Where to go after HTML and CSS?

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Hi, all

I'm interested in building websites and I've done some HTML and CSS, now I just need practise with it which I'm getting, but where do I go next? I started to learn PHP becuase that's what my WP blog used but that seemed too big a jump, so after some research I dropped WP and returned to Dreamweaver and decided Javascript and jQuery was my next stop. The more I look online the more confused I get however.

My ideal outