In today’s digital world, having a mobile app is more than just a trend—it’s a powerful tool for business growth, customer engagement, and operational efficiency. However, building a mobile app is a significant investment that requires strategic planning and informed decision-making. Without the right preparation, your app may fail to achieve its objectives or resonate with your target audience.To help you navigate this journey successfully, we’ve outlined 7 crucial steps every business owner must take before building a mobile application. Following these steps will not only save you time and money but also ensure your app delivers the desired value and impact.&nbsp;1. Clearly Define Your App’s PurposeBefore diving into development, it’s essential to understand why you need a mobile app. What specific problem will it solve for your users? What value will it bring to your business? Clearly defining your app’s purpose will guide your decisions throughout the development process and help you measure success effectively.&nbsp;Tip: Focus on a core problem and design your app as the solution. Avoid adding unnecessary features that don’t align with your main objective.&nbsp;2. Understand Your Target AudienceYour app’s success depends on how well it resonates with its users. Conduct thorough market research to understand your target audience’s needs, preferences, and pain points. Knowing your users' behaviors and expectations will help you create a user-centric design that enhances engagement and satisfaction. &nbsp;Tip: Use surveys, focus groups, and competitor analysis to gather valuable insights into your target audience. 3. Outline Core Features and FunctionalitiesIdentify the essential features and functionalities that your app must have to fulfill its purpose. Prioritize simplicity and usability, as complex designs can overwhelm users and impact the app’s performance. Start with a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) to test your idea before adding advanced features.&nbsp;Tip: Make a list of must-have features and nice-to-have features. Focus on the must-haves for the initial launch.&nbsp;4. Set a Realistic BudgetMobile app development involves several stages, including design, coding, testing, and maintenance. Each stage requires specific resources, so it’s crucial to set a realistic budget that covers all aspects of development without compromising on quality. Remember to allocate funds for marketing and post-launch maintenance.&nbsp;Tip: Research the average cost of app development based on complexity and platform (iOS, Android, or both) to make informed budget decisions. 5. Choose the Right Development PartnerYour choice of development partner can make or break your project. Collaborate with a skilled, experienced, and vetted team that understands your business goals and has a proven track record of delivering high-quality applications. Look for a partner who values transparent communication and is committed to your success. Tip: Review portfolios, client testimonials, and case studies to evaluate potential development partners. 6. Create a Marketing and Launch PlanEven the best app can fail if no one knows about it. Develop a comprehensive marketing and launch strategy to create buzz, attract downloads, and engage users. This includes social media marketing, influencer collaborations, email campaigns, and app store optimization (ASO).&nbsp;Tip: Start marketing activities before the app launch to build anticipation and momentum.&nbsp;7. Plan for Maintenance and UpdatesBuilding an app isn’t a one-time project—it’s an ongoing process. User needs and technology trends evolve, so you must plan for regular updates, bug fixes, and feature enhancements. A maintenance strategy ensures your app remains relevant, functional, and competitive.&nbsp;Tip: Gather user feedback and monitor performance metrics to guide future updates and improvements. Partner with Wootlab InnovationsAt Wootlab Innovations, we specialize in building reliable web and mobile applications. Whether you need guidance or a trusted and vetted team to execute your project, we’re here to help. Let’s bring your idea to life. Ready to get started?Contact us today to schedule a consultation or discuss your app idea with our expert team. ConclusionBuilding a mobile application can be a game-changer for your business, but only if done right. By following these 7 crucial steps, you’ll be well-prepared to create a user-centric, high-performance app that drives growth and success.&nbsp;Don’t leave your app’s success to chance. Partner with Wootlab Innovations and transform your vision into reality. &nbsp;

Crucial Steps Business Owners Must Take Before Building a Mobile App

IntroductionIn a world rapidly transitioning to the digital economy, the Wootlab Foundation stands out as a beacon of hope and transformation, especially for Africa’s youth. Our mission is straightforward yet ambitious: to bridge the digital divide and create economic opportunities through digital literacy and technical training.The ChallengeDespite the strides in global connectivity, many African youths remain sidelined from the digital mainstream, facing high unemployment rates and limited access to educational resources. Wootlab has taken on this challenge, driven by a vision of a more inclusive digital future.Our ApproachOur strategy involves comprehensive training programs, from basic digital literacy to advanced technical skills. We aim to equip individuals not just with knowledge, but with the tools for sustainable livelihoods. Our efforts are supported by partnerships with major tech giants and governmental bodies, enhancing our reach and resource base.Impact and ResultsTo date, over 330,000 individuals have been trained, with a significant number transitioning to new job opportunities or starting their own digital ventures. Our focus on gender equality has seen a marked increase in female participation, with women making up over half of our program beneficiaries.Looking ForwardAs we continue to expand our reach and deepen our impact, the support of international donors remains crucial. Each contribution helps us transform more lives and build a resilient, skilled workforce ready for the challenges of tomorrow.Join us as we continue to empower the next generation of digital natives. Your support is not just an investment in their future but in a more equitable and sustainable world. Visit our website and follow our journey on social media as we make strides in digital empowerment. <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1izW2RGfBOIjdDLlvmx057xOnKQ_fEEcn/view?usp=drive_link">Learn more</a>

Empowering Futures: The Wootlab Foundation’s Journey Towards Digital Inclusion

The demand for digital skills has never been greater in today's rapidly evolving digital landscape. As we look toward the future of work, it is clear that digital up-skilling is not only desirable but essential for African youth to thrive in the global job market. Nigeria, as a leading economy in Africa, recognizes the importance of equipping its youth with the necessary digital skills for the jobs of tomorrow. Digital Skills Nigeria and other successful initiatives and partnerships aim to close the digital skills gap, unlock opportunities, and empower African youth for a prosperous future.&nbsp;The digital skills gap in Africa is a significant challenge that must be addressed. With the increasing integration of technology across industries, there is a pressing need for individuals with digital proficiency. Unfortunately, many African countries, including Nigeria, face a shortage of skilled professionals in this area. This gap not only hinders economic growth but also limits the potential of African youth to fully participate in the digital economy.&nbsp;To bridge this gap, comprehensive training programs must be implemented. These programs should encompass a wide range of digital skills, including coding, data analytics, digital marketing, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. By providing a holistic approach to digital up-skilling, African youth can acquire the necessary competencies to meet future job market demands.&nbsp;Identifying the key digital skills in demand globally is crucial for African youth to align their training with industry needs. While the specific skills may vary across sectors, there are several fundamental skills that are universally relevant. For instance, proficiency in coding languages like Python and Java can open doors to software development and programming roles. Data analysis and interpretation skills are increasingly valuable as organizations strive to harness the power of big data. Digital marketing expertise is essential for businesses looking to establish an online presence and reach their target audiences effectively. By understanding the digital skills in demand, African youth can focus their efforts on building competencies that will lead to meaningful career opportunities.&nbsp;Successful initiatives and partnerships are already making significant strides in promoting digital skills development among African youth.&nbsp;<a href="https://wootlab.ng/foundation/mct">Digital Skills Nigeria</a>, for example, an initiative of the Federal Government of Nigeria, in partnership with Microsoft and implemented by Wootlab Foundation and other strategic partners, aims to train and empower five million young Nigerians in digital skills over the next few years. By providing access to quality training programs, mentorship, and job placement assistance, this initiative is actively bridging the digital divide and enabling young Nigerians to become active participants in the digital economy.&nbsp;Additionally, partnerships between governments, private organizations, and educational institutions have been instrumental in creating digital learning opportunities. For example, collaborations between tech companies and universities have resulted in specialized training programs that cater to the needs of the industry. These initiatives not only equip African youth with relevant digital skills but also foster innovation and entrepreneurship.&nbsp;Access to digital learning resources and global skill-building platforms is crucial for African youth to enhance their digital competencies. Fortunately, there are various avenues available for individuals to acquire these skills. Online learning platforms, such as&nbsp;<a href="https://wootlabacademy.com/">Microsoft Community Training (MCT)&nbsp;</a>and the recently launched Career Essentials Courses of Microsoft in partnership with LinkedIn Learning, offer a wide range of courses on digital topics. These platforms often provide certifications that can add credibility to a young professional's skillset. Additionally, African youth should leverage opportunities to participate in global skill-building platforms and competitions, such as hackathons and coding challenges. Engaging with the broader digital community allows for networking, collaboration, and exposure to the latest trends and technologies.&nbsp;In conclusion, digital up-skilling is vital for the future of work, and it is imperative that African youth are equipped with the necessary digital skills to thrive in the digital economy. Initiatives like Digital Skills Nigeria are actively closing the digital skills gap and unlocking opportunities for young Nigerians. By identifying the key digital skills in demand globally, showcasing successful initiatives and partnerships, and providing guidance on accessing digital learning resources, African youth can take charge of their digital future and secure meaningful employment in the digital age. Through comprehensive training programs and continuous learning, African youth can position themselves as valuable contributors to the ever-evolving digital landscape.&nbsp;To learn more about Digital Skills Nigeria and how you can participate, kindly go to&nbsp;<a href="https://wootlab.ng/foundation/dsn">https://wootlab.ng/foundation/dsn</a>

