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Where is best to begin?

by cconlan
5 replies
I am interested in getting into some programming. WHere would you suggest is the best place to start and also which language is best to start off with? I ideally would like to get proficient in HTML, CSS and PHP.
If a few hours are put in each day is it possible to get quite good in a fairly short time?
#begin
  • Profile picture of the author Sodaware
    First things first, there's a difference between programming and HTML/CSS, but it's an easy mistake to make. HTML and CSS are all about information, and presenting it in a browser. Programming is more about getting a computer to do things, such as sending emails or whatever.

    Seeing as you said you want to learn PHP, that would be a good place to start. There are plenty of turtorials out there to get you started. I'd advise you learn the fundamentals of programming first, and although it's not very exciting it will help in the long term. Once you can see how it works in your head, you'll find writing code much easier.

    This a great set of PHP tutorials for beginners: PHP Tutorial

    It walks you through the whole process, from setting up your computer to run PHP to writing simple applications. Personally, I recommend using AppServ to get everything installed, as it takes care of all the configuring and such. It can be complicated if you've never done it before, but after a while it'll make sense.

    Hope that helps.
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  • Profile picture of the author duleto
    Originally Posted by cconlan View Post

    I am interested in getting into some programming. WHere would you suggest is the best place to start and also which language is best to start off with? I ideally would like to get proficient in HTML, CSS and PHP.
    If a few hours are put in each day is it possible to get quite good in a fairly short time?
    I thing that u can start on w3schools. There u have the basic thing about HTML/CSS/XHTML/PHP. But if you want advanced tutorials,scripts visit PelaPHPtutorials
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    • Profile picture of the author pioneer
      O really? ok i am also trying these sites for best results. As i am also interested to know these. Thanks for this post. I will be happy if u guide us like this during learnig these from the sites u have given.

      Regards,
      Pioneer
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  • Profile picture of the author TristanPerry
    The above cover where you should go to learn each language (w3schools is most common), I'll just quickly outline which I feel is the best way to go to learn in order:

    Start with HTML
    - Create some very basic web-pages which you don't upload anywhere. Just hand-code them, so you get used to the general HTML format. Check them in your browser to ensure they work. Don't worry if you learn 'old' code about frames, how to add colour via <body bgcolor=".."> and things like that; just learn everything you come across to get into HTML

    Then go onto XHTML
    - XHTML takes 5 minutes to learn once you know HTML since they are basically the same.

    Learn CSS
    - Nowadays most websites are made using XHTML and CSS. It can be tricky to get used to at first, but keep with it since XHTML and CSS is a very powerful (yet easy) way of making websites, IMO.

    At this point have a little break, hand-code some websites and make sure you are confident with all of the above. It gets harder ^^

    Learn PHP
    - Purchase a book aimed at beginners. PHP is nothing like XHTML or CSS, and is, IMO, best taught via a book since it's so vast. I own two PHP books covering 800+ pages overall, and they still don't cover everything. Having said that, PHP is very powerful and useful. Keep working at it, and start making your own small scripts. It's a continuous learning curve for a couple of years, but after a month or two you'll hopefully be in a good enough position to make decent PHP scripts.

    Learn MySQL and SQL
    - i.e. learn how to create databases in MySQL and learn SQL which you can then use to create better PHP scripts which are database-driven. Get a PHP and MySQL book or look up a tutorial to help you know how you use PHP to communicate with a MySQL database.

    You may want to learn JavaScript either now, or just after you've mastered XHTML and CSS. However I found that once I knew PHP (i.e. got into a scripting languages' mindset), JavaScript was easy enough to pick-up.

    That should be it really But start with HTML and just get used to it. Don't worry if you are learning 'old' code (a bit at least) since it's all about getting used to it at that stage.
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