My Blog

My name is Yevhenii, and I am a 30-year-old full stack developer with three years of experience in the tech industry. While I have primarily focused on front-end development, I’ve also spent about a year exploring back-end technologies. My journey into freelancing began with a desire to pursue something more interesting and fulfilling than my previous job. In my last position, I acted as a middleman between customers and drivers while also managing communications with the management team. This role often felt overwhelming, as if everyone was out to get me. Despite enjoying the time I spent working with my colleagues—who were mostly young and vibrant—I found that the environment, although fun and chill, was stifling my confidence. It was my first experience earning a decent salary for my area, which added to the complexity of my feelings about the job. I realised I would not be able to do the same job all my life, I am kinda introverted and burn out when I talk to too many people at a time. At that time, I had much of what one might consider essential for happiness: a beautiful and intelligent girlfriend, her adorable dog whom I loved like a kid, and a stable job that provided financial security. And I would be able to achieve all my dreams but turned out I did not have much. For me growing up kinda poor I did not have much on my mind, have an apartament, some car, I did not even care which one, just the one looks cool and I could driver with no extra hustle. However, I felt trapped in a role that resembled a prison, burdened by endless rules and expectations. The desire for freedom grew stronger within me, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something more out there for me. Recognizing this longing for change, I began saving money about a year before leaving my job. I knew that transitioning to freelancing would likely mean an initial drop in income, so I set a goal to save $10,000 to support myself during this shift. The turning point came when I broke up with my girlfriend; after she moved out with her dog, I realized it was time to pursue a new life direction. With newfound determination, I quit my job in August 2021 and committed myself to learning. Before leaving my full-time position, I had already completed a UX/UI course with a mentor. This experience gave me foundational knowledge about markup languages and design principles. After quitting, I dove into online courses focused on web development. I spent countless hours learning basic JavaScript through endless tutorials and video courses that I had purchased, believing they would provide me with the knowledge I needed. However, I soon discovered that these resources alone were not enough to prepare me for the real world. The true learning experience began when I secured my first freelance job. To kickstart my freelancing career, I created accounts on various freelancing platforms. Initially, I focused on developing projects for my portfolio—completing 3-4 websites that showcased my skills. These projects took longer than expected due to my limited experience; every new task felt like climbing an uphill battle. After three to four months of hard work, I had finished several markup projects using HTML, CSS, and basic JavaScript. Feeling somewhat prepared and eager to dive into freelancing full-time, I started applying for jobs on different platforms. However, it quickly became apparent that many of these sites required payment just to bid on jobs—a frustrating realization when funds were tight. At that point in my journey, after four months of pursuing this career shift, I had only $5-6 thousand left in my account. The reality hit me hard; the journey was far more challenging than I’d anticipated. It took me around 1 year to get a job in a small company from Israel where I started working on somewhat complex projects. I hit my limits every day, and even though those problems seem funny now, back then they were overwhelming. I ended up getting an offer from a client after completing just two tasks for them. They offered salary that was half of what I made in logistics before – a job where I didn’t need to think nearly as much. It was devastating to work twice as hard for half the pay. I had mental breakdowns almost every day. These thoughts were eating me from inside. I couldn’t imagine it was possible that you needed to work this hard to earn money in a field that supposedly offered such high salaries. When on my previous position I just had a few month in American Logistics company and it was more than enough to get a well paid job and when within a few month I got promoted, my salary was more than enough for me without extra hustle, learning new things, struggling and feeling stupid again, that’s the thing about my bad mindset, I did not see how much I did to change and to improve my skills under pressure without any second plan. After working with the company for a year, I’ve got enough experience to be able to develop front end interfaces of different complexity and rannge. My first project was a chrome extantion for a CMS platform, I was able to get quite a unique experience somehow so besides learning React.js that was needed for the project I also learned how does the chrome extension work, debugging tequniques and work flow, communicating with a page, sending api requests. And when I started working on the project I had only one page developed using React.js for a sort of quiz website that allowed customers to get a quote for development any project based on their answers in the quiz. It took me 6 months of constant learning, to finish this project, but at the end i did not work on it alone, even the front end part was done by me and other people, especially markap part was done by another guy whom I knew from the same freelance platform and even used his services, for $10 the guy’ve done some JavaScript job for me, some custom slider on a page that I could not complete on my own back then and paid out of my pocket to get the job done on time. The guy did a great job working on a markup of the extension and all I had to do was to develop the functionality. I got stuck a lot, my problem was I had so much insecurity that I did not even dare to ask a question, because even when I asked I did not get a thing and could not undrstand what the supervisor wants from me. I did not even know how to use api, and first time I did it I told my supervisor it was not working but it was actually 200, just the data was empty string which confused me back then. After completing my first big project that turned out to be a success, and the company invested in the project will earn back all the investments were put into it. That was the thing I was so happy about, that was the first time I worked on something relatively big and it was a success, a real tool that people use to simplify their customers outreach through whatsapp extension in the browser. After that a few other projects were to follow with this same company, I worked on dashboards, gift buing platform, ecommerce websites. I even ended up doing some back end job like fixing php bugs, communicating with db using .NET, worked on loto project written in Angular.js. That time I realised I am no longer a newby to the field and I am capable to do more than just a simple markup. Now I was able to develop a fully functional SPA with React.js. Had experience deploying react apps with wordpress as a