Learn Electron, Screen-reader and Vscode

Visual Studio Code is an integrated development environment (IDE) built and maintained by Microsoft. It is offered free of charge.

vscode

We look at the various features of the VSCode Extension for Playwright and how it can help you with your testing workflow.

Playwright VSCode Extension

WAI-ARIA, the Accessible Rich Internet Applications Suite, defines a way to make Web content and Web applications more accessible to people with disabilities. It especially helps with dynamic content and advanced user interface controls developed with Ajax, HTML, JavaScript, and related technologies. 

aria

Learn to test for accessibility using Google's Lighthouse tool -- an open-source, automated tool for auditing web pages.
Lighthouse can audit with quite a few different tests (SEO, performance, PWA, etc.). We will only be looking at the Accessibility portion. The audit will show any issues that the site has with links to learn more as well as which elements specifically failed the tests.  


Test Web Accessibility using Lighthouse

In this lesson, we will use the [foambubble template](https://github.com/foambubble/foam-template) to get started building a second brain in VSCode. The template includes a number of extensions. The primary extention is foam itself which generates links between notes that you write similar to the popular personal knowledge management service Roam Research.

**Note:** foam is in alpha so the api is likely to change quite a bit. They project that they have implemented 10% of the features currently roadmapped.



Create a Second Brain in VSCode with Foam

When working in a codebase that has frontend, backend, middleware, service, and other concerns all in the same GIT repository, it can be helpful to color-code your editor windows to quickly recognize in what area of your stack you are working. 

We can easily do this with a few VS Code settings in the `.vscode/settings.json` file in a directory. We can then open those directories in new VS code windows and visually see the difference between our frontend code and our backend code, eliminating cognitive overhead and context switching between, for example, ReactJS and NodeJS.

An example configuration for this color coding:

```json
{
  "workbench.colorCustomizations": {
    "titleBar.activeBackground": "#663399"
  }
}
```

Visually Organize Applications in VS Code with Window Color-Coding

In this lesson, we will learn how to use custom ENV variables to customize the PS1 Bash/Zsh command prompt in the VS Code terminal, without affecting our custom terminal themes in other applications. We will see how this can be useful for keeping the terminal clean for screen recordings.

I'm using Zsh in this video, but this works in Bash with `~/.bashrc` as well.

Customize the PS1 Bash/Zsh Command Prompt in VS Code with Environment Variables

Fast, easy and reliable testing for anything that runs in a browser.

cypress

Even though cypress has a well-designed API, we're not going to remember every single command.

In this quick lesson we're going to learn how to enable intelligent code completion for cypress tests in VSCode so our editor will help us write e2e tests much quicker

Enable intelligent code completion for cypress tests in VSCode


JavaScript® (often shortened to JS) is a lightweight, interpreted, object-oriented language with first-class functions, most known as the scripting language for Web pages, but used in many non-browser environments as well such as node.js or Apache CouchDB. It is a prototype-based, multi-paradigm scripting language that is dynamic, and supports object-oriented, imperative, and functional programming styles.

javascript

In this lesson you will learn how to create a minimalistic JavaScript playground with quokka.js and zen mode. You will also get an overview of some cool features quokka provides.

[Download quokka.js here](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=WallabyJs.quokka-vscode)

Create JavaScript Scratchpad with quokka.js in VSCode

React is one of the web’s most popular frameworks for building JavaScript applications. 

If you know what you’re doing, React can drastically simplify how you build, use, and maintain code.

Whether you’re a React newbie or you’re ready for advanced techniques, you can level-up with egghead. Explore our in-depth courses, lessons, and community resources to build more powerful applications and crack open your career.

react

Two things that all React developers will agree on are:

1. It's imperative that you define all prop types for a given component when writing production-grade code.
2. Although the process only takes a minute, it can be a pain point of React development, especially when a component takes a large number of props..

In this lesson, we learn how to use the React PropTypes Generate extension to automatically define our prop-types for us without having to write a single line of code!.

### Resources
* [VS Code Marketplace - React PropTypes Extension](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=suming.react-proptypes-generate)
* [NPM Registry - PropTypes](https://www.npmjs.com/package/prop-types(



Automate Adding PropTypes to Components with VS Code's React PropTypes Generator Extension

You're going to run into a lot of frustration writing Node CLI's unless you get good at debugging. (Even if you use TypeScript!) To understand code execution (particularly code you didn't write), you should be comfortable using the VS Code Debugger for its excellent step-through and watch features. But in case you don't know where the problem is (particularly for heavily nested codebases like React) or if you're looking for performance issues rather than code errors, you'll also want a robust logging solution. The `debug` module is best in class and is built into Oclif.

