Online Portfolio

Megahertza

I had originally post a question about getting into the webdevelopment industry and I was told mostly to creat websites to test new codes and show off what I can do and so on.

I'm woundering if any 1 has any online portfolios that I can look at so I can see what imployers/clients are looking for and what I try to get into my portfolio

AstroTeg

Maybe think about it like this: What can I do or demonstrate to an employer that would make me someone they can't afford to slip by?

That's a tough question because employers all tend to look for different things. But some things that would worth showing (in random order);

Attention to detail (make sure everything works and if funky input is put in, the site handles it nicely without choking, for example)
Variety. Keep from doing cookie-cutter web sites, if possible. For example, you might implement PostNuke for one site, but try not using it for every site you do. Integrate a forum. Toss in a shopping cart. Build a brochure site or two and implement a custom contact page or add a gallery (custom written or off the shelf). Basically, try to experiment. An employer will see this as someone willing to learn, experiment, and be creative.
Employ various technologies as you learn and understand more. Obviously you'll need to work at your own pace, but maybe start out small. Then add some database functionality. Then add templating. The best thing you can do is explore the areas that interest you and run with them. Then when you show off your work, you'll have a drive to show them what you worked hard to learn ("check this out! Its PHP tied to a Postgres database using templates. Its so easy to maintain, even your grandmother could update the site!" - or something like that).

I'm opening myself up for critique here, but you can find some of the sites I've worked on here:

http://www.rsbauer.com/links.php
and
http://www.tekro.com/web.php

(Some of the sites are severally outdated and or no longer around - which means I need to update the links)

pohopo

check out http://coolhomepages.com/ this place can give you a lot of ideas. Another good way to get ideas is to browse through graphic design magazines like http://www.commarts.com/

Roger_Ramjet

First thing I do when reviewing someone's portfolio is view the source looking for hand-crafted code. So if you do use some sort of code-generator/development tool make sure that you strip out all the branding and comments they include, as well as all the unneccessary tags they insert.

Of course, some people are working in development teams using Dreamweaver or such like and want skill and expertise in that. So a variety of sites developed with a variety of tools as well as will give you the widest target market.

I also look for productivity, for someone with the common sense to exploit the resources available. Don't be ashamed to show that you know about and use things like JavaCentral and SourceForge. Being able to modify and adapt someone elses code is far more important in a commercial environment then being clever-clever who spends a week re-inventing the wheel. These forums abound with posts from people having trouble developing their own shopping cart and I just think WHY? There are a 1000 of them out there already, what can yours possibly do that someone has not already done?

Finally, write structured code that is indented, fully commented and self explanatory. That is essential if you are going to work in a development team. Otherwise you are just wasting other peoples' time when they try to integrate your work with their own.

Weedpacket

Originally posted by Roger Ramjet
....make sure that you strip out all the branding and comments they include....

....

....someone with the common sense to exploit the resources available. Don't be ashamed to show that you know about and use things like JavaCentral and SourceForge. Being able to modify and adapt someone elses code is far more important....

Leaving aside the question whether the former part is even ethical, aren't these two recommendations somewhat incompatible?

planetsim

I also dont see whats wrong with re-inventing the wheel, remember people have to learn somewhere and the easier tasks have been done. I doubt very many can get into programming and make something that isnt already made.

Also have to agree with what weedpacket has said but like to add its great that you can modify someone elses script but that doesnt demonstrate to me anyway that you are capable of starting a project and finishing it with code of your own.

vaaaska

My advice, do whatever you are doing and do it well. That's basically Andy Warhol's definition of 'artist.' It makes perfect sense too.

If you can't write code, do the best you can to use or adapt what's there - while trying to learn and understand it at the same time.

If you can't create a perfect logo, keep trying. Study the work of others, what's around you and also what makes you a believer in design.

Practice makes you better and getting bogged down in the minutae so much that you can't move forward is death.

A lesson most design schools teach...produce, produce, produce - even if it sucks, it will get better (if you are actually trying that is).

And finally, don't listen to what people say. Many great designers and programmers never had a lick of formal education - it's a good thing to have though. But, half the people will hate what you do, half the people will love what you do, and the third half won't even notice or care (you do the math on this one). 😉

Good luck...let us know how you are doing...v

Roger_Ramjet

Originally posted by Weedpacket
Leaving aside the question whether the former part is even ethical, aren't these two recommendations somewhat incompatible?

No. If you've paid for the product, why should you advertise it as well? I think it is unethical for the puiblisher to insert their name into my code, unless it is freeware that I am using.

What do you think we did when someone sent us a portfolio with Frontpage, or Word written all over it, we laughed, said amatuer, and did not offer an interview.

planetsim

Originally posted by Roger Ramjet
What do you think we did when someone sent us a portfolio with Frontpage, or Word written all over it, we laughed, said amatuer, and did not offer an interview.

Yes that is fair enough I am not sure about what weedpacket was thinking however the way it sounded to me was to get someones code get rid of the copyrights anything to do with the actual programmer maybe change a few other things and claim it as yours, thats wrong.

Roger_Ramjet

The open source movement in general, and resources like source forge and java central, are marvelous: and oh so rare in this age of global corporations and rampant comercialisation. As here, people contribute of their own volition and without any thought of compensation or advantage. It would be churlish not to utalise them, and immoral not to give due credit.

For the past 25 years the impetus behind major developments and changes in programming paradigms and languages has been code re-use and portability. If you want to be a successfull proffessional software engineer or programmer then you will have to learn how to produce code and solutions that are generalised and portable. This is the best way to raise productivity in software development; and it is really nice when, as a freelance, you can keep on getting paid for the same bit of work.

Megahertza originally posted that she/he wants to work in a quality software or web development firm. If they are any good they will already have libraries of code that you will be expected to understand and use without problems. In a commercial shop, producing the product in a day from pre-existing code will take you a lot further than writing an original solution in a week, it is just basic business. In the end it is how usefull you are, not how clever, that will get you a job and keep you in it.

vaaaska

Originally posted by Roger Ramjet
In the end it is how usefull you are, not how clever, that will get you a job and keep you in it.

Education is important, but this point is very well said.

laserlight

No. If you've paid for the product, why should you advertise it as well? I think it is unethical for the puiblisher to insert their name into my code, unless it is freeware that I am using.

I think the Weedpacket's moral gripe could have been with claiming that some code was entirely your work when some tool was used to generate it.

Perhaps an analogy would be someone using say a C++ compiler to compile a program, perhaps tweaking some parts by dropping into assembly language, then claiming that he/she wrote the entire program in assembly or even machine language.