JavaScript Quiz Show

"On a scale of 1-5 (5 being 'expert'), how would you rate your JavaScript expertise?"

What would happen if you were to have an in-depth technical interview on JavaScript RIGHT NOW? How well would you do?

In this highly-interactive presentation I'm turning the tables on the standard "lecture and learn" style and putting you in the hot seat. Sure, the discussion will cover the concepts, patterns and practices of JavaScript experts, only I'll be asking the questions and everyone else will be giving the answers.

This format allows plenty of room for everyone to participate however they choose, regardless of skill level or experience. In other words, feel free to join in the discussion, simply sit back, listen, and learn from the folks around you, or anywhere in between - your level of involvement is entirely up to you.

Here's your opportunity to go on that really difficult technical interview, only in a much more forgiving environment where a wrong answer doesn't cost you the shot at your dream job.

Are you game?

TypeScript: JavaScript Evolved

JavaScript is in your browser, your freezer and everywhere in between. Though it's true that today's world runs on JavaScript, the language was created with form validation and basic DOM manipulation in mind so it leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to writing real-world applications with it. So much so that Douglas Crockford felt the need to write a book entitled, "JavaScript the Good Parts" and Anders Hejlsberg, the father of C#, decided to focus his decades of language development expertise into bringing JavaScript into the world of mature, respectable languages by creating TypeScript.

In this presentation I'll show just what TypeScript is, how it relates to the concepts you already know today, and why you would might consider writing all your web applications in TypeScript rather than plain old JavaScript from now on.

Mastering ASP.NET MVC 5

So, you've built a successful ASP.NET MVC 5 application and shipped it to production. Your boss is happy and everything's going great. You're even able to quickly and easily add new features when your customers ask for them. But then it starts to take a little longer to add that new feature, or you begin to see bugs in one area of the application when you've changed a completely different area, or… well, you get the point - your application works great, but it's not as maintainable as it could be.

It's time to step up your game. It's time to master ASP.NET MVC 5.

In this session, I'll show you a host of tips, tricks, and patterns that you can apply to your existing ASP.NET MVC 5 applications to make them easier to understand and maintain.
NOTE: this presentation is about ASP.NET MVC 5 (and most stuff is applicable to MVC 4, too) and NOT ASP.NET Core.

Intro to Razor Pages: Web Pages meets MVC

The release of ASP.NET Core 2.0 introduces Razor Pages - an alternative web development approach that sits on top of ASP.NET Core MVC and brings a simplified, page-based web development model to the .NET Core ecosystem. The approach now recommended as the

In this session I'll show you how the framework works, how it relates to ASP.NET Core MVC and how/when you can begin using it today, even in your existing ASP.NET Core MVC projects. Then we'll talk about when and why you might want to use Razor Pages, when you might want to use ASP.NET Core MVC… and when you might want to use both at the same time!

Getting Started with React

Have you heard about how great React is and interested in seeing what all the fuss is about?

Have you tried out React simply to be put off by how complicated it seems?

This session will show you how to begin using the React framework without requiring a computer science degree. It'll introduce you to the basics such as: creating components using the JSX syntax (and why this is not a horrible violation of separation of concerns), how to fetch data, and how to implement routing and navigation. In other words, you'll leave this session knowing everything you need to know in order to go home and get started using it to build your own apps. Oh, and did I mention I'm going to do it all in TypeScript?

If you've been meaning to learn React but it's just seemed too overwhelming, this session will show you how to get started with as little friction as possible.

Effortlessly Integrating TypeScript into Your JavaScript Projects

Looking to incorporate TypeScript into your existing JavaScript projects? This session offers a straightforward approach to integrating TypeScript, step by step.

Learn how to start by adding type information to your current JavaScript files, without the need for immediate full conversion. Then I'll guide you through the process of mixing TypeScript with JavaScript, demonstrating a practical and manageable way to enhance your projects.

This session is designed for a smooth and incremental transition, making TypeScript integration accessible and efficient. Join me to upgrade your coding skills with minimal disruption.

This is a 100-level talk, aimed towards JavaScript developers with limited/no TypeScript experience

Beyond 'Any': Mastering TypeScript Types for Complex Scenarios

You've successfully integrated TypeScript into your codebase, but the frequent use of `any` still poses challenges. Using `any` too often can diminish the benefits TypeScript offers, yet defining precise types for complex cases isn't always straightforward. This session addresses this common hurdle as we delve into typical situations where developers struggle to move past `any`, providing clear strategies and examples for defining accurate and efficient types. By the end of this session, you'll be equipped with the know-how to enhance your TypeScript usage, ensuring more robust and reliable code. Join me to refine your TypeScript skills and make the most out of its type system.

This is a 200-level talked, aimed toward TypeScript developers who have adopted the language and are ready to take it to the next level

Build Your Next Real-Time App with PocketBase

When you're building apps for your day job, you've got a laundry list of things to consider: architecture, scalability, uptime, cloud hosting, and the list goes on. But let's talk about your personal projects—those little gems you whip up for fun, maybe to share with friends or who knows, maybe it'll go viral!

Enter PocketBase: the "Open Source Backend in 1 File" that provides a NoSQL database, user authentication, file storage, and even real-time syncing across devices, right out of the box.

In this talk, I'll show you how I use PocketBase (plus a dash of React) to fast-track my apps to beta users. No more stressing about user logins, keeping data safe, or managing updates across devices. And forget about worrying over server costs—let's just get your app out there and worry about the rest later!

This is 100-level introduction to Pocketbase, targeting web devs.

Building Schema-First APIs with tsoa and TypeScript

In the ever-evolving landscape of web APIs, having a robust and well-defined schema is crucial. However, exposing an OpenAPI specification in a Node framework often requires developers to jump through hoops, especially if they also want to use TypeScript to define their models.

Enter tsoa, a powerful TypeScript-based framework that allows us to create APIs with a "schema-first" approach that ensures that the OpenAPI schema that your application *says* it's returning always matches what's *actually* being returned... all while still using the framework of your choice - be it express, koa, hapi, or any other!

In this presentation, I'll show you how I use my new favorite API framework to quickly and easily build APIs without having to worry about my schema drifting away from reality.