For years, developers have debated whether PHP is on its way out. With newer languages gaining traction, the question persists: Is PHP dead? The reality is more complex. PHP remains a cornerstone of web development, but its role has shifted as competitors emerge.

PHP by the Numbers

• 74% of websites with a known server-side language still run on PHP as of July 2025.
• WordPress, Drupal, Magento, and Facebook continue to rely heavily on PHP.
• Packagist, the PHP package repository, now hosts over 400,000 packages, showing strong community engagement.

These statistics alone prove that PHP remains a cornerstone of web development.

Why PHP Is Still Relevant

• Continuous Updates: PHP 8.4 was recently released, introducing async-friendly features and performance improvements.
• Framework Ecosystem: Popular frameworks like Laravel and Symfony keep PHP modern, offering elegant syntax and robust tooling.
• CMS Dominance: WordPress, which powers over 40% of all websites, is built on PHP. As long as WordPress thrives, PHP will remain indispensable.
• Adaptability: PHP has shown resilience by evolving with trends such as cloud-native development, AI integration, and microservices.

The Competition Factor

• It’s true that JavaScript (Node.js), Python, and Go have gained traction for modern web apps. They often appeal to startups and developers seeking cutting-edge solutions.
• However, PHP’s low barrier to entry, massive ecosystem, and proven scalability make it hard to replace entirely.

The Future of PHP

Looking ahead, PHP is expected to:

• Embrace async programming for better scalability.
• Integrate more seamlessly with AI-driven applications.
• Continue powering enterprise-level CMS and e-commerce platforms.

Rather than dying, PHP is quietly evolving to meet the demands of modern web development.

Conclusion

PHP is not dead—it’s alive, evolving, and still dominant. While newer languages may capture the spotlight, PHP’s widespread adoption, active community, and adaptability ensure it remains a vital part of the web’s backbone.

So, the next time someone asks “Is PHP dead?”, the answer is simple: No, it’s still kicking—and powering most of the internet.

Continuing our Plop.js journey from the last blog. Be sure to go back and read the previous installment in this series.

In our previous discussion, we explored an introduction to Plop.js and its installation in a Next.js project. Additionally, we looked at a basic skeleton of plopfile.js.

Understanding the Components of plopfile.js

As we saw earlier, the plopfile.js consists of key elements that define the generation. Let’s break them down again for clarity:

• The “setGenerator” creates a plop generator. Here, plopfile.js has a single generator called “basics.”
• The “description,” as the name suggests, describes the purpose of the generator.
• The “prompts” is an array of prompts. This could be added to your created generator.
• The “actions” take the user’s information to each prompt. It is an array of where each action is an object. This is an important step and requires creating some templates.

Creating Our First Template

Before creating a template, understand the concept of actions inside “setGenerator.” After all, this is where the real magic happens. Let’s write a generator to create a new component.

plop.setGenerator("component", {
  description: "Create a new React component",
  prompts: [
    {
      type: "input",
      name: "name",
      message: "What is this component’s name?",
    },
  ],
  actions: [
    {
      type: "add",
      path: "src/components/{{pascalCase name}}/{{pascalCase name}}.tsx",
      templateFile: "plop-template/component.hbs",
    },
  ],
});

Breaking Down the Code

• In the above example, we use the “add” action type, which creates a file at the specified “path” and fills it with a skeleton defined in “templateFile.”
• Plop relies on Handlebars (Handlebars.js), a templating engine for generating structured text like HTML or JavaScript files.
• Notice that the “templateFile” ends with a .hbs extension, which signifies a Handlebars template.

Exploring More Actions

Apart from “add”, there are several other built-in actions like:

• “addMany”
• “modify”
• “append”
• “custom” (for fully customized actions)

You can explore the complete list here: Plop.js Built-in Actions.

Organizing Templates in a Folder

Now that we understand actions, let’s organize our template files.

1. First, create a new folder called plop-template at the root of your project.
2. Inside this folder, create different Handlebar templates for various file types, such as:
   • .tsx for React components
   • .scss for styles
   • .md for documentation
   • .test.tsx for test cases

Handlebars Syntax Example

In Handlebars, variables are enclosed within double curly braces {{}}. Moreover, built-in helpers like “pascalCase” allow the formatting of variables.

const {{pascalCase name}} = () => {
  return <div>{{pascalCase name}} Component</div>;
};

export default {{pascalCase name}};

In addition to “pascalCase,” you can also use:

• “camelCase”
• “snakeCase”
• “lowerCase”

Check out the complete list here: Plop.js Built-in Helpers.

Running the Generator Using Plop

After setting everything up, we are now ready to run our generator! There are two ways to do this:

1. Using CLI Command

2. Using VS Code Script Runner

Alternatively, you can open the package.json file, hover over “generate script,” and click “Run Script” in your editor.

Generating Our First Component with Plop

Next, let’s create our first real component, “Button,” using the plop command npm run generate (with either of the two options mentioned above). After you run the command, the terminal will show prompts as mentioned in the plopfile.js

This will prompt you with questions as per plopfile.js, such as:

1. What is this component’s name? → Button
2. HTML element (default is div)? → button

Once you provide the inputs (refer to the above screenshot to understand better), the component gets created at the specified location, and you will see a success message in the terminal.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, Plop.js simplifies component creation by automating file generation and reducing repetitive tasks. By setting up structured templates, we ensure consistency and boost productivity across the project.

In the upcoming blog, we will explore:

• Other key Plop.js methods (beyond “setGenerator”)
• Built-in and custom actions
• More practical examples

So, stay tuned!

We may all have encountered this situation countless times in our projects—copying and pasting files just to create a new component, page, or service. Unfortunately, this slows us down and hampers our productivity by introducing errors into the workflow. However, there’s a solution! Plop.js is the answer to this problem, as it automates these tasks and allows us to focus on writing great code.