headless cms. But then I collapsed, I could not work anymore, was it a hard work flow without any assistance or visible upgrade, all I saw was that I am doing some job, it does not meet the best practices and even the technologies are used are somehow outdated. And we did not even use git, that was ridiculous for me, I could do some functionality for a few days and then I had a task to move changes in the html manually, that was the stupidest job I could imagine. So I realised that I am done, I had no money left, and I did not get my last payment because I did not finish the tasks and honestly did not even want to talk to anybody, explain anything, I just wanted to live, stop doing what I do and decided to return to a logistics company. That was a time when after two years into my career shift I had no desire to learn anymore, I was tired of constant trying to go through the wall of fails every day. So I ended up working in a new logistics company where I could spend most of my time watching videous on youtube, developing side projects and testing new libraries. That’s when I dove deeper into using WordPress as a Headless CMS, which might be of some use sometimes. And that’s when I got interested in backend development. After working there for 4 month or so, I’ve developed a chrome extenstion for a logistics company I worked in, I’ve created a custom calculatro to check my salary using Vue.js and started watching a course on how to develop backend using Node.js. After 5-6 month I started working on some new projects time to time. That’s when I started using Typescipt on all my prject and felt like I was learning faster than before, working in logistics I had enough time to rest, the work process was automized by a manager who turned out to be a self taught python developer who managed to use his skills to make a profitable business model that generated him money every day, even though he still needs to do some management job, the process is automized and that amazed me. Even when I worked in much profitable company, with their development team that was working on application that reminds a truckboard or rather a load board, I did not see that the process can be automized even further. That’s when I understood that development is not only about painting buttons, making some fancy animations, optimization, testing and so on. The main purpose of development is simplifying people’s life, allowing them to skip the process that can be handled by a programm. And I realised I needed to dive into backend further to be able to deliver my clients full stack applications that will solve their problems and will help them make more money. After I managed to get my first project as a full stack developer using MERN stack I was so exited but I do not think I fully understood what I signed for. So for $500 I signed up to develop an ecommerce website that lists producst from other websites that’s why I needed to normilize data that we got from different data sources, developed my first APIs, connected to DB, and that’s where the magic starts, even though this project was not completely finished because of the luck of funding, I still managed to acoomplish the first version for deployment. But there was a minor issue, React does not allow you to render HTML server side so all bots that surf the internet, like google, instagram, pinterest, facebook, twitter and so on, they are not able to fetch data from your page to be able to share the product and for the client it was a deal breaker. So we ended up freezing this project and I realised I need to learn something better than React.js for the case like that. It was not the best experience, I did not work on perforamnce optimization, did not fix many issues that would appear after we deployed the app but I was able to develop a full stack project, using Typescript, first time I used Redux toolkit to manage app’s state, MongoDB and so much more. It was inspiring but also tiring at the same time. Tight deadlines, low budget but I got so much experience I needed, working with a client on developing his vision, discussing all the details, tech stack, deploying to a VPS. After that I returned working to a previous IT company from Tel Aviv. They started working on a project that turned out to be a startap and ended up as most of them do I guess. And this is about time when I got a prescription for antidepressants from my Phsycotherapist. I spent 2-3 month working on a project half time, spending most of my time at the beach, as a free man chilling without a fear of being caught and sent to war because I started studying to get a Master degree in computer science. Everything went well and first month I got paid but the last time after I finihsed some of the tasks I got some disturbing calls from the manager and messages saying this project is a billion dollar project and I will get some shares or something when project is up and running as well as other team members, I was flattered but also realised that something fancy is comming as I did not expect it to be like that at the beggining and just at the time when I moved in with my new girlfriend they let me know that they have no money for completing the last payment. That’s when I realised that instead of having a few month for myself to fully recover from long lasting depression, I eded up digging an even bigger hole of problems. I had -95 000 on my bank account, had no idea what to do next and that’s the moment when I started thinking where can I find a client that can pay me directly without any freelance platform that takes a good portion of money spent for development. And I got a full stack project for developing a logistics website with some forms, APIs built with node.js and SQLite for DB. I learned that succeeding in freelancing requires not only technical skills but also the right mindset and persistance. During this period of crisis and burnout, I struggled emotionally and physically; there were days when motivation felt elusive. Yet despite these challenges, I kept pushing forward because I have no idea why to be honest, maybe I just was afraid to lose this time. But maybe If I was just a bit more conformist I would just do some easy job 8-5, one hour break, chatting to your collegues all the time and drinking coffe just not to sit at the table all the time watching in the monitor and trying to solve another issue. But I guess that’s not what I want and despite me hating doing all this staff sometimes, I like the feeling of me improving, getting better at something and becoming a proffesional. As I continue on this path as a freelancer, I’m not excited about what lies ahead. The freedom to choose projects that inspire me and the opportunity to work with clients from around the world are just some of the rewards that I did not meet yet on this journey. But I hope I will, soon. Nah, I think I really like what I am doing now, especially when I am directly involved in communicaion with the clients, now I work on much more interesting things, that are usefull and will profit my clients. And the current project I am working on is blowing my mind because I need to develop everything from scratch, back end, front end, db, vps deployment even design. I am happy I can work on something that allows me to see a bigger picture of the thing I am working on and this experience will only further wider my horizont and make me a better specialist in the field.

