• SASS

• LESS

• Stylus

Now coming to SASS, it is the most popular CSS preprocessor. It is also used by Bootstrap which is undoubtedly one of the most popular and widely used frontend frameworks available out there. It has 14.6k stars on GitHub.

Advantages of SASS over CSS

CSS is an amazing language, developed in the early days of web, it revolutionized the way websites were designed and styled. It allowed developers to design beautiful and eye-catching websites.

But when the web grew older and CSS files became larger and unmaintainable, we felt the need for a more advanced and modular solution and that's why the concept of CSS preprocessors came to life. SASS makes it easier for developers and web designers to style websites more efficiently while keeping it maintainable and modular.

Moreover, SASS is fully compatible with CSS. This means that all the features which can be used in CSS, can also be used in SASS. Additionally, SASS has some more features which CSS doesn't have like CSS nesting, mixins and functions.

This is a simple CodePen demonstrating SASS Nesting.

Sass is compiled to CSS as the browser can't parse Sass natively. Sass has another amazing feature called partial files. Partial files are special files in Sass which start with an underscore (_). These partial files are ignored by the Sass compiler and act like modules. These modules can then be imported into the main Sass file using @use. This allows developers to maintain large stylesheets effectively by dividing it into smaller and modular partial Sass files. The main Sass files can be then compiled into a single CSS file to provide styling to the website.

Sass comes with six built-in modules namely, sass:math, sass:color, sass:list, sass:meta, sass:selector and sass:string.

• sass:math: It contains several maths-related functions like ceil, floor, round, log, sqrt, sin, tan and constants like pi, e and epsilon.

• sass:color: It contains various functions to manipulate colours like scale, adjust, invert, lighten and many more.

• sass:list: It contains functions to manipulate lists like append, index and length.

• sass:meta: It contains functions that can help to customize the way Sass works.

• sass:selector: As the name suggests, it has functions to get details about the css selectors used and manipulate them.

• sass:string: It contains functions to manipulate string data type such as index, insert, split, to-upper-case, etc.

Using Sass in JavaScript

To use Sass in your project, you need to install the sass package from NPM.

npm i -g sass

After that, compile the Sass code to CSS using the command below.

sass <input.scss> [output.css]

Or if you want to watch a file for changes and compile all the changes to CSS immediately, you may use the -w or --watch flag, as shown below.

sass <input.scss> -w [output.css]

Now, you can use the compiled CSS file in your html file.

This is the way to use Sass in Vanilla JS. If you are using any meta framework like Gatsby or Next, for your project, you might not need to compile the Sass file yourself. You can directly use your Sass file because under the hood your meta framework compiles the Sass file for you.

For example, if you are using NextJS, you can use Sass directly by making necessary changes to next.config.js. For more details on this, please refer to the official documentation.

Syntaxes of Sass

You must be wondering, what do I mean by syntaxes here. And this is not a fancy heading.

Sass (really) has two syntaxes. First one is the SCSS syntax, which is similar to CSS. It uses the file extension .scss.

.hero {
    display: inline-flex;
    position: relative;
    height: $button-height;
    border: none;
    
    &_img{
        object-fit: fill;
    }
    
    &_heading {
        font-size: 18px;
    }
}

The second one is the Sass syntax, and it uses the .sass file extension. It was the original syntax of Sass and, the reason why Sass is called Sass. It uses indentation in place of curly braces, similar to python (if you are familiar with it) and omits the semicolon ;. The code above can be written in sass syntax as shown.

.hero 
    display: inline-flex
    position: relative
    height: $button-height
    border: none
    
    &_img
        object-fit: fill
    
    
    &_heading 
        font-size: 18px
    

Both the syntax provide the same features. But generally, the SCSS syntax is more preferred as it has CSS-like, and hence, is easier for developers to adapt to this syntax.

Conclusion

Sass is a great option for designing large and complex systems. It makes the work of a web designer, a piece of cake.

But since every tool has its own use case and limitation, similarly, Sass, too, is not profitable in certain use cases. Like if you have a, really, small project, you may choose not to use Sass as it would take time to install and set up Sass.

What do you think about the future of Sass? Let me know in the comments.

Hope you liked my post. Thank you for reading.

Originally published at jishnupsamal.me

This principle emphasizes that systems perform better when they are made simple. This concept does not only apply to software design, or software development, but can be applied to any industry. Now, simplicity does not means undermining the capability of a system. It just means that every system or program should be made as simple to understand as possible, while maintaining its features and capacity to perform tasks.

Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler. ~ Albert Einstein

KISS in Practice

Keeping simplicity in mind, KISS can have several applications.

• Break down a problem into several small problems.

• Don't think that simplicity is associated with stupidity. Sometimes, the simplest solutions are the most correct solutions.

• Break tasks into several small sub-tasks.

• Don't create complicated solutions; you might yourself end up getting confused with what you have created.

