Paul Cowan Contract software developer.

Stories by Paul Cowan

Testing The React Router UseNavigate Hook With React Testing Library

Testing the React Router useNavigate Hook with React Testing Library

Dev

Learn about unit testing using the React Testing Library and the useNavigate Hook to simplify the process of making components route-aware.

Paul Cowan
May 4, 2023 ⋅ 5 min read
A Complete Guide To Const Assertions In TypeScript

A complete guide to const assertions in TypeScript

Dev

const assertions are a powerful TypeScript tool that create more type-safe code while reducing boilerplate.

Paul Cowan
Mar 9, 2023 ⋅ 6 min read
Write fewer tests by creating better TypeScript types

Write fewer tests by creating better TypeScript types

Dev

Learn how to write better TypeScript types and avoid maintenance and unnecessary changes to code as your app adapts to evolving requirements.

Paul Cowan
Nov 3, 2022 ⋅ 6 min read
When will Safari finally get it together?

When will Safari finally get it together?

Dev

Safari and WebKit have long prevented developer from actually implementing modern features in apps and PWAs. Has 15.4 finally changed things?

Paul Cowan
Apr 5, 2022 ⋅ 4 min read
Why Scrum Is Becoming Irrelevant

Why scrum has become irrelevant

Dev

Scrum has destroyed the central tenet of agile — people over process — thanks to bad management and the rise of the certified scrum master.

Paul Cowan
Aug 26, 2021 ⋅ 3 min read
React Hooks: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

React Hooks: The good, the bad, and the ugly

Dev

The pros of Hooks outweigh the cons, but it’s not a landslide victory. Read all about the good, the bad, and the ugly of React Hooks.

Paul Cowan
Jun 23, 2021 ⋅ 3 min read
Frustrations With React Hooks

Understanding common frustrations with React Hooks

Dev

While the response to Hooks has been overwhelmingly positive, we are going to look at some of the not so popular parts of React Hooks.

Paul Cowan
Apr 26, 2021 ⋅ 9 min read
Boost your productivity with TypeScript project references

Boost your productivity with TypeScript project references

Dev

If you have a TypeScript codebase in a monorepo that is not using TypeScript project references then you are missing out on a productivity boost.

Paul Cowan
Apr 19, 2021 ⋅ 3 min read
js generators

JavaScript generators: The superior async/await

Dev

It’s time for the revolution that never happened.

Paul Cowan
Apr 14, 2021 ⋅ 4 min read
Make any SVG responsive with this React component

Make any SVG responsive with this React component

Dev

If you are putting out digital content, there is a high chance that your audience will view it on a mobile device. For text and images, this is not a huge problem with modern CSS. But if the content is a data visualization using SVG elements, this might be a problem.

Paul Cowan
Jan 20, 2021 ⋅ 4 min read

Cypress vs. Selenium: Why Cypress is the better option

Dev

Selenium tests are insanely challenging to write and often hard to maintain. Enter: Cypress.io.

Paul Cowan
Jan 1, 2021 ⋅ 8 min read
developer frustrations of 2020

Developer frustrations in 2020

Dev

Things do not get any easier, they just get different.

Paul Cowan
Dec 29, 2020 ⋅ 3 min read