Managing Complex Logistics Data: Relationships and Operations in Transportation Systems In modern logistics and transportation management systems, efficiently handling the relationships between various entities such as origins, destinations, carriers, drivers, trucks, and rates is crucial. This article explores the implementation of a comprehensive data structure that manages these relationships while ensuring data integrity and operational efficiency. By leveraging technologies like Next.js for the frontend and Express.js with MariaDB for the backend, we can create a robust logistics management system that meets the demands of today’s fast-paced environment. Data Structure and Relationships Core Entities The system is built around several interconnected tables that represent different aspects of logistics operations: Origin/Destination Management Primary table: origin_destination Junction tables: origin_destination_destinations, origin_destination_rates_mileage This structure tracks pickup and delivery locations, dates, and bidding preferences. Rate Management Primary table: rates_mileage This table contains rate calculations based on distance and additional parameters, allowing for a flexible pricing model that includes dead-head miles and minimum rates. Fleet Management Tables: trucks, truck_types, truck_accessories These tables manage vehicle inventory with detailed specifications and track truck-driver assignments. Personnel Management Table: drivers This table maintains driver information and assignments, linking drivers to trucks through assignment relationships. Key Relationships The system implements several many-to-many relationships to effectively manage connections between entities: Origin-Destination to Rates CREATE TABLE origin_destination_rates_mileage ( id BIGINT UNSIGNED NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT, origin_destination_id BIGINT UNSIGNED NOT NULL, rates_mileage_id BIGINT UNSIGNED NOT NULL, active TINYINT(1) DEFAULT 1, PRIMARY KEY (id), UNIQUE KEY unique_origin_rates (origin_destination_id, rates_mileage_id) ); Trucks to Accessories CREATE TABLE truck_accessories ( truck_id BIGINT UNSIGNED NOT NULL, accessory_id BIGINT UNSIGNED NOT NULL, PRIMARY KEY (truck_id, accessory_id) ); These relationships ensure that all relevant data is interconnected, allowing for comprehensive data management. Data Views and Access Patterns Commonly Used Views Creating views can simplify complex queries and improve performance. Here are two commonly used views in our logistics system: Active Driver Assignments CREATE VIEW active_driver_assignments AS SELECT d.id as driver_id, d.name as driver_name, t.id as truck_id, t.type_code, dt.primary_truck FROM drivers d LEFT JOIN drivers_trucks dt ON d.id = dt.driver_id LEFT JOIN trucks t ON dt.truck_id = t.id WHERE d.active = 1; This view provides a quick overview of all active driver assignments along with their associated trucks. Route Pricing Overview CREATE VIEW route_pricing AS SELECT od.id, od.pu_city_id, od.destination_id, rm.rpm, rm.min_rate, rm.dead_head FROM origin_destination od JOIN origin_destination_rates_mileage odrm ON od.id = odrm.origin_destination_id JOIN rates_mileage rm ON odrm.rates_mileage_id = rm.id WHERE odrm.active = 1; This view allows for easy access to pricing information associated with specific routes. Data Operations and Updates Managing Rate Changes To handle rate updates efficiently, we implement a transaction-based approach: BEGIN TRANSACTION; -- Deactivate old rates UPDATE origin_destination_rates_mileage SET active = 0 WHERE origin_destination_id = ?; -- Insert new rates INSERT INTO origin_destination_rates_mileage (origin_destination_id, rates_mileage_id, active) VALUES (?, ?, 1); COMMIT; This ensures that all changes are applied atomically, maintaining data integrity throughout the process. Driver-Truck Assignment Similarly, maintaining data integrity during driver-truck assignments is crucial: BEGIN TRANSACTION; -- Remove existing primary truck assignment UPDATE drivers_trucks SET primary_truck = 0 WHERE driver_id = ? AND primary_truck = 1; -- Create new assignment INSERT INTO drivers_trucks (driver_id, truck_id, primary_truck) VALUES (?, ?, 1); COMMIT; This transaction ensures that only one primary truck assignment exists for each driver at any given time. API Integration and Data Flow To facilitate communication between the frontend and backend, we expose several RESTful endpoints for data management: Origin/Destination Management GET /api/origin-destination POST /api/origin-destination PUT /api/origin-destination/:id DELETE /api/origin-destination/:id Rate Management GET /api/rates-mileage POST /api/rates-mileage PUT /api/rates-mileage/:id DELETE /api/rates-mileage/:id Truck Management GET /api/trucks POST /api/trucks PUT /api/trucks/:id DELETE /api/trucks/:id These endpoints allow the frontend application to interact with the database efficiently. Frontend Integration For the frontend integration, we utilize React components to create a responsive user interface that handles: Data Display Tabular views with sorting and filtering capabilities. Inline editing features for quick updates. Real-time updates to reflect changes in data instantly. Data Entry Form validation to ensure data integrity. Error handling to provide feedback on failed operations. Optimistic updates to enhance user experience by assuming successful operations until confirmed otherwise. State Management Implementing centralized state management allows us to efficiently manage application state across components. Using tools like Redux or React Context API can help maintain a consistent state throughout the application. Performance Considerations Indexing Strategy To optimize query performance, we implement strategic indexing on frequently accessed columns: CREATE INDEX idx_active ON origin_destination_rates_mileage (active); CREATE INDEX idx_truck_type ON trucks (type_id); CREATE INDEX idx_driver_active ON drivers (active); These indexes speed up query execution times by allowing the database engine to locate rows more efficiently. Query Optimization Complex queries are optimized using joins and subqueries to reduce execution time: SELECT od.