Addressing the Digital Skills Gap in Africa and the Need for Comprehensive Training Programs

Unlocking Opportunities: Digital Skills Nigeria and Closing the Gap for African Youth

While the world was locked down due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Wootlab took advantage of the opportunity to promote essential digital literacy skills in a covid impacted world, maximising the breakdown of borders and utilization of technology for engagements, remote work, remote communications and expansion of opportunities for a global knowledge economy.Wootlab, founded in 2019, is a woman-led organisation with two arms:<a href="https://wootlab.ng/"> Wootlab Innovation</a>, the business arm and <a href="https://wootlab.ng/foundation">Wootlab Foundation</a>, the non-profit arm. Chioma Okoro, the CEO, has led the organisation to become one of Nigeria’s foremost digital literacy organisations. The organisation is on a mission to improve the employability of the Nigerian youth and to lift lower-income Nigerians out of poverty by leveraging the design/implementation of digital skills initiatives and digital literacy. Through its foundation and partnerships with tech giants like Microsoft which gives Wootlab access to its e-learning centre, Wootlab is building tech talents that are equipped to compare with the current global workforce and compete in today’s job markets.<h4>Wootlab Innovation</h4>Wootlab Innovation is a software training and talent outsourcing company that functions as the for-profit arm of the organisation. With its world-class curriculum, Wootlab Innovation trains software developers to meet the growing global need in the field. They match well-trained developers with companies looking for tech talent. Wootlab staff and trainees also create tech products to meet company needs.<h4>Wootlab Foundation</h4>Just like the Innovation service, Wootlab’s nonprofit arm, Wootlab Foundation, leverages technology as well, in this case, to aid out-of-school children and youth. The foundation provides free technology training and upskilling initiatives through various programmes for marginalised communities. The mission here is to aid the learning of digital skills for persons who would typically not have the means to undertake this on their own, by extension, supporting the economic empowerment of these individuals and their communities and contributing to Nigeria’s knowledge economy<h4>Wootlab programmes</h4>In just three years of existence, Wootlab Innovation and Foundation have undertaken quite an impressive number of programmes. Partnering with Microsoft and various other international and local governmental bodies, they have created empowering initiatives countrywide. Some of those programmes are:Digital States Initiative: Wootlab, in partnership with The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Microsoft which makes its e-learning centre open to Wootlab, has provided virtual training in digital skills and job outsourcing sensitisation to over 9,000 youths in Nigeria. 55% of the beneficiaries of this programme have been young women between the ages of 14-30.This Initiative has been implemented in 15 states which are Kaduna, Katsina, Borno, Nassarawa, Niger, Lagos, Bayelsa, Abia, Ekiti, Imo, Oyo, Rivers, Gombe, Kano, and Kwara. Over 300,000 beneficiaries have also registered on the Microsoft Community Training (<a href="https://wootlabacademy.com/">MCT</a>) platform with access to free learning materials curated by Microsoft and Wootlab. This programme is in line with <a href="https://techcabal.com/2021/05/04/microsofts-partnership-nigerian-government-to-upskill-5-million-nigerians/">Microsoft’s commitment</a> to training five million Nigerians within three years.LEADS programme: Learn Entrepreneurship and Applicable Digital Skills (LEADS) is a Wootlab foundation project born out of the need to help students during the recent Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike but has grown to offer tech-enabled courses to unemployed and underemployed Nigerians. This programme equips young Nigerians with employable and entrepreneurial skills tailored towards the digital economy as it aims to foster economic growth and jobs. This programme is funded by Microsoft and has over 6,000 beneficiaries so far. Currently in its third cohort, LEADS is taking it a step further to include the newly launched free <a href="https://wootlabacademy.com/">Skills for Jobs</a> learning pathways for global learners looking to transition into fast-growing, tech-enabled, and technical roles. This offer includes more than 350 courses, easy-to-follow learning paths, and six new Career Readiness Certificates from Microsoft and LinkedIn to help workers showcase their skills to employers.Digital Kwara: This programme was a 2020 collaboration between Wootlab Innovation and the Kwara State Social Investment Programme (KWASSIP), introduced to help mitigate the effects of the pandemic. It was a two-week virtual training programme in basic and mid-level digital skills in the areas of productivity tools, content creation, digital marketing, and web and graphics design initially designed for 3,000 Kwarans. However, the programme was so successful that 30% of the underemployed participants received a salary raise based on the skills acquired, and 55% of unemployed graduates were offered a job that required the use of productivity tools in the workplace, as such, the Kwara State government decided to sponsor the second batch of training with Wootlab for 10,000 more Kwarans, bringing the overall number of beneficiaries to 13,000. Wootlab also supported 50% of women-owned businesses with websites and one year of free hosting.Devcamp: this programme, funded by the British Council UK Nigeria Tech Hub (UKNGTH) is a 12-week intensive software development bootcamp aimed at promoting entrepreneurship. The 2020 programme saw carefully selected participants trained with 70%&nbsp; getting job placement, 40% of which were women. Seven products were developed altogether in this programme, including a medical screening app and an e-commerce platform.Basecamp: This entrepreneurship programme was a partnership between Wootlab and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (GIZ). Wootlab organised a free three-month software development and entrepreneurship programme to train selected software developers on how to grow their digital enterprises and become digital entrepreneurs. This programme also included intensive coding, training, and mentoring.Other Wootlab programmes include the Kwarapreneur accelerator programme, also in partnership with KWASSIP. Wootlab, in collaboration with Microsoft, served as the digital and entrepreneurship training partner in 2021 for intensive four-week training. This training was aimed at turning early-stage and idea-stage startups into fully developed business models. Wootlab Foundation also implements the Digital skills and Creativity Pillar of the At-Risk Children programme (ARC-P) to give vulnerable children basic literacy and digital skills to help their productivity and future.Wootlab has been on a steady upward trajectory since its inception, with various programmes and initiatives and they hope to continue to improve the digital skills and employability of women and youth in Nigeria, to help them compete in a growing digital world. By <a href="https://techcabal.com/2022/10/21/education-unusual-how-microsofts-technical-partner-wootlab-is-leveraging-digital-literacy-upskilling-initiatives-to-build-africas-next-generation-of-digital-talents/">techcabal</a>

How Microsoft’s technical partner Wootlab, is leveraging digital literacy upskilling initiatives to build Africa’s next generation of digital talents

Education Unusual? 

