We’re thrilled to introduce code warrior Luciana Hernández as the first woman in our series, Honor Code: Women in Software Development, JavaScript, and Cybersecurity. Luciana proves that it’s never too late to change careers and follow your dreams! Learn more about Luciana’s exciting journey through the world of web development and JavaScript coding.

Luciana Hernández, Full Stack Developer

How long have you been in JavaScript development?

I have been using JavaScript for 8 months, since I started with an intensive 4 month bootcamp to become a full-stack web developer. It is a very flexible and wide language, so there is always more and more to learn, so I always keep practicing and making plans to strengthen knowledge and learn more. In this industry, we know that there are constant innovations and optimizations.

What brought you to web development?

I’m 47, some people might think it’s a bit late, but I have a story for that.

Twenty-five years ago, I did a degree in systems analysis. I have always loved technology and programming. I have completed my degree, but I have not finished taking a few pending subjects. Then I did a lot of different things, and well…I lived my life. I got completely off topic, and in this pandemic, I found myself out of a job. I saw it as a sign and an opportunity to train myself in web development. So here I am… after a whole universe of things that happened in the tech world and in my personal life, working in a totally different scenario. But I’ve always been drawn to logical thinking, and also to art. They seem like very different things, but they’re not. It’s been a tough few months of lots of preparation and mental exercise, but I love it!

What do you love about the web development industry?

It’s amazing. It certainly seems simple to be able to provide solutions through a screen from the perspective of a customer or a user, but behind all of this, it’s quite a challenge to be able to provide this solution, because there are a lot of knowledge, and a lot of work. You feel great satisfaction when you get what you offer to be captured on screen and working. It’s also quite creative how you can set things up. I also have to say that it’s a good environment to work in a team, because you can always contribute things and above all learn from others. It is an industry where knowledge is shared selflessly, where it is very rewarding to teach and also to learn. The developer community is very open in this regard and very collaborative.

What advice would you give to someone looking to pursue a career similar to yours?

I would tell them that they must above all like logical thinking. Be prepared to invest a lot of time in learning and a lot more in practice. Spend many hours in front of a PC and get used to having a high brain load. Sometimes when you’re looking for solutions, your brain can’t stop thinking about them even when you’re sleeping! You have to make the development seem interesting and attractive to them, and be able to maintain this feeling over time, because sometimes there are a lot of frustrations in the process, but the goal will always be to resolve.

I could say it’s the future, but no, it’s already done, and it’s valid like any other job, it all depends on what attracts everyone.

What are the best resources that have helped you along the way?

First of all, it helped me to do a bootcamp, because it forced me to focus only on that, with a high level of requirement and evaluative instances. But it is also valid if you are self-taught, because there are a lot of free courses, a lot of promotion of this activity and a high demand for programmers.

Development is something that is never finished studying. It’s too broad, and it’s impossible to know everything, but knowledge can always be expanded.

There are many resources: courses, videos on the Internet, documents and pages that can be consulted, and it is also very important to get involved in the communities to be able to ask and help in case of doubt.

What is a common myth about JavaScript that you want to debunk?

There is the myth that it is too flexible and unstructured language and can lead to errors.

But I think it gives a lot of freedom to express yourself through code. And that can’t be negative. You have to pay attention to some things. As with everything, there are JavaScript proponents and detractors. Maybe for those who are used to other older languages, it’s hard for them to adapt to JavaScript, but that’s the developer’s basic principle: adapt to changes. In development, there are always the so-called “best practices”. It is good to always keep them in mind.

What are your hopes for women in a career in web development in the future?

As with any other activity in which women have been conquerors. There is no reason to make a gender distinction in development. Anyone who thinks otherwise doesn’t have enough open-mindedness to be a good developer. Today there are few women in this field, but hopefully it will increase over time. Societies have evolved a lot on these issues, so I have no doubt that this will be the case. No matter your gender, if something interests you and you can do it, go for it!

The post Women of Web Development: Code Warrior, Luciana Hernández appeared first on Feroot.

*** This is a syndicated blog from Feroot’s Security Bloggers Network written by Mary. Read the original post at: https://www.feroot.com/blog/women-of-web-development-luciana-hernandez/