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
Tristan Gaebler
6,204 PointsQuestions about php
I would like to complete the php track, but I don't know any CSS or Javascript. I can handle HTML pretty good though. I was wondering if I can start with PHP first and then move on to things like CSS or Javascript, or web design for that matter. Thanks
Tristan Gaebler
6,204 PointsThanks Dustin
2 Answers
Logan R
22,989 PointsIf you watch the courses with Randy, he will go over basic HTML and you can learn PHP without knowing CSS, but I would personally advise taking an HTML course or two and at least one CSS course before diving into PHP. It will make things make a lot more sense.
It's been a while sense I have watched the courses, but I don't think you will have to actually write any CSS or JavaScript for the entry level PHP courses.
Tristan Gaebler
6,204 PointsI know html well. I know how to follow CSS, I just can't write in it on my own.
Logan R
22,989 PointsYou should be fine then for the most part. If you really enjoy PHP, I would advise the Ajax course. (Ajax is a type of JS)
Tristan Gaebler
6,204 PointsSo basically I can learn backwards...meaning php then css or javascript.
Logan R
22,989 PointsI wouldn't call it backwards. You are just learning one before the other. The best thing you can do is learn PHP while you are learning CSS. Javascript is 'useful' in some situations, but for just learning PHP, JS isn't really that helpful. You should be fine, but if you encounter any 'Not sure what this means', feel free to post it on the forums, or if you know it is a simple CSS problem, maybe try giving 30 minutes, an hour to css and see if you have a better understanding.
Tristan Gaebler
6,204 PointsLogan I see that you have done python programming. How are the python programing courses hear at treehouse?
Logan R
22,989 PointsIt's pretty neat. Hampton is a good teacher and you learn a lot about Python. You also don't even need to install Python on your computer to code it, you can use a work space.
Tristan Gaebler
6,204 PointsIs python a back end language like php or RoR?
Logan R
22,989 PointsYes, Python is a back end language. If the user can not directly see the code and it is processed by the server, not the user, it is considered a back end code.
Tristan Gaebler
6,204 PointsThanks Logan!
Tristan Gaebler
6,204 PointsAnother thing logan, how would you rate treehouses php courses? Will I be able to code php after accomplishing them?
Logan R
22,989 PointsIf you complete the courses with Randy, you will know how to code PHP and right. You won't be an industry expert, but you will have the tools and the knowledge to code just about any website you want.
Tristan Gaebler
6,204 PointsThanks
Jason Brady
17,372 PointsPHP, HTML, CSS, and JS are four pieces of the same pie. It is my opinion that if you know basic HTML, PHP is a great starting point to begin learning web languages.
Although these four are completely different, they all interact together. A PHP script will output HTML (which could vary depending on one user to the next, or different inputs). That HTML is styled with the CSS, and displayed by the browser... Finally, JS operates on the browser, and can change the content or styling depending on what the desired effect is.
Although HTML is definitely the foundation for the web, CSS, PHP, and JS all interact with that HTML... just in different stages of the cycle.
Dustin Matlock
33,856 PointsDustin Matlock
33,856 PointsHey Tristan, learning PHP first will help you to learn JavaScript a little easier when you get to that. I suppose the question is if you want to focus on the front or back parts of web development. Are you more design / artistic centric, or do you find yourself better at solving problems and building things? These are some questions you might ask yourself. Either way, I think you'll do fine. The main key is to get started at something and stick with it.