Learning web development involves understanding programming languages, data structures, algorithms, and problem-solving techniques. Beginners often start with an accessible language like Python or JavaScript. Online courses on Maven offer comprehensive courses for beginners. Practice is vital, so working on personal projects or solving problems can significantly enhance your skills.

• What are the most popular frontend frameworks?

  React, Vue.js, and Angular are three of the most popular frontend frameworks. React, developed by Facebook, is the most popular of the three. It was created with reusable components in mind, and it has a large developer community behind it. While not as popular, Vue.js offers a straightforward framework that overcomes many complexities in other frameworks. It's also popular because it's relatively small in size. Lastly, Angular, developed at Google, is one of the oldest, “modern” frameworks. Although many people still use it today, it has been declining in popularity.

• What are the most popular backend frameworks?

  Unlike the frontend where a few frameworks make up the majority of the market, there are many popular backend frameworks such as Express and Django. Backend frameworks are also more coupled to the language you're using. For Python, Flask is a popular option along with Django, though more and more companies use FastAPI for its speed. If you're using Java, Spring is the go-to framework because of how quickly you can develop on it. Ruby on Rails and Laravel are other backend frameworks, though they have declined in popularity in recent years.

• What's the difference between being an engineer at a startup vs big tech?

  Working at a startup as an engineer often means being part of a smaller team, tackling diverse projects, and needing to adapt swiftly to changes. Many times, this means that the priority is to release the most impactful features at a fast pace. In contrast, big tech companies offer more structured environments with specialized roles, and the development process typically takes longer. In the end, the choice between a startup and a big company really depends on your career goals and personal work preferences.

• What does an engineering manager do?

  An engineering manager is responsible for overseeing, guiding, and mentoring a team of engineers, ensuring the team's productivity, efficiency, and successful completion of projects. They're involved in strategic planning, budgeting, hiring, and can contribute technically. The engineering manager sets clear objectives, maintains timelines, manages resources, and works with other stakeholders involved in the project.

• Should I transition into engineering management or continue as an individual contributor?

  The decision to transition into engineering management or stay an individual contributor (IC) depends on your personal interests and long-term career goals. If you enjoy leading and coordinating with a team, taking part in strategic decision-making, and are okay with potentially less hands-on technical work, management could be a great fit for you. However, if you enjoy deep-dive technical work, solving complex coding problems, and you'd like to grow as an expert in your technical field, staying as an individual contributor might be more satisfying. In many companies, being a manager isn't considered a promotion. Rather, engineering management and IC are separate tracks.