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sean purdy
2,770 PointsHey how did everyone else go about studying the front end web developer track??
I ask this as i completed the html basics and css basic part then got to the JS basics and it feel like i haven't fully digested the html and css parts, i feel like i need more work in these before moving onto another language.
I'm wondering if anyone else temporarily skipped certain parts say the java script to learn more of the html and css courses that are in that track?
I just don't want to feel overwhelmed with it all.
4 Answers
Christopher Aporta
24,258 PointsHey sean purdy,
I currently work as a Front-End Developer in NYC, and Treehouse's Front-End track was a central part of my road to getting here. An important thing to note, though, is that it wasn't my only resource. It's important to supplement your Treehouse curriculum not only with external material that deepens your understanding of each topic, but also with your own projects.
Rather than circling around to the Adobe suite of design tools (In my role as a front-end dev, I might use Photoshop once every week or two to extract assets, and that's it) I'd suggest digging into Mozilla Developer Network's documentation on HTML5 & CSS3, and fiddling with building small proof-of-concepts on a site like Codepen.io. I think your point about pressing pause in the Front-End track to dive into the more free-standing HTML/CSS modules is certainly a great idea if you feel like it would help solidify some of the concepts that feel pretty nebulous right now.
It's pretty easy to spread yourself too thin, constantly jumping from design, to front-end, even to back-end, because diving deep into just a few topics can be super intimidating and overwhelming. But feeling overwhelmed is perfectly natural! I feel overwhelmed every day, I just try to let that feeling push me deeper into topics, rather than away from them.
In short, my advice is that if you feel uncomfortable with CSS, write more CSS! If you feel like certain concepts in JavaScript are over your head, pinpoint them, dive into the documentation, and leverage them in a small Codepen project until they sink in!
I hope this is useful, and best of luck on your journey!
Chris
Danielle San Miguel
5,442 PointsI had that exact problem. I was on the front-end track, until I completed the JavaScript Basics course, in which I was overwhelmed with all this new information that didn't really make sense to me because I hadn't had a full grip on HTML and CSS. I'm working on design first, and then I fully intend on going back and learning JavaScript and jQuery again. I'm still a student too, so I don't have any advice, haha, but I'm glad to commiserate.
sean purdy
2,770 PointsHey thanks for the comment, it's not just me then aha! i feel like they should maybe move that Javascript course further down the track and introduce more HTML and CSS before hand which solidifies what you have learnt so then your more confident to move on to other languages.
Danielle San Miguel
5,442 PointsThat's what I was thinking, too. It kind of blew me off-course, I felt like, because I had already forgotten all of the HTML and CSS I had learned before the JavaScript. It depends on what you're interested in, as well, but I definitely feel more confident in my design chops and feel almost ready to get back into JS. Best of luck!
sean purdy
2,770 PointsAhh ok thats great! I was looking at the design course but i don't have any of the design programs like photoshop or illustrator etc
Dale Severude
Full Stack JavaScript Techdegree Graduate 71,349 PointsI took the Web Design track before taking the Front End Developer track and found I had a pretty good handle on HTML and CSS by then and could focus mostly on the JavaScript. I think the Front End track assumes you mostly already know the design aspect and spends very little time on content styling.
sean purdy
2,770 PointsAh ok seems like this is a common theme then, would i be right in assuming you have to have all the adobe programs then to be able to follow along with the web design course??
Dale Severude
Full Stack JavaScript Techdegree Graduate 71,349 PointsPhotoshop and Illustrator each have a free one month trial. That was long enough for me to complete the classes. Now they are expired and I would need to subscribe to use them again. I have downloaded GIMP for free to do the same thing, but haven't gotten around to learning it yet.
Danielle San Miguel
5,442 PointsSame - I used the free trial for the classes, and ending up subscribing to the Creative Cloud. It's $50 a month for all Adobe apps, which is actually pretty affordable. Totally recommend the free trial and learning the basics while you have it. The class "Adobe Illustrator for Web Design" taught me a lot of relevant information for both web design, and using Illustrator.
sean purdy
2,770 PointsOk yeah just checked it out...it's £50/month in the UK so slightly more for some reason aha!
sean purdy
2,770 Pointssean purdy
2,770 PointsHey yeah i've been working on my own little things trying to remember and solidify what i've learnt...Basically just recreating the sites that are in teh courses but adding my own things etc, but i like your idea of doing mini tasks of what you;ve just learned.
i definitly like CSS so far out of the bunch.