How to Choose a React Developer

JavaScript is a major building block when it comes to creating websites. It is a tenement of front‑end web development, where it adds interactivity that simply cannot be achieved using HTML and CSS alone.

In JavaScript, React, or ReactJS is one of the most well‑adopted open‑source libraries used by front‑end developers to create user interfaces. ReactJS is incredibly useful when creating anything from a single page site right the way up to large, complex applications.

What is a React Developer?

A React developer is the person in charge of the interface of a website, generally, they are a little more specialised than a 'standard' front‑end developer, but ‑ from experience ‑ often also lack some of the more detail, or design‑focused skills you might expect from a more creative front‑end developer.

It is probably not totally fair to say, but in my experience front‑end developers fall on a scale that has creativity and attention to detail at one end, and technical prowess at the other. React developers will usually fall further towards the technical expertise end. This also generally means that they are able to craft the whole thing: from (provided) design or conceptualisation right the way through to automated testing.

What Skills Does a React Developer Need?

To become a successful React developer, there are a few skills that they will need:

1. HTML and CSS

HTML (hypertext markup language) is the XML‑based markup language on top of which the entire world wide web sites. It makes up the basic building blocks for any website. CSS, on the other hand, provides developers with a means to add styling to that markup and ensure it is correctly presented.

With sufficient knowledge in working with semantic HTML tags and CSS selectors, implementing CSS resets, and understanding the different models and web responses, React development becomes easy.

As I mentioned above, you will often find React developers aren't quite as well‑versed in this particular area simply by want of focusing more on the technical side of React development.

2. JSX

It would be incredibly unusual to develop a React application with vanilla HTML, React uses its own XML‑based subset called JSX. Although very similar to HTML, it is just JavaScript which is then compiled down into HTML in the browser. If a developer understands HTML and CSS, then JSX is easy. JSX complements the React libraries since they go hand‑in‑hand: using one without the other would be a technical feat and no doubt would result in a cumbersome, unscalable program or project.

3. JavaScript

Any React developer should understand six fundamental skills in JavaScript before calling themselves professionals. These include:

• Variables and scoping

  ‑ how and where you access data for your code when you need it. Variables allow you to hold data in memory locations, which you can later retrieve as the program runs.

• Array and objects

  ‑ a proper understanding of objects and arrays allow you to change functions and alter their values when need be.

• Functions and arrow functions

  ‑ Everything in React development is encapsulated within a function. So, to move ahead in the field, they should have a good understanding of different functions and where to use them.

• DOM Manipulation and Event Handlers

  ‑ Since you will use JSX in React development, you will rarely directly interact with DOM elements. However, there are ways to manipulate the DOM and attach events to the HTML where necessary.

Other JS skills include:

• Prototypal inheritance

• Object creation

• Classes

4. Git

I once wrote about how I liken Git to being a bit like a diary. What it does is allow the developer to keep clear and concise documentation of exactly what has been worked on, when, and by whom. This allows you to keep an eye on progress but also keep ownership of the code itself.

Git is virtually a required skill set in any web development specialism, so your React developer really should be able to use Git!

5. Node.js and Package Managers

Understanding how Node.js works, and how using package managers such as npm or yarn to add dependencies, is another crucial skill for any React developer.

Where Can You Find a React Developer?

Are you sourcing a React developer to join your team of front‑end developers? You can find them from different platforms, such as from...

• Conferences and hackathons;
• Job sites;
• LinkedIn;
• Online competitions;
• Social media and outsourcing.

If you are looking for a professional React developer, please feel free to reach out to me. I like to think I tread the line between creativity and technical prowess I described above very well! I have nearly two decades of experience in web development, having worked with the BBC, Cisco, John Lewis, and many other organisations. I am a freelancer that understands all aspects of website development, and will produce a project that suits your needs and meets (and hopefully exceeds) your customer's expectations.