What is Plop.js?

Plop.js is a simple yet powerful scaffolding tool—in other words, a micro-generator framework—that helps us automate repetitive coding tasks for projects. It saves time, reduces errors, and standardizes code structures. Moreover, it ensures uniformity across files, making life easier for the entire team.

Highlight Features

• First and foremost, Plop.js is a template-based file generator.
• Additionally, it is an interactive CLI, enabling a smoother user experience.
• Lastly, you can achieve extensibility through custom actions.

Installation of Plop.js

Plop.js can be installed in any of your projects. To illustrate this, let’s take an example of a Next.js project.

Step 1: Create a Next.js Project

To begin with, create a Next.js project using the following command:

As a result, the above CLI command will prompt you with further questions for setting up your Next.js project.
(Select answers as per your requirement):

• What is your project named? my-app
• Would you like to use TypeScript? No / Yes
• Would you like to use ESLint? No / Yes
• Would you like to use Tailwind CSS? No / Yes
• Would you like your code inside a ‘src/’=’ directory? No / Yes
• Would you like to use App Router? (recommended) No / Yes
• Would you like to use Turbopack for ‘next dev’? No / Yes
• Would you like to customize the import alias (‘@/*’ by default)? No / Yes

Step 2: Install Plop.js

Once your Next.js project is set up, navigate to the project folder and install Plop.js using the command below:

This Installation Generates 3 Key Files

1. A node_modules folder for all your libraries, packages, and third-party code.
2. A package.json file will give you a starting point for your scripts.
3. A package-lock.json file will lock down the versions for each package.
   

In addition to this, installing Plop globally is optional but recommended:

Step 3: Create plopfile.js

Next, create a plopfile.js at the root of your project. Below is a very basic example of plopfile.js

module.exports = function (plop) {
  plop.setGenerator("basics", {
    description: "My first Plop generator",
    prompts: [
      {
        type: "input",
        name: "name",
        message: "What is the name of your component?",
      },
    ],
    actions: [
      {
        type: "add",
        path: "./components/{{pascalCase name}}.js",
        templateFile: "templates/component.hbs",
      },
    ],
  });
};

Breaking Down the Code

• The “setGenerator” creates a plop generator. Here, plopfile.js has a single generator called “basics.”
• The “description,” as the name suggests, describes the purpose of the generator.
• The “prompts” is an array of prompts. This could be added to your created generator.
• The “actions” take the user’s information to each prompt. It is an array of where each action is an object. This is an important step and requires creating some templates.

Step 4: Add a Script to package.json

Before running Plop, add the following script (highlighted in the screenshot below) to package.json.

Step 5: Run plop

Lastly, run plop through the CLI command “npm run generate.”

Now, Plop will execute and guide you through the component creation process!

What’s Next?

So far, we’ve covered the introduction and installation of Plop.js and a basic skeleton for plopfile.js.
In the next part, Plop.js Template Creation, we will explore plopfile.js more thoroughly, replace the skeleton code with working code, and create our first real template. Stay tuned!

In today’s mobile-first world, delivering personalized experiences to visitors using mobile devices is crucial for maximizing engagement and conversions. Optimizely’s powerful experimentation and personalization platform allows you to define custom audience criteria to target mobile users effectively.

By leveraging Optimizely’s audience segmentation, you can create tailored experiences based on factors such as device type, operating system, screen size, and user behavior. Whether you want to optimize mobile UX, test different layouts, or personalize content for Android vs. iOS users, understanding how to define mobile-specific audience criteria can help you drive better results.

In this blog, we’ll explore how to set up simple custom audience criteria for mobile visitors in Optimizely, the key benefits of mobile targeting, and the best practices to enhance user experiences across devices. Let’s dive in!

This solution is based on Example – Create audience criteria, which you can find in the Optimizely documentation.

Create the settings and criterion classes

First, we need to create two classes in our solution:

Class VisitorDeviceTypeCriterionSettings needs to inherit CriterionModelBase class, and we need only one property (settings) to determine if the visitor is using a desktop or a mobile device.

public bool IsMobile { get; set; }

The abstract CriterionModelBase class requires you to implement the Copy() method. Because you are not using complex reference types, you can implement it by returning a shallow copy as shown (see Create custom audience criteria):

public override ICriterionModel Copy()
{
    return base.ShallowCopy();
}

The entire class will look something like this:

using EPiServer.Data.Dynamic;
using EPiServer.Personalization.VisitorGroups;

namespace AlloyTest.Personalization.Criteria
{
    [EPiServerDataStore(AutomaticallyRemapStore = true)]
    public class VisitorDeviceTypeCriterionSettings : CriterionModelBase
    {
        public bool IsMobile { get; set; }

        public override ICriterionModel Copy()
        {
            // if this class has reference types that require deep copying, then
            // that implementation belongs here. Otherwise, you can just rely on
            // shallow copy from the base class
            return base.ShallowCopy();
        }
    }
}

Now, we need to implement the criterion class VisitorDeviceTypeCriterion and inherit the abstract CriterionBase class with the settings class as the type parameter:

public class VisitorDeviceTypeCriterion : CriterionBase<VisitorDeviceTypeCriterionSettings>

Add a VisitorGroupCriterion attribute to set the category, name, and description of the criterion (for more available VisitorGroupCriterion properties, see Create custom audience criteria:

[VisitorGroupCriterion(
    Category = "MyCustom",
    DisplayName = "Device Type",
    Description = "Criterion that matches type of the user's device"
)]

The abstract CriterionBase class requires you to implement an IsMatch() method that determines whether the current user matches this audience criterion. In this case, we need to determine from which device the visitor is accessing our site. Because Optimizely doesn’t provide this out of the box, we need to figure out that part.

