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kevin rivera
236 Pointsim new to programming and is Javascript the right path? i want to start off as basic as possible? If it is then so be it
like the subject said i feel like i am already struggling to understand this or is this completely normal or should i start with something else? Thanks
4 Answers
Louise St. Germain
19,424 PointsHi Kevin,
Welcome to Treehouse, and to programming! I think it's normal to feel kind of overwhelmed when you're new to something, especially something as extensive as programming, where there are all kinds of programming languages for all kinds of purposes.
Ultimately, the right programming language for you is going to depend on what your programming goals are. For example, would you like to build a website? Or design a mobile app? etc.
Since you decided to try JavaScript, it sounds like you're looking to do some web design or programming, which is great. However, if you have never programmed before in any language and are interested in the web, I would suggest learning HTML first. It's a very straightforward markup language, easy to learn, and pretty much every web page uses it, so spending time getting to know HTML will not be wasted!
After that, you could try learning a bit of CSS, which is what is usually used to make things look nice on the web. Then you can start digging into JavaScript, which gives a web page the functionality to do cool things. I'm not going to say you can't learn JavaScript first, but because JavaScript is primarily used in web development, I think that knowing basic HTML and CSS is going to make learning JavaScript a lot easier in the end, because you'll be more familiar with the context already.
The Digital Literacy track here on Treehouse might be a good one to get started on. From there, you could perhaps try the Web Design track, which will get you going a bit further into web design. After you've taken a few courses though, you'll start to get a feel for the kind of things you enjoy and don't enjoy, and you can adapt your learning path accordingly.
I hope this helps. You can do this! :-)
kevin rivera
236 PointsThank you very much, I signed up and based on the Q and A it pointed me to Javascript :( so not a well designed concept in my opinion so not very impressed so far.
Moving forward I'll start with HTML and go from their. My goal is to understand a team I work with that are full stack asp.net developer's /engineers. I project management and account manage and would be good to know what I'm looking at or even understand what they are discussing. Basically hence my skill sets and have a basic knowledge.
I don't plan on being a freelance developer or plan on coding. But if I can understand it I think I can be more productive, like understanding Spanish, I can understand it fully but don't plan on speaking it or writing in it lol.
So I'll try HTML and see how that goes unless someone knows something even more basic, I'm a total newbie so please be gentle lol
Louise St. Germain
19,424 PointsHi Kevin,
Thanks for the input, and I think it's great that you're interested in better understanding your team! I'm a fellow Treehouse student (not an employee) and I actually had no idea there was an entry Q & A that could be taken. Interesting!
Based on what you're saying, I think the Digital Literacy track I mentioned earlier should be helpful, as will learning HTML - that's about the gentlest starting point I can think of.
Since your team is full stack and using ASP.NET, you would probably benefit from learning a bit about the front-end (i.e, HTML/CSS/JavaScript, through the Digital Literacy track I just mentioned), but then also learn something about the back end, which is where ASP.NET fits in. Treehouse does have an ASP.NET Track but as you will see in the first instruction for that track, they suggest some basic courses to take first - namely, basic HTML and CSS (which is what I had suggested anyway), and a couple of basic courses on C#, which is often the programming language used with ASP.NET. I expect that track would be worth your while, given what you've said about your team.
Anyway, for now, start one step at a time with the basics, and go from there! Good luck!
kevin rivera
236 PointsAwesome and thanks for the quick response. So assuming my end goal is asp.net and it's not offered here I should probably cancel my membership and go to another organization that does. Do you recommend a different school I don't want to get started here to leave at the end you know. Thanks Kev!
Louise St. Germain
19,424 PointsHi Kevin,
They do have ASP.net here at Treehouse - there's a beginner track (which I mentioned in my last response) as well as an intermediate track. If you click the links you'll be able to see the courses that make up the track. Furthermore, if your team uses C# in conjunction with ASP.net, there are 2 more tracks (again, beginning and intermediate) for that. There are also several more tracks/courses that cover the front end (HTML, CSS, JavaScript).
You can also have a look at all the available tracks by clicking the "Tracks" link at the top left of your page, in the dark grey menu bar - there may be more that is of interest to you.
I think in general Treehouse has a lot of resources for learning about web development. If you go to the Library (also up in the grey menu bar at the top of the page), you can also go to the search bar and type in the name of something you'd like to learn about, and see what they have. Not all the courses are part of a track, so sometimes you'll find courses there that you might not otherwise know about.
I hope this helps!
kevin rivera
236 PointsThank you for your help... i got frustrated so now i am trying html and see how far i get so far i think i understand. Thanks again!