I recently took on a hybrid role as a solo developer and data analyst about a year and a half ago. I've really enjoyed the job and have learned a lot, especially when it comes to Javascript and frameworks like Node, Vue, and React. However, I'm the only technical person on my team, which can be challenging. If I run into issues, I'm mostly on my own. I occasionally reach out to a couple of senior developers, but I don't want to disturb them too much since they're pretty busy.
Currently, I'm stuck on a project that should be relatively simple. I've built a form in React, connected it to an API, and even created a Tableau dashboard for my team. The problem is that my API key changes every 2 hours, and I can't figure out how to update my code to acquire the new key automatically. I've been learning about Axios and interceptors, but I've been stuck on this for two weeks, and AI assistance hasn't helped much either. Fortunately, there's no immediate pressure right now, but I'm truly at a loss.
At what point should I just ask for help? I'm worried about appearing incompetent, but I've also spent countless hours researching without success.
1 Answer
Honestly, you just have to reach out when you're stuck. Don’t worry too much about bothering them; the worst that can happen is they can’t help right away, and they’ll move on. A lot of it is about asking for guidance rather than having them fix it for you. Just explain what you’ve tried, and they’ll likely appreciate you taking the time to dig in first before asking for assistance.
As for your issue with Axios and the rotating API key – it seems like you might need to set up a refresh token system that automatically fetches a new bearer token whenever it’s needed. Also, make sure you’re using environment variables or a secret manager for storing your keys securely.
Even if you find a solution, it's still a good idea to get a senior dev to double-check your work, just in case you're missing something critical!
This breakdown really helps! Thanks for clarifying what to focus on.