Hello maggots

Welcome to the final class on how to become a better front-end developer. My name is Mauro Accorinti, and I will be your graduation drill sergeant for this email.

(Pssss... In case you missed it, I started a 4 part series on becoming a better frontend developer. The first part is here, the second part is here, and the third part is here. This is the fourth and last part.)

Let's finish this boot camp!
​Ready? Get set...!!

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DROP AND GIVE ME 50.

Today we're going to talk about being an exceptional frontend developer

Throughout this series, you've learned about front-end goals and the Venn diagram. You've learned about hard skills and soft skills. And you've learned how meta-skills can help you practice and execute those other skills more effectively.

But one thing we haven't touched upon yet is how this ties into being an exceptional front-end developer.

To do that, let's quickly go over what being exceptional means

We here at the Exceptional Frontend newsletter (i.e. me) define being exceptional in a very particular way.

There are two parts to it:

1. You have to try to be different and unique in some way that, compared with those around you, makes you the exception.​
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2. That different and unique thing you strive for has to showcase your knowledge and expertise in a positive way, which makes it easy for others to see you're exceptional.

Notice that I don't say, "Be the best in a field or a skill." Being exceptional is about being different and showcasing it. It's not about being the best.

And while being the best at something would technically make you exceptional, at the end of the day, how do you measure how good somebody is at a skill? How would you prove it? What would you do to communicate it?

It's just a lot easier to create a uniqueness and showcase that. That's how you become exceptional.

So then, what makes an exceptional front-end developer?

If we take all the knowledge we developed from the last three emails of the boot camp and combine it with what we just learned about being exceptional, you find our answer.

An exceptional frontend then is someone who can:

1. Develop the skills and knowledge involved in trying to reach the three main goals of front-end developers. These goals are:
   • To build web pages based on designs and requirements with best practices
   • To work well together with others (Project managers, developers, clients)
   • To advocate for and create the best user experience possible
2. Use frontend skills and knowledge in a way that makes them unique compared to those around them. Which helps, in turn, showcase those skills and expertise to others.

In summary:

It's the intersection between the skills and knowledge you have and how you use them to be unique. Got it maggot?

Here's a pretty Venn diagram you can pin up on your wall for some added motivation.

And... that's the series!

CONGRATULATIONS ON GRADUATING FROM THE "HOW TO BECOME A BETTER FRONTEND DEVELOPER" ARMY BOOT CAMP!!!

It has been an honor to be your drill sergeant throughout this series. We'll be back next week with your typical story-driven emails you've come to love.

If you'd like to learn a bit more about my theory and ideas of what being exceptional is (and why I think that), you can check out an old email I wrote here​

Leave me a reply to this email if you enjoyed the series.