One of the solutions is to use information from the request header, from the User-Agent field and analyze it to determine the OS and device type. We can do that by writing our match method:

public virtual bool MatchBrowserType(string userAgent)
{
    var os =
        new Regex(
            @"(android|bb\d+|meego).+mobile|avantgo|bada\/|blackberry|blazer|compal|elaine|fennec|hiptop|iemobile|ip(hone|od|ad)|iris|kindle|lge |maemo|midp|mmp|mobile.+firefox|netfront|opera m(ob|in)i|palm( os)?|phone|p(ixi|re)\/|plucker|pocket|psp|series(4|6)0|symbian|treo|up\.(browser|link)|vodafone|wap|windows ce|xda|xiino",
            RegexOptions.IgnoreCase | RegexOptions.Multiline);
    var device =
        new Regex(
            @"1207|6310|6590|3gso|4thp|50[1-6]i|770s|802s|a wa|abac|ac(er|oo|s\-)|ai(ko|rn)|al(av|ca|co)|amoi|an(ex|ny|yw)|aptu|ar(ch|go)|as(te|us)|attw|au(di|\-m|r |s )|avan|be(ck|ll|nq)|bi(lb|rd)|bl(ac|az)|br(e|v)w|bumb|bw\-(n|u)|c55\/|capi|ccwa|cdm\-|cell|chtm|cldc|cmd\-|co(mp|nd)|craw|da(it|ll|ng)|dbte|dc\-s|devi|dica|dmob|do(c|p)o|ds(12|\-d)|el(49|ai)|em(l2|ul)|er(ic|k0)|esl8|ez([4-7]0|os|wa|ze)|fetc|fly(\-|_)|g1 u|g560|gene|gf\-5|g\-mo|go(\.w|od)|gr(ad|un)|haie|hcit|hd\-(m|p|t)|hei\-|hi(pt|ta)|hp( i|ip)|hs\-c|ht(c(\-| |_|a|g|p|s|t)|tp)|hu(aw|tc)|i\-(20|go|ma)|i230|iac( |\-|\/)|ibro|idea|ig01|ikom|im1k|inno|ipaq|iris|ja(t|v)a|jbro|jemu|jigs|kddi|keji|kgt( |\/)|klon|kpt |kwc\-|kyo(c|k)|le(no|xi)|lg( g|\/(k|l|u)|50|54|\-[a-w])|libw|lynx|m1\-w|m3ga|m50\/|ma(te|ui|xo)|mc(01|21|ca)|m\-cr|me(rc|ri)|mi(o8|oa|ts)|mmef|mo(01|02|bi|de|do|t(\-| |o|v)|zz)|mt(50|p1|v )|mwbp|mywa|n10[0-2]|n20[2-3]|n30(0|2)|n50(0|2|5)|n7(0(0|1)|10)|ne((c|m)\-|on|tf|wf|wg|wt)|nok(6|i)|nzph|o2im|op(ti|wv)|oran|owg1|p800|pan(a|d|t)|pdxg|pg(13|\-([1-8]|c))|phil|pire|pl(ay|uc)|pn\-2|po(ck|rt|se)|prox|psio|pt\-g|qa\-a|qc(07|12|21|32|60|\-[2-7]|i\-)|qtek|r380|r600|raks|rim9|ro(ve|zo)|s55\/|sa(ge|ma|mm|ms|ny|va)|sc(01|h\-|oo|p\-)|sdk\/|se(c(\-|0|1)|47|mc|nd|ri)|sgh\-|shar|sie(\-|m)|sk\-0|sl(45|id)|sm(al|ar|b3|it|t5)|so(ft|ny)|sp(01|h\-|v\-|v )|sy(01|mb)|t2(18|50)|t6(00|10|18)|ta(gt|lk)|tcl\-|tdg\-|tel(i|m)|tim\-|t\-mo|to(pl|sh)|ts(70|m\-|m3|m5)|tx\-9|up(\.b|g1|si)|utst|v400|v750|veri|vi(rg|te)|vk(40|5[0-3]|\-v)|vm40|voda|vulc|vx(52|53|60|61|70|80|81|83|85|98)|w3c(\-| )|webc|whit|wi(g |nc|nw)|wmlb|wonu|x700|yas\-|your|zeto|zte\-",
            RegexOptions.IgnoreCase | RegexOptions.Multiline);
    var deviceInfo = string.Empty;

    if (os.IsMatch(userAgent))
    {
        deviceInfo = os.Match(userAgent).Groups[0].Value;
    }

    if (device.IsMatch(userAgent.Substring(0, 4)))
    {
        deviceInfo += device.Match(userAgent).Groups[0].Value;
    }

    if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(deviceInfo))
    {
        return true;
    }

    return false;
}

Now, we can go back and implement the IsMatch() method that is required by CriterionBase abstract class.

public override bool IsMatch(IPrincipal principal, HttpContext httpContext)
{
    return MatchBrowserType(httpContext.Request.Headers["User-Agent"].ToString());
}

Test the criterion

In the CMS we need to create a new audience criterion. When you click on the ‘Add Criteria’ button, there will be ‘MyCustom’ criteria group with our criteria:

When you select the ‘Device Type’ criteria, you will see something like this:

We can easily add a label for the checkbox by using Optimizely’s translation functionality. Create a new XML file VisitorGroupCriterion.xml and place it in your translations folder where your translation files are, like this:

Put this into the file that you created:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" standalone="yes"?>
<languages>
  <language name="English" id="en-us">
    <visitorgroups>
      <criteria>
        <ismobile>
          <key>Is Mobile Device (Use this setting to show content only on Mobile)</key>
        </ismobile>
      </criteria>
    </visitorgroups>
  </language>
</languages>

There is one more thing to do. In VisitorDeviceTypeCriterionSettings.cs, decorate the IsMobile property with the translation definition. Add this attribute:

[CriterionPropertyEditor(LabelTranslationKey = "/visitorgroups/criteria/ismobile/key")]

It should look like this:

Now, in the editor view, we have a label for the checkbox.

