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General Discussion

Yixi Guan
Yixi Guan
7,927 Points

What are the core skills for a front end developer?

I picked the track of front end developer because I really like making something that I can "see" the result. I have the basic knowledge of HTML&CSS, a little bit jQuery and Wordpress. I am currently learning javascript. My question is:

What are the most important skills to have for a front end developer? CSS? Javascript? Both?

From a employer prospective, should I learn PHP, SQL, Wordpress at all? If I should, how many percent of my time should be spent on this part.

Thank you!

7 Answers

jag
jag
18,266 Points

HTML, CSS, JavaScript & jQuery. All of those

PHP, SQL & WordPress are more of back end things.

It depends if you want to be just a Front End Web Dev or a Full Stack Developer.

Do you want to be Front End Web Dev & Web Designer?

It depends what you want to do and where you want to go.

Take a look at this tree (no pun intended).

http://learntocodewith.me/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/front-end-mind-map.png

Yixi Guan
Yixi Guan
7,927 Points

The map is helpful. I definitely want to be a front end developer. At least right now this is what I want. I thought php and Wordpress were the skills I needed to have as well to be able to get hired. Base on your and other's comments, if that's not the case, I am pretty released.

Thank you.

Ken Alger
STAFF
Ken Alger
Treehouse Teacher

Yixi;

For front end development have a good grasp on HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. JavaScript libraries/frameworks like jQuery and technologies like AJAX are important as well, but get on good grasp on JavaScript!

Hope it helps and good luck!

Ken

Yixi Guan
Yixi Guan
7,927 Points

Good advice. Solid HTML+CSS, then focus on JavaScript. Thank you.

jason chan
jason chan
31,009 Points

Frontend developers well:

HTML, CSS, responsive design, javascript(lots of it), angularjs or react or other java-script framework, knowledge of illustrator and photoshop, jquery, and ajax (basically talking to apis).

Team treehouse will make you zero to hero if you put enough effort into it.

Yixi Guan
Yixi Guan
7,927 Points

zero to hero. I see myself in a cape now. :) First time I heard codeopen.io. Thank you Jason.

jason chan
jason chan
31,009 Points

https://teamtreehouse.com/tracks/web-design

https://teamtreehouse.com/tracks/front-end-web-development

Don't forget to have an awesome portfolio. You can always demonstrate your projects on codepen.io

You need to be modded up :)

After your comment below, you need to be modded down if you think all there is to development is HTML and CSS

Yixi Guan
Yixi Guan
7,927 Points

Thank you all. I am surprised that I got helpful responses so quickly. I didn't know anybody who is studying with me or can guide me in real life. It feels good to know that there is a community there, and I can talk to someone.

jason chan
jason chan
31,009 Points

Oh yeah GIT version control is big one. So, learn linux if you can. LOLs.

Can you?

jason chan
jason chan
31,009 Points

https://teamtreehouse.com/library/console-foundations

But you'll be logging in with putty through SSH through your web server. I think you can use c9 or heroku to practice.