Debug Node.js CLIs with the VS Code Debugger and the `Debug` module

The pluggable linting utility for JavaScript and JSX.

eslint

We have a number of options to use when testing for accessibility issues concerning alternative text for images.  The react-axe library and axe browser extension will both report when an image is missing alternative text.  The tota11y browser extension will annotate any images that are missing alternative text.  Running eslint with the eslint-plugin-jsx-a11y plugin installed will report on any `<img>` elements missing an `alt` attribute.  Finally, we can use a screen reader to actually hear what is read when an image has focus.

Test for Image Alternative Text Accessibility Issues

Images must have text alternatives that describe the information or function 
represented by them so they can be read and understood by those using screen readers.

## Alternative text for images
* All `<img>` elements should have an `alt` attribute provided
    * When not provided many screen readers will fallback to reading the file name instead
* The `alt` value should not include words like _“image”_, _“picture”_ or _“icon”_
    * Screen readers are already announcing that the element is an image
* Images that are decorative only and provide no information or function to the page should be hidden from Assistive Technologies by providing an empty `alt` attribute (`alt=””`)

## References
* https://www.w3.org/WAI/tutorials/images/
* https://www.w3.org/WAI/tutorials/images/decision-tree/
* https://www.w3.org/WAI/tutorials/images/tips/
* https://www.w3.org/WAI/tutorials/images/informative/
* https://www.w3.org/WAI/tutorials/images/functional/
* https://www.w3.org/WAI/tutorials/images/textual/

Define Images with Appropriate Text Alternatives

Labeling inputs, elements, and widgets add context and clarity for assistive technology such as screen readers. Some elements do not already have some sort of labeling text being displayed visually, such as a `<button>` without descriptive text or an `<icon>` or part of a more complex widget.  Others may have some form of text label but it does not provide enough context to be useful enough for those that cannot see it.  The addition of an `aria-label` attribute to the element will provide it with an accessible label so that when that element is focused by a screen reader, for instance, a label is read provides better context for the element and what a user can expect from it.

Add Accessible Labels to Provide Elements with More Context

Labeling inputs, elements, and widgets add context and clarity for assistive technology such as screen readers.  When there are already one or more other elements that themselves can be used to provide labeling text to another element an `aria-labelledby` attribute can be added to that element.  

Some examples of appropriate use cases for using an `aria-labelledby` are:
* Combine multiple labels together
* Associate headings with regions
* Label for a widget

Add an Accessible Label to an Element from the Text of Other Elements

When dynamic changes occur to content on a page they are usually visually apparent to users who can see the page but may not be made apparent to users of assistive technologies. ARIA live regions provide a way to make those dynamic content changes able to be announced by assistive technologies.

## ARIA attributes
* `aria-live`: the priority with which updates are read
* `aria-atomic`: whether the screen reader should always present the live region as a whole, even if only part of the region changes
* `aria-relevant` - takes a list of what type of changes should be announced

## Resources
* https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/Accessibility/ARIA/ARIA_Live_Regions
* https://www.w3.org/WAI/PF/aria-1.1/states_and_properties#aria-live
* https://www.w3.org/WAI/PF/aria-1.1/states_and_properties#aria-atomic
* https://www.w3.org/WAI/PF/aria-1.1/states_and_properties#aria-relevant
* http://html.cita.illinois.edu/nav/form/aria/index.php?example=3

Define a Live Region to Ensure Dynamic Changes are Announced by Assistive Technologies

Keyboard/screen reader navigation relies on focus proceeding in a logical and linear 
order and not getting lost such that the user does not know where they are 
or how to get back to the desired point in a web page.

## References
* https://www.w3.org/TR/wai-aria-1.1/#managingfocus
* https://developers.google.com/web/fundamentals/accessibility/focus/
* https://reactjs.org/docs/accessibility.html#programmatically-managing-focus 
* https://reactjs.org/docs/accessibility.html#programmatically-managing-focus
* https://reactjs.org/docs/refs-and-the-dom.html
* https://reactjs.org/docs/hooks-reference.html#useref
    * https://medium.com/@teh_builder/ref-objects-inside-useeffect-hooks-eb7c15198780
* https://www.gatsbyjs.org/blog/2019-07-11-user-testing-accessible-client-routing/

Appropriately Set the Focus on Each Page Load of a Web Application

Landmark regions are used by screen readers to make it easier for users to navigate the content on the page by defining the structure of the page.  Tools like the Rotor in VoiceOver rely on landmark regions to provide users with the ability to skip directly to the desired section of the page.  We can do this either using HTML5 landmark elements or `<div>` elements with aria roles. In the past, the recommendation was to use both but now we should only use one or the other.

