Helder Esteves • Full Stack Engineering

👋 Hey there! Welcome to my extremely fancy blog where I dive into the fascinating world of software development. I’m thrilled you’ve stopped by! 🎉

  • I’m a problem solver at heart 💖 and nothing excites me more than untangling complex issues and finding sleek, smart solutions. This blog is my playground for all things software—beyond just coding!
  • From streamlining processes to exploring new tools and sharing insights, I aim to cover it all.
  • Stay tuned, and let’s make magic happen! ✨
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15 Advanced JavaScript Tips for Clean and Efficient Code

1. Utilize Tagged Template Literals for Cleaner HTML/SVG Generation Use Case: Dynamically generate HTML or SVG content. Benefits: Improves readability and maintainability. Example: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 const item = 'cup'; const quantity = 3; const htmlContent = html`<div>You ordered ${quantity} ${item}s.</div>`; function html(strings, ...values) { return strings.reduce((acc, str, i) => `${acc}${str}${values[i] || ''}`, ''); } 2. Adopt Object.observe for Reactive Programming Use Case: Implement data-binding for web components without external libraries. Benefits: Reduces library dependencies and enhances performance. Example: 1 2 3 4 5 let data = { price: 5 }; Object.observe(data, changes => { console.log('Changes:', changes); }); data.price = 20; // Console logs the change details. 3. Employ Proxy for Fine-Grained Property Access Control Use Case: Logging, data validation, or access control. Benefits: Provides a powerful abstraction layer for manipulating object behavior. Example: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 const validator = { set: function(obj, prop, value) { if (prop === 'age' && !Number.isInteger(value)) { throw new TypeError('Age must be an integer.'); } obj[prop] = value; return true; } }; const person = new Proxy({}, validator); person.age = 30; // Works fine person.age = 'old'; // Throws an error 4. Use Async Generators for Streamlined Asynchronous Flow Use Case: Handling streams of data, such as reading large files. Benefits: Simplifies code for asynchronous data handling. Example: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 async function* asyncDataFetcher() { yield fetch('/api/data1'); yield fetch('/api/data2'); } (async () => { for await (let data of asyncDataFetcher()) { console.log(await data.json()); } })(); 5. Implement BigInt for High-Precision Calculations Use Case: Handling large integers beyond the safe limit for Number. Benefits: Ensures accuracy and reliability in financial and scientific calculations. Example: 1 2 const largeNumber = BigInt(9007199254740991) + BigInt(1); console.log(largeNumber.toString()); // "9007199254740992" 6. Opt for Pipeline Operator for Readable Function Composition Use Case: Transforming data through multiple functions. Benefits: Enhances code clarity and composition style. Example: 1 2 3 4 const double = n => n * 2; const increment = n => n + 1; let result = 3 |> double |> increment; // Equivalent to increment(double(3)) console.log(result); // 7 7. Use Nullish Coalescing for Default Assignments Use Case: Setting defaults when dealing with possibly null or undefined values. Benefits: Prevents common bugs associated with falsy values. Example: 1 2 3 let undefinedValue; let result = undefinedValue ?? 'default'; console.log(result); // "default" 8. Leverage Logical Assignment Operators for Succinct Conditions Use Case: Simplifying conditional assignments. Benefits: Reduces boilerplate code significantly. Example: 1 2 3 4 let a = 1; let b = 2; a &&= b; console.log(a); // Outputs 2 since a is true-ish and gets assigned b 9. Employ Optional Chaining to Safeguard Accessing Properties Use Case: Accessing deeply nested object properties. Benefits: Avoids verbose and error-prone checks. Example: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 const adventurer = { name: 'Alice', cat: { name: 'Dinah' } }; const catName = adventurer.cat?.name; console.log(catName); // "Dinah" 10. Adopt Modules for Better Project Structure Use Case: Organizing code in a maintainable and scalable way. Benefits: Facilitates easier maintenance and scaling of applications. Example: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 // file: math.js export const add = (x, y) => x + y; // file: app.js import { add } from './math.js'; console.log(add(2, 3)); // 5 11. Use Web Workers for Offloading Intensive Tasks Use Case: Improving application responsiveness by offloading tasks. Benefits: Keeps the main thread unblocked, improving UI responsiveness. Example: 1 2 3 4 5 const worker = new Worker('worker.js'); worker.postMessage('Hello'); worker.onmessage = function(event) { console.log('Received:', event.data); }; 12. Implement Memoization to Optimize Performance Use Case: Optimizing repetitive function calls with the same arguments. Benefits: Saves computation time after the initial call. Example: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 const memoize = (fn) => { const cache = {}; return function(...args) { const key = JSON.stringify(args); if (!cache[key]) { cache[key] = fn.apply(this, args); } return cache[key]; }; }; 13. Opt for Structured Cloning for Deep Copying Objects Use Case: Creating a deep copy of objects without external libraries. Benefits: Native and reliable method avoiding the pitfalls of manual cloning. Example: 1 2 3 const original = { a: 1, b: { c: 2 } }; const copy = structuredClone(original); console.log(copy); // { a: 1, b: { c: 2 } } 14. Leverage CSS-in-JS for Scoped Styles Use Case: Styling components in React or similar libraries. Benefits: Enhances component encapsulation and modularity. Example: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 const Button = styled.button` background: blue; color: white; border: none; padding: 10px 15px; border-radius: 5px; &:hover { background: darkblue; } `; 15. Use Environment Variables for Application Configuration Use Case: Managing different configurations for development, testing, and production. Benefits: Improves security and flexibility of application deployments. Example: 1 console.log(process.env.NODE_ENV); // Outputs 'development', 'production', etc.

