Last week, my cutting-edge web technologies class had the luxury of being lectured by one of the core contributors to the React.js project: Pete Hunt.

What is it

React is a JavaScript application framework that clearly abstracts user interface interactions by separating the rendering responsibilities that is powered by a virtual DOM diff.

Or as React’s website simply puts it:

A JavaScript library for building user interfaces

React isn’t the first framework to simplify developing JavaScript web applications. That being said, Pete’s lecture gave us a fundamental understanding on the primary advantages of React’s design over the design of otherJavaScript application frameworks.

To understand why React is so fundamentally different from other frameworks, we have to understand the problems that arise when using other application frameworks. Most JavaScript application frameworks base...

I had to make some pretty big decisions for myself this past year, and those decisions weren’t easy to make. However, in the end, I’m happy with how the year has panned out.

Work, or school

Choosing to come back to UC Berkeley for the Master of Engineering program wasn’t an easy decision for me. If you ask my friends and peers, I polled them non-stop on what I should do: continue my work with Uber or join my friends back at school.

Although listening to each one of my friend’s “what I would do” was interesting, ultimately I already knew the decision rested on my own shoulders. Asking the question and explaining the choices each time really nudged me to agree with what I subconsciously already knew: I wanted to go back to school.

Each option had their significant opportunities. Uber had an amazing pool of talented people to learn from (as well as enormous financial opportunities)...

Libby Rainey from The Daily Californian wrote a rather opinionated article about her “violent” experience with a Google-Glass-wearing student.

The author throws around generic stereotypes about EECS and CS students in order to question their aspirations and awareness of social responsibilities.

That’s not journalism

The bias in the article is somewhat uncalled for. In order to bring up the growing issues in gentrification, Libby attempts to connect unnecessary stereotypical descriptions about EECS and CS students with the possible lack of social awareness that these students may have.

There is no reason to point out the “disheveled” attire of an individual. If anything, Libby tries to tie judgement of looks with judgement of character. I wear sweats all the time and I love it. However, this doesn’t mean I haven’t given any thought towards what I want to do after I graduate.

Libby...