CS Learning Journal

  WELCOME TO WEEK 5 Learning Journal This week, we worked on connecting databases to our Express apps. I learned how to connect to a MySQL database from Express and how to use SQL queries to display data on a webpage. For our project, we used FastComet to run the Express app, which was exciting because it meant our app was no longer just running locally. We created a webpage where users could look up authors based on their name, a keyword, category, or number of likes. All the information was pulled directly from a MySQL database.  Incorporating SQL into the Express app was a big step. We wrote queries in the app to get the data we needed based on what the user entered, and it was really satisfying to see the results show up on the page. Express handled the routing, the database provided the data, and it all came together smoothly. This week helped me feel more comfortable working with databases and combining them with my apps. It’s exciting to see how these pieces work togeth...

WELCOME TO WEEK 4 Learning Journal This week, we worked on some really interesting new topics. I learned how to install Node packages, create a package.json file, and add dependencies. We used npm to add libraries and ran a Node app for the first time, which was a big step forward in building more complex applications. We had a midterm this week, which was pretty challenging for me. The time limit made me nervous, and I struggled to recall some of the things I had learned. However, I felt relieved in a way because I was able to use some of my previous work as a reference, which helped me feel more confident and finish the test.   For the homework assignment, we created a Node.js app using Express, and this time, we weren’t running it locally anymore. It was exciting to see how the app worked as a full Node app. The app displayed random pictures each time it ran, pulling the images from Web APIs. It also displayed random quotes using npm packages. I used an npm package to fetc...

WELCOME TO WEEK 3 Learning Journal  This week, I learned a lot of new skills in JavaScript and web development. I created HTML forms using different input types, which helped me understand how to collect and handle user input better. I also learned how to make "fetch" calls to get data from external Web APIs, which made my projects more interactive. Another thing I worked on was validating HTML forms with JavaScript to make sure the data entered is accurate.  I used the "Inspect Tool" in the browser to debug and display Web API data, which was really helpful. I also created an HTML page that made several "fetch" calls to work with and show external data dynamically. For homework, I used a Web API that gives you the current weather, including the highs, lows, and conditions. I made a webpage that showed this information and also changed the background image depending on the weather. For example, it showed clouds for cloudy weather, a sunny picture for clear...

  WELCOME TO WEEK 2 Learning Journal This week, we dove into JavaScript, and I learned a lot. I created variables and used control structures, which are important for building any program. I also learned how to manipulate HTML and CSS with JavaScript to make webpages more interactive and dynamic.  I worked on creating events and event handlers, which let me respond to user interactions on a webpage. I practiced selecting specific HTML elements and interacting with them, and debugging JavaScript programs helped me get better at finding and fixing errors. For our homework, I created a quiz with multiple input types, like text boxes and radio buttons. I used JavaScript event listeners to grade the quiz, which was fun and made me more comfortable working with user input. One of the questions had randomized options every time the page reloaded, and I used the _.shuffle function to make it happen. This week helped me understand JavaScript basics and how to apply them to real projec...