Applications are now open for the UK Nigeria Tech Hub (UKNTH) ‘Devcamp’ software coding Bootcamp implemented by Wootlab Innovations. Devcamp is designed to be attended by aspiring and existing software developers and enthusiasts.The program will be administered virtually and is aimed at accelerating beginners to job-ready developers in a 12-week coding accelerator. Devcamp will leverage the industry’s best professionals to offer cutting edge mentored courses in Web and Mobile Development, utilizing tools and up to date resources for learning in collaboration with already existing partnerships with leading tech organisation.The goal of the Bootcamp is for our candidates to demonstrate innovative solutions based on real-life projects received from institutional partners. The focus is to build a community of individuals who have the right mindset to succeed in the thriving tech ecosystem and expose them to placement opportunities in the digital economy.&nbsp;To help trainees become creatives and founders; setting them up for success in the tech ecosystem, while creating value for themselves, their stakeholders, and ultimately across Africa.&nbsp;Wootlab Innovations exists to harness the talent in people from countries across Africa and turn them into the next generation of talents and startup unicorns. We are committed to “building Africa’s next generation of talents and products” to advance Africa’s digital economy.Your opportunity to kick start a great journey in software programming in web and mobile technologies begins now.Apply for the UK-Nigeria Tech Hub Devcamp here: <a href="http://bit.ly/Devcamp1">bit.ly/Devcamp1</a>

The UK-Nigeria Tech Hub 'Devcamp' Bootcamp 2020 is Live

Devcamp Bootcamp

Long hours in front of your laptop? Like 8 to 10 hours per day? So many of us are guilty of that. Engaging in this takes a toll on our health, which we are well aware of. But just because you sit on the desk working on your computer all day, doesn’t mean you cannot lead a healthy lifestyle. Here are tips that can help you stay healthy.<h4>Keep your laptop in the right position</h4>If you are looking too far down from your line of sight, you might experience back and neck pain. Alternatively, if you are gazing too upwards, you will experience dry eyes. Hence, it’s better to use a computer stand or a stack of books to set the position of your laptop in a manner that you don't have to look down at the angle of 10-degrees max.<h4>Keep yourself hydrated</h4>Quite often, thirst is mistaken for hunger, which makes us binge eat. Even sleepiness is sometimes caused by dehydration. Thus, it is very important to keep yourself hydrated in order to maintain good health. Also, drinking more water will force you to get up more often from your desk to refill your water bottle.<h4>Avoid using the elevator</h4>If your office is on the second or third floor, take the stairs as often as possible. If you drive to work, try to park your car a little far away so that you get a chance to walk some distance. When you sit on the desk for long hours, every little bit of walking helps to keep the circulation of your muscles engaged.<h4>Blink more</h4>When you sit in front of your computer, you should blink more often. Since staring at the screen means you blink three times less as you do normally, you need to make sure to blink more often. Make a concerted effort to open and close your eyes. Also, try to follow the 20-20-20 rule while looking at the screen. That means in every 20 minutes, gaze at a point that is 20 feet away for 20 seconds.<h4>Maintain a good posture while sitting</h4>Getting neck and back pain is very common when you sit in front of the computer for long hours. According to experts, the top of your screen should be at the same level as your eyes to make it easier for you to sit straight. Sit with your shoulders pulled back and relaxed. Sit up tall and your forearms parallel to the ground so that you are not leaning while reaching for the keyboard.<h4>Wash your hands often</h4>Washing your hands often is the best way to keep yourself and your co-workers healthy. Make sure to wash your hands before and after you eat, after using the loo and after sneezing and coughing.<h4>Set an alarm every one hour</h4>It is important to walk around the office and stretch often. For this, you can set an alarm every hour and make sure to take a round of the premises. If you can’t do that every one hour, you can walk a little more when you go to fill your water bottle, or when you visit the loo or to get a photocopy done.Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news/7-clever-ways-to-stay-healthy-if-you-sit-in-front-of-your-computer-all-day/photostory/71277897.cms"> ETIMES</a>

How to stay healthy if you sit in front of your computer all day

Healthy Tips for Techie

There is no end of learning in the IT industry. Some would say that there is no industry that is so dynamic and inviting as software development. New libraries, frameworks, and even languages are constantly appearing, so you have to keep up with new trends in order to stay on the top in a competitive market. Here are some tips to this effect.<h4>Stay open to new ideas</h4>When somebody is telling you about new technologies, don’t just reject these new ideas. Be open to hear about them from the person who is already using new technologies, but also check them when you get home. You probably believe that your way of working is the only way, but you have to be open to new ideas if you want your career to move in the right direction.<h4>Trust your instinct about new technologies</h4>Should you invest your time in every new framework? Of course not! Some of the new things will not be relevant in the future, so it’s normal to hesitate a bit. Nevertheless, don’t let these questions stop you from making any progress at all. Invest a little bit of time exploring the general concept about new things and dig deeper if you see that it has potential.<h4>Check news on podcasts</h4>Instead of listening to a radio on your way to work, why wouldn’t you check out news from developers world on a podcast? They are a great way to keep yourself up to speed. There are numerous professionals discussing trending topics, you just have to explore and find the favorite one. Here is a list of interesting podcasts:<ul><li>Software Engineering Daily</li><li>Self-contained System</li><li>Modern Web</li><li>The Big Web Show</li><li>Net Rocks</li><li>HTTP 203</li><li>IT Serbia Podcast</li><li>RunAsRadio</li></ul><h4>Meet like-minded people on local events</h4>Local meetups are a great way to connect with people in your city and discuss new technologies. Being engaged in a local IT community is healthy and beneficial on a personal level as well. Connecting with people who are as passionate about coding as you are will boost your productivity and knowledge. So, check out Meetups or organizations in your area and become an active member of the IT community.<h4>Find inspiration on CodePen</h4>CodePen is a social development environment for front-end designers and developers where you can try to figure out how to handle projects and what’s going on behind the scene. This is actually a community where you can discuss all sorts of things, build and deploy a website, show off your work, build test cases, and find inspiration. You can listen to a podcast or read a blog, whatever you prefer.<h4>Explore your field of work in-depth by reading books</h4>If you want to explore a technical topic in-depth, then books are an excellent choice. Some people say that books are actually more thorough than blogs and there are plenty of reasons for that. For example, articles are often SEO-driven, not knowledge-driven. Further, books cover the entire landscape of the subject and there is no distraction in form of pop-up notifications and ads while you’re reading them. However, not every book is great, just as not every blog post is bad.Ask colleagues for a recommendation or read some books that are “evergreen” such as “Clean Code”, “The Pragmatic Programmer”, “Peopleware: Productive Projects and Teams”, Patterns of Enterprise Application Architecture, The Algorithm Design Manual, “Software Craftsmanship”, “Domain-Driven Design” or “Test-Driven Development. Yes, the industry evolves incredibly fast, but these books will help you explore your field of work on a much deeper level.<h4>Read blogs on a daily basis</h4>People usually check the news in the morning to see what’s going on in the world, but following news from tech can be your morning routine. There are so many blogs that will help you stay up-to-date, just pick few of them and follow them on social media platforms. For example, Wootlab blog posts and other tech related blogs. Whether you want to solve some issue on work or you want to stay up-to-date, blogs can help you find what you needby <a href="https://www.omnesgroup.com/author/milicaomnesgroup-com/">Milica Kuzmanov</a>&nbsp;

How to Keep your Skills Up-to-Date as a Developer

Keep your skills Up-to-Date

A study conducted by the National Center for Women &amp; Information Technology (NCWIT) revealed that, in 2009, there was a drastic 79 percent decline in the number of incoming female undergraduates pursuing a degree in computer science.Fast-forward to 2015, and that translates to a graduating female class grossly underrepresented in the technology industry. It's never been more important to encourage the development of tech skills-regardless of gender. For women starting a career in technology, and professionals looking to learn the skills needed to excel in their careers, there are many ways to stand out and get noticed in this growing industry.<h4>Don’t be intimidated</h4>Some women may feel reluctant to enter technology careers because they’re afraid they don’t have enough technical knowledge. This in turn makes some women feel intimidated. However, curiosity is a good lead when it comes to a career in technology. Curiosity will inspire you to identify the problems and dig out the root causes. In addition, careers in technology are not just about acquiring technical knowledge, but about demonstrating leadership and mentorship. Women are also good at handling interpersonal relationships and often attribute to overall harmony and quality of work environments.<h4>Talk to people</h4>Talk to people to discover your niche. Discussing with a&nbsp; lot of friends and even friends’ friends about their daily work, and whether they liked or disliked their jobs will help give insight into what you want. Engage in different workshops and meetups of varying industries on the weekends and tried out some small projects so as to understand the best area you can fit in the most<h4>Teach yourself</h4>Spend some time teaching yourself the required skill sets before interviewing for tech jobs. Remember: After you start a career in tech, you’ll continue to learn. You may not need to know all the details, but you need to know the advantages of these new tools. You can determine how the new tools can help you, and then decide whether you need to acquire them. Even one hour today or half an hour tomorrow in your spare time helps, and you will become an expert soon.<h4>Follow good people</h4>When looking for new job opportunities, follow good companies and people instead of high salaries. When deciding where to work, remember to look for and work for people you admire and respect. Work for companies that have intelligent leaders and care about their employees.<h4>Find a good mentor</h4>Women interested in tech fields must find a good mentor to be successful, and that requires being proactive and committing to continuously learning from superiors and peers.<h4>Advocate for yourself</h4>Everyone should know their worth and not be afraid of advancing. Women are sometimes willing to sacrifice financial gains in their careers for other rewards. But to advance, you have to push forward and ask for what you want. No matter what field you choose, remember to never give up on your dreams, and always keep a positive attitude. And no matter what roadblocks may come, women should never let anyone limit their potential.&nbsp;Source: <a href="https://www.comptia.org/blog/listing/author/Joanna%20Hu,%20Principal%20Data%20Scientist,%20Exabeam">Joanna Hu (CompTIA)</a>.