Personalize the content by setting the content for this visitor group.

Desktop view:

Mobile view:

You can see that there is content that is only visible if you access the site with a mobile device.

And that’s it!

Understanding Currying in JavaScript

Functional programming has gained significant traction in modern JavaScript development. Among the many concepts it introduces, currying stands out as a powerful technique. This post will explore currying, its benefits, and practical use cases in JavaScript.

What is Currying?

Currying transforms a function that takes multiple arguments into a series of functions, each taking a single argument. This allows you to break down complex tasks into simpler ones, making them easier to manage and reuse.

Example of Currying

Consider a simple function that adds two numbers:

function add(a, b) {  
    return a + b;  
}

Instead of calling add(2, 3), we can curry it:

function curriedAdd(a) {  
    return function(b) {  
        return a + b;  
    }  
}

Here’s how you can use the curried function:

const addTwo = curriedAdd(2);  
console.log(addTwo(3)); // Outputs: 5

Why Use Currying?

1. Code Reusability: Currying enables you to create specialized functions efficiently. For instance, if you frequently need to add a specific value, you can create a specific function with that value pre-filled.
2. Higher-Order Functions: Currying aligns beautifully with higher-order functions, allowing you to pass functions as arguments or return them as values, enhancing the functional programming paradigm.
3. Partial Application: Currying allows for partial application, meaning you can create a new function by fixing some of the arguments of the original function. This can lead to cleaner code and better abstraction.

Implementing Currying in JavaScript

While you can manually implement currying, as shown above, libraries like Lodash provide a built-in curry method. Here’s how to use it:

const _ = require('lodash');  
const curriedMultiply = _.curry((a, b) => a * b);  
const double = curriedMultiply(2);  
console.log(double(5)); // Outputs: 10  

Real-World Use Cases

Event Handling: Currying can simplify event handler functions where you want to pass additional parameters without the need for excessive closures.

const handleClick = (param) => (event) => {  
    console.log(param, event);  
};  
const buttonClickHandler = handleClick('Button 1');  
document.querySelector('#myButton').addEventListener('click', buttonClickHandler);

API Requests: When building functions for making API calls requiring specific parameters to be fixed, currying allows you to easily create dedicated methods for specific endpoints.

Middleware Functions: In frameworks like Express.js and libraries like redux, you can use currying to build middleware, which requires a specific setup, making your code cleaner and more modular.

Examples:

Enhancing Redux Middleware

// A curried function for creating action creators  
const createAction = (type) => (payload) => ({ type, payload });  

// Using the curried action creator  
const addTodo = createAction('ADD_TODO');  
const action = addTodo({ text: 'Learn currying' });  
// action is now { type: 'ADD_TODO', payload: { text: 'Learn currying' } }

In Redux, action creators can use currying to create actions with specific types or payloads.

const logger = (level) => (store) => (next) => (action) => {  
    console.log(`[${level}] Dispatched action:`, action);  
    return next(action);  
};  
// Usage in store configuration  
const store = createStore(  
    reducer,  
    applyMiddleware(logger('INFO'))  // Applying the logger middleware  
);  

Function Composition: Currying simplifies function composition in scenarios where you want to combine multiple functions.

const compose = (f) => (g) => (x) => f(g(x));  
const addOne = (x) => x + 1;  
const double = (x) => x * 2;  
const addOneThenDouble = compose(double)(addOne);  
const result = addOneThenDouble(4);  // Result is 10 ((4 + 1) * 2)  

Conclusion

Currying is a powerful technique in JavaScript that enhances code reusability, readability, and maintainability. Incorporating currying can lead to elegant solutions to complex problems as you embrace functional programming principles.

Introduction

In today’s dynamic web development landscape, ensuring an exceptional user experience is more critical than ever. Core Web Vitals, introduced by Google, are key performance metrics that help evaluate the overall quality of a website’s interaction. React applications often involve complex UI and dynamic content. Optimizing Core Web Vitals ensures not just better user experiences but also improved SEO and performance in these scenarios. For React developers, optimizing these metrics can greatly enhance both performance and SEO rankings. This guide outlines actionable strategies to fine-tune Core Web Vitals in modern React applications.

What Are Core Web Vitals?

Core Web Vitals are performance indicators focusing on three essential user experience elements:

• Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): Gauges loading performance, with an ideal score under 2.5 seconds.

• Interaction to Next Paint (INP): Measures interactivity, targeting scores below 200 milliseconds for optimal responsiveness.

• Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): Evaluates visual stability, aiming for a score under 0.1.

Strategies to Optimize Core Web Vitals

1. Enhance Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)

      Recommended Techniques:

• Lazy Loading: Defer loading images and videos not immediately visible on the screen.

import React, { Suspense } from 'react';

const LazyImage = React.lazy(() => import('./ImageComponent'));

const App = () => (
  <Suspense fallback={<div>Loading...</div>}>
    <LazyImage />
  </Suspense>
);

export default App;

• Critical CSS: Use tools like Critical to inline essential CSS for above-the-fold content.
• Optimized Media: Serve properly compressed images using formats like WebP to reduce load times.

For a deeper understanding and best practices for implementing lazy loading, refer to the official Lazy Loading Documentation.

