JavaScript Workshop » Interview with Hasin Hayder

Hasin Hayder is a web developer, author, PHP Certified Engineer and open source enthusiast from Bangladesh. He has authored Wordpress Complete and Smarty PHP Template Programming. He works at a personalized startpage company called PageFlakes as a development engineer. Hasin was nice enough to give me some of his time to answer some questions concerning accessibility in Ajax, WordPress, open source and important web skills.

JW: Pageflakes is a personalized online Ajax desktop that allows users to read news, blogs, emails, do Web searches and access a variety of services. What types of challenges have you had to face and what technologies do you use?

Hasin Hayder: First and foremost, our biggest challenge is usability and performance. We maintain tremendously big database servers for Pageflakes users which is really tough to manage effectively. As far as usability is concerned, the challenge is to have a large amount of innovative features without overwhelming new users. Pageflakes has a very strong development as well as a management team. Hopefully you know that our new CEO Dan Cohen managed MyYahoo in his previous job which was a big hit. He adds value to Pageflakes with his innovative ideas these days.

Pageflakes is a language independent platform for flake developers which means you can use any language seamlessly for developing modules for Pageflakes, which we call flakes. But the core of Pageflakes is developed using the Microsoft ASP.NET and AJAX frameworks (formerly Atlas). We also make huge use of JavaScript all over Pageflakes.

JW: Are there any risks in using Ajax if you don’t really know what you are doing, as there are sometimes with, say, PHP?

Hasin Hayder: These days Ajax is almost a hype which is often used for show off instead of the main purpose, the usability. You know that you can make your application more effective by successful use of Ajax; also you can drop usability by misusing. If you are planning for developing applications which can bring colorful moments for users, you have to use Ajax technology more seriously, just really when you need it. And no doubt to say that Ajax opens the door of software which we couldn’t think without it.

Besides dropping usability there are not many issues not effectively using Ajax. And nothing worse can happen other than loosing users for your applications.

JW: What would be your Top 5 skills or technologies for anybody trying to pursue a career in web development?

Hasin Hayder:

1. Javascript – Learn it through popular libraries, not by reinventing the wheel.
2. Usability issues – No matter who you are working for, you must have a sense about usability and colorful moments. You must perceive that skill inside you.
3. Optimization and Security issues – Independent from any programming languages, if you really want to succeed in the field of web application development, trust me, these are the key features you should be aware of.
4. Common sense – You need to make huge use of this thing. As long as you know how to deliver your application KISS, chances are higher that you will get a promotion.
5. Programming language and database – Last but not the least, the minor issue you should have been familiar with, some flexible programming language and database server. Choices depend on you and environment of the application you plan for. My favorite choice is PHP, .NET as programming language and PostgreSQL as database server.

JW: What really excites you about the web now?

Hasin Hayder: The service oreiented architecture of today's web apps excites me very much. Most of them are coming in open standard and providing API to help in globalizing their services. Everyday I go to sites like ProgrammableWeb to find out what's coming new and how I can incorporate that with my web apps.

Also, I am a tech blog reader, so I read Technorati and sites like TechCrunch, Ajaxian, and Planet PHP every now and then and the news comes there always excites me.

JW: Would you say that Smarty is something every PHP developer should know?

Hasin Hayder: Nope, Smarty is not the thing that every PHP developer should know; instead they should have proper knowledge on separation of layers and splitting your application into modules. Smarty comes as a choice when you think for a complete (and sometime more than that) solution for presentation layer. Smarty allows the developer to write small amounts of code as a Smarty template to make development more enjoyable. I love Smarty because of its power and short learning curve.

JW: What are the main differences between a template, library and framework?

Hasin Hayder: Think that you are going to a garage to repair your car. The “paint shop” you can consider to be the template, the "repairman" is the framework and the "tools" he uses are your libraries. To make a long story short, a library comes with a repository of objects which will help you to perform different kinds of activities. A template is the thing which generates the outlook and framework to make successful use of all of these. In my personal experience, I am a big CodeIgniter fan. It’s such a wonderful framework for PHP developers that I think almost every PHP developer should give it a chance. And I am fairly sure that you will fall in love with it.

JW: What has made WordPress so popular and how does it compare with other tools like Movable Type and TypePad?

Hasin Hayder: If you read my book you will find that I discussed several issues about blog engines. When I started blogging, one of my interests was redesigning my blog with a fresh look and feel every now and then. For that reason I always looked for easier templating system. After spending time with several engines I’d found that WordPress is so beautiful and it comes with thousands of designs developed by communities. Wordpress is slim, smart and easier to extend. I am a programmer by nature, so plug-in framework and templating features attracts me the most. Movable Type is another pioneer and a very mature one in this category, but it’s really much more than a simple blogger actually needs. And I always prefer open source software over any other as long as I can stick with that. From all these perspectives WordPress comes best for me.

JW: Matt Mullenweg developed WordPress at the age of 21. So many other web applications recently have been given life by people who are barely of drinking age (i.e. Zoomr - Kristopher Tate at 17, Facebook - Mark Zuckerberg at 20). Is anybody over 30 considered over the hill in “web years” now?

Hasin Hayder: What can I say, ha ha, Most developers behind Pageflakes are below 30. It seems that it’s a most effective time for a developer to come with new ideas. After 30 is a age to settle down with your own company or bigger responsibilities. When it was time for C/C++, you will find that the innovative routines and ideas came thru the head of under thirties. But it’s time for web applications, so young developers shine again as usual. You will find young developers leading the age, as always.

JW: Thank you so much for your time.

Hasin Hayder: Thank you also for managing your time for this interview.