Learn the Foundations of React and JavaScript by Building a Fully Functional Connect-4 Game Clone

 

Event Title: “Learn the Foundations of React and JavaScript by Building a Fully Functional Connect-4 Game Clone.”

I. Details of the event/activity

            I attended an online course called "Learn the Foundations of React and JavaScript by Building a Fully Functional Connect-4 Game Clone" on May 26, 2024. The speaker, Youaccel, is a developer and teacher. The goal was to teach us the basics of React and JavaScript by having us build a Connect-4 game from scratch. The session lasted about 5 hours and included some hands-on assignments.

 

II. Reflections on the webinar/activity give rise to (learnings)

            This online course was really eye-opening, especially in terms of understanding React and JavaScript better. One big takeaway was learning about the component-based structure in React, which makes development more organized and reusable. The coding parts were super helpful because they showed exactly how to start a React project, manage state with hooks, and handle user interactions step by step. Building the Connect-4 game gave a practical perspective on applying these concepts.

            The speaker did an excellent job of simplifying difficult subjects. For example, the modern JavaScript syntax became considerably clearer and easier to understand when JavaScript ES6 concepts like arrow functions, restructurings, and template literals were explained.

 

III. Reflections on possibilities on implementing some of the webinar input on a practical level (practical application of learning)

            I can immediately apply the knowledge I gained from this course to my current and next tasks. For example, I can make my projects easier to maintain and more efficient by using React hooks for state management. I will absolutely use the concept of component-based development to divide intricate user interfaces into more manageable, reusable components.

Constructing the Connect-4 game also taught me how to organize other interactive applications well. Any project that is similar can use the methods for receiving user input, updating the user interface in real time, and managing the game state. Also, mastering conditional rendering and the React component lifecycle opens up a lot of possibilities for creating dynamic, responsive web applications.

 

IV. Positive feedback (on the event organization)  

            The online course was structured in a logical way, making it easy to follow for beginners. The instructors were knowledgeable and explained things clearly, using practical examples to help us understand. The hands-on approach, with lots of exercises and projects, was very helpful because it allowed me to practice what I learned. The availability of course materials for review was also great for reinforcing my learning. Overall, the course was very effective and provided valuable insights into Python programming and Flask development.

 

V. Suggestions for improvements to be made/consider for future events

            Providing some preparatory materials before the webinar could help participants come more prepared and follow along more easily.

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