2. Improve Interaction to Next Paint (INP)

     Recommended Techniques:

• Code Splitting: Break your code into smaller chunks using tools like Webpack or React’s lazy and Suspense.

const LazyComponent = React.lazy(() => import('./HeavyComponent'));

const App = () => (
  <Suspense fallback={<div>Loading Component...</div>}>
    <LazyComponent />
  </Suspense>
);

• Avoid Long Tasks: Keep the main thread responsive by breaking down lengthy JavaScript operations. Use requestIdleCallback for low-priority tasks.

requestIdleCallback(() => {
  performNonUrgentTask();
});

3. Minimize Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)

     Recommended Techniques:

• Define Dimensions: Specify width and height for all media elements to prevent layout shifts.

<img src="image.jpg" width="600" height="400" alt="Example" />

• Font Loading Optimization: Use font-display: swap to ensure text is readable while fonts are loading.

@font-face {
  font-family: 'CustomFont';
  src: url('custom-font.woff2') format('woff2');
  font-display: swap;
}

• Preserve Space: Reserve space for dynamic content to avoid pushing elements around unexpectedly.

Tools for Monitoring Core Web Vitals

• Performance tab in dev tools.

Use the Performance tab in Chrome DevTools to analyze and optimize Core Web Vitals, helping you track key metrics like LCP, FID, and CLS, and improve your site’s loading speed and interactivity.

• Lighthouse: Perform in-depth audits directly in Chrome DevTools.

Lighthouse, a powerful tool built into Chrome DevTools, provides comprehensive audits of your website’s performance, including detailed insights into Core Web Vitals like LCP, FID, and CLS, along with actionable recommendations for optimization.

Refer the official lighthouse documentation for deeper insights into the tool.

• Web Vitals Extension: Monitor Core Web Vitals in real time with this browser extension.

The Web Vitals Extension is ideal for ongoing, real-time monitoring of Core Web Vitals as you browse, giving quick feedback on page performance and helping you address issues instantly without needing to run full audits.

• PageSpeed Insights: Access tailored recommendations for enhancing performance metrics.

For more information on each of these metrics and their importance, check out the official core web vitals documentation.

Conclusion

Optimizing Core Web Vitals is a critical step in creating a seamless and engaging user experience. Techniques like lazy loading, breaking down JavaScript tasks, and ensuring visual stability can dramatically improve your React application’s performance. Start implementing these strategies today to boost user satisfaction and climb search engine rankings.

Happy coding!

In the modern web, real-time data has become a cornerstone of interactive and dynamic applications. WebSockets offer an effective solution for enabling real-time communication between the client and server, facilitating instant updates without relying on repetitive requests. In this blog, we’ll explore how to leverage WebSockets in React applications to deliver engaging, real-time experiences.

What Are WebSockets?

WebSockets are a protocol designed for two-way communication over a single TCP connection, allowing the server and client to exchange data seamlessly and in real time.

Benefits of WebSockets:

• Low latency communication
• Reduced network overhead compared to polling
• Bi-directional data flow

Setting Up WebSockets in React

Step 1: Create a WebSocket Connection

React makes it straightforward to manage WebSocket connections, utilizing the WebSocket API to establish and handle interactions efficiently.

import React, { useEffect, useState } from 'react';


const WebSocketDemo = () => {

  const [messages, setMessages] = useState([]);


  useEffect(() => {
    const socket = new WebSocket('wss://example.com/socket');

    socket.onopen = () => {
      console.log('WebSocket connected');
      socket.send(JSON.stringify({ event: 'subscribe', data: 'initial' }));
    };


    socket.onmessage = (event) => {
      const data = JSON.parse(event.data);
      setMessages((prev) => [...prev, data]);
    };


    socket.onclose = () => {
      console.log('WebSocket disconnected');
    };
    return () => socket.close(); // Cleanup on component unmount
  }, []);

  return (
    <div>
      <h2>Real-Time Messages</h2>
      <ul>
        {messages.map((msg, index) => (
          <li key={index}>{msg.text}</li>
        ))}
      </ul>
    </div>
  );
};

export default WebSocketDemo;

Explanation:

• The useEffect hook initializes the WebSocket connection when the component mounts and cleans it up when the component unmounts.
• onopen sends an initial subscription message to the server.
• onmessage listens for incoming messages, parses them, and updates the messages state.
• onclose logs a disconnection message, and the cleanup function ensures the WebSocket connection is closed properly.

Step 2: Handle Reconnection Logic

WebSocket connections may drop due to network issues. Implement a reconnection strategy to maintain a seamless user experience.

const reconnectWebSocket = (url, attempts = 5) => {
  let retries = 0;
  const connect = () => {
    const socket = new WebSocket(url);
    socket.onclose = () => {
      if (retries < attempts) {
        retries++;
        setTimeout(connect, 2000); // Retry after 2 seconds
      } else {
        console.error('Failed to reconnect WebSocket');
      }
    };
    return socket;
  };
  return connect();
};

Explanation:

• The reconnectWebSocket function manages reconnection attempts when the WebSocket closes unexpectedly.
• A maximum number of attempts is specified to prevent infinite retries.
• The setTimeout method introduces a delay between reconnection attempts, helping to handle transient network issues.

Real-Time Features to Implement

1. Live Notifications: Keep users updated with real-time alerts or updates.
2. Live Chat: Enable instant messaging within applications.
3. Data Feeds: Provide live data streams, such as stock prices or sports scores.

Best Practices

• Secure Connections: Always use wss:// for secure WebSocket connections.
• Efficient Message Handling: Optimize data payloads to reduce bandwidth usage.
• Graceful Error Handling: Provide fallback mechanisms in case of connection failures.
• Server-Side Management: Ensure the server handles WebSocket connections efficiently to prevent resource exhaustion.

Conclusion

WebSockets are an excellent choice for building real-time features in React applications. By understanding how to set up, manage, and optimize WebSocket connections, you can deliver dynamic and engaging user experiences. Start integrating WebSockets into your React projects today to unlock the full potential of real-time communication.