*, c.name as pu_city_name, GROUP_CONCAT(d2.name) as destinations, rm.id as rate_id, rm.rpm, rm.min_rate FROM origin_destination od LEFT JOIN cities c ON od.pu_city_id = c.id LEFT JOIN origin_destination_destinations odd ON od.id = odd.origin_destination_id LEFT JOIN destinations d2 ON odd.destination_id = d2.id LEFT JOIN origin_destination_rates_mileage odrm ON od.id = odrm.origin_destination_id LEFT JOIN rates_mileage rm ON odrm.rates_mileage_id = rm.id WHERE odrm.active = 1 GROUP BY od.id; This query retrieves comprehensive information about origins and destinations while ensuring efficient execution through proper joins. Data Integrity and Security Constraints To maintain referential integrity within our database schema, we implement foreign key constraints: CONSTRAINT origin_destination_rates_mileage_ibfk_1 FOREIGN KEY (origin_destination_id) REFERENCES origin_destination (id) ON UPDATE CASCADE, CONSTRAINT origin_destination_rates_mileage_ibfk_2 FOREIGN KEY (rates_mileage_id) REFERENCES rates_mileage (id) ON UPDATE CASCADE; These constraints ensure that relationships between tables remain valid throughout all operations. Transaction Management Wrapping critical operations in transactions guarantees consistency in case of errors or failures: BEGIN TRANSACTION; -- Delete related rates for a specific truck ID. DELETE FROM rates WHERE search_id IN (SELECT id FROM searches WHERE truck_id = ?); -- Delete related searches. DELETE FROM searches WHERE truck_id = ?; -- Update driver associations. UPDATE drivers SET truck_id = NULL WHERE truck_id = ?; -- Finally, delete the truck. DELETE FROM trucks WHERE id = ?; COMMIT; This approach minimizes data corruption by ensuring that either all changes are applied or none at all in case of an error. Conclusion The logistics management system demonstrates how complex relationships between different entities can be efficiently managed through proper database design, API implementation, and user interface integration. By focusing on data integrity, performance optimization, and user experience, the system provides a robust platform for managing transportation logistics operations. The combination of well-structured database relationships, optimized queries, and intuitive user interfaces creates a system capable of handling complex logistics operations while maintaining data consistency. Regular monitoring and optimization of database operations ensure continued performance as data volume grows. By implementing these strategies in your logistics management system using MariaDB with Next.js and Express.js, you can create an efficient framework that meets modern transportation demands while providing an exceptional user experience.

Introduction In the modern web development landscape, the demand for real-time, responsive applications is growing rapidly. One such area where real-time functionality is crucial is in collaborative tools, where multiple users need to see changes made by others in real-time. Next.js, the popular React framework, provides a robust foundation for building server-rendered and statically generated applications. But what if you need to add real-time capabilities to your Next.js application? This is where WebSockets come into play.In this article, we’ll explore how to integrate WebSockets into a Next.js application to enable real-time data synchronization between the database and the user interface. By following these steps, you can create highly interactive applications that enhance user engagement and provide immediate feedback. Understanding WebSockets WebSockets are a protocol that allows for full-duplex communication channels over a single TCP connection. Unlike traditional HTTP requests, which are stateless and require a new connection for each request, WebSockets maintain an open connection that allows for continuous data exchange. This makes them ideal for applications that require real-time updates, such as chat applications, collaborative tools, and live dashboards. Benefits of Using WebSockets Real-Time Communication: WebSockets enable instant data transfer between the server and client. Reduced Latency: With an open connection, there’s no need to establish a new connection for each request, reducing latency. Efficient Resource Usage: WebSockets use less bandwidth compared to traditional polling methods. Setting Up WebSockets in Next.js To use WebSockets in a Next.js application, we’ll leverage the ws library, a popular WebSocket implementation for Node.js. First, let’s install the necessary dependencies: npm install ws Creating a WebSocket Server Next, we’ll create a WebSocket server in our Next.js application. Create a new file called ws-server.js in the pages/api directory: import { Server } from 'ws'; const wss = new Server({ noServer: true }); export default function handler(req, res) { if (req.method === 'GET') { // Upgrade HTTP connection to WebSocket req.socket.on('upgrade', (request, socket, head) => { wss.handleUpgrade(request, socket, head, (ws) => { wss.emit('connection', ws, request); }); }); wss.on('connection', (ws) => { console.log('WebSocket connection established'); // Handle incoming messages ws.on('message', (data) => { console.log('Received message:', data.toString()); // Process the message and update the database or notify clients updateDatabase(data.toString()); }); ws.on('close', () => { console.log('WebSocket connection closed'); }); }); res.status(101).end(); // Switching Protocols } else { res.status(404).end(); } } In this code snippet, we set up a WebSocket server instance using the ws library. We handle incoming connections by upgrading HTTP requests to WebSocket connections. Each time a client connects, we log the connection and set up event handlers for incoming messages. Connecting the Client to the WebSocket Server Now that we have set up our WebSocket server, let’s create a React component that will connect to this server and handle real-time data updates. Create a new file called RealTimeSync.js in the components directory: import { useState, useEffect } from 'react'; const RealTimeSync = () => { const [data, setData] = useState([]); useEffect(() => { const ws = new WebSocket(`ws://${window.location.host}/api/ws-server`); ws.onopen = () => { console.log('WebSocket connection opened'); }; ws.onmessage = (event) => { console.log('Received message:', event.data); setData((prevData) => [...prevData, event.data]); }; ws.onclose = () => { console.log('WebSocket connection closed'); }; return () => { ws.close(); }; }, []); return ( <div> <h2>Real-Time Data Sync</h2> <ul> {data.map((item, index) => ( <li key={index}>{item}</li> ))} </ul> </div> ); }; export default RealTimeSync; In this component: We establish a WebSocket connection when the component mounts. We handle incoming messages by updating the state with new data. The component displays received messages in a list format. Integrating the Real-Time Component into Your Application Finally, let’s integrate the RealTimeSync component into a Next.js page. Create a new file called real-time-sync.js in the pages directory: import RealTimeSync from '../components/RealTimeSync'; const