CST 438-40 Software Engineering - Week 2

Learning Journal Week 2:

This week I learned how React can be used to build the frontend for a full customer order application. I worked with components such as Login, Register, Order, OrderHistory, EditOrder, and Settings. I learned that React applications are organized into smaller pieces, and each component is responsible for one part of the user interface.

I also learned how useState helps keep track of changing data, such as form inputs, messages, and order information. React Router was useful for creating different pages in the same application, including login, register, order, history, and settings. The lab also showed me how the frontend connects to the Spring backend using fetch requests, JWT tokens, and session storage.

One strength of React is that it makes the page feel more interactive without constantly reloading the whole website. For example, the order history table and edit dialog could update based on user actions. Another strength is that reusable components, like the Messages component, help avoid repeating the same code in many places.

One weakness of React is that the flow of data can be hard to follow at first. A simple feature can involve state variables, event handlers, fetch requests, routes, and session storage all at the same time. Debugging can also be confusing because an error in one component or import can stop the whole page from displaying.

This week helped me understand that React is powerful for building interactive frontends, but it requires careful organization and practice to use well.

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