Happy coding!

Introduction

In the ever-evolving world of front-end development, tools and libraries emerge frequently to make developers  lives easier. One such rising star is ShadCN, a versatile library that is quickly gaining attention for its robust and developer-friendly design system. But what exactly is ShadCN, and why should you consider adding it to your development skillset? Let’s dive in.

What is ShadCN?

ShadCN is an open-source component library that focuses on providing a highly customizable, accessible, and consistent design framework. Built with developers in mind, it simplifies the process of building UI components while adhering to modern web standards. ShadCN stands out with its ease of integration into popular front-end frameworks like React, ensuring flexibility without compromising on performance or aesthetics.

Why Use ShadCN?

In a market saturated with component libraries, ShadCN differentiates itself through several key features:

• Customizability at its Core

ShadCN allows you to customize components effortlessly. Whether you need to tweak styles to match your brand guidelines or adapt behaviors to suit your application’s requirements, ShadCN provides the tools to make it happen without hassle. Its modular architecture ensures that you’re not locked into rigid designs, making it ideal for both small and large-scale projects.

• Accessibility First

Accessibility isn’t just an afterthought in ShadCN—it’s a priority. The library ensures that all components meet modern accessibility standards, helping you create applications that are inclusive for all users. From keyboard navigation to screen reader support, ShadCN makes it easier to build applications that comply with the WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines).

• Consistency Across the Board

Consistency in design is crucial for delivering a seamless user experience, and ShadCN excels in this area. With its predefined design tokens and reusable components, you can maintain a cohesive look and feel across your application. This is particularly beneficial in projects where multiple developers collaborate, as it minimizes the chances of inconsistent UI.

• Performance Optimized

Performance is a critical factor in modern web applications, and ShadCN is built with this in mind. Its lightweight and efficient architecture ensures fast load times and smooth interactions, even in complex applications.

Key Features of ShadCN

• Pre-Built Components

ShadCN offers a wide range of pre-built components, from buttons and forms to modals and data tables. Each component is thoughtfully designed and comes with sensible defaults, saving you time while ensuring high-quality output.

• Theming Support

With ShadCN, theming becomes a breeze. Whether you need a light or dark mode, or entirely custom themes, the library’s built-in theming capabilities allow you to tailor the look and feel to your liking.

• Integrations with Popular Frameworks

ShadCN is framework-agnostic but integrates seamlessly with popular tools like React and Next.js. This makes it a versatile choice for developers working in diverse environments.

• Rich Documentation

One of the hallmarks of a great library is its documentation, and ShadCN does not disappoint. It offers comprehensive guides, code snippets, and examples to help you get started quickly and troubleshoot effectively.

Use Cases

ShadCN can be employed in a variety of scenarios, such as:

• Enterprise Applications: Its consistency and accessibility features make it ideal for building enterprise-grade applications with complex requirements.
• Startup Projects: For startups, where time is often of the essence, ShadCN’s pre-built components and customization options can help launch MVPs faster.
• Personal Projects: Hobbyists and freelancers can leverage ShadCN for its simplicity and flexibility in creating stunning user interfaces.

Getting Started with ShadCN

To start using ShadCN, you can install it via npm or yarn:

npm install shadcn

or

yarn add shadcn

Once installed, import the components you need and start building. For example, to add a button to your React app:

import { Button } from 'shadcn';

function App() {
  return <Button variant="primary">Click Me</Button>;
}

Conclusion

ShadCN is more than just a component library—it’s a design system that empowers developers to create visually appealing, performant, and accessible applications. With its focus on customizability, consistency, and developer experience, ShadCN is well-positioned to become a staple in modern front-end development.

Whether you’re an experienced developer or just starting out, ShadCN offers the tools and flexibility needed to bring your UI visions to life. Give it a try and experience the difference it can make in your projects!

Introduction

Redux, a JavaScript application’s predictable state container, has emerged as a key component for React application state management. To make sure that your state management functions as intended, it is essential to test your Redux code. We’ll look at methods and resources for testing Redux apps in this extensive article.

Why Test Redux?

Testing is an integral part of the development process, and Redux is no exception. Here are some reasons why testing Redux is essential:

1. Predictable State: Ensures that your state transitions are predictable and follow the logic you’ve defined.
2. Refactoring Safety: Allows you to refactor your code with confidence, knowing that your tests will catch regressions.
3. Collaboration: Makes collaboration easier by providing a safety net for changes made by different developers.
4. Documentation: Acts as living documentation, showcasing how different parts of your application interact with the state.

Strategies for Testing Redux

1. Action Creators Testing

Action creators are functions that return actions. Testing them involves checking if the correct action is returned.

// Example Jest Test for Action Creators

test('action to add a todo', () => {

  const text = 'Finish documentation';

  const expectedAction = {

    type: 'ADD_TODO',

    payload: text,

  };

  expect(addTodo(text)).toEqual(expectedAction);

});

2. Reducers Testing

Reducers are functions that specify how the application’s state changes in response to an action. Test that the reducer produces the correct state after receiving an action.

// Example Jest Test for Reducers

test('should handle ADD_TODO', () => {

  const prevState = [{ text: 'Use Redux', completed: false }];

  const action = {

    type: 'ADD_TODO',

    payload: 'Run the tests',

  };

  const newState = todos(prevState, action);

  expect(newState).toEqual([

    { text: 'Use Redux', completed: false },

    { text: 'Run the tests', completed: false },

  ]);

});

3. Selectors Testing

Selectors are functions that take the Redux state and return some data for the component. Test that your selectors return the correct slices of the state.

