Welcome to the Treehouse Community
Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.
Looking to learn something new?
Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.
Start your free trial
Daniel Stockham
10,277 PointsI'm learning a lot from the lessons, but when I am expected to demostrate these skills?
I'm already on the CSS foundations and I have learned a lot so far in the track. I did build a "portfolio" site which is still sitting on my local machine, however my question is when I am expected to build an actually site again? Is there any big challenges that will be presented to me as I continue in the Front End Developer track?
Thanks
2 Answers
Erik McClintock
45,783 PointsDaniel,
In general, the challenges are limited to pretty much that: the code challenges that are spread out within each track. The extra credit suggestions in the courses are a good way to expand/further cement your knowledge, but beyond that, it's really up to you to decide on something to build for yourself! For some easy/quick inspiration (and most likely some great challenges), do a quick Google search on something like "web design trends 2014", find an example of a website that you think looks great, and then try and build that site from scratch (to whatever extent, whether it simply be matching the layout, the styling as a whole, or extending into functionality with JavaScript, PHP, etc).
Otherwise, think of other creative applications for the things you've learned. If you've been focused mainly on HTML and CSS, just keep building different sites. Experiment with layouts, different designs that appeal to different types of sites/companies, etc. If you've gotten into some JavaScript, or maybe PHP or Python, try building some simple games. Maybe a text adventure game, rock paper scissors, build a deck of cards (and then maybe try and extend that into a game of Solitaire or Go Fish against the computer), etc. Try working with form submissions on your local server, etc. There really is no limit to what you can do, and there is certainly never a point where you've practiced too much. If you're already really comfortable building a standard/static HTML/CSS site, build five more one after the other. Then in another few days, try building another site or two, and see if you can refer back to source material or other examples less and less each time. As you continue to flex your newly developed coding muscles, they will continue to grow and become second nature.
Treehouse will take you to the edge, but in the end, you have to decide whether or not you trust the parachute that they've given you to take the leap.
Happy coding!
Erik
Daniel Stockham
10,277 PointsThank you for responding back