RealTimeSyncPage = () => { return ( <div> <h1>Real-Time Data Synchronization</h1> <RealTimeSync /> </div> ); }; export default RealTimeSyncPage; This page will render the RealTimeSync component and establish a WebSocket connection to receive real-time updates. Handling Errors and Reconnection Logic While setting up your WebSocket connections, it’s crucial to implement error handling and reconnection logic. Network issues can cause disconnections; therefore, adding logic to reconnect automatically can improve user experience. Example Reconnection Logic You can modify your RealTimeSync component to include reconnection logic: useEffect(() => { let ws; const connectWebSocket = () => { ws = new WebSocket(`ws://${window.location.host}/api/ws-server`); ws.onopen = () => { console.log('WebSocket connection opened'); }; ws.onmessage = (event) => { console.log('Received message:', event.data); setData((prevData) => [...prevData, event.data]); }; ws.onclose = () => { console.log('WebSocket connection closed'); setTimeout(connectWebSocket, 1000); // Reconnect after 1 second }; }; connectWebSocket(); return () => { if (ws) ws.close(); }; }, []); With this implementation, if the WebSocket connection closes unexpectedly, it will attempt to reconnect after one second. Conclusion In this article, we explored how to integrate WebSockets into a Next.js application to enable real-time data synchronization between your database and user interface. By setting up a WebSocket server in your Next.js API routes and creating a client-side component that connects to this server, you can build highly interactive applications that offer immediate data updates.This approach is particularly useful for collaborative tools, chat applications, real-time dashboards, and any scenario where immediate feedback is essential for user experience.As you continue developing your application, remember to implement error handling and reconnection logic to ensure reliability. With Next.js and WebSockets at your disposal, you can create engaging real-time experiences that keep users coming back for more!

In the world of web development, Rank Math SEO with Next.js optimizing your application for search engines is crucial for visibility and user engagement. If you want to harness the benefits of Rank Math SEO for building an SEO-friendly website while enjoying the advantages of Next.js—such as server-side generation, caching, and asset optimization—this guide is for you. Here, we will explore how to seamlessly integrate Rank Math SEO with a Next.js application, making your site both performant and optimized for search engines.     Understanding the Headless CMS Approach Before diving into the integration process, it’s essential to understand the concept of a headless CMS. In this setup, WordPress serves as the backend for content management while Next.js handles the frontend presentation. This separation allows developers to utilize WordPress’s robust content management features alongside Next.js’s performance benefits. Why Choose Rank Math SEO? Rank Math is a powerful SEO plugin for WordPress that simplifies the optimization process. It provides features like: On-page SEO analysis: Get insights on how to improve your content for better rankings. Rich snippets support: Enhance search results with rich snippets and schema markup. Social media integration: Optimize your content for sharing on social platforms. Automated SEO audits: Regularly check your site for SEO issues. By integrating Rank Math with Next.js, you can leverage these features while delivering a fast and responsive user experience. Setting Up Your WordPress Backend Step 1: Install WordPress and Rank Math After activating Rank Math, follow the setup wizard to configure basic settings: Connect your Rank Math account. Set up site settings (e.g., site type, logo). Configure SEO settings for posts and pages. Step 3: Create an API Endpoint function add_rank_math_seo_to_api() { register_rest_field('post', 'rank_math_seo', array( 'get_callback' => 'get_rank_math_seo_data', 'schema' => null, )); } function get_rank_math_seo_data($object) { $post_id = $object['id']; return array( 'title' => get_post_meta($post_id, 'rank_math_title', true), 'description' => get_post_meta($post_id, 'rank_math_description', true), 'focuskw' => get_post_meta($post_id, 'rank_math_focus_keyword', true), 'robots' => array( 'index' => get_post_meta($post_id, 'rank_math_robots', true), 'follow' => get_post_meta($post_id, 'rank_math_robots', true), ), 'og_title' => get_post_meta($post_id, 'rank_math_facebook_title', true), 'og_description' => get_post_meta($post_id, 'rank_math_facebook_description', true), 'og_image' => get_post_meta($post_id, 'rank_math_facebook_image', true), 'twitter_title' => get_post_meta($post_id, 'rank_math_twitter_title', true), 'twitter_description' => get_post_meta($post_id, 'rank_math_twitter_description', true), 'twitter_image' => get_post_meta($post_id, 'rank_math_twitter_image', true), ); } add_action('rest_api_init', 'add_rank_math_seo_to_api'); This code snippet registers a new field in the REST API that retrieves all necessary SEO data for each post. Setting Up Your Next.js Application Step 1: Create a New Next.js Project To start building your Next.js application: npx create-next-app my-nextjs-app cd my-nextjs-app Step 2: Fetch Data from WordPress You can fetch data from your WordPress API using either REST or GraphQL. For this example, we will use REST API with Axios. Install Axios: npm install axios Fetch Data in Your Page Component: Create a page component (e.g., pages/[slug].js) that fetches post data along with SEO information: import axios from 'axios'; export async function getStaticProps({ params }) { const res = await axios.get(`https://your-wordpress-site.com/wp-json/wp/v2/posts?slug=${params.slug}`); const post = res.data[0]; return { props: { post, seo: post.rank_math_seo, }, }; } export async function getStaticPaths() { const res = await axios.get('https://your-wordpress-site.com/wp-json/wp/v2/posts'); const posts = res.data; const paths = posts.map(post => ({ params: { slug: post.slug }, })); return { paths, fallback: false }; } const PostPage = ({ post, seo }) => { return ( <div> <h1>{seo.title || post.title.rendered}</h1> <meta name="description" content={seo.description} /> <meta name="keywords" content={seo.focuskw} /> {/* Add Open Graph and Twitter meta tags */} <article dangerouslySetInnerHTML={{ __html: post.content.rendered }} /> </div> ); }; export default PostPage; Step 3: Implementing Meta Tags for SEO In the PostPage component above, we set meta tags based on the retrieved SEO data. This ensures that search engines have the right information