// Example Jest Test for Selectors
test('select only completed todos', () => {

  const state = {

    todos: [

      { text: 'Use Redux', completed: false },

      { text: 'Run the tests', completed: true },

    ],

  };

  const expectedSelectedTodos = [{ text: 'Run the tests', completed: true }];

  expect(selectCompletedTodos(state)).toEqual(expectedSelectedTodos);

});

Tools for Testing Redux

1. Jest

Jest is a popular JavaScript testing framework that works seamlessly with Redux. It provides a simple and intuitive way to write unit tests for your actions, reducers, and selectors.

2. Enzyme

Enzyme is a testing utility for React that makes it easier to assert, manipulate, and traverse React components’ output. It is often used in conjunction with Jest for testing React components that interact with Redux.

3. Redux DevTools Extension

The Redux DevTools Extension is a browser extension available for Chrome and Firefox. It allows you to inspect, monitor, and debug your Redux state changes. While not a testing tool per se, it aids in understanding and debugging your application’s state changes.

4. nock

nock is a library for mocking HTTP requests. It can be handy when testing asynchronous actions that involve API calls.

Conclusion

Validating various aspects of the state management procedure is part of testing Redux apps. You can make sure that your Redux code is stable, dependable, and maintainable by utilizing tools like Jest and Enzyme in conjunction with a test-driven development (TDD) methodology. Have fun with your tests!

React, a powerful JavaScript library for building user interfaces, offers different solutions for managing state in applications. Two popular choices are Redux and the Context API. This blog will compare these two state management approaches, helping you decide which one is the right fit for your React app.

Introduction

Redux

Redux is a state management library that works well with React. It introduces a global store to hold the state of the entire application. Components can access and modify the state by dispatching actions, which are processed by reducers.

Context API

The Context API is a part of React that enables components to share state without explicitly passing props through each level of the component tree. It provides a way to pass data through the component tree without having to pass props down manually.

Use Cases

Redux

Redux is well-suited for large-scale applications with complex state logic. It’s beneficial when:

• You have a large number of components that need access to the same state.
• The application state is deeply nested, and passing props would be cumbersome.
• You need a single source of truth for your application state.

Context API

The Context API is more appropriate for simpler state management needs. Consider using it when:

• Your application is small to medium-sized.
• There are a few components that need access to the shared state.
• You want to avoid prop drilling but don’t need the complexity of Redux.

Coding Examples

Let’s delve into coding examples to illustrate the use of Redux and the Context API.

Redux

Installation

Install the required packages using the below command:

npm install redux react-redux

Setting Up Redux Store

// store.js

import { createStore } from 'redux';

import rootReducer from './reducers';

const store = createStore(rootReducer);

export default store;

Reducer

// reducers.js

const initialState = {

counter: 0,

};

const rootReducer = (state = initialState, action) => {

switch (action.type) {

case 'INCREMENT':

return { ...state, counter: state.counter + 1 };

case 'DECREMENT':

return { ...state, counter: state.counter - 1 };

default:

return state;

} };

export default rootReducer;

Component

// CounterComponent.js

import React from 'react';

import { connect } from 'react-redux';

const CounterComponent = ({ counter, increment, decrement }) => {

return (

<div>

<p>Counter: {counter}</p>

<button onClick={increment}>Increment</button>

<button onClick={decrement}>Decrement</button>

</div>

); };

const mapStateToProps = (state) => {

return {

counter: state.counter,

}; };

const mapDispatchToProps = (dispatch) => {

return {

increment: () => dispatch({ type: 'INCREMENT' }),

decrement: () => dispatch({ type: 'DECREMENT' }),

}; };

export default connect(mapStateToProps, mapDispatchToProps)(CounterComponent);

Context API

Creating Context

// MyContext.js

import { createContext } from 'react';

const MyContext = createContext();

export default MyContext;

Providing and Consuming Context

// ParentComponent.js

import React from 'react';

import MyContext from './MyContext';

import ChildComponent from './ChildComponent';

const ParentComponent = () => {

const sharedState = {

message: 'Hello from Context!',

};

return (

<MyContext.Provider value={sharedState}>

<ChildComponent />

</MyContext.Provider>

); };

export default ParentComponent;



// ChildComponent.js

import React, { useContext } from 'react';

import MyContext from './MyContext';

const ChildComponent = () => {

const sharedState = useContext(MyContext);

return <p>{sharedState.message}</p>;

};

export default ChildComponent;

Performance Considerations

Redux

• Redux can be overkill for small to medium-sized applications.
• Setting up Redux involves boilerplate code, which might be unnecessary for simpler projects.

Context API

• The Context API provides a lightweight solution for simpler state management needs.
• It doesn’t have the same overhead as Redux, making it more straightforward for smaller applications.

Conclusion

Choosing between Redux and the Context API depends on the complexity and size of your application. For large-scale applications with complex state logic, Redux provides a robust solution. On the other hand, if your application is smaller and doesn’t require the features offered by Redux, the Context API is a simpler alternative.

Are you a project manager who has just been handed a new website implementation or redesign project for the first time? Maybe you have a project assigned to you, but you don’t usually manage projects. If so, here are five website project management tips to keep in mind as you run your project:

1. Identify Key Stakeholders

   Identify all key stakeholders who need to know about the project but aren’t involved in the day-to-day work. As you work closely with many resources on your project, remember that other departments and individuals in your organization will also feel the impact of the changes. Keep these departments informed about the changes and ask for their feedback. This will encourage them to champion your project and adopt changes sooner. It also allows them to make necessary adjustments on their end before you complete your project. Waiting to inform key stakeholders later could delay the project launch if they need to make critical adjustments.