Women In Tech

Being a tech savvy helps individuals to be perceived as a good investment, for any type of company or business. Besides that, it helps improve personal qualities and boost professionality.<h4>Read Technical Books</h4>What other better way of learning something other than reading a professional book? Thousands of books are available online and even in bookstores. Choose whichever suits your needs.Choosing a technical book is easy, as you can get easy access to reviews and comments for each specific product.<h4>How-To Online Videos</h4>There are enough online video tutorials that can address various problems. YouTube is the best bet in this case, which offers different tutorials for free. If &nbsp;interested in any specific subject, just type some relevant keywords regarding the topic and add “how-to” at the end of the search.<h4>Join a Computer Club</h4>Joining a computer club is one of the ways of achieving improved technical skills. &nbsp;There are various organizations that avail interested people such opportunities. You can join these types of organizations or research them onlineEven if it’s not exactly a computer club, make sure that the organization deals with technical aspects and has some tech-savvy members who can train in this regard.<h4>Volunteer &amp; Learn from The Best</h4>Volunteering is another choice that will facilitate the learning of technical skills. Being a part of a volunteering campaign will help come across a lot of tech-savvy professionals who will help develop the necessary skills.<h4>Order Personalized Tutorials</h4>Here’s a unique method of learning new technical skills. You may need certain aspects and information for more skills, but you need to have them all together. In case you don’t find any resources that can provide all the information you need, you can choose to outsource the knowledge.<h4>Subscribe to Tech-Savvy Social Media Pages and Email Newsletters</h4>Here’s a good way of getting constant updates and relevant information regarding the topics you want to master. First thing you have to do is look for websites that can offer you the right information. Then, subscribe to their email newsletter and you will usually receive planned emails with valuable information.<h4>&nbsp;Practice, Practice, Practice</h4>Repetition is the key to success. A lot of knowledge is useless if it’s not being practically used. Being a tech-savvy person is all about the abilities possessed, not necessarily the information possessed.. &nbsp;The moment you learn something new, begin testing it until you get some productive results.Source: <a href="https://www.digitaldoughnut.com/contributors/jessica1986freeman">Jessica Freeman</a> (<a href="https://www.digitaldoughnut.com/">Digital Doughnut</a>).

Top 7 Strategies For Improving Your Tech-Savvy Skills

Tech Skills

In a constantly-changing software development market, new tools and programming languages are introduced every year that have the potential to change a software engineer's daily workflow, making it imperative to prioritize continuous learning and stay ahead of the curve.<ol><li>Flutter: Flutter is an open-source UI software development kit created by Google. Flutter is an app SDK for building high-performance, high-fidelity apps for iOS, Android, web (beta), and desktop (technical preview) from a single codebase.</li><li>Android design: Android is a mobile operating system, sponsored by Google in 2007.It was designed primarily for touchscreen mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.</li><li>Nuxt.js is a free and open source web application framework based on Vue.js, Node.js, Webpack and Babel.js making web development simple and powerful.</li><li>Continuous integration and development: This embodies a culture, set of operating principles, and collection of practices that enable application development teams to deliver code changes more frequently and reliably.</li><li>Angular: is a TypeScript-based open-source web application framework.</li></ol>For developers in manager positions, soft skills become increasingly important, the report noted.Here are the top five fastest-growing skills software engineering managers need to run high-performing teams:<ol><li>People management</li><li>Leadership</li><li>Team management</li><li>Team building</li><li>Strategic planning</li></ol>For software engineers who start their own company and become CEOs, skills related to emerging technologies become tantamount, the report found.Here are the fastest-growing skills for software CEOs:<ol><li>Blockchain</li><li>Cryptocurrency</li><li>React.JS</li><li>Docker products</li><li>Front-end development</li></ol>Source: <a href="https://www.techrepublic.com/meet-the-team/us/alison-denisco-rayome/">Alison DeNisco Rayome</a> (<a href="https://www.techrepublic.com/topic/developer/">TechRepublic</a>).

Fastest Growing Skills for Software Engineers

Skills for Software Engineers

Software development/programming isn't considered a dangerous occupation with a lot of hazards. However, a surprising number of developers suffer from health issues. Sitting at a desk won't kill you, but studies have shown that it isn't as healthy as you might think. Luckily, it's surprisingly easy to make some changes with very little effort.<h4>Exercise</h4>Getting exercise on a regular basis is something that many developers tend to forget—or ignore. There's no need to become the next Ironman, but doing some form of exercise has a number of benefits that will keep you healthy, fit, and focused.<h4>Sleep</h4>Sleep is something that your body needs to recover from the previous day and stay fit. The body uses this time of inactivity to reboot your brain and repair any damage you incurred during the day. Studies have shown that getting enough sleep significantly boosts your focus during the day, improves your immune system, and even enhances your memory.<h4>Posture</h4>Bad posture is a common problem these days. Even if your office is equipped with comfortable, ergonomic chairs and desks, it's important to be conscious of your posture. Studies have shown that sitting at a desk for long periods of time isn't healthy for a variety of reasons. Some programmers solve this by using a standing desk. &nbsp;<h4>Caffeine</h4>A common misconception is that caffeine is fuel for your body. Even though most energy drinks are high in calories, caffeine itself doesn't contain any calories. Caffeine is nothing more than a molecule that interacts directly with your central nervous system. Caffeine is addictive and it's all too easy to relapse into drinking coffee when you need that bit of extra energy. But why would you want to cut out caffeine? The most important benefit is that you will sleep much, much better. Another major benefit is that you are no longer dependent on caffeine to function. Do you need extra energy? Go for a run. You'll be surprised by the amount of energy you get from something as simple as a five mile run.<h4>Balance</h4>Finding balance in your life isn't always easy. If you have a demanding job with a bunch of responsibilities, then it may be difficult to go offline for long periods of time. No matter what you do for a living, it's important to find a balance between work and life. Everyone needs some time off to decompress and relax. Making a clear distinction between work and life can really help recharge your batteries. You'll be able to spend time with your family without being distracted by work. Put aside your phone and don't check email when spending time with friends and family. It truly helps recover from the day and prepare for the next.<h4>Diet</h4>A healthy diet is the cornerstone of a healthy lifestyle. That doesn't mean that you can't have a snack or that you need to cut out everything from your diet that's unhealthy. It simply means being conscious of what you eat and when you eat it. That simple act can make a world of difference.<h4>Disconnect</h4>There are times that you need to disconnect, put your computer aside, turn off your phone, and disconnect from the internet. It's a wonderful feeling to leave your smart devices at home and go for a walk in the woods or in the park. Your mind will thank you for it. Enjoy your surroundings and, more importantly, the feeling that nobody will call or text you. Some of us are so hooked to being connected with the world that they feel anxious if their smartphone isn't within arm's reach. If that's you, then this may be an early warning bell that it's time to step back, even if it's only for ten or fifteen minutes.Author: <a href="https://tutsplus.com/authors/bart-jacobs">Bart Jacobs</a>.

