Interview: David Walsh

Today, we bring you an exclusive interview with David Walsh, where we try to elicit the secret of what makes him stand out in our industry.

David Walsh is author of a web development blog: The David Walsh Blog and founder of the Script and Style. He is a Core Developer of the MooTools JavaScript framework and a Software Engineer for the prestigious JavaScript development shop SitePen. He is a complete JavaScript, CSS, and HTML5 nerd.

What is your web development philosophy?

My philosophy is one of practicality and professionalism. Use the JavaScript, CSS, and server-side frameworks to get the job done. Don’t use unnecessary tools. Don’t use something just because you want to. Do your research up front. If you don’t go the extra mile to learn something, you don’t deserve to become an expert.

What is your current project (that you can tell us about)?

My client work is bound by NDA’s but I do have a few projects in the works. My blog is undergoing an overhaul which will feature a new design, awesome new content, and much more – I’m super excited to debut that. Script & Style will also soon be overhauled and improved. I also have a secret Twitter project in the works, so be on the look out for that!

How much has the development landscape changed since you started your career? What are the biggest improvements and pitfalls to come from these changes?

My career started while websites were mostly static – AJAX wasn’t the household name that it is now. Since I began my career, there’s been an increase in the important of performance, JavaScript efficiency, and cross-browser compatibility. There’s also been an increased awareness of emerging technologies like WebSocket, JSON/P, and server-side JavaScript.

The improvements are obvious: better messaging techniques, methods to avoid unnecessary page loads, and other ways to make websites better. The pitfalls continue to be lack of browser support and, worse yet, different implementations. It’s a fight that web developers continue to battle; a battle we both hate and love.

What do you feel are the most important skills for a developer to have/develop (Attention to detail, criticism, persistence, communication skills)?

The most invaluable of web development skills are persistence and desire. A developer that desires to be the best, and takes the time to experiment and learn is bound for greatness. The developer that sees the web as a 9-5 job and nothing else is bound for mediocrity and a low ceiling. Good communication skills are also invaluable.

Do you see any emerging technology that could supersede the power of jQuery or MooTools?

That’s a difficult question. The functionality provided by jQuery and MooTools is invaluable but not the best solution in all cases. Dojo provides a large subset of UI components with Dijit, as well as charting, GFX, grid, and data store components. JavaScript frameworks and emerging JS/browser features are the future of web development.

Do you go to any website frequently to interact with others in the development community?

Absolutely. My list of IM contacts ranges from up and coming JavaScript developers to the authors of blogs and billion-visit websites. My daily interactions include MooTools, Dojo, and jQuery developers. I value of all of front-end developers I befriend – we’re all pushing the web forward.

What is the one development lesson that you learned the hard way that you wish newbies to learn early in their careers?

JavaScript guru Douglas Crockford famously said “JavaScript is the only language people think they can use without learning first.” That is the truth in my career. I was a self-taught developer that took existing scripts and implemented as best I could. It wasn’t until ~4 years ago I made the concerted effort to become a JS expert. Years later and hundreds of hours of experiments later, I’m happy with my growth but I continue to work toward becoming a JS legend.

What does your typical day look like?

My typical day is one most developers would probably kill for. I wake up and shower around 8:30 a.m. After grabbing some coffee, I enter my home office and get to work around 9. I briefly chat with my Engineering Manager about the day’s work, then I attack tickets to until a project is complete. No client calls, no stuffy corporate office to go to, no needless emails – just time to work, work, work without unwanted interruption. It’s a Web Developer’s dream. After work is over, I’ll write blog posts or do research. The web is my life….and I have a very patient wife!

Who do you consider to be the biggest influence on your career?

I cannot point to any one developer but I can point out a group of them. My MooTools teammates have been extremely influential in my growth – they’re some of the most intelligent JavaScript developers you’ll find. I’ve also been influenced by the talented Dojo developers I work with on a daily basis at SitePen. I’m blessed with the developers I interact with each day.

What are the tools you couldn’t live without? (software, invoicing tools, time/task-management apps, pen/paper, online etc…)

TextMate is absolutely invaluable to me – its set of development tools and bundles make my job one hundred times easier. I go through quite a bit of paper each day, sketching out ideas and keeping record of changes I’ve made. Adium and Colloquy are crucial to communicating with the MooTools team, Dojo team, and my fellow developers. I use Transmit for FTP, VMWare Fusion for Windows emulation, and PhotoShop for image manipulation. My browser of choice is Safari.

How do you typically start a new project?

The first steps are always reading over the project specs a dozen times, analyzing provided screenshots, and deciding which JavaScript library, server-side technology, and CSS framework will be the best match. Once those tasks are completed I’m straight into head-down working mode.

What are your 5 favorite websites?

• MooTools Forge – A treasure chest of awesome MooTools JavaScript code.
• NetTuts – A website that constantly pushes outstanding, comprehensive tutorials to the designers and developers that are actively looking to improve their skills.
• CSS-Tricks – Chris continues to push quality content and in the form of tutorials and videos. He works hard to bring that content to his readers and I admire that.
• Twitter – I get a lot of inspiration from the posts I discover on Twitter and links provided by the developers I follow.
• Facebook – I know it’s sounds totally lame but I get inspiration from the website’s features – not the content.

Do you freelance? What is the best part of freelancing?

I generally don’t freelance because of my commitment to my day job, my blog, and my commitment to research and other projects. I have freelanced in the past, however, and my experiences were positive. Freelance is nice because you generally get more control over the project and your feedback is appreciated. The obvious downside is that freelance work is done during your own time, so you have to be accountable outside of work as well.