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Patrick Alcorta
4,056 PointsWhat is the best track to learn how to become a front-end developer? I would assume first WebDesign then Front End WD?
I know this sounds pretty basic but I am trying to prepare myself to get into front-end web development but I eventually would like to also create more complicated sites. is there a specific track I should be starting with?
6 Answers
Rachelle Wood
15,362 PointsThe answer to your question depends on what you are looking to do. Are you looking to design and develope websites on your own in a totally independant fashion? Are you looking to work with a team of people that would include specific roles for each person and you would prefer to do only front-end development? Are you thinking of making sites from absolute scratch or would you prefer to develope in the context of a content manager?
In the first case, I would recommend doing both the front-end and design tracks, doing the JS full-stack track, picking up a backend language like PHP and then doing the business track with a mind to becoming a freelance dev.
In the second case, I would recommend doing just front-end development and then completing the JS full stack track, plus add perhaps some of the courses in design like Grace Kelly recommended.
In the third case, I would take the WordPress development track, especially if you want to deal mainly with WooCommerce or something of that nature.
I would also still learn how to do some basic manipulation of images and photos in Photoshop regardless of the path you choose to take. Sometimes images/photos don't come out looking quite like you expect them to when importing them into HTML, so knowing how to resize, change quality, change format, etc. is useful.
Grace Kelly
33,990 PointsI think the Front End Development course would be most suited for what you want to do, IMO the web design track is more focused on the design side rather than the development side, although after completing the front end track I would definitely check out some of the courses such as css selectors and ux basics in the web design track :)
Curtis Murley
2,766 PointsIf you compare the two tracks you mentioned above you will notice they have a lot of overlap. Both starting with How to Make a Website and CSS basics. They have more overlapping scattered through the tracks progression such as HTML Forms and HTML Tables.
I came to Treehouse a couple of weeks ago with the same idea as you and after comparing the two tracks I decided the Front-End Web Developer better fitting for me as it covers more Javascript which is something I'm very interested in learning and less Design work/
https://teamtreehouse.com/tracks/web-design
https://teamtreehouse.com/tracks/front-end-web-development
I hope this helps :)
Kathryn Gilbert
5,122 PointsI agree. I joined Treehouse about a month ago and started with the front-end track. While going through the courses though, I took breaks to just explore some other topics from the web design track. Going over UX Basics and Design Foundations were both great and gave my brain a nice break from JavaScript for a bit.
Jacob Mishkin
23,118 PointsI'm going to piggy back on Rachelle and Grace on this one, they are correct. The only thing I would add heavily is knowing a CMS, like WordPress, a back end language, outside of knowing JS, and and throw in Photoshop and Illustrator too, you might need to make a logo for someone, or change their photo/image into something that you can properly use and style.
In Short while you start to make more and more sites, you are going to find yourself needing to know more and more things that you didn't know before. Its kind of a natural progression. Start with the Design and Front End tracks, they are great places to have a sound foundation.
Patrick Alcorta
4,056 PointsThank you all so much for the quick responses :) I believe I will be following the most common advice here and go Front End Development first then move on to design. Thank you all so much once again.