Tips for Programmers

Are you considering a career in software development? The field of software engineering is very diverse, and there are many different areas of focus you may want to study. Navigating the best course of action as you begin to consider courses to take and areas of software engineering to study can be daunting. Here are some &nbsp;tips for aspiring software engineers.<h4>Focus on One Particular Area of Study</h4>The software industry is huge and it continues to grow every year. &nbsp;You might have a burning desire to jump right in and learn everything you can, but it is important to recognize that even the simplest of apps can be extremely complicated with many layers of code under the hood. &nbsp;In general, application development can be split into two areas — frontend and backend development. The domain knowledge in these two areas is huge, and it’s rare to find somebody that knows both of these areas extremely well. &nbsp;Figure out what area interests you the most, and concentrate on mastering that area. This may mean taking a couple of classes in both frontend and backend development to determine which area you can see yourself having a career in.<h4>Always Keep Learning</h4>Whether you are about to start your first software development class, are preparing to enter the job market, or have had a career spanning thirty years, it is important to always keep learning. As you focus on mastering your specific skill set, you should also dabble in new frameworks, technologies and anything related to your field. &nbsp;The software industry can be extremely volatile, and new projects can come and go very quickly. Having experience and interests outside of your master skill set can help you stay employed and marketable for new opportunities.<h4>Understand the Code</h4>If you find yourself on a project with senior talent, this is a great opportunity to take advantage of it! &nbsp;Do not be afraid to ask your peers about something you don’t understand in their code. Take the time to break things down and fully understand every construct and keyword. &nbsp;In these instances, slow and steady wins the race and will make you a stronger engineer.<h4>Communication is Key</h4>Software developers and engineers tend to be a bit more on the introverted side and could tend to forget what it’s like to interact with other people after staring at code all day. Make sure the emails and texts you send are simple, clear and concise. Simple and timely communication can make working on a project feel smooth, and will ultimately help your career in the long run.<h4>Make Each Job Interview a Learning Opportunity</h4>Whether you are in your first interview for a software developer position, or you have had a long career and are ready for something new, it is important to treat each job interview as a learning experience. During a job interview, do not shy away from asking the recruiter or interviewer what hesitations they might have in offering you a role at the company. This will help you either clear the air regarding certain hesitations and misunderstandings the employer has, or it will help you determine where you need to strengthen your skills — which may be engineering or communication focused.Marty Burolla, Alexandra Bohigian is a Marketing Coordinator for <a href="https://www.enolalabs.com/">Enola Labs</a> and contributed this content for Coding Dojo.

Considering a career in Software Engineering?

COVID-19 is by far the most significant theme to affect the global technology industry in 2020.&nbsp;In April 2020, the UK-Nigeria Tech Hub surveyed the tech-sector to better understand how start-ups are adapting in this unprecedented time. The survey showed that the ongoing pandemic and the lockdown economy continues to affect start-ups in different ways, forcing them to re-evaluate business models, disrupting the value chain, and re-assess fundraising plans.It also shows that lost income and low working capital were the two issues of most concern to tech businesses, both in the short and medium term.&nbsp;More positively, the disruption has caused an acceleration of remote working and depending on the sector, for example in health-tech a resurgence in interest from investors. Sectors like agri-tech and e-commerce sectors are adversely affected by the short –term supply chain disruptions.&nbsp;Our goal in conducting this survey was to provide insights to help identify the interventions and support most beneficial to start-ups in Nigeria and to offer more insightful guidance to the Nigerian start-up community and other key stakeholders.&nbsp;The UK Is committed to supporting the growth of the tech sector in Nigeria as a growing and sustainable digital ecosystem contributes to economic growth and diversification. The UK- Nigeria Tech Hub will continue to focus our work on three key areas: programmes we can to put in place now to drive the recovery agenda; how we create long-term prosperity; and the capacity and digital skills programmes to support Nigeria’s digital sector.&nbsp;To tackle these most pressing challenges, we look forward to further engagement and dialogue with individuals, businesses, community leaders and policymakers from across Nigeria.Download survey report <a href="https://wootlab.ng/uploads/UKNTH_Survey_Results_COVID_19_Impact_Survey_on_Early_Stage_Start_ups.pdf">here</a> .

COVID-19 Impact Survey on Early Stage Founders & Investors in Nigeria

COVID_19 Impact Survey

Continuous Integration (CI) allows you to continuously integrate code into a single shared and easy to access repository. Continuous Delivery (CD) allows you to take the code stored in the repository and continuously deliver it to production. CI/CD practices deploy the application into the market quickly and efficiently in advance and possibly most importantly, releasing new features and bug fixes to maintain great customer experience.This article will deliver the best 10 benefits of Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery to provide you insights into changes that could help your organization to be more successful.&nbsp;<h4>1. Manage Smaller Code Changes</h4>Continuous integration and continuous delivery enable you to merge small pieces of code simultaneously. It’s easier to control small code changes than a massive bunch of code and small code changes, by its nature, have fewer issues that can be tackled afterward.Continuous testing focuses on testing these small pieces right after continuous integration blends them into the repository. The primary purpose is to early detect any problems before too many backlogs later. Especially for large development teams, transparent communication is enhanced between team members who work remotely and in-house.&nbsp;<h4>2. Fault Isolations Prevent Bugs Shortly</h4>Fault isolation, also known as fault diagnosis, deals with methods that can isolate the component, device, or software module provoking errors. Once the faults are restricted from the boundaries, the system is less likely to suffer from serious damage.Performing your system with CI/CD gains many benefits from fault isolations. For example, small defects are detected before production and repaired before deployment. Fault isolations range from monitoring the system, determining when and where errors take place, until triggering its location. Consequently, bugs shown in the application are isolated in scope that put an end to abrupt collapse and other issues before damaging the entire system.&nbsp;<h4>3. Reduce Mean Time To Resolution (MTTR)</h4>MTTR refers to the average elapsed time from when a feature is reported broken until it is repaired. Simply put, it tracks the amount of time spent to recover from a failure.With CI/CD, organizations gain shorter MTTR due to smaller code changes and easy fault isolations. One of the highest challenges facing the business is to minimize failures and rapidly repair broken features that affect customer experience. An application monitoring tool increases a higher chance of early bug repair while recording problems to quickly identify trends.&nbsp;<h4>4. Increase Test Reliability</h4>CI/CD strengthens test reliability that the pipeline can operate more positive and negative tests correctly due to minor changes in the system. Test Reliability in CI/CD also implies Continuous Reliability. That means while the team devotes effort to continuously combining new products and features, quality remains optimized throughout the entire process to produce a good return on investment.&nbsp;<h4>5. Accelerate Release Rate</h4>The faster errors are exposed and fixed, the higher release rates. Nevertheless, not until the code is built up in a continuously moving system can features be released regularly.CI/CD focuses on integrating codes of individual developers and automatically deploying them to production once codes are tested carefully, displaying codebase consistently deployable on the spot. As a part of the deployment stage, the CI/CD environment closely records which end-users are using finally. Containerization eliminates problems when transferring codes to a new environment by testing solely the area that will be affected by the release.&nbsp;<h4>6. Cut Down On Backlogs</h4>CI/CD plays a fundamental role in your organization’s development process as it reduces time and effort devoted to non-critical defects in your backlog. Features are promptly delivered to end-users as these minor defects are handled timely in advance.Both developers and testers can gain benefits from solving non-critical defects beforehand. For developers, CI/CD is an excellent way to take the pressure off the team as it shifts their focus towards larger problems or system improvement. Meanwhile, small problems require less focus from testers so their effort is devoted to more important issues before releasing the application. On top of that, the greatest benefit is to maintain high customer satisfaction while enjoying the product without encountering errors.&nbsp;<h4>7. Drive Force in Customer Fulfillment</h4>CI/CD benefits expand not only to the technical aspect but also to the organization's scope. It ensures a new customer to your product would experience a make-or-break-it moment.Customers are far more likely to form an opinion of your product based on their first impressions, making it crucial to offer a fast turnaround of new features and bug fixes right the first time. Moreover, a CI/CD approach always updates your product with the latest technology, thus increasing customer retention rates as well as new customer acquisition rates via positive word-of-mouth and reviews.It’s no longer good enough to listen to the voice of customers just for the sake of listening. Companies need to capture both positive and negative feedback, to improve the customer experience in usability and overall customer fulfillment.It’s essential to show your customers that they are being heard. Constantly augmenting new features and changes into your CI/CD pipeline utilizing customer feedback will result in growing customer retention and acquisition.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h4>8. Enhance Transparent Communication and Responsibility in Teams</h4>Delivering continuous feedback on the CI/CD environment leads to not only more user feedback but also more effective communication among team members. In this environment, teams can reap the benefits of transparent communication and responsible accountability to the full extent.The implementation of CI mostly benefits the developers, as the feedback loop in this stage should be designed firmly to prevent build failures, merging issues, architectural setbacks, etc. In the meantime, CD exhibits software release quickly to the end-users so that teams can proceed with customer feedback. Investing in both CI and CD will likely pay off from a very rapid user response, making your product even better eventually.&nbsp;<h4>9. Lower Costs</h4>Once errors are avoided in many repetitive tasks of the CI and CD pipeline, developers also find more time spent on product development. They don’t need to fix much code along the road as the system automatically deals with bugs right away. It’s important to note that developing high-quality code also produces a considerable ROI.&nbsp;<h4>10. Easy Maintenance and Updates</h4>Last but not least, as the DevOps era is taking over the world, you can easily maintain and update applications on the fly. However, keep in mind that maintenance should be implemented during downtime periods, alternatively called the non-critical hour. Taking the system down during peak hours to update code changes might upset customers and cause some deployment issues.Therefore, considering when to change code and release the update significantly affects the execution in the pipeline. To maintain the entire system running smoothly, I’d encourage creating microservices in your code architecture to take down only one part of the system at a certain point.&nbsp;<h4>Conclusion</h4>Once you’ve deployed a CI/CD process, you will likely realize a smoother transition in the developer workflow. The point is, testing quality primarily needs a lot of attention in the workflow that makes you a beacon for others to follow. No matter how fast and continuous your product delivery, it would not matter without quality in mind. Quality also means faster quality releases when more steps of the CI/CD pipeline can be automated.&nbsp;&nbsp;Source: <a href="https://dzone.com/articles/10-advantages-your-organization-may-gain-from-cont">DZone</a>&nbsp;Author: &nbsp;<a href="https://dzone.com/users/3086245/katalonstudio.html">Oliver Howard</a>