when indexing your pages. Additional Tips for Optimizing Your Next.js Application Static Site Generation (SSG): Use SSG to pre-render pages at build time. This improves performance and SEO since static pages load faster than dynamic ones. Image Optimization: Utilize Next.js’s built-in Image component to automatically optimize images for faster loading times. Code Splitting: Next.js automatically splits your code by page. This means users only load what they need when they navigate through your site. Caching Strategies: Implement caching strategies using tools like Vercel or Netlify to enhance performance further. Monitor Performance: Use tools like Google Lighthouse or WebPageTest to monitor your application’s performance and identify areas for improvement. Useful Resources To help you further in integrating Rank Math SEO with Next.js and enhancing your web development skills, here are some valuable resources: Next.js Documentation Rank Math Documentation WordPress REST API Handbook MDN Web Docs on Accessibility Conclusion Integrating Rank Math SEO with a Next.js application allows you to create a powerful combination of performance and search engine optimization. By following this guide and implementing the provided code snippets, you can effectively leverage WordPress as a headless CMS while ensuring that your application is optimized for search engines.With careful planning and execution, you can build a highly performant website that not only meets user expectations but also ranks well in search engine results. Start implementing these techniques today and watch your web application thrive! Share Rewrite

In the ever-evolving landscape of web development, the combination of Next.js and WordPress as a headless CMS has gained significant traction. This powerful duo allows developers to create highly performant, scalable, and user-friendly applications while leveraging WordPress’s robust content management capabilities. In this article, we will explore how to effectively use Next.js with WordPress as a headless CMS, providing you with insights and practical steps to get started. Understanding Headless CMS A headless CMS separates the content management backend from the front-end presentation layer. This architecture allows developers to use any technology stack for the front end while utilizing a powerful CMS like WordPress to manage content. In this setup, WordPress serves as an API that delivers content to your front-end application built with Next.js. Benefits of Using Next.js with WordPress Performance: Next.js is optimized for performance with features like static site generation (SSG) and server-side rendering (SSR). This ensures faster load times and improved SEO. Flexibility: By decoupling the front end from the backend, developers can choose their preferred technologies and frameworks for building user interfaces. Scalability: Headless architectures allow for better scalability as you can manage content separately from the presentation layer. Enhanced User Experience: Next.js enables the creation of dynamic, interactive user experiences that can be tailored to meet user needs. Setting Up Your Environment To get started with Next.js and WordPress as a headless CMS, follow these steps: Step 1: Install WordPress Choose a Hosting Provider: Select a hosting provider that supports WordPress installations. Many providers offer one-click installations. Install WordPress: Follow the instructions provided by your hosting service to set up your WordPress site. Install Necessary Plugins: To expose your WordPress content via an API, install plugins such as: WPGraphQL: This plugin provides a GraphQL API for your WordPress site. WPGraphQL for Advanced Custom Fields (ACF): If you’re using ACF for custom fields, this plugin will ensure they are accessible through the GraphQL API. Step 2: Set Up Your Next.js Application Create a New Next.js Project: bashnpx create-next-app my-nextjs-appcd my-nextjs-app Install Axios or Apollo Client: Depending on whether you choose REST or GraphQL for data fetching, install the necessary libraries. For REST API: npm install axios For GraphQL: npm install @apollo/client graphql Step 3: Fetch Data from WordPress Using REST API If you opted for the REST API provided by WordPress, you can fetch data using Axios: import axios from 'axios';export async function getStaticProps() { const res = await axios.get('https://your-wordpress-site.com/wp-json/wp/v2/posts'); const posts = res.data; return { props: { posts, }, };}const HomePage = ({ posts }) => { return ( <div> {posts.map(post => ( <h2 key={post.id}>{post.title.rendered}</h2> ))} </div> );};export default HomePage; Using GraphQL If you chose to use GraphQL, set up Apollo Client: Create an Apollo Client instance: javascript// lib/apolloClient.jsimport { ApolloClient, InMemoryCache } from '@apollo/client';const client = new ApolloClient({ uri: 'https://your-wordpress-site.com/graphql', cache: new InMemoryCache(),});export default client; Fetch data in your component: javascriptimport { gql } from '@apollo/client';import client from '../lib/apolloClient';const GET_POSTS = gql` query GetPosts { posts { nodes { id title } } }`;export async function getStaticProps() { const { data } = await client.query({ query: GET_POSTS, }); return { props: { posts: data.posts.nodes, }, };}const HomePage = ({ posts }) => { return ( <div> {posts.map(post => ( <h2 key={post.id}>{post.title}</h2> ))} </div> );};export default HomePage; Building Components with Next.js With data fetching in place, you can now build reusable components in your Next.js application. Utilize React’s component-based architecture to create modular components that can be easily maintained and reused throughout your application. Example Component Structure components/Header.js components/Footer.js components/PostCard.js Each component should focus on a specific part of your UI, promoting reusability and separation of concerns. Styling Your Application Next.js supports various styling options out of the box: CSS Modules: Scoped styles that prevent clashes. Styled Components: For CSS-in-JS styling. Tailwind CSS: A utility-first CSS framework that can be easily integrated into your Next.js project. Example of Using Tailwind CSS Install Tailwind CSS: bashnpm install tailwindcss postcss autoprefixernpx tailwindcss init -p Configure Tailwind in tailwind.config.js: javascriptmodule.exports = { purge: ['./pages/**/*.{js,ts,jsx,tsx}', './components/**/*.