Differences between front-end development engineers and knowledge requirements

Abstract: many companies, even most companies that focus on Internet websites, confuse the concept of "art artist, generally, these companies collectively refer to those who design web pages and create web pages as "artists ". A mature Internet company plans more detailed website talents, such as the UED Team (short for user experience design ), the details are divided into "Interactive Design", "Visual Design", "front-end development", "user research", and "text. Today, I will share with you the functional differences between the "artist" and "front-end" for the purpose of this topic...

1. What is an artist? 
Artist: Art Engineer (Art Engineer), generally from art and art schools.
Based on the nature of the work, the artist is generally divided into three categories: graphic artist, 3D artist, and webpage artist.
The graphic artist uses fireworks or photoshop to design the plane appearance.
3D artist uses tools such as 3dmax for 3D role model design, item model design, environment scenario model design, and packaging design.
Webpage artist uses dreamwerver and other webpage editing software to make the designed plane into HTML static webpage files. Here, the artist is required to use CSS and Div technology, that is, the so-called cut graph. Specifically, web page artists generally need to be proficient in network languages or tools such as Photoshop, CSS, HTML, and JavaScript For webpage frame, color, tone, and creativity processing.
The web page artist mentioned here is actually a product of the web era. At that time, most websites were static html pages, and users' website behavior was dominated by browsing. In the S, the Internet entered the web era, and a large number of Web apps with similar desktop applications emerged. For example, Gmail googlereader. The front-end and interaction of the website have undergone earth-shaking changes. The webpage no longer just presents a single text and image, and various rich media make the content of the webpage more vivid, the software-based interaction also provides users with a better user experience, which is achieved through close collaboration based on a variety of front-end technologies. As a result, the "front-end development engineer" is born!

 
2. What is a front-end development engineer? 
Front-end developers (frontend developers) are short for Web Front-end developers. They have been paying attention to a new career in the last five years. Web Front-end development technology is a process that is easy and difficult, mainly including three elements: HTML, CSS and Javascript. This requires front-end development engineers not only to master the basic Web Front-end development technology, the basic knowledge of website performance optimization, Seo, and servers should also be learned to use various tools for auxiliary development and theoretical knowledge, it includes code maintainability, component usability, hierarchical semantic templates, and hierarchical browser support.
The front-end development engineer simply turns the designer's drawing into an HTML page that is truly displayed in the browser for users to click and interact, this work can be easy to export pages with a few clicks in Photoshop fireworks. It can also be complicated to consider the semantics of each tag, overall performance, browser compatibility, and user interaction, search engine optimization, etc. The basic requirement of skills is to be proficient in graphic image processing tools, proficient in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript front-end languages. It is best to know a server-side language such as PHP. It's easy to get started with front-end development in this industry. Buy an HTML + CSS book and learn about it for a week or two. You may be able to find a job of "creating web pages, however, it is difficult to become a good front-end engineer, because several front-end technologies are easy to get started, and most people are easy to get started but proficient. In addition, many companies do not pay much attention to other reasons, leading to a large gap in the level of front-end engineers, resulting in a relatively low level of general treatment, and more people are reluctant to learn front-end development that requires a variety of technologies, because you can spend less time learning a backend language.

 
3. knowledge required for an excellent front-end development 
In front-end development, the most basic thing is to master HTML + CSS. With these two basic knowledge, you can easily cut out a page. However, this is not enough. We must also be compatible with a variety of browsers. Although some companies only need to be compatible with IE6/7/8 + Firefox, as a good front-end, you must set higher requirements for yourself. In addition to the compatibility of several commonly used browsers, it is best to be compatible with browsers such as chrome, opera, and safari. To be compatible with so many browsers, you must have knowledge about CSS hack, so that you can use the hack technology to distinguish and be compatible with browsers of various versions. However, it is not difficult to be compatible with Firefox.
After being able to write elegant HTML code, we also need to comply with W3C standards and semantic specifications as much as possible. Although these two items are not required, it is necessary to do well. A good front-end engineer needs to consider the semantics of each HTML Tag. Rationally use HX labels and UL ol DL labels. Make your page well structured and readable even if CSS is disabled.
We know that there are many Internet users in China who use Internet Explorer. However, from the perspective of Internet users in China or all over the world, some customers do not use Internet Explorer to browse content, they will use some other browsing tools such as Netscape, Mozilla, Firefox, and opera. If your website does not comply with W3C standards, users using other browsers will not be able to see your website. Some customers will not be able to see your company or product. Although there are few customers, it is also a part of customers. losing any potential customers is a loss for the company.
There are also many advantages that comply with W3C, such as: faster file download and page display; more users can access the content; more devices can access the content; users can customize their own presentation interface through style selection; All pages can provide suitable versions for printing and so on. After fully understanding the HTML + CSS knowledge, the most difficult task to continue is JavaScript. JS is one of the essential front-end skills and the most difficult part. Putting it here is a gradual step for beginners. At the same time, it will be hard to digest to learn too many things. In this way, you can be proficient step by step, and the pressure will be less. In this case, front-end development needs to master basic Dom operations, understand Ajax, and write highly efficient OOP code to reduce maintenance costs. More and more JS frameworks are available, such as jquery, prototype, Yui, and dojo. Front-end development should be based on various needs for different development, and appropriate frameworks should be selected to achieve the highest code efficiency, the best user experience, and the least code downloads, code can be reused to the maximum extent in individual or even more product lines.
The above is a required knowledge of a front-end development engineer. Next, let's talk about the front-end development skills. 
1. Select photoshop or fireworks..
The degree of learning can be determined based on your own needs. If you rely on the front-end for dinner in the future, you do not need to develop a design draft at the front-end for a large company. You can just split the graph into layers. Of course, if you are interested in design, it is also good to take the PS into consideration.
2. understand a backend Language 
Let's take a look at the backend languages such as PHP + MySQL or JSP. The special nature of our profession determines that we need to communicate frequently with backend workers. mastering this knowledge is conducive to more effective communication. Improve the front-end image in the entire team, and then improve your treatment. In addition, to learn this part well, some enterprises can take it more securely when looking for your website. As for learning PHP, I still want to learn JSP. According to my hobbies, I personally feel that PHP is very good. Many open-source programs are PHP and I learned how to build my own site. In addition, WordPress is a very interesting thing.
3. Seo + UE (user experience) 
User Experience is king, while Seo is king of attracting users. UE is actually an indispensable part of front-end development. To do this well, you can be promoted to the positions of product managers and department managers. To continue, you can win the satisfaction of your customers. Besides, this is not difficult to learn. Just focus more on life. Why not?
4. frontend Performance Optimization 
Mastering this craft can improve the website speed and save money for the company. If you have time, you can query the website page optimization rules, such: minimize the number of HTTP requests, CSS Sprites Image Integration Technology, merge CSS and JS, use CDN technology, Reduce DNS search times, and avoid redirection.
Do you have a deeper understanding of the word "front-end? Is it very different from the traditional "artist? I have done some research. Some people who do front-end development do not care about what others call him, but some are very disgusted with this term. In today's era, the title "artist" is more sophisticated and out-of-the-box, because more professional development skills are required for the website front-end. Therefore, front-end development and visual design do not like this title.

Share it. Today, new technologies are surging. Have a choice and be proficient in a positive and studious heart.

Differences between front-end development engineers and knowledge requirements