10 Advantages Your Organization May Gain From CI/CD

CI/CD pipeline

These ten tools and libraries are the basis for a developers' skills. Check out the list and where you can get started expanding your skills.<h4>1. Git and GitHub</h4>A good knowledge of a source control repository is mandatory for any programmer or software developer because you need to do check-in and checkout of code every day. To become a better developer, you should also know advanced concepts like branching and merging.In today's world, Git and GitHub have become synonymous with source control repositories, and version control tool. This is the single most important tool for a programmer now. There are other alternatives to GitHub such as Bitbucket and GitLab.<h4>2. SQL</h4>This is another essential tool or programming language every programmer should learn. SQL is actually Standard Query Language and used to work with the database. By using SQL, you can read, update, and delete data from tables.Since we use databases everywhere in the real world, a programmer should have a good understanding of SQL.Apart from knowing basic commands, e.g. SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE, a programmer should also know how to write complex queries using join, aggregate functions, subqueries, and other advanced functionalities.<h4>3. Python</h4>Python is a powerful high-level, object-oriented programming language which is very versatile. You can create big applications like you do in Java, and you can use Python to create useful scripts to automate stuff.It also has numerous modules which make almost anything possible, from accessing the file system and developing web applications to machine learning.&nbsp;It has a simple, easy-to-use syntax, making it the perfect language for someone trying to learn computer programming for the first time.<h4>4. Excel</h4>Microsoft Excel is another essential tool for programmers and software developers. Don't mistake it just for a spreadsheet application - you can do a lot more using Excel than you can ever imagine.The biggest reason to learn Microsoft Excel is that you will find it everywhere. Everybody uses it, starting from businesses to BA, QA, and project managers. You can use it generate reports, automate, and reconcile stuff, and a lot more.<h4>5. Word</h4>Microsoft Word is one of the essential tools for programmers and software engineers. As a developer, you often need to create documents, e.g. software design documents, requirement documents, etc and Microsoft Word is the best tool for that. It provides sophisticated formatting options to create really good-looking documentation.<h4>6. PowerPoint</h4>Along with Microsoft Excel and Word, PowerPoint forms the trilogy of essential office tools, and that's why they are also essential for software engineers and IT professionals, including developers, QA, BA, and project managers.Microsoft PowerPoint is the most popular tool to create presentations, and as a programmer, you often need to do presentations, e.g. presenting your ideas to the business, your plans to managers, and doing many knowledge sharing sessions between teams, and that's why you just can't ignore PowerPoint.<h4>7. Text Editors</h4>Every programmer should know one text editor pretty well. Software developers do a lot of text processing jobs and knowing a text editor will always help. Apart from NotePad, which is a very good, omnipresent, basic text editor, a programmers should learn some advanced text editors, e.g. Sublime or NotePad++.They support regular expression search and replace and Macros which will help you a lot with your everyday work.<h4>8. Linux Commands</h4>Just like SQL, Linux commands are another essential tool for programmers. Every programmer has to work on UNIX sometime, and many of us spend most of our day on a Linux machine.A good knowledge of Linux commands means you can find what you want, you can know what's going on with the machine, and you can troubleshoot any issues with your application running on Linux.This is a must-have skill for every programmer, and if you are not comfortable with Linux commands, you must spend some time to learn it, especially if you have some exploring to do in Linux.<h4>9. PowerShell</h4>Once you've worked in Linux, you feel constrained while working in Windows, because there is nothing like Linux commands in Windows; PowerShell just solves that problem. Windows PowerShell is a shell developed by Microsoft for the purposes of task automation and configuration management.This powerful shell is based on the .NET framework and includes a command-line shell and a scripting language so that you can automate stuff and create a script as you do in Linux.&nbsp;&nbsp;That's all about essential tools for every programmer. These are some of the basic tools which everyone needs, be it a web developer working in JavaScript, a Java developer working on server-side code, or a mobile developer working on Android or iOS apps. A good knowledge of these tools goes a long way in your software development career, because you will use these tools each and every day and appreciate the time and effort you put initially to learn them.&nbsp;&nbsp;Adapted from <a href="https://dzone.com/articles/10-essentials-tools-and-libraries-for-software-dev">DZone</a> (Author: <a href="https://dzone.com/users/854335/javinpaul.html">Javin Paul</a>).

9 Essentials Tools and Libraries for Software Developers

Software Developers Libraries

For the first time in nearly a decade, NASA launched astronauts into space from U.S. territory. And for the first time ever, it was on a spacecraft built by a private company, Elon Musk's SpaceX.The company's reusable Falcon 9 rocket took off from Florida's Kennedy Space Center on Saturday after the first attempt was aborted Wednesday. The Crew Dragon spacecraft carries two NASA astronauts, <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/robert-l-behnken/">Robert Behnken</a> and <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/douglas-g-hurley/">Douglas Hurley</a>, who are expected to reach the International Space Station (ISS) on Sunday.&nbsp;Ever since NASA's Space Shuttle program ended in 2011, the U.S. has used Russia's Soyuz rockets to take astronauts into space. Sadly, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were no big crowds to watch the launch, both on Wednesday and Saturday.The astronauts even had to virtually hug their families goodbye because of the pandemic.With Saturday's launch, SpaceX is on its way to becoming the first private company to carry NASA astronauts to the ISS. The success of <a href="https://blogs.nasa.gov/commercialcrew/2020/05/27/launch-day-arrives-for-nasas-spacex-demo-2/">NASA's Demo-2</a> brings the U.S. closer to eventually bringing astronauts back to the Moon, and then possibly on to Mars."I'm the chief engineer," Musk told CBS News' Mark Strassmann ahead of Wednesday's attempt. "So I'd just like to say if it goes right, it's credit to the SpaceX-NASA team. If it goes wrong, it's my fault."Just before Saturday's rescheduled launch, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine praised Musk. "[He's] brought vision and inspiration," he said Friday at a NASA news conference. "He’s brilliant, he’s capable."Wednesday's launch was only 16 minutes from takeoff, but unfavorable weather conditions kept the rocket and spacecraft from blasting the two astronauts to the ISS. Rocket fuel had been loaded and the astronauts were settled in the hatch with their SpaceX spacesuits.&nbsp;The weather cooperated for Saturday's launch, despite NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine noting earlier in the day that there remained a "50% chance of cancellation" due to weather. The launch went off without a hitch, and the reusable SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that carried the Crew Dragon capsule into orbit safely detached from the capsule and returned to Earth's atmosphere, where it landed.From here, the mission will see NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley head to the International Space Station – a 19-hour journey. The Crew Dragon capsule will then dock with the station and deliver its passengers and cargo. NASA will determine the return trip timing for Behnken and Hurley at a later date.&nbsp;Source: <a href="https://mashable.com/author/sasha-lekach/">SASHA LEKACH</a> (<a href="https://mashable.com/article/spacex-iss-nasa-historic-flight/">Mashable</a>).