2. Arrange Meetings in Advance

   One of the toughest parts of being a project manager is finding time for everyone to meet. I joke that that its like solving a Rubik’s Cube. The more stakeholders you have, the harder it is to schedule meetings, especially at the beginning of a project when you’re collecting requirements. A pro tip is to block recurring meetings ahead of time for requirements collection. You might not have all the topics fully identified, but scheduling these meetings in advance will speed up the process and prevent scrambling to arrange ad hoc meetings.

3. Collect Data Early

   As you start a re-platforming project, identify all integrations and data that are crucial to your website. Often, data is inconsistent or needs cleaning. At the project’s outset, review all data points with your team and architect to identify what you need to clean up. Depending on the scope, this can take significant time. Assign someone on your team to handle the data cleanup and estimate how long it will take. Waiting until the end of the project could impact your launch date.

4. Create an Action Log

   Develop a centralized action log that everyone on the project can access. When development work is ready for testing, you’ll receive feedback from multiple team members. Having a single document for feedback allows team members to input their comments and track progress on fixes. This reduces the chances of team members mentioning the same feedback multiple times. If team members start sending emails, you might lose or overlook action items, especially if you leave some members off the email chain. A centralized document provides visibility for everyone and streamlines communication.

5. Schedule Regular Updates with Senior Leadership

   Regular check-ins with senior leadership are essential for you to showcase the great work your team is doing on the project. Even if there are hiccups or things aren’t going according to plan, keeping senior leadership in the loop is important. You never know what valuable input or advice they might have. They can also help identify or unblock major risks that arise during your project.

There are many other tips I could share to ensure your project’s success, but these are the key items I recommend based on my years of experience managing multiple website implementations. Stay tuned for more insights and website project management tips, or feel free to leave a comment with any questions or suggestions!

In the ever-evolving landscape of JavaScript development, speed, efficiency, and simplicity are the key players. Enter Bun 1.0, a groundbreaking JavaScript runtime & toolkit designed to elevate your development process to unparalleled heights. In this comprehensive blog, we will delve into the world of Bun 1.0, exploring its features, benefits, and how it is reshaping how developers build and test JavaScript and TypeScript projects.

Introduction to Bun 1.0: A Game-Changer in JavaScript Development

Bun 1.0, with its tagline “Develop, test, run, and bundle JavaScript & TypeScript projects—all with Bun,” promises a seamless and swift experience for developers. It introduces an all-in-one JavaScript runtime and toolkit comprising a bundler, test runner, and Node.js-compatible package manager, making it a compelling choice for developers and organizations striving for efficiency and speed in their projects.

Key Features of Bun 1.0

• • Speed and Performance: Bun 1.0 is built for speed, starting fast and running fast. It extends JavaScriptCore, the performance-focused JS engine built for Safari, ensuring optimal performance critical in today’s edge computing scenarios.
  • Elegant APIs: Bun provides minimal, highly optimized APIs, simplifying common tasks like starting an HTTP server and writing files. These elegant APIs enhance developer productivity and reduce complexity.
  • Cohesive Developer Experience (DX): Bun is not just a runtime; it’s a complete toolkit encompassing a package manager, test runner, and bundler. This cohesive DX streamlines the development lifecycle, allowing developers to focus on building exceptional applications.
  • Node.js Compatibility: Bun is designed as a drop-in replacement for Node.js. It natively implements hundreds of Node.js and Web APIs, ensuring seamless compatibility and facilitating a smooth transition for developers.
  • TypeScript Integration: In Bun 1.0, TypeScript is treated like a first-class citizen.. Developers can directly execute .ts and .tsx files, respecting TypeScript settings configured in tsconfig.json. This seamless integration empowers developers to leverage TypeScript’s strong typing and modern features.

Bun 1.0: Simplifying Development Workflows

• Bun.serve(): Bun simplifies starting an HTTP server with a clean and concise API, making it effortless to serve web applications and APIs.
• Fast Dependency Management: Bun’s npm-compatible package manager offers lightning-fast dependency installations. It leverages the fastest system calls available on each operating system, ensuring rapid dependency resolution and installation.
• Efficient Testing with bun test: Bun 1.0 introduces a test runner that outshines competitors. With a Jest-style expect() API and incredibly fast startup times, running tests becomes a breeze.
• Watch Mode and Productivity: Bun’s watch mode ensures that developers can focus on coding without interruptions. It re-runs tests and restarts processes instantly upon file changes, enhancing productivity.

Getting Started with Bun 1.0

1. • Installation: Installing Bun 1.0 is a straightforward process. Developers can use the following command to get started:

curl -fsSL https: //bun.sh/install | bash

1. • Writing Your First Bun Application: Creating a basic HTTP server using Bun is as simple as defining a Bun.serve() function and specifying the desired port and response.

const server = Bun.serve({
    port: 3000,
    fetch(request) {
        return new Response("Welcome to the world of Bun!");
    }
});

console.log(`Listening on localhost:${server.port}`);

1. • Running the Application: Execute the Bun application using the following command:

bun index.tsx

Why Choose Bun 1.0 for Your Projects?

• Unmatched Speed: Bun 1.0 stands out with its exceptional speed and performance, enabling developers to deliver applications faster without compromising efficiency.
• Simplified Development: Bun’s elegant APIs and intuitive commands simplify complex tasks, making it an ideal choice for developers seeking a hassle-free development experience.
• Enhanced Testing: Bun’s test runner redefines testing workflows, offering unparalleled speed and reliability. Developers can run tests swiftly, ensuring the quality of their codebase.

Conclusion

Bun 1.0 emerges as a beacon of innovation and efficiency in a world where time-to-market and performance are paramount. Its ability to seamlessly integrate with existing workflows, unmatched speed, and focus on developer experience position it as a game-changer in the JavaScript ecosystem. By choosing Bun 1.0, developers empower themselves with the tools needed to keep up with the fast-paced industry and stay ahead of the curve.