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General Discussion

Andres Aguero
Andres Aguero
30,545 Points
Posted by Andres Aguero
Andres Aguero
30,545 Points

What to learn first..

Hi fellow Treehouse students!

I have overall good knowledge of CSS, HTML, & Javascript and have a job as a web designer but lately I haven't been happy and content at my current job. Part of it may be because I feel as if the work I do is "easy" and would like to get into more complex applications.

I have always liked challenges and have had goals of developing an App, learning Ruby On Rails, or mastering PHP. Which should I do first?

Thanks for all your responses!

5 Answers

Nejc Vukovic
seal-mask
.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree seal-36
Nejc Vukovic
Full Stack JavaScript Techdegree Graduate 51,574 Points
Nejc Vukovic
.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree seal-36
Nejc Vukovic
Full Stack JavaScript Techdegree Graduate 51,574 Points

Hi.

Well they are both interesting topics. With RoR you can make nice web apps and PHP is used a lot in CMS and so on.

It really depends on your wishes. You could also research what would pay more :)

The best way if you really can't decide -> flip a coin and let your destiny be decided :)

Happy Coding!!!

Roy Penrod
Roy Penrod
19,810 Points
Roy Penrod
Roy Penrod
19,810 Points

If you want to learn back-end development, I recommend you start with PHP. It's very popular and you'll run into it everywhere out in the wild.

Ruby on Rails abstracts some of the details a little too much for someone new to back-end development. Save it for the last thing you learn and you'll appreciate it more.

Ricky Catron
Ricky Catron
13,023 Points
Ricky Catron
Ricky Catron
13,023 Points

I would completely disagree (respectfully) with your goal of Ruby, PHP, or an App. If you are not feeling challenged at work. If you freelance take on more interesting contracts, doing more work on the same project doesn't help you or the client so find a more fun contract. If you work for a boss ask for more interesting work, explain your concerns and offer to branch out a little.

Why not learn a JavaScript Framework like React or learn Node.js for a JavaScript backend. Why completely leave what you know when instead you can transfer your useful skills and have some fun at the same time.

--Ricky

Andres Aguero
Andres Aguero
30,545 Points
Andres Aguero
Andres Aguero
30,545 Points

Thanks for all your responses.

Ricky, I guess I am trying to get out of this field because in all honesty I do not like dealing with clients. And to be quite honest I always loved developing and making things work. I am not really a "designer" and don't like doing it but my job requires me to.

I would flip a coin but I think I am going to follow Roy's advice. Roy are you a PHP developer?

Roy Penrod
Roy Penrod
19,810 Points
Roy Penrod
Roy Penrod
19,810 Points

I'm familiar with PHP and I've done freelance work with it, but I'm not a full time developer yet. I'm trying to get back into the workforce after being disabled for several years.

I'm completely self-taught and that's left me with some gaps in my knowledge. That's why I'm here at Treehouse.