SpaceX becomes first private company to launch NASA astronauts into space

NASA astronauts in space

Google Cloud has brokered another partnership in its exploration of blockchain technologies, with the company joining the enterprise program of blockchain-based video delivery network Theta Labs.Google has joined the grandly-named Enterprise Validator Program, alongside Binance, Blockchain Ventures, and Gumi, which ‘allows enterprises to validate transactions in accordance with Theta’s underlying consensus protocol’, in its own words.Theta’s business case is to broadly put together a decentralised content delivery network (CDN), which will aim to solve the problems of combining high quality data throughput with no buffering, as well as giving more revenues to content creators rather than arbiters. Blockchain comes in through what the company calls ‘Theta fuel’ – tokens on which a value exchange is based between viewer and video platform.“Theta and its partners in the media and entertainment, telecom, technology and gaming industries thus provide a high performance decentralised micropayment network that scales to millions of concurrent video viewers,” Theta wrote <a href="https://medium.com/theta-network/theta-labs-announces-google-cloud-as-enterprise-validator-and-launch-partner-for-theta-mainnet-2-0-8f765096f2a9">in a Medium post</a>.Google Cloud’s role will be to provide ‘stability, reliability and security’ to the Theta network, in the company’s words.“Distributed ledger technology enables new business models that potentially transform the global digital economy, including the media and entertainment industry,” said Allen Day, Google Cloud developer advocate. “We look forward to participating as an enterprise validator, and to providing Google Cloud infrastructure in support of Theta’s long-term mission and future growth.”The partnership comes amid the launch of Theta’s 2.0 mainnet, which represents a step forward in the company’s decentralisation process.Google Cloud is forging its own path when it comes to exploring blockchain. Unlike the route of Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure in offering managed blockchain services – a <a href="https://blockchaintechnology-news.com/2020/01/everest-group-enterprise-managed-blockchain-analysis-places-ibm-and-microsoft-at-the-summit/">report from Everest Group</a> at the start of this year omitted the Mountain View company completely – partnerships and more bespoke offerings are the order of the day. Google itself, rather than Google Cloud, is a member of the Hedera Governing Council, while the company has a standing partnership with Cypherium, alongside AWS and IBM.You can read the full Theta announcement <a href="https://medium.com/theta-network/theta-labs-announces-google-cloud-as-enterprise-validator-and-launch-partner-for-theta-mainnet-2-0-8f765096f2a9">here</a>.Source: <a href="https://cloudcomputing-news.net/news/author/james/">James Bourne</a> (<a href="https://cloudcomputing-news.net/news/2020/may/28/google-cloud-teams-up-with-theta-labs-for-blockchain-based-video-delivery/">Cloud Computing News</a>).

Google Cloud teams up with Theta Labs for blockchain-based video delivery

Blockchain-based video delivery

EMMANUEL IYANU a 20-year-old youth who concluded the Kwara Digital Class (an initiative by the State Govt) in just 3 days, which made him be the first graduate of Cohort 1; an exemplary act that won him a brand new tab. This act has indeed motivated many youths as the number of graduates from the digital class increases more.Emmanuel has written an appreciation to the State Governor. He said;I give kudos to the Executive Governor of Kwara State, His Excellency AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his efforts in preventing Kwara youths from being idle during the Covid-19 lockdown.He flagged up an Online Digital Training for all Kwarans. This is with a view to developing their skills. I keyed into the programme despite the fact that I never knew anybody in government but I strongly believed in this slogan titled “Ijoba Mekunu”.I was given moral support and encouragement from my parents, for my mother allowed me to use her phone. I will forever remember her words that “too much sleep could lead to poverty.” I, therefore, worked overnight watching the test videos and reading the twenty-six (26) modules within three days. This determination enabled me to complete the modules and passed creditably the examination associated with the training.At the completion, I started encouraging my other colleagues to add more zeal. As soon as I posted my certificate on Slack, it aroused more interest amongst the participants. The programme was well organized so much I felt like learning many more skills that could earn me a brighter prospect in the near future.I know so much now that Ijoba Mekunu is real. The Digital Kwara team interviewed me and further presented a brand new Tab free of charge as encouragement of my "passion for learning.'' I am appealing to Kwaran youths to be up and doing and let us join hands together, and use our skills and talents, to contribute to the development of Kwara State. Lastly, I want the government to keep on mobilizing the youth for the growth and development of the State.LONG LIVE DIGITAL KWARA TEAM! LONG LIVE KWARA STATE! 9th May 2020, OLOSUNDE, EMMANUEL IYANU. Sango, Ilorin.Source: <a href="https://9japarrotonline.blogspot.com/2020/05/kwassip-kwara-digital-1st-graduate-pen.html">9jaParrot</a>.

KWASSIP: Kwara Digital 1st Graduate Pen Down Appreciations Message To Gov Abdulrazaq, salutes his untiring efforts

Kwara Digital 1st Graduate Pen Down Appreciation

Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq on Saturday joined the government-backed virtual digital training for youths in the state with a call on participants to compete to evolve with homegrown technological solutions to local problems.At least 3,195 young people are involved in the digital training which is supported by the Grow with Google and Wootlab Foundation. Called K-Power, the initiative is a component of the four-layer state social investment programme.According to a statement by Rafiu Ajakaye, Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Abdulrazaq said the lockdown arising from the COVID-19 pandemic again confirmed that the country must come to terms with deploying technology in all facets of life, including agriculture, manufacturing, and education.He said the gradual resort to virtual meetings and online lectures for school children point at a future with decreased physical activities, charging the young people to develop IT solutions to make life better for the people.“Going to two months now our civil servants have been at home and that shows that the physical aspect of getting up to go to work is going. Work is going on and government activities are moving. Our schools have been shut and we can see that most of the students are doing online learning,” he noted.“Yes there are difficulties to that because some people complain that they do not have data to go online and so on, but when we keep talking amongst ourselves we would find solutions to that. We would find solutions like livestreaming and offline training. It doesn’t have to be physical training in school; eventually we would come to a solution,” the governor further noted.While noting that the future is bright, &nbsp;he pointed out that what is required “is to plan ahead and know what we want to do, what we are going to do, what our targets are, and create a new environment for technology, which is to say those that will go to farm will farm, those that will do manufacturing will manufacture and those that will do IT will do IT. But there should be a synergy between all of them in order to see how you would get the farmers’ produce to the market and those involved in agro-processing”.“The Civil Servants should be able to work properly from home using the tools (of technology) available to them. That is why we are here; we would want to invest in what you do and partner with you,” he said.“The government is ready, and our doors are open to partner with you to put Kwara on the map of technology in Nigeria, in Africa and the world. So,&nbsp; I thank you very much and urge you to stay focused on the programme, don’t drop out. If you don’t understand something stay on to it, latch on to it, do not drop out, we would create more opportunities as time goes by. I notice that we have at least 32 people (joining this conversation) now, it’s a great thing. I am delighted and I wish you all the best in your training, thank you very much,” said AbdulrazaqSource: <a href="https://businessday.ng/technology/article/abdulrazaq-joins-kwara-digital-class-urges-youths-to-stay-focused/">Business Day</a>.