The following are ARIA roles for landmark regions:
* `banner`
* `complementary`
* `contentinfo`
* `form`
* `main`
* `navigation`
* `search`
* `application`

## References
* https://dequeuniversity.com/assets/html/jquery-summit/html5/slides/landmarks.html
* https://www.w3.org/WAI/GL/wiki/Using_ARIA_landmarks_to_identify_regions_of_a_page
* https://www.w3.org/TR/html-aria/#docconformance

Define Landmark Regions of a web page using ARIA roles

The Chrome Developer Tools (DevTools for short), are a set of web authoring and debugging tools built into Google Chrome.

chrome-devtools

Using our accessibility auditing toolkit we can find issues concerning landmark regions in our web application.  The react-axe library will report findings in the JavaScript console of the browser.  We could also run the axe browser extension to see the same results.  The tota11y browser extension will annotate any landmark regions on the page and therefore if none are annotated it may indicate that they aren't any (_NOTE: tota11y will only annotate landmark regions using aria roles and not those using HTML5 elements_).  Finally using the VoiceOver Rotor in Safari will show us whatever landmark regions have been defined in the Landmarks menu. 

Test for Landmark Region Accessibility Issues in React

Landmark regions are used by screen readers to make it easier for users to navigate the content on the page by defining the structure of the page. Tools like the Rotor in VoiceOver rely on landmark regions to provide users with the ability to skip directly to the desired section of the page. We can do this either using HTML5 landmark elements or <div> elements with aria roles. In the past, the recommendation was to use both but now we should only use one or the other.  We should prefer HTML5 to ARIA roles when possible.

The following are HTML5 elements for landmark regions:
* article
* aside
* header
* footer
* main
* nav
* section

## References
* https://dequeuniversity.com/assets/html/jquery-summit/html5/slides/landmarks.html
* https://www.a11ymatters.com/article/intro-html5-sectioning-elements/
* https://www.w3.org/TR/html-aria/#docconformance

Define Landmark Regions of a web page using HTML5 sectioning elements

screen-reader

We can find issues with heading levels by utilizing our accessibility auditing tools.  The library react-axe, as well as the browser extension axe, will report any findings concerning heading levels.  The browser extension tota11y will annotate all heading levels on a page and show any in red that have issues.  Finally, we can check the Rotor in VoiceOver in Safari.  The Rotor should have a Headings menu and will list in order all of them that are found on the page.  If headings are missing or inappropriate this will help us find them as well.

Test for Heading Level Accessibility Issues

Similar to Landmark Regions, Heading Levels are used by web browsers, plug-ins, and assistive technologies to provide in-page navigation.

## Rules
* Each page should have at least one `<h1>`
* Pages should be structured in a hierarchical manner
    * `<h1>`: being the most important (usually page titles or main content heading)
    * `<h2>`: usually major section headings
    * `<h3>`: sub-sections of the `<h2>`
    * and so on
* Do not skip heading levels - always follow consecutive order
* Do not use text formatting, such as font size or bold to give the visual appearance of headings.  
    * Use actual heading (`<h1>` - `<h6>`) for all content headings
* Do not use heading levels to achieve visual results only

## References
* https://webaim.org/techniques/semanticstructure/
* https://www.w3.org/WAI/tutorials/page-structure/headings/

Correctly Define Heading Levels of a Web Page

Labeling inputs, elements, and widgets add context and clarity for assistive technology such as screen readers. Some elements do not already have some sort of labeling text being displayed visually, such as a `<button>` without descriptive text or an `<icon>` or part of a more complex widget.  Others may have some form of text label but it is not descriptive enough for those who cannot see it.  The addition of an `aria-label` attribute to the element will provide it with an accessible label so that when that element is focused by a screen reader, for instance, a label is read that better describes the element and what a user can expect from it.

Add Accessible Labels to Elements Whose Labels are Not Clear Enough

You will learn how to create and manage complex, nested schemas using a real world example (room bookings with guest details) used throughout all lessons. All created schemas are tested against potential bugs and we verify error messages.

The course covers topics such as:

- Utilizing Zod's shape and unwrap features to perform partial validations without losing the overall schema structure.
- Managing optional, nullable and nullish properties.
- Implementing unions and intersections to handle different types of data.
- Ensuring type safety with sets and maps, including custom validation logic for primitive values.
- Creating custom error messages for improved user feedback.

