Aaron Overton

The growth of Javascript as a language of choice has skyrocketed with the release of Google's V8 JS compiler. Staying on top of how JS is evolving and how it is used as a building block for libraries like jQuery or Angular is critical. I use Javascript in my daily work, especially jQuery on WordPress, where it is incredibly useful for front-end display and custom admin panels.

Since HTML/CSS is at the core of all deliverables to the web, this is an absolute staple for any web developer. I build UI for web pages and web apps all the time, plus I do complex styling on many projects where there is no dedicated designer. At this point, I am as likely to show dedicated designers new CSS tricks as they show to me, though I'm always happy to learn something new myself.

I write a lot of PHP in my work. I have a comprehensive understanding of the language itself. I have specialized somewhat in writing custom WordPress plugins and CakePHP applications. Often, the PHP code I write goes beyond the basics and deals with tasks like integrating with third-party, remote applications (e.g. integration between a WordPress system and Salesforce.)

Today, I almost exclusively do my database work in MySQL, but I've been utilizing SQL databases in my work since I first started. Over time, I've worked with SQL Server, Oracle, Informix, and MySQL. SQL itself is the most stable and unchanging language a web developer will use, as it is virtually unchanged since I first learned the basics in college. I have designed complex databases, written sophisticated scripts, optimized queries, and generally done most of what there is to do with SQL as a tool.

When I first learned of the jQuery library, it was a godsend. jQuery for DOM manipulation and browser-agnostic programming, especially Ajax calls, was fresh, new, and exciting for a programmer used to much more laborious methods. While jQuery has been overtaken in many environments by JS tools like Angular, Node, and React, it has wide application still where those are not available. A great example is WordPress, where jQuery is the JS library of choice that ships with the core WP install. I have used jQuery extensively to develop useful UI on WordPress websites, admin panels, and in other web applications not based on WP.

In 2007, I knew I wanted to focus on an open-source content management system that would be useful and comprehensible to my clients. After researching WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal I made the choice to focus on WordPress, which has proven to be an excellent decision. With over half of all new websites in the world going up on WordPress, knowing how to use and extend the WP platform is an extremely valuable skill. I have built themes and plugins across versions of WordPress dating back to the early 2.x version. I now focus most of my WP work on extensions through custom plugins, especially those that add features that integrate with third-party systems. A good example of a huge project I've done is at venturedemoonline.com. I am the developer that wrote the entire Venture Event Manager plugin and all the other elements that make up the Venture Platform. I continue to build WP custom plugins for several marketing agencies that do not have the in-house talent to do work that requires the "hard-core" programming.