Abdulrazaq joins Kwara digital class, urges youths to stay focused

Abdulrazaq joins Kwara digital class

If you are a Java programmer and are wondering what to read to improve your knowledge of Java or become a better Java developer, then you have come to the right place.In this article, Javin Paul shares some of the best Java books ever written. These books have withstood the test of time, becoming more and more relevant as the years go by.It doesn't matter if you read them now or plan on reading them later, you will always have a lot to learn and that's why he thinks they are the greatest Java books of all time.<h4>1. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Effective-Java-3rd-Joshua-Bloch/dp/0134685997/">Effective Java</a></h4>There should not be any surprise here. Effective Java by Joshua Bloch is hands down the best Java book ever. This is a definite must-read book for Java programmers of any experience level. You will learn so much about Java and its API then you could imagine.The fact that Joshua Bloch himself is the author of several key Java classes and API, like java.lang and Java Collection framework, is enough reason to read this book. Along with that, his writing style is also fantastic.You can read this book on a beach, while traveling, or just at your desk. It's awesome. There is no doubt that you would emerge as a better Java programmer after reading this book.And the best thing is that a <a href="https://javarevisited.blogspot.sg/2017/10/effective-java-3rd-edition-coming-soon.html">new edition of Effective Java</a> is available now, which covers Java 7, 8, and 9. There cannot be a better time to read this book.<h4>2. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Clean-Code-Handbook-Software-Craftsmanship/dp/0132350882">Clean Code</a></h4>Another timeless classic for Java programmers is Clean Code. As the title suggests, it teaches you to write better code, which is such a difficult thing to learn.To be honest, it's easy to learn Java, but difficult to write better Java code which uses strong OOP principles and that's where this book helps.Similar to Joshua Bloch, Robert C. Martin, also known as Uncle Bob, is an excellent author and shares a lot of his experience as a software developer, teaching you various programming techniques and practices that help a lot in your day-to-day job as a programmer.If you follow Clean Code, there is also a course on Pluarlsight called <a href="https://pluralsight.pxf.io/c/1193463/424552/7490?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pluralsight.com%2Fcourses%2Fwriting-clean-code-humans&amp;ref=hackernoon.com">Clean Code: Writing Code for Humans</a> By Cory House which effectively complements this book.<h4>3. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0321349601/">Java Concurrency in Practice</a></h4>Multithreading and concurrency is an essential part of Java programming. There is no better book than Brian Goetz's Java Concurrency in Practice to learn and master this tricky topic.Even though the book only covers Java 5, it's still relevant and must-read books for any serious Java developer.Some of you may find that some of the sections are a bit difficult to understand, especially sections 3.5.1 through 3.5.6, And if that's the case, I suggest you go through the <a href="https://learning.javaspecialists.eu/courses/xjadvj8?affcode=92815_johrd7r8&amp;ref=hackernoon.com">Extreme Java --- Concurrency Performance</a> course by Dr. Heinz Kabutz. This will help you to better digest and comprehend those topics.<h4>4. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0596007124/?tag=javamysqlanta-20&amp;ref=hackernoon.com">Head First Design Patterns</a></h4>Good knowledge of OOP and design patterns are important for writing any Java application. Head First Design Patterns is the best book for learning to do that.You might think that it's just another old book, but you don't need to worry, an updated copy that covers Java SE 8 was released a couple of years ago.If you are serious about learning design patterns in Java, this is the book you should read!The <a href="https://pluralsight.pxf.io/c/1193463/424552/7490?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pluralsight.com%2Fcourses%2Fpatterns-library&amp;ref=hackernoon.com">Design Pattern Library</a> course on Pluralsight is also a nice resource to get yourself familiar with essential design patterns in Java and object-oriented programming. You can follow that course along with this book to get the best of both the worlds.<h4>5. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Spring-Action-Craig-Walls/dp/1617294942?tag=javamysqlanta-20&amp;ref=hackernoon.com">Spring in Action</a></h4>Sorry, but I have to include one Spring book, Spring in Action, in this list of classic books for Java programmers. Spring is the most popular Java framework ever and this is the best book to learn about the Spring framework, but --- to be honest --- this book is much more than a Spring book.The books take a topic, e.g. JDBC, and explain where JDK went wrong and how Spring corrects that mistake, e.g. SQLException, a one-size-fits-all exception that says something is wrong but not exactly what is wrong or how to deal with that.Like Josuha Bloch and Uncle Bob, Craig Walls is another great author and you will learn much more than just Spring by reading this book.Great news is that now the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Spring-Action-Craig-Walls/dp/1617294942?tag=javamysqlanta-20&amp;ref=hackernoon.com">5th Edition of Spring in Action</a> is also available.If your goal is to learn Spring, join a great online course like <a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=JVFxdTr9V80&amp;subid=0&amp;offerid=323058.1&amp;type=10&amp;tmpid=14538&amp;RD_PARM1=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.udemy.com%2Fspring-framework-5-beginner-to-guru%2F&amp;ref=hackernoon.com">Spring Framework 5: Beginner to Guru</a> along with this book. You will learn quickly and better than many developers, who try to learn by themselves.<h4>6. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Test-Driven-Acceptance-Java-Developers/dp/1932394850?tag=javamysqlanta-20&amp;ref=hackernoon.com">Test Driven</a></h4>Automation testing is an important skill. For developers, it all starts with unit testing. Java has been blessed to have the JUnit from the start, but just knowing the library doesn't make you a professional programmer who can write tests.It takes much more than knowing a unit testing library, like JUnit or Mockito, and that's where this book helps. If you are serious about code quality and writing unit, integration, and automation tests, Test Driven is the book to read now.<h4>7. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Java-Performance-The-Definitive-Guide/dp/1449358454?tag=javamysqlanta-20&amp;ref=hackernoon.com">The Definitive Guide to Java Performance</a></h4>Another aspect of becoming a better Java developer is knowing about JVM, Garbage collection, and performance tuning.Though there have been several good books on this topic, e.g. Java Performance by Binu John and Charlie Hunt, The Definitive Guide of Java Performance by Scott Oaks is my favorite.Even though it only covers until JDK 7, you will learn a lot about performance tuning and JVM in general, which totally justifies the time and money you will spend on this book.<h4>8. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0596009208/?tag=javamysqlanta-20&amp;ref=hackernoon.com">Head First Java</a></h4>How many of you started learning Java by reading this book? Well, I did. Just after I came to know about Head First Design Pattern, I also found this book, Head First Java, and I really enjoyed reading it. I learned a lot of Java concepts and many of my misconceptions were also corrected.Though many feel this is an out-of-date book, I still feel its a great book for anyone just starting with Java because of its unique style and content.You can easily learn about Java 8, Java 9, and Java 10 changes on other versions once you know Java by reading this book.<h4>9. <a href="http://www.java67.com/2016/10/top-5-object-oriented-analysis-and-design-patterns-book-java.html?ref=hackernoon.com">Head First Object-Oriented Analysis and Design</a></h4>Here is another "Head First" book in the list of the greatest Java books. Yup, they are simply awesome.Head First Object-Oriented Analysis and Design form a trilogy of the "Head First" books for Java programmers, like Head First Java, Head First Design Patterns, and Head First OOAD.It actually compliments Head First Design Patterns by explaining the techniques of object-oriented programming and design.The most important technique that I learned from this book was coding for interfaces and how to encapsulate what changes. This book simply changed how I write Java code.<h4>10. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Java-Beginners-Seventh-Herbert-Schildt/dp/1259589315?tag=javamysqlanta-20&amp;ref=hackernoon.com">Java: A Beginner's Guide</a></h4>If you ever need a comprehensive Java book, this should be it. Even though the title says Java: A Beginner's Guide, it's one of the most complete books for learning Java.Sir Herbert Schildt has also done a commendable job in keeping the book up-to-date, like the 7th Edition of this book now covers Java 9.Though, I don't know how he is going to keep this book up-to-date going forward, since Java's new 6-month release cycle which started with Java 10.Btw, they have released a supplement to cover JDK 10 new features which would be the way going forward.There you go! These are some of the best books for Java programmers. If you are a passionate Java programmer, there is a good chance that you have already read most of these books.But, if you haven't, then this year may be just the right time to read these books. They are absolutely awesome. You can choose the latest version of the book wherever possible, like Effective Java 3rd Edition or the 7th Edition of Java: A Beginner's Guide.&nbsp;Adapted from <a href="https://www.hackernoon.com/u/javinpaul">Javin Paul</a> (<a href="https://www.hackernoon.com/10-best-java-books-for-beginners-and-advanced-developers-z27r3wvs">Hackernoon</a>)

10 Best Java Books for Beginners and Advanced Developers

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