{js,ts,jsx,tsx}'], darkMode: false, theme: { extend: {}, }, variants: { extend: {}, }, plugins: [],}; Add Tailwind to your CSS file (styles/globals.css): css@tailwind base; @tailwind components; @tailwind utilities; Deploying Your Application Once your application is ready, it’s time to deploy it. Vercel is an excellent choice for deploying Next.js applications due to its seamless integration and performance optimizations. Sign Up for Vercel. Connect Your GitHub Repository. Deploy Your Application with just a few clicks! Conclusion Using Next.js with WordPress as a headless CMS offers developers an opportunity to build high-performance web applications while leveraging the powerful content management capabilities of WordPress. By following the steps outlined in this guide—setting up your environment, fetching data effectively, building reusable components, styling your application, and deploying—you can create robust applications that deliver exceptional user experiences.As web development continues to evolve, embracing modern frameworks like Next.js alongside established platforms like WordPress will empower developers to create innovative solutions that meet user needs efficiently and effectively. Start building today and explore the endless possibilities this powerful combination offers!

In today’s digital landscape, creating accessible web applications is not just a best practice; it’s a necessity. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) provide a framework for making web content more accessible to people with disabilities. One powerful tool in this effort is ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications). This article will explore how to leverage ARIA to create more inclusive web experiences for users with disabilities. What is ARIA in Accessible Web Applications? ARIA stands for Accessible Rich Internet Applications. It is a set of attributes that can be added to HTML elements to enhance accessibility, particularly for dynamic content and advanced user interface controls that are not natively accessible. ARIA helps bridge the gap between modern web applications and assistive technologies, such as screen readers. Why Use ARIA? While HTML provides a solid foundation for accessibility, it may not cover all scenarios, especially when dealing with complex user interfaces. Here are some reasons why ARIA is essential: Enhanced Semantics: ARIA adds meaning to elements that may not have inherent semantic value in HTML. Dynamic Content: For single-page applications (SPAs) or dynamic content updates, ARIA can help communicate changes to assistive technologies. Improved User Experience: By providing additional context and information, ARIA can help users navigate and interact with web applications more effectively. Key ARIA Roles and Attributes To effectively use ARIA, it’s essential to understand its roles and attributes. Here are some key concepts: Roles Roles define what an element is or what it does. Some common roles include: role="button": Indicates that an element behaves like a button. role="navigation": Marks a navigation section of the page. role="dialog": Identifies a dialog box or modal window. Properties Properties provide additional information about an element’s state or behavior. Some important properties include: aria-label: Provides an accessible name for an element. aria-labelledby: References another element that serves as the label. aria-hidden: Indicates whether an element is visible or hidden from assistive technologies. States States indicate the current condition of an element. Some common states include: aria-checked: Indicates whether a checkbox or option is selected. aria-expanded: Shows whether a collapsible element is expanded or collapsed. aria-live: Communicates updates in real-time for dynamic content. Implementing ARIA in Your Web Application Integrating ARIA into your web application involves careful planning and implementation. Here’s how to get started: 1. Analyze Your Application Begin by evaluating your application’s current accessibility status. Identify areas where users may encounter barriers, such as complex navigation or dynamic content updates. 2. Use Native HTML Elements First Before adding ARIA attributes, ensure you are using native HTML elements wherever possible. Elements like <button>, <input>, and <nav> come with built-in accessibility features. Use ARIA only when necessary to enhance these elements. 3. Add ARIA Roles and Attributes Once you’ve identified areas needing enhancement, add appropriate ARIA roles and attributes. For example: xml<div role="button" aria-label="Close" tabindex="0" onclick="closeModal()"> X </div> In this example, the role="button" informs assistive technologies that this div acts as a button, while aria-label provides a clear description of its function. 4. Test with Assistive Technologies After implementing ARIA attributes, test your application using screen readers and other assistive technologies. This will help you ensure that your enhancements are effective and improve the user experience. 5. Keep Up with Best Practices Accessibility standards are continually evolving. Stay informed about best practices for using ARIA by following resources such as the W3C WAI and WebAIM. Common Pitfalls to Avoid While ARIA can significantly enhance accessibility, improper use can lead to confusion rather than clarity. Here are some common pitfalls to avoid: 1. Overusing ARIA Using too many ARIA attributes can clutter your code and confuse users. Stick to using them only when necessary. 2. Replacing Native Elements Do not use ARIA roles to replace native HTML elements when they are available. For example, use <button> instead of role="button" on a div. 3. Forgetting Keyboard Accessibility Ensure that all interactive elements are keyboard accessible. Use tabindex appropriately and handle keyboard events in addition to mouse events. Conclusion Building accessible web applications requires thoughtful consideration and implementation of various techniques, including the use of ARIA attributes. By leveraging ARIA effectively, you can create more inclusive web experiences that cater to users with disabilities. Remember that accessibility is an ongoing process; regularly evaluate your application and stay updated on best practices to ensure a seamless experience for all users. By prioritizing accessibility in your development process, you not only comply with legal standards but also foster an inclusive digital environment where everyone can participate fully.Explore the power of ARIA today and transform your web applications into accessible experiences for all! This article provides an overview of how to implement ARIA effectively while emphasizing its importance in creating accessible web applications. If you have any specific requirements or need further adjustments, feel free to ask!

