Josh Smith is a Software Engineer at Dice.com; a company that uses WordPress to publish some of the best tech content on the web. At Dice, Josh works with content authors, marketers, and application developers to ensure Tech Professionals can access the highest quality content. He’s created dozens of themes and plugins to help promote content for Dice. Before he was an engineer, Josh served in the US Navy for twelve years as a Navy Diver. He’s removed our country’s ships’ propellers, inspected shipping lane buoys, and entered submarines through the business end of a torpedo tube. He’s learned to be comfortable being uncomfortable, which is a large part of writing software. Josh lives in Folsom, CA with his wife and two sons. He and his family love being outdoors. They went camping six times in 2017. He likes to be outside as much as he likes to be in front of his computers. He loves cycling for hours at a time and teaching his sons the value of running long distances.
We’re thrilled to have Josh onboard as a speaker at WordCamp Sacramento 2018 asked a few questions to help you get to know more about him. Check out our mini interview with Josh below:
What is the topic of your WordCamp talk?
Why do you think this is important?
We were cautioned to, “learn JavaScript deeply” in a State of the Word. We were promised a new world of opportunities from the WP REST API. Today, new frontend tools and libraries make it easier than ever to get started combining WordPress data with powerful JavaScript front-end systems. The potential is there but it is not without costs.
Static sites can deliver a high-performance product at a minimal cost. React powers GatsbyJS which is a static site generator that is agnostic in its data source. I used my WordPress blog to create a lightning fast website that is developed, served, and maintained differently than the traditional WordPress theme and plugin paradigm.
This talk is for those who have heard a little bit about the JAM stack. It’s also for those who want to learn more about using the WP REST API. It is also a good starting point for decision makers who may be pressured for more performance out of their existing WordPress assets, but who also may be lured by promises of other content management systems.
What’s your WordPress origin story?
I first heard of WordPress as I was trying to figure out what to do with my Blogger site. I was trying to find ways to customize the colors of my site and searching for answers online. Time and time again, WordPress surfaced as an alternative. Once I decided on that platform, I dove in head first. I started watching YouTube and reading StackOverflow questions and answers to find out what types of questions I should even be asking. At that time, I didn’t know the jargon and I discovered that the StackOverflow audience could be snippy, so I needed to get better.
Eventually, I landed my first freelance job, that was a volunteer role with a pet adoption service. I configured their WordPress website and to my knowledge, they still use it today. Eventually, I wanted to get paid, so I answered Craigslist ads in person by dropping off my resume by hand. One company hired me on the spot. After a while and with a body of work behind me, I found increasingly challenging roles at larger agencies.
Today, I can teach others about what I know. I learned from those who have gone before me.”
How has WordPress impacted your world?
WordPress has given me the platform with which I use to support my family and community. It’s more than my job, it’s also a community where people can come together and help each other. Through collaboration, we can share ideas and conquer our goals.
WordPress has served as a springboard to my career by laying an easy-to-follow roadmap to success. We can take what we learn here and apply that knowledge to other software projects, personal hobbies, or even our families. Communication is a large portion of the WordPress ethos and by successfully communicating here, we will thrive out there.
Get Your Ticket ASAP!
WordCamp Sacramento 2018 sold out in 2015, 2016, and 2017, and we do expect it to sell out again. Be sure to get your WordCamp Tickets asap to secure you spot at this awesome event! Tickets are only $40 (thanks to our generous sponsors) and include:
- Two full days of Beginner Tracks, walking new users through how to use WordPress.
- Two mixed tracks of sessions on Saturday.
- Two mixed tracks of sessions on Sunday.
- A Happiness Bar — our version of a help desk, open throughout the event so you can get help with your site and get your questions answered.
- An opportunity to network with and meet sponsors, speakers, and other WordPress community members, including business owners, designers, developers, agency owners, bloggers, copywriters, freelancers, site owners, and more.
- Refreshing drinks throughout the entire event.
- A WordCamp Sacramento 2018 t-shirt.
- A catered lunch on Saturday.
- A networking reception Saturday immediately following the event.
- Snacks on Sunday.