Get a solid understanding of how to leverage Zod to enhance runtime data validation in JavaScript/TypeScript applications 🔥

Tomasz Ducin

Advanced Type Checks with Zod

Get a solid understanding of how to leverage Zod to enhance runtime data validation in JavaScript or TypeScript applications

Get started with MongoDB and Docker really quick 🔥 even if you have no backend/fullstack experience.

This lesson guides you through installing Docker Desktop and setting up a MongoDB image.

We explain Docker images and containers, and their roles in providing isolated software environments.

We run a MongoDB image in 2 ways: using the terminal and Docker Desktop

We demonstrates configuring port settings for a container and accessing the MongoDB shell (`mongosh`) to interact with the database.

We learn how to manage Docker containers, configure settings, and run commands inside the container.

Grab the CLI command: 🔥 `docker run --name some-mongo -d mongo:latest` 🔥

Install Docker to run local MongoDB Container

Learn to install Docker Desktop, set up a MongoDB image, and manage containers. Configure ports and access the Mongo shell

[https://github.com/johnlindquist/mcp-cursor-tool-starter/tree/main](https://github.com/johnlindquist/mcp-cursor-tool-starter/tree/main)

Cursor's AI is powerful, but it can't do everything. What if you could give it the ability to interact with your specific workflows, tools, and data? This lesson shows you how to do exactly that by building a custom MCP tool – and we'll do it in under two minutes!

We'll leverage the Model Context Protocol (MCP), an open standard that bridges the gap between AI agents (like Cursor's Composer) and your custom code. By creating an MCP tool, you're essentially giving Cursor a new skill.

Here's the breakdown:

Understanding MCP: We'll briefly cover what the Model Context Protocol (MCP) is and why it's the key to extending Cursor's functionality. In short, it enables communication between the AI and your tools in a standardized way.

Fast Track Setup: We'll use a ready-made starter project (a single TypeScript file and package.json) to skip the boilerplate and get straight to the core concepts.

Step-by-Step Integration: We'll walk through the simple process of:

Cloning the starter project.

Installing dependencies with pnpm install.

Running the starter server.

Adding the tool to Cursor's MCP settings (under Features > MCP).

Verifying that your tool is working

Real-World Example: We'll demonstrate the tool in action, using Cursor's Composer to create a new GitHub issue using the gh CLI, all driven by our custom MCP tool.

This lesson is about more than just building one tool; it's about understanding how to extend Cursor's capabilities to fit your unique development needs. You'll learn the foundational steps to create a whole ecosystem of AI-powered tools.

Build Your First MCP Tool in Cursor in Just 2 Minutes

Displaying data in tables has been notoriously hard to implement. Naive implementations of data tables will leave your app slow and janky and many table libraries out there are restricted to a few select UI frameworks they use or aren't very customizable.

Tanstack Table is a 'headless' option meaning you have complete control of the presentation while taking advantage of the data side of the equation.

You'll be able to fetch and display remote data, handle pagination, and implement row virtualization for better performance.

Once you've implemented basic functionality you can take your tables to the next level customizing cells with your own JSX components, adding features like toggling column visibility, and ensuring your table is mobile-friendly with CSS pseudo-elements.

By the end, you'll have the skills to create efficient, user-friendly tables that elevate your applications. You can take what you learn here (using React) to any of the popular modern UI frameworks that fit your project requirements.

Ian Jones

Headless, Mobile-friendly Data Tables with Tanstack Table and React

Learn to display, paginate, and virtualize data effectively in a table with Tanstack table and React 19.

Install `ghx` with `npm i -g @johnlindquist/ghx`

https://github.com/johnlindquist/ghx

You've copied and pasted code, set up your project, and... *error*.  "Stream is not readable."  Sound familiar?  Generic Google searches and outdated Stack Overflow answers often leave you more confused than when you started.  You need more than just documentation; you need *context*.  You need to see how real developers solve this *exact* problem.

This lesson shows you a better way to debug, using real-world GitHub examples and the power of Cursor's Composer.

Here's the workflow we'll cover:

1.  **Identify the Error:** You've already done this!  You have a specific error message ("Stream is not readable") and the code that's causing it.
2.  **Find Real-World Solutions with `ghx`:** We'll use `ghx`, a tool for searching GitHub, to find *actual projects* that have encountered (and solved!) this same issue.  No more generic advice – you'll see working code.
3.  **Consolidate and Analyze:**  `ghx` brings those relevant code snippets into a single, easy-to-read file.
4.  **Leverage Cursor's Composer:** We'll use Cursor's Composer to directly interact with the examples and your problematic code.  Paste in your error, reference the `ghx`-generated file, and ask targeted questions like:
    *   "Based on these examples, how should I modify my code to fix the 'stream is not readable' error?"
    *   "What's the common cause of this error in the context of an MCP server?"
    *   "Show me the specific lines in the examples that handle stream readability correctly."
5. **Fix the Error:** Implement the solution using this workflow.

