My first project from Phase 1 was a very simple pokedex, although at the time I thought I did a lot to make it work. Now it looks so simple and boring; I will be doing updates on that project as a personal goal. Using Reactjs on this project will make it more interactive, and I plan to deploy it as well.

Phase 2 of the project was using Reactjs, I tried to replicate the website I made using WordPress; although it was enough to pass phase 2, I consider this project a company project since I will make updates and deploy it as soon as possible since this is the website of the company where I work. I wonder if I will get a bonus for remaking the website. This project is in my immediate future; most likely I will have to finish it before the end of the year.

In phase 3 we learned CLI for Python. It was very interesting, although its application is very limited. I think I can make use of it when working on Raspberry Pi, Arduino, and other small boards since their resources are very limited, and having a UI is very restricted.

My project on phase 4 was a management system for any company, such as Fishbowl or WMS, in which you can control many things, like inventory, returns, shipping, products, and more. I have used those systems before; they are very expensive to license and not that complicated to use. For example, the warehouse where I worked years ago used a WMS system; it was made on AS400, and the whole interface looked like a CLI from Python. I will definitely go back to this project and add a couple of things, such as the UPS API for shipping and address validation, and possibly create a small app to use on Zebra handled scanners.

Finally, my last project while in Flatiron will be an AI object detection for vehicles and license plates. This was a very exhausting project. I selected this project because it was very interesting and challenging, and I was also asked at work if I was able to make something similar. Training the model for the object was very tedious; I needed to collect many images of the objects I wanted to detect, and then I had to tag them with special software. When creating the model, my PC froze a couple of times, and I even had to change video cards.

Phases 1 and 2 helped me learn the fundamentals of Javascript and Reactjs; learning a new coding language (Javascript) from fundamentals and its framework Reactjs was very exciting since I was able to learn how to build the front end of a website. Using the skills I have learned in these 2 phases has made me capable of building basic websites.

Phases 3 and 4, learning a new coding language such as Python, was very interesting, since Python is very easy to learn but it is also capable of building web applications, games, and other different applications using purely Python. Flask is a framework used to build applications; it makes Python even easier, especially when building tables and databases.

It has been a long rode for me, since at times I was on the brink of failing a couple of the phases, which includes this phase as well (Phase 4). At the beginning of the program, we were told about impostor syndrome. I had felt it throughout the program when I was stuck coding something, especially before starting the project. I get very anxious, and I don’t know where to start coding, but once I completed it, I know I will feel relieved, but the sensation of impostor syndrome doesn’t go away completely.

Phase 1 was very hard for me; being introduced to a new coding language(javascript) and reading tons of material, labs, challenges, and videos was extremely exhausting, and I almost didn’t pass it. I was very anxious when I received my final grade for phase 1 and, at the same time, very relieved after I realized that I passed.

Phase 2 learning ReactJS was surprising easier compared to Javascript; I understood more, and I also practiced a lot in order to catch up with the rest of the class. I believe that I did much better on phase 2 compared to phase 1, although I know I am still lacking many things on the conceptual side.

Phase 3 has been very exciting since I have been able to keep up with the material. Python is very simple to understand, and the language itself is very descriptive. Although I know how to do things, I can’t explain why I did it. I need more practice and probably add comments to my code so I can explain my code to others. I envy some of my classmates who are able to articulate so much when they describe or explain their code. At the time I am typing this blog, I haven’t finished my code challenge nor started my project, but I am positive I can do it during the weekend.

Now in Phase 2, everything looks so similar and different at the same time, I am still coding in Javascript but now using Reactjs, but for some reason it looks less complicated than Javascript, although it has way more steps and files.

At the moment of writing this blog I haven’t finish all my modules or challenges yet, but I will do it. There are so many steps, so many files to remember and how link the information in those files ( import , export ).

As my final project I decided to recreate the website I built using Word-press, this will also be a personal challenge to see how much I have learned so far and what I am capable of.

Initially, I was hesitant. My knowledge of HTML and CSS was minimal, but I decided to take on the project using WordPress. The platform was user-friendly and required no coding, which was convenient. However, this experience sparked a curiosity about building websites from scratch.

Despite multiple attempts, I struggled to recreate the site using only HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Rather than feeling disheartened, I was motivated to learn more. I began exploring free coding resources like FreeCodeCamp and LeetCode, which provided a solid foundation but left me craving a more structured learning environment.

With many bootcamps now offering remote learning options, I enrolled in Flatiron School. The first few weeks were intense and overwhelming, as I grappled with a wealth of new information. However, as I completed code challenges and projects, I realized how much I was learning and how much I enjoyed the process.

Link to my code challenges:

https://github.com/kershak/phase-1-cc-ramen-rater-v2

I’m excited to continue this journey and see where it takes me next.