React has become one of the most popular libraries for building user interfaces, especially for single-page applications. However, as applications grow in complexity, performance can become a concern. In this article, we will explore advanced techniques to boost your React application’s performance, including code splitting, memoization, and efficient state management. By implementing these strategies, you can ensure that your application remains responsive and provides a smooth user experience. Understanding React Performance Before diving into optimization techniques, it’s essential to understand what affects React’s performance. Several factors can lead to slow rendering and poor user experience: Large Component Trees: As your application grows, the number of components can increase significantly. This can lead to longer render times. Unnecessary Re-renders: Components may re-render more often than necessary due to changes in state or props. Heavy Computation: Performing heavy calculations during rendering can block the main thread and lead to a sluggish interface. By addressing these issues with optimization techniques, you can create a more efficient React application. 1. Code Splitting Code splitting is a technique that allows you to split your application into smaller bundles that can be loaded on demand. This means that users only download the code they need for the current view, reducing the initial load time. How to Implement Code Splitting React provides several ways to implement code splitting: Dynamic Imports: You can use React.lazy() and Suspense to load components only when they are needed. import React, { Suspense, lazy } from 'react';const LazyComponent = lazy(() => import('./LazyComponent'));function App() { return ( <Suspense fallback={<div>Loading...</div>}> <LazyComponent /> </Suspense> );} React Router: If you’re using React Router for navigation, you can implement code splitting by loading routes dynamically. javascriptconst HomePage = lazy(() => import('./HomePage'));const AboutPage = lazy(() => import('./AboutPage'));<Router> <Switch> <Route path="/" exact component={HomePage} /> <Route path="/about" component={AboutPage} /> </Switch></Router> Benefits of Code Splitting Reduced Initial Load Time: Users only download the code necessary for the initial render. Improved Performance: By loading components on demand, you reduce the amount of JavaScript that needs to be parsed and executed upfront. 2. Memoization Memoization is an optimization technique that stores the results of expensive function calls and returns the cached result when the same inputs occur again. In React, this can be particularly useful for preventing unnecessary re-renders. Using React.memo You can use React.memo to wrap functional components. This will prevent re-renders if the props have not changed. javascriptconst MyComponent = React.memo(({ data }) => { // Component logic}); Using useMemo and useCallback You can also use hooks like useMemo and useCallback to memoize values and functions within your components. useMemo: Use this hook to memoize expensive calculations. javascriptconst computedValue = useMemo(() => { return expensiveCalculation(data); }, [data]); useCallback: Use this hook to memoize functions so that they don’t get recreated on every render. javascriptconst handleClick = useCallback(() => { // Handle click event }, [dependencies]); Benefits of Memoization Reduced Re-renders: By preventing unnecessary re-renders, you improve performance and responsiveness. Optimized Rendering: Memoization helps keep your component tree more efficient by reducing the amount of work done during rendering. 3. Efficient State Management State management plays a crucial role in React performance. Inefficient state updates can lead to excessive re-renders and sluggish applications. Here are some strategies for managing state efficiently: Local vs. Global State Determine whether your state should be local (within a component) or global (shared across components). Use local state for UI-related states that do not need to be shared. For global state management, consider using libraries like Redux or Context API wisely. Batching State Updates React automatically batches state updates in event handlers. However, if you’re updating state asynchronously (e.g., in promises), ensure that you batch updates manually using functional updates: javascriptsetState(prevState => ({ ...prevState, newValue: updatedValue,})); Avoiding Unnecessary State Keep your component’s state minimal. Avoid storing derived data in the state when it can be calculated directly from props or other state values. This reduces complexity and improves performance. 4. Optimizing Rendering with Pure Components Using pure components is another way to enhance performance in React applications. Pure components implement a shallow comparison of props and state, preventing unnecessary re-renders if there are no changes. How to Create Pure Components You can create pure components using either class-based components or functional components with React.memo. Class-based Pure Components: javascriptclass MyPureComponent extends React.PureComponent { render() { // Render logic }} Functional Pure Components: javascriptconst MyFunctionalComponent = React.memo(({ prop1, prop2 }) => { // Render logic}); Benefits of Using Pure Components Improved Performance: By avoiding unnecessary renders, pure components help keep your application responsive. Simplified Component Logic: Pure components simplify your rendering logic by ensuring that they only re-render when necessary. Conclusion Optimizing performance in React applications is essential for providing a smooth user experience. By implementing techniques such as code splitting, memoization, efficient state management, and using pure components, you can significantly enhance your application’s responsiveness and efficiency.As you continue to develop your React applications, keep these strategies in mind to ensure optimal performance. Remember that each application is unique; therefore, always analyze your specific needs and adjust your optimizations accordingly.By prioritizing performance optimization from the beginning, you’ll create a better experience for users while ensuring your application scales effectively as it grows in complexity. Happy coding!