Instead of guessing, you'll learn directly from proven solutions.  You'll gain a deeper understanding of your issue and how to troubleshoot it effectively.  This approach transforms debugging from a frustrating hunt into a targeted learning experience.

Fix Real-World Coding Errors with GitHub Context through ghx and Cursor Composer

Learn how to test custom ESLint rules with Vitest and RuleTester.

In the [previous video](https://egghead.io/set-up-a-custom-es-lint-rule~kq49h), we created a custom eslint rule that gives us a warning when some of the class names don’t start with a lowercase letter.

Here, I'll show you how to test this or any other custom ESLint rule using unit tests without manually restarting the ESLint server or modifying production code to check if the rules work correctly. We'll look at the structure in which correct and incorrect code samples should be specific to RuleTester.

We'll also learn how to make our rule fixable and verify that the applied fix works as expected.

Test Custom ESLint Rules with Vitest and RuleTester

Learn to test a Custom ESLint Rule using Vitest and RuleTester.

AI is amazing for generating code, but often leaves us staring at functions and libraries we've never seen before. This creates a huge problem: When things break (and they will break), we're lost. We don't understand the individual pieces, let alone how they interact. Knowing one part isn't enough; we need to see how unfamiliar components work together.

The solution? Real-world examples.

This lesson introduces ghx, a tool I built to do exactly that. ghx searches GitHub, finding actual code examples that use the specific combinations of functions and libraries that are tripping you up. Instead of generic documentation, you get concrete implementations. You can find the ghx repository at https://github.com/johnlindquist/ghx.

Here's the workflow we cover:

Identify the Unknown: Pinpoint the AI-generated code you don't understand – specific functions, libraries, or their interactions.

Search with ghx: Use ghx to search GitHub for examples using those terms together. ghx finds repos where those elements co-exist.

Consolidate Examples: ghx combines the relevant code snippets from those examples into a single, digestible file.

Ask the AI (Again, but Better!): Feed this consolidated code to an AI (like a coding-focused model in an AI studio). Now, instead of asking general questions, you can ask targeted questions based on real-world usage:

"Explain how these functions are used together in these examples."

"What are some common use cases for this combination of libraries?"

"Show me alternative code snippets that achieve the same result."

"Can you identify potential problems or areas for improvement, based on these examples?"

Iterate. Use your improved understanding to make changes, and then repeat the process to debug.

By leveraging ghx and targeted AI prompting, we transform from being lost in a sea of unfamiliar code to actively learning from how others have solved similar problems. We gain a deeper understanding of our AI-generated codebase, making debugging, modification, and future development far more manageable. This gives you the tools to understand, debug and improve your own code.

How to Work with AI-Generated Code You Don't Understand with ghx and Gemini

In this less we create a custom Zod schema using `z.custom`.

The example case covers room numbers validation: it must start with an uppercase letter followed by three digits. `z.custom` allows the creation of a brand new custom schema with a callback function that returns a boolean indicating validity.

We highlight a challenge with type inference in Zod's custom schemas: callback parameter types don't get aligned automatically - type-safety must be explicitly defined using type parameters.

We run tests against various room numbers and demonstrate how to effectively validate inputs and manage error messages.


Create Custom Zod Schemas and Validate project-specific data

Create custom validation logic in Zod using z.custom, for primitive values, ensuring type safety and proper error messages for room numbers.


In this lesson we make use of partial validation of large and nested schemas in Zod.

Instead of creating many small schemas, which can complicate maintenance, Zod allows for the extraction of specific parts of a schema using the concept of ".shape". It "unwraps" the object schema, enabling access to sub-schemas within specific properties.

Additionally, we can use the `.unwrap` to get into element schemas of altered schemas such as `.optional` or `.array`.

Simplify working with complex schemas without the need to break them into hundreds of small schemas.

Use Zod Schemas partially using shape and unwrap

Manage large and nested Zod Schemas by extracting partial validations using shape and unwrap utilities

In this lesson we cover implementing sets and maps in Zod.

Using `z.set`, a schema for string-based amenities is created. We demonstrate how validation works by intentionally introducing errors and customizing error messages for better clarity.

Next, a map is created for existing guestDetails schema using `z.map`, with string keys and an existing `z.object`-based schema. The validation process is shown again by deliberately breaking the schema, such as omitting the age property, which triggers appropriate error messages.


Validate maps and sets using Zod schemas

Use sets and maps in Zod for schema validation, ensuring type safety for both keys and values.

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