobs.

Thank you

Good Mentors

What are the qualities to look for in a mentor, especially if the only programmers you know are ones who are not specifically JavaScript developers, and dont necessarily know the trends or new frameworks of the JS community ?

tips, advices for figure skating learners

Hi Aimee!
I'm so inspired by your story and I see similarities to my "life story". I was studying dramatic acting in Poland and switched to learning programming, beginning with HTML, CSS and falling in love with the JavaScript world and it's possibilities. My passion is still growing day by day. Actually, I'm learning Angular 2 now and a better job is just around the corner :) But... I see how important it is to save the body/mind harmony. My favourite classes during the studying were dance and other movement classes. I always liked watching figure skaters and this winter I decided to combine my dancing skills with ice skating challenges. I'm learning very fast but I need some exercises, tips and advice for learning further, especially how to learn single jumps :) Do you have any interesting materials or maybe your own videos while learning?

What are you learning next week?

Question about React best practices

Hey @AimeeKnight!

I have a question for you about React. I listened to the Learning React.js podcast you were in last year and a lot of the discussion you guys had (at least in the middle of the podcast) revolved around breaking down monolithic components into more composable components.

Right now I feel like I have a pretty solid grasp on how to build apps using React, but my components are pretty much still monolithic. xD I'm trying to figure out the best way to organize my code but other than the page in React's docs Thinking In React I haven't been able to find any solid examples of how I should really be breaking things down and structuring my app. Do you have or know of any good practical examples I can review to further my understanding?

Hi, you think is important to learn Elm now a days?

Multi developer workflow, same project

How does the companies you have worked with handle multiple developer working on the same project and managing source with Git?

We are using CodeAnywhere and ShiftEdit which handles the process nicely, but doesn't work for offline development.

Mentor/mentee discussions

Your Nodevember talk stressed the importance of mentorship. What are your suggestions for what a mentor can discuss with their mentee during their time together?

Problem Solving

Hey Aimee,

What does your problem solving process look like? I've been learning how to code for the past year and only now am I beginning to realise that coding is more about using different tools and languages to solve problems as opposed to being an expert in a particular field.

Good interview on JavaScript Jabber btw!

Do you wear a pair of shoes while working on a standing table?

Hi Aimee!

Learned from a JS Jabber episode that you also like working on a standing table.

I'm in Thailand where we normally don't wear shoes indoor, just bare feet (or just with a pair of socks!)
I started working with a standing table a couple weeks ago but I found myself already have some pain on my rear feet when standing for 4-6 hours a day.

Do you wear a pair of shoes/slippers that support your feet when working on a standing table?
so you don't get too much pain on your feet.

Cheers 👯 ,
Armno

Ask for feedback

Hello Aimee,
Is it advisable or a good habit to ask form an interviewer about the feedback on how a technical interview went?
Thanks,
Anirudh Modi

Beginner Coder Advice

What path would you suggest for a beginning coder to take?
Javascript or
Ruby/Rails

I am about 1/2 thru Free Code Camp and as you probably know, Quincy is a proponent for Javascript.
I also read Josh Kemp's blog and he is a proponent for Ruby/Rails.

How to "Level Up"?

In your podcast, you kept mentioning this idea of "leveling up". As a recent graduate of a programming bootcamp, it is also something I am really interested in. But with all of millions of things to possibly learn, and all the ways you could go about learning them, how do you even decide where to focus your efforts?

Thanks for having this AMA, and I really enjoy Javascript Jabber!

angular

hi which text editor you use for working with angularjs?

CS self-teaching curriculum?

I'm a long-time listener of Javascript Jabber, and as a self-taught web developer I'm always inspired by your story of breaking into the industry and learning so much so quickly. I listened to the episode on NativeScript recently, where you mentioned at the end of the episode that you are trying to take a break from learning specific frameworks and libraries, and trying to focus more on learning fundamental CS concepts. This is something I've felt a need for for a while as well, but I really feel like I don't even know what I don't know. Do you have a curriculum that you are working off of, or a list of topics that you want to learn or anything?

Keep up the great work and thanks a ton for any help you can give!

On the job

What is your day to day like as a junior software engineer? Senior software engineer?

Your strategy for switching focus

Hi Aimee,

In a recent podcast pick, you mentioned you switched focus from the front end to the back end and how important you thought it was not to jump around too much when learning something new. You said you spent 1 year learning Angular before you decided to move to the backend. I'm curious about your goal setting strategy - did you make it time-based (e.g., "1 year learning Angular") or milestone-based (e.g., I will learn X, Y, and Z about Angular and then switch to learning about node backend)? Also, why cutoff the front end after 1 year? You could have spent time learning about more front end topics such as HTML/CSS, more Angular, React, Elm, etc. Mostly just curious about your framework for decision making. I thought your pick was very interesting (and relevant to myself as well), as I'm quite interested in goal setting as well.

Thank you,
Bruce