4 min · Helder Esteves
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5 JS Design Patterns Every Developer Should Know

Design patterns are reusable solutions to common programming problems. They help developers write code that is more modular, maintainable, and efficient. Do you know all of these 5? 1. Singleton Pattern This pattern ensures that there is only one instance of a class and provides a global point of access to that instance. For example, a database connection object can be created as a Singleton to ensure that only one connection is made to the database throughout the entire application. ...

7 min · Helder Esteves
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How I Optimized a React App for Lightning-Fast Performance

Performance optimization is an art, and in the world of React, small tweaks can yield massive speed boosts. In this post, I’ll walk you through how I transformed a sluggish React app into a high-performance machine. I’ll share real code examples, mistakes I made, and the lessons learned along the way. 1. Profiling and Identifying Bottlenecks Before optimizing, I needed to find out where the slowdowns were happening. React DevTools’ Profiler was my go-to. ...

4 min · Helder Esteves
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JavaScript VSCode Extensions You Never Heard About

JavaScript is an ever-evolving programming language that has become a fundamental part of web development. With the increasing demand for faster development and greater efficiency, the role of the right tools in the development process has become more critical than ever. This article will focus on some of the lesser-known JavaScript VSCode extensions that can enhance your development experience. Note: Along with these, you should check out the extensions in the featured image above as well :) ...

3 min · Helder Esteves
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Lessons Learned from Migrating a Monolithic App to Microservices

Migrating from a monolithic architecture to microservices is like renovating a house while still living in it. I recently went through this process and learned some hard (and valuable) lessons along the way. If you’re planning a migration or just curious about what it takes, here are some insights and code snippets from my experience. Lesson 1: Start with a Strangler Pattern One of the biggest mistakes you can make is trying to rewrite everything at once. Instead, use the Strangler Pattern, where you slowly replace pieces of the monolith with microservices. This approach minimizes risk and allows for gradual adoption. ...

3 min · Helder Esteves
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Mastering Next.js 14: Simplify Data Fetching with the New useFetch Hook

The Next.js 14 release has brought a slew of exciting features and improvements to the table, making it an even more powerful framework for building React applications. Among these enhancements, one feature stands out for its potential to drastically simplify your code and improve data handling: the new useFetch hook. In this article, we’ll dive into how you can leverage this hook to streamline your data fetching logic in Next.js 14. ...

3 min · Helder Esteves
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Next.JS 14 Tips You Need to Know in 2024

Tip 1: Leverage Middleware for Authenticated SSR Routes Next.js 14 enhances middleware capabilities, allowing developers to handle authentication more efficiently at the server side. Instead of traditional methods of guarding routes, use middleware to intercept requests and validate authentication tokens before rendering. This reduces unnecessary client-side checks and streamlines the SSR process. Use Case: Secure an admin dashboard route to render server-side based on user roles. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 // middleware.js import { NextResponse } from 'next/server'; import { verifyToken } from './auth-utils'; export async function middleware(req) { const token = req.cookies.get('token'); const user = await verifyToken(token); if (!user || user.role !== 'admin') { return NextResponse.redirect('/unauthorized'); } return NextResponse.next(); } Tip 2: Optimize Image Loading with Priority Hints With the widespread adoption of image-heavy layouts, Next.js 14 introduces support for priority hints, allowing developers to specify which images are critical and should be loaded first. This can significantly improve perceived load times. ...

5 min · Helder Esteves
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React useEffect: 4 Tips Every Developer Should Know

Let’s talk about useEffects in React Hooks! I’m going to share with you 4 tips you should have in mind when using useEffect. Use a useEffect for a single purpose In React Hooks, you can have multiple useEffect functions. This is a great feature because, if we analyze how to write clean code, you’ll see that functions should serve a single purpose (much like how a sentence should communicate one idea only). ...

6 min · Helder Esteves
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Refactoring Code: Essential Techniques for Clean Software

Refactoring code is akin to tidying up a well-lived-in house; it’s all about making your code cleaner, faster, and more efficient without changing its external behavior. In the bustling world of software development, it’s the behind-the-scenes magic that keeps the codebase healthy and maintainable. Why bother? Because in the long run, it saves time, reduces bugs, and makes your codebase more adaptable to new features. Think of it as investing in the future of your software. ...

7 min · Helder Esteves
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Top 7 TypeScript Mistakes You Need to Avoid

TypeScript is a popular programming language that has gained immense popularity among developers due to its ability to enforce strong typing and detect errors at compile time. However, like any programming language, TypeScript has its quirks and nuances that can cause headaches for even the most experienced developers. In this article, we will take a look at some of the top TypeScript mistakes that you need to avoid, with code snippets for each mistake. ...

6 min · Helder Esteves