• Simple systems are easier to scale and manage.

Final Thoughts

Engineers tend to overcomplicate systems and they end up adding features and capabilities which are not required by the end user of the product. Systems work better when kept sample, rather than made complicated. Efforts should be made to achieve efficient results with minimum complexity and maximum simplicity. This is the whole crux of the KISS principle.

Originally published at jishnupsamal.me

Intro to Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence further has three components:

• Data Science - Data science uses maths and statistics, specialized programming, and advanced analytics to discover trends and patterns, and uses the discovered trends to train AI models which can predict future trends.

• Computer Vision - Computer Vision is the field of Artificial Intelligence that enables computers to derive meaningful information from visual data. Computer Vision enables computers to see and visualize the world.

• Natural Language Processing - Natural Language Processing enables computers to understand the text and spoken words similar to human beings. It includes speech recognition, speech synthesis, chatbots, and sentiment analysis.

Narrow AI vs General AI

Now, on the basis of tasks, artificial intelligence can perform, it can be categorized into:

• Narrow AI or Weak AI

• General AI or Strong AI

Narrow Artificial Intelligence

Narrow AI is a type of AI designed to perform specific tasks. The AI that exists around us today is Narrow AI. A Narrow AI designed to perform a specific task cannot perform any other task. Narrow AI also lacks self-awareness and human consciousness.

General Artificial Intelligence

General Artificial Intelligence does not exist and is fictional to this date. General AI creates intelligent machines that are indistinguishable from the human mind. General AI is under development and researchers are working on it.

Machine Learning

Machine Learning is a branch of Artificial Intelligence that focuses on the use of data and algorithms to imitate the way that humans learn, gradually improving its accuracy. Machine learning algorithms build a model based on training data, in order to make predictions or make decisions without being explicitly programmed to do so.

Algorithms

• Linear Regression

• Logistic Regression

• Support Vector Machine

• Naive Bayes

• K-Nearest Neighbours

• Decision Tree Classifier

• Random Forest Classifier

• K-Means Clustering

• DBSCAN Clustering

Deep Learning

Deep Learning is a subfield of Machine Learning which is based on artificial neural networks with representation learning. It is essentially a neural network with three or more layers. Deep learning duplicates the behaviour of the human brain. Most deep learning models use neural networks, that's why these models are also known as deep learning neural networks.

Algorithms

• Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs)

• Recurrent Neural Networks (RNN)

• Long Short Term Memory Networks (LSTMs)

• Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs)

• Multilayer Perceptrons (MLPs)

• Radial Basis Function Networks (RBFNs)

• Self Organizing Maps (SOMs)

• Autoencoders

Types of Learning

1. Supervised Learning - Supervised Learning is a type of learning in which labelled data is provided to train the model. The model uses labelled data to learn and make predictions. Some methods used in supervised learning include neural networks, naive bayes, linear regression, logistic regression, random forest, and support vector machine (SVM).

2. Unsupervised Learning - Unsupervised learning is a type of learning that uses unlabelled data to train the model. The model learns from the data, discovers the patterns, trends, and features in the data, and returns the output. Principal component analysis (PCA) and singular value decomposition (SVD), neural networks, k-means clustering, and probabilistic clustering methods are some common algorithms used for unsupervised learning.

3. Reinforcement Learning - Reinforcement Learning is a type of learning which trains a machine to take suitable actions and maximize its rewards in a particular situation. In this learning technique, there is no predefined target variable. It works on a reward-based system. The model is rewarded for every correct prediction it makes. Q-learning, state-Action-Reward-State-Action (SARSA), and Deep Q-network are some commonly used algorithms for reinforcement learning.

Final Thoughts

Artificial Intelligence is a groundbreaking technology. It has enormous potential to create a better and brighter future for all, for our planet. It should be used very carefully and judiciously. Artificial Intelligence enables us to achieve the goals that were considered arduous. It is certain that AI will replace many jobs that require human attributes and labor, but it also has got great job opportunities. According to US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment growth of 35.8% growth is expected in Data Science, which is fundamental to AI, by 2031.

Originally published on jishnupsamal.ml

A web app consists of two layers — frontend and backend. Frontend refers to the presentational layer which is visible to the end users. It includes structure, style and behaviour of different elements on the screen. Backend, also known as server-side layer, refers to the layer which runs on the server and is not visible to the users, and holds the data required by the frontend. It includes the server-side logic of the web app, like APIs, app security, authentication and authorization.

In this blog, I am going to talk about the Backend layer. The most common languages used for building backend are:

• Python

• Java

• Rails

• PHP

• C#

• Go

• JavaScript

There are a bunch of frameworks built on the top of these languages which make backend development easier and smoother. I will be talking about some of the most popular frameworks used worldwide. So, without any delay, let’s jump right into it!

