Advice on direction

Hey Dana!

I have had similar experience to you and I still do occasionally where I find myself jumping around between different languages. I would say just go with the language which you think you will get the most use out of and seeing as you said you want to be a front end developer I would recommend that you focus on Javascript.

As far practicing it also depends. For web design though I would suggest maybe making some websites for people who you know who need them. Also, maybe you could ask around and see if anyone needs a free website building for them. I know you wouldn't be making any money for your time and effort but it is experience and a great way to apply your knowledge and practice for when you get a job!

I hope this was helpful!

-Luke

Thanks Luke, I'm currently doing exactly what you suggested as far as making websites for people I know. This feels more like web design to me though and that isn't the direction I want to go. I thought Javascript would be the best bet as a "Foundation" language but I've also heard Ruby is a great one to nail down. I just feel like I've been spending a whole lot of time here finishing courses but still feel very unsure about my skill set and I need a lot of practice. Is it common to write code from scratch or is it more editing existing code in the "real world"?

Hi Dana Medhaug ,

Short question, you want to be a web developer right?

Heres a thing you too scan throw :

Web Developemetn

• HTML/CSS ( STRUCTURE MARKDOWN OR BUILDING BLOCKS )
• JavaScript ( INTERACTIVE LANGUAGE, BASICS OF WEBSITES)
• PHP, Ruby ( SERVER LANGUAGE)

These here , will let you to build almost any , or even any website you wish for . You can use language such as python or C , C++ or something like that but i have no idea really what they do and why their are used . I don't think there is anything about iOS , and I'm sure its not about C in web .

JavaScript, add interactivity , e.g.. gallery, what happened if you click , what happened if you will login etc..

PHP, Ruby , server language . Store database of your users , making them log in log out, post new feeds like Facebook .

Mobile, Platform or anything you wish

• Objective-C ( LANGUAGE TO CREATE IOS APPS )
• SWIFT ( NEW LANGUAGE OF APPLE TO CREATE IOS APPS AND WELL MAYBE SYSTEM OF APPLE SOON)
• Python +Java ( ANDROID APPS, BUT NOT THE SYSTEM )

So here we see Obj-C , it has a long history and its really powerful language . it comes from C but C was missing something so here you got Objective-C . Its a really powerful language , you can make everything in it . Apple is made in C or Obj-C , C++ something like that .

Though you have also SWIFT, yes SWIFT , its new , maybe form June i think , its new, its still developing , it may be original system for apple in cople of years . But C is worth learning too.

Python , as i heard is easy and straight forward language. Its like C , but much weaker as i heared .

Java. Java is mobile too as i know and you can build apps for android , its a bit easier i think than for iOS. Its is google thingy on android play store or google store . Same as apple has apple store and use Obj-C/SWIFT.

So if you want to start a website soon if you want to go there , well you should start :

--- Option 1

Learn server language and move fast on net but you will quite miss interaction like gallery etc..

--- Option 2

Learn calm and learn JS ( JavaScript ) first , then start to learn server language .

bdw, graphic design , colours and all, its VERY important. If you site looks bad, or not quite right . People like me and I'm sure not only , will not even look at it assuming its bad , yes don t judge book by cover but uh just a reaction xd

And you colours persuade people too . E.g a social site is in blue, a friendly site ( like treehouse) it has green , a food site has like red etc.. If a client want to buy something , he might choose something and buy it coz of colour as the studies show .

Hope this help , if you have any more specific question , feel free to ask :)

-Aurelian

Hello Dana Medhaug , kudos to you for being brave enough to take the leap into the realm of front-end development.

Front-End Dev For front-end development you'll want to focus on learning, practicing, learning, practicing, practicing, practicing, learning, researching, yes more learning and yes more practicing HTML, CSS, AND Javascript. With a strong emphasis on Javascript. After you're comfortable with and have a decent working knowledge on HTML, CSS, and Javascript, MASTER Javascript, don't stop with the lessons here on teamtreehouse.com, get to know the Ebook material from publishers such as [www.oreilly.com](www.oreilly.com) , [www.apress.com](www.apress.com) , and https://www.packtpub.com .

Practicing There is no better practice than the act of creating DAILY. There's so much to know and learn, I know, but it all starts to come to you when you use your skill-set DAILY. Try not to focus on what you DONT know yet, web development wether front-end, or back-end, is NOT a sprint, it's a marathon. Take it slow, but stay consistent, and you WILL finish strong. As far as where you can begin, start with a simple website of your own. Learn about the GIT version control system, that way you will be able to create different versions of this "practice portfolio site". And with GIT you will "commit" a new version everytime you learn and build on your current skill-set you will add that particular nuance to the most current version of your practice site. You can what all the tutorials in the world, but your web dev skill-set is a muscle unto itself that must be exercised or else it will atrophy. As far as knowing what to practice you be the judge, no one knows what they need to work on more than you.

In The End You're a business When its all said and done, a web dev more times than not an independent contractor, so you're a business. A great way to know what direction you need to go is asking yourself what services does your business provide, are you a niche market front-end dev that specializes in making awesome web forms? Are you a wizard at debugging finalized drafts before they're sent to a client? It all comes down to what services you decide to provide.

Also As for your question about using pre-existing code, or templates rather than writing your code from scratch. I think it comes down to personal preference, the job that needs to be performed, and the TIME you have to complete said project. Me personally I enjoy creating the code from scratch if time permits, if not theres now a million and one frame works and software solutions available to take alot of the beeeyotch work out of creating a new project.

Have you thought about applying for entry levels jobs, or approaching local companies about internship opportunities? I've done the career change thing a couple of times (I still can't decide what I want to be when I grow up and I'm a few years older than you), but honestly, the best thing I've found is to jump in with both feet and ask for a chance.

If you haven't done so yet, buy a domain and hosting (they're relatively cheap), and spend some time doing up a portfolio showing potential employers what you can do. Most are far more interested in your skills than education (even if their ads say they want someone with a 4 year degree).

Great info guys....I appreciate everyone's input. I do have a domain and I need to work on getting my personal site up and running. I've been searching for a decent project to add to my career program and that sounds like a good place to start. I really need practice/learn Javascript so that is another thing I can focus on.

Thanks Kez.