Luke Robert Flinn has spent more than two decades at the forefront of web development in his native Australia and elsewhere worldwide. Flinn, from Warrnambool in Victoria, entered the field during the dot-com boom in the late 1990s. Over 20 years later, much has changed online, including many technologies he and his peers rely on.

At the same time, remaining successful in the ever-competitive web development space still relies heavily on a few core competencies and practices. Warrnambool-based Flinn has stayed true to many of these practices throughout his career. Now, he’s keen to share a handful of his favourites to help those looking to follow in his illustrious footsteps.

Establish a Robust Foundation

Whether today or 20-plus years ago, Flinn says that establishing a robust professional foundation is fundamental for early success as a web developer. According to the expert, some of the most essential foundations remain largely unchanged. These include HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

However, the more robust a developer’s foundations, skills-wise, the better. With that, the expert advises quickly moving to more advanced frameworks and technologies to establish an edge. Flinn recommends a mix of more established, in-demand frameworks and still-burgeoning technologies to ensure a well-rounded professional foundation.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Next, it’s vital that aspiring web developers make regular time to practice. Experts firmly believe that among the best ways to become—and remain—proficient in web development is by practising. Just a few of the many ways to gain as much all-important practice as possible include the following:

• Create your own websites
• Take on freelance work
• Contribute to open-source projects

Luke Robert Flinn, the Warrnambool, Australia-based web developer, believes that, beyond doubt, the more aspiring developers practice, the better they’ll become in the shortest amount of time.

Stay Abreast of New Technologies

While establishing a robust foundation is central to success in web development, there’s something else to keep in mind. That’s staying squarely abreast of brand-new technologies. Understanding the latest development frameworks, in particular, is a fantastic way to appeal to potential employers.

Flinn suggests a great way to stay on the cutting edge of new technologies is to attend conferences and follow industry news outlets and bloggers.

Make Efforts to Collaborate

All too often, aspiring and more established developers overlook one majorly important area that’s vital within the industry: collaboration. As such, Flinn is keen to recommend that all developers collaborate with their peers regularly.

One way is to join online communities and participate in forums. It’s also possible to contribute to open-source projects alongside other developers. Moreover, doing so is a great excuse to practice while simultaneously learning from others and building a professional network.

Invest in Lifelong Education

According to Luke Robert Flinn, it’s not just essential to stay abreast of new technologies. That’s because investing in lifelong learning more generally is similarly crucial. Focusing on web development while also making efforts to educate yourself in other areas, there’s always something new to learn, Flinn says.

It may surprise some that, even after over 20 years in the industry, Flinn still regularly takes online web development courses from his office in Warrnambool. That’s in addition to attending several educational conferences and seminars each year.

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