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Kelvin Loney
4,280 PointsI'm seeking opinions on Web Development. Any feedback would be appreciated!
I viewed the Panel discussion - 'Have We Made It Too Hard to Learn Web Development?' on Treehouse recently. Is the current state of Web Development too big a barrier for novice developers? In other words, with having to learn HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, on top of the building tools, and not to mention something like SASS, Jade, or Grunt, is the learning curve too steep? Any opinions?
Kelvin Loney
4,280 PointsThanks Cesar! What you said really helped. I've now come to terms that it's going to take some time to master. I really do like it, so like you said, I might as well learn up, make mistakes, and progress. Thanks again Cesar!
3 Answers
Shawn Denham
Python Development Techdegree Student 17,801 PointsThis question has become a hot topic, it's on all the forums and most of the industry pod casts. Here is how I look at it; first of all most everyone words that question the same way you did...
...having to learn HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, on top of...
I think this is the wrong way to look at it. HTML, CSS and JS are the bottom, not the top, of the learning pyramid. With absolute foundation being HTML. If all you mastered is HTML, CSS and JS you would be able to build websites all day long (and get paid to do it! ).
The problem is (and I am going to oversimplify this...) people wake up one day decide "Hey!, that website stuff is cool! I can do that!" and they are right! it is cool and you CAN do it! But they look at it as a whole and see every single tool, style, language, etc... that CAN be used for web development and then assume that you have to know 99% of it. They don't break it down into it's sub categories. It would be the same if that person woke up and decided "Hey! that Medical Doctor stuff is cool! I can do that!" then go off and try to become a Doctor in Family Practice, Surgery, OB/GTN, Anesthesiology, ENT, Gastroenterology, Oncologists, etc.. AND learn how to use all the tools from every discipline...overwhelmed would be an understatement.
Now our industry is different of course, but the basic premise is the same. Decide what you would like to start doing...Front End Design, Front End Development, Backend Development, etc.. then start eating that Elephant one bite at a time. No matter what you decide you want to do you have to start with the same foundation:
+HTML +HTML (yes it's in here twice! ;) ) +CSS +JS
Then you can branch off from there. Learn a web-centric programming language. Start with ONE and learn it well!
+PHP +ASP.NET with C# or VisualBasic +RUBY ON RAILS +ANY OTHER WEB LANGUAGE YOU CAN THINK OF
I would personally suggest that you learn PHP or RUBY for your first language (if you think you are going to want to work with Wordpress then make it PHP). then learn the other.
The next logical step would be tools. All SASS, LESS, GRUNT are are tools to make your job easier, they are NOT NEEDED to be a profitable Web Developer/Designer.
Then it's just a constant life of learning, applying, keeping what works for you and throwing away what doesn't.
Sorry this was so long winded, but feels good to get this out :)
Happy Webbing!!
Kelvin Loney
4,280 PointsI appreciate the details Shawn! I honestly didn't look at it in the manner that you put it. I really believed that you had to be proficient in EVERYTHING to be competent. Giving me the breakdown was the best thing in the world, because now it gives me a roadmap to follow. I really appreciate that Shawn. Another thing, let me ask you...what is your take on Mobile Web Apps? Do you think that it would be something worth focusing one's energy on? If so, what is the roadmap for that?
Shawn Denham
Python Development Techdegree Student 17,801 PointsFor Web Apps you need to decide Apple or Android, Treehouse has tracks for both of them. If you are talking web design for the mobile platform you will want to get really close with responsive design. :)
Kelvin Loney
4,280 PointsWell, I was referring to web design for the mobile platform. I know I may come off as simple, but can you explain to me in the most simplistic way, what exactly is a Mobile Web App? What does it do? What is it used for? Also, what skills are required to be a proficient, well-rounded Mobile Web App Developer? Can one make a career out of it? And what real-life projects can I create to develop proficiency and a portfolio? Thanks in advance Shawn!
Shawn Denham
Python Development Techdegree Student 17,801 PointsThis should answer your question better then I ever could :)
http://www.hswsolutions.com/services/mobile-web-development/mobile-website-vs-apps/
let me know if you have any questions!
Kelvin Loney
4,280 PointsThanks Shawn! That article was very informative. So, what I'm getting from it is that to create a mobile website, you would have to go through all of the hoops as if you were creating a standard website such as hosting, SEO, domain names, etc. but the only difference is that you would have to implement responsive design. Is that right?
In the article, it also mentioned that a mobile website can function like an app. That part I don't get. What features and/or design skills have to be implemented in order to make it an app?
And from my understanding if you wanted to create a standard website fairly easy you would use something like WordPress, unless you wanted to do it completely from scratch, then you would use an editor like Sublime Text or Bootstrap (framework). But my question is, if I wanted to focus on just creating mobile websites then wouldn't I want to use a framework like Sencha Touch instead of creating a standard website with Wordpress/Sublime Text/Bootstrap only to have to convert it using responsive design? Which way is better and/or more marketable to employers?
Cesar Vanbuskirk
6,672 PointsCesar Vanbuskirk
6,672 PointsIt is tough Kelvin, I already have a ton of time and money invested in learning web development and I still study everyday. I think a part of why I like it so much is all the challenges this field comes with, It isn't something you learn right away and that's it. The field is constantly changing and improving so the learning never stops. But if it's something you enjoy and think you can stick with go for it man give it your all and study as much as you can just know you won't become an amazing developer overnight, enjoy the journey and learn from your mistakes :)