Approaching a new stack has often come up in my most recent job.
I have been using the TALL stack for a while and have built several solutions with it. Then a job came in that required expertise in Rails. I had never written Ruby before, but I eventually got it done. So, I want to list out the steps that worked for me as a full-stack engineer.
First, I take some time to learn the syntax (very important) of the base language. In my case, I used online resources to learn Ruby.
Next, I try to find parallels between the new stack and my previous knowledge. As a full-stack web developer, I focused more on Ruby’s application to web development. This helped keep my learning focused and practical.
I also started experimenting with containerizing Rails applications. To me, that is very important. I have learned to always separate development environments so I do not mess up existing work. If you like keeping things easy, like I do, you can use the VS Code Dev Containers extension to help you create a Rails container easily.
Stretch your limits. Build simple apps at first. My first app in Rails was a loan request app. I struggled a lot while building it, but thanks to the community, I was able to understand some basic processes.
Do not be scared to ask for help. Taking on a new stack can make you feel like a toddler learning how to walk. It is just a matter of time.
And remember to have fun while doing it. What’s life without fun?
The steps listed above are what I have learned so far while trying to pick up something new and still deliver within a short period of time.
In the coming days, I will share notes about my experience learning Golang (yeah! I need it for a gig).