Welcome to Continuous Improvement - the podcast where we delve into the world of web development, share stories, and explore ways to continuously improve our skills and projects. I’m your host, Victor, a software engineer with a passion for coding and a thirst for knowledge.

In today’s episode, we’ll be discussing my experience in the Web Development Immersive course at General Assembly Hong Kong. But before we dive in, let me give you a brief overview of what I’m currently working on.

At the moment, I’m involved in several exciting projects that make use of JavaScript frameworks. One project is a native iOS/Android mobile app using Ionic and the Neo4j graph database. Another is a video chatroom built with WebRTC, Node.js, and Express.js. And then there’s a music visualizer using WebGL and Three.js. Additionally, I’m working on a LinkedIn-like network platform using Angular.js and MongoDB, as well as a real-time voting system using Meteor.js and D3 data visualization. Some of these projects are open-source, so if you’re interested in contributing or checking out demos, head over to my GitHub page at github.com/victorleungtw.

Now, let’s rewind a bit and talk about my decision to enroll in the Web Development Immersive course at General Assembly. Before diving into web development, I was actually a digital marketer handling social media promotions in Australia. This job sparked my curiosity about how technology is transforming traditional media and marketing channels. Realizing the significance of having a strong web presence, I wanted to develop my coding skills. I chose the WDI course at General Assembly because I wanted an education that matched the pace of cutting-edge technologies.

Moving on, I want to share some insights about the student experience at General Assembly. One of my favorite aspects of the WDI course was the sense of camaraderie among students. We all came from different backgrounds, but we helped and supported each other both technically and emotionally. Building a website is a team effort, no matter your skill level.

Now, let’s talk about how the course helped me achieve my goals. My primary objective was to secure a job in the web development industry, and General Assembly’s strong network in Hong Kong greatly facilitated that process. I actively networked and participated in various events, such as hackathons. I’m grateful for the support of Justin, who played a significant role during this period.

Throughout the course, I learned countless lessons, but let me share the top three takeaways with you.

Lesson number one is the importance of wireframing. Initially, I underestimated the significance of planning ahead. But as I gained more project experience, I realized that taking the time to wireframe can save us a lot of time in the long run.

Lesson number two is all about user testing. It’s crucial to continuously gather feedback from users. After all, code should be driven by market demand and user needs, not solely by what a developer thinks is cool.

Lastly, lesson number three is learning how to learn. The WDI course provided a strong foundation, but technology is ever-evolving. This means that ongoing self-directed learning is crucial to stay on top of the game.

Now that I’ve completed the course, you might be wondering what’s next for me. Well, I live by the principle of “Always Be Coding.” The more we code, the better we become. Currently, I’m focusing on strengthening my theoretical foundation to prepare for leadership positions within the IT industry.

And that’s a wrap for today’s episode of Continuous Improvement. Thank you for joining me on this journey as we explore the world of web development and share our experiences. If you have any questions, suggestions, or topics you’d like us to cover in future episodes, feel free to reach out to me on social media. You can find me on Twitter and LinkedIn. Stay tuned for more episodes focused on continuous improvement in the world of web development. Until next time, keep coding and keep improving!