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At Code the Dream, we envision a world in which tech innovation comes from all of us and benefits all of us.

Programming Tips & Tricks

by Caitlin Gross

December 3, 2024

MI Mac Developer Setup: "Setting up your brand new computer can be stressful. However, it should be an easy, fun, and light task for developers to get you ready for development."
Read the article here

November 26, 2024

Unused Imports: If you're using VS Code and want to quickly clear all the unused imports from a file, you can use the following shortcuts. Shift + Option + O for Mac or Alt + Option + O for PC.

November 19, 2024

React vs Next.js: “The JavaScript landscape for web development is constantly evolving, and two frameworks, React and Next.js, have emerged as dominant players. But for software engineers facing a project decision, the question arises: which one is better?”
Read the article here

November 12, 2024

Trending Color Palettes: If you're putting together a new app/website and you're stuck on what colors to use, try this website. https://coolors.co/palettes/trending Note: Make sure you consider accessibility by choosing palettes with more contrasting colors! There is a contrast checker on the website.
View the tool here

November 5, 2024

The ||= Operator: Ruby's ||= is a great shortcut for assigning default values. It assigns a value to a variable only if that variable is nil or false. Instead of: "if @user.nil? @user = User.new end" try "@user ||= User.new" Tip: Be cautious when false is a valid value, though! If false is a valid and meaningful value it can result in the variable being incorrectly reassigned, leading to potential errors.

October 29, 2024

Advice for Junior Developers: “Over the 15+ years of my development career, I have learned several things that significantly increase my effectiveness. In this post, I share those learnings with you.”
Read the article here

October 22, 2024

hue-rotate() function, explained: The hue-rotate() function applies a color rotation to the elements on which it is applied. The <angle> CSS data type represents an angle value expressed in degrees, gradians, radians, or turns. Example: tiny.cc/hue-rotate

October 15, 2024

⌘ + K: Terminal Clear Command Cmd+K (Ctrl+K on Windows/Linux): Instantly clear your integrated terminal. Time-saver: Keep your terminal tidy without interrupting workflow. Perfect for: After long command outputs or between test runs.

October 8, 2024

Quicktype, explained: A tool that automatically converts JSON data from APIs or other sources into strongly-typed Typescript interfaces and types. Useful as a starting point for coding projects.
View the tool here

October 1, 2024

September 24, 2024

⌘ + P: Quick File Navigation Cmd+P: Instantly open any file in your project. Type part of the filename to filter results. ⌘ + K Z: Zen Mode for Distraction-Free Coding Cmd+K Z: Toggle Zen mode Removes all UI elements except the editor for maximum focus.

September 6, 2024

⌘ + D: Command + D selects all common terms in your code editor, one at a time. Super useful when you need to replace several repeated words. ⌘ + shift + L: Command + Shift + L selects all common terms in your code editor - all at once.

More News

CTD Labs
Nov 25, 2024
Vamos Outreach App highlighted at National Farmworker Law Conference
Shaya Lyon and Kate Borgen represented Code the Dream and our Vamos Outreach App at the National Farmworker Law Conference November 13-15 in Atlanta. The experience, Lyon says, was inspiring and motivating. “It was great to hear Vamos partners talk about how using Vamos has helped their organizations plan and track their outreach visits to […]
<div class="ctd-news-title">Vamos Outreach App highlighted at National Farmworker Law Conference</div>
10-Year Anniversary
Nov 15, 2024
Just Getting Started: 10th Anniversary Messages from Daisy, Dan, and Ramiro
In 2014, Dan Rearick contacted Ramiro Rodriguez about offering a free introductory software programming course to people from underserved communities. For Dan, the initial idea sprang from working alongside recent immigrants and refugees and “seeing over and over again how hard somebody could work without getting an opportunity.” For Ramiro, who conceived the program with […]
Volunteer of the Month
Nov 14, 2024
Meet Oksana Feterovskaya, CTD’s Volunteer of the Month!
CTD’s volunteers can serve as class mentors, lead small groups of students through our capstone practicum project, support apprentices in their career search, contribute to our curriculum, and serve in other areas as well. We could not do our work at this scale without them! Each month, we celebrate one volunteer who has made a […]