1. Django

2. Ruby on Rails

3. Laravel

4. Express

5. Spring

6. ASP.NET Core

7. Flask

8. CakePHP

9. FastAPI

10. Fastify

Django

Source: Django Software Foundation

Django is a high-level Python web framework. It is a Model-View-Template(MVT)-based, open-source web application development framework. It was released in 2005. It comes with batteries included. Some popular websites using Django are Instagram, Mozilla, Disqus, Bitbucket, Nextdoor and Clubhouse.

Pros

1. Developer-friendly

2. Security built-in

3. Scalable

4. Versatile

Cons

1. Relatively slower

2. Not for smaller projects

Ruby on Rails

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Ruby on Rails, popularly called Rails, is web application framework written in Ruby programming language. It is based on Model-View-Controller(MVC)-based full-stack web development framework. It is based on the philosophy of Convention over Configuration (CoC), Don’t Repeat Yourself (DRY) and the ActiveRecord pattern. Some popular websites built using Ruby on Rails are Airbnb, Bloomberg, Crunchbase, Dribbble, GitHub and Shopify.

Pros

1. Rapid Development

2. Security

3. Easy Frontend Integration

Cons

1. Lack of proper documentation

2. Slow runtime speed

Laravel

Source: Laravel

Laravel is a web app framework written in PHP. It is open source and is based on Model-View-Controller (MVC) architectural pattern. It was released in 2011. Famous websites built using Laravel are Invoice Ninja, Alison, Barchart, MyRank, AlphaCoders, Laracasts and Laravel.io.

Pros

1. Excellent Queue Management

2. Easy Mail Integration

3. Expansive Documentation

Cons

1. Slow Development

2. High Learning Curve

3. Less community support

Express

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Express, or Express.js, is a Node.js based web framework written in JavaScript. It is the standard web framework for Node.js. Express is popularly used in JavaScript development stacks like MEAN, MERN and MEVN along with MongoDB and JavaScript frontend frameworks. Some popular websites using Express are Unsplash, MDBootstrap, Paypal, Coursera, Atlassian, Shopee and Docker Hub.

Pros

1. Scalability

2. Less Development time

Cons

1. Performance issues

2. Problems with callbacks

Spring

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Spring is an open source web application framework written in Java programming language. It is based on Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture. It is one of the most widely used frameworks for developing web applications.

Pros

1. Fast

2. Flexible & Light Weight

Cons

1. High Learning Curve

2. Lots of XML

3. Lack of documentation

ASP.NET Core

Source: Wikimedia Commons

ASP.NET is a popular, free and open-source web-development framework for building web apps on the .NET platform. It is successor to ASP.NET. It is based on Model-View-Controller (MVC) pattern. It is developed by Microsoft. Some popular websites using ASP.NET Core are C# Corner, Visual Studio Code, Namecheap and mxtoolbox.

Pros

1. Fast

2. Flexible

3. Scalable

Cons

1. High Learning Curve

2. Windows-based Development Tools

Flask

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Flask is a micro web framework written in Python. It is called a micro framework because it does have in-built support for database, form validation, authentication and authorization. It is a minimalistic web framework sufficient for small and simple projects. It is the second most popular web framework in Python community after Django. Some popular apps using Flask are Pinterest and LinkedIn.

Pros

1. Minimalistic

2. Lightweight

3. Scalable and Flexible

4. Expansive Documentation

Cons

1. Not suitable for large projects

2. High Maintenance Costs

CakePHP

Source: CakePHP

CakePHP is a Model-View-Controller (MVC) based open source web application framework written in PHP. It uses software design patterns like ActiveRecord, Convention over Configuration (CoC), Association Data Mapping and Front Controller. Some websites using CakePHP are coconala and GoodFirms.

Pros

1. Flexible

2. Better Queue Support

3. Easy to Learn

Cons

1. Lack of Documentation

2. Not suited for large websites

FastAPI

Source: Wikimedia Commons

FastAPI is a free and open source web framework, mainly used for building REST APIs, in Python. It is based on API standards like OpenAPI and JSON Schema.

Pros

1. Robust & Fast

2. Easy to Learn

3. Standard-based

Cons

1. No singleton in Dependency Injection

Fastify

Source: Fastify

Fastify is a web framework written in JavaScript. It is focused on better developer experience with the least overhead and a powerful plugin architecture. It is one of the fastest web frameworks. It is inspired by Express and Hapi.

Pros

1. Performance

2. Flexible

3. Easy Development

Cons

1. Certain third party libraries are not supported like passport.js and websocket.

Final Thoughts

There are many backend frameworks other than those mentioned above. No framework is the best. It, really, depends on the project you are working. For example, if you want to deploy a Machine Learning model, I would recommend using microframework like Flask or FastAPI for it. Likewise, if you want to build an ERP portal, then I would recommend using Django or Ruby on Rails or any other full stack framework of your choice.

Which web framework do you use? Do let me know in the comments.

Thank you for reading my blog. Hope you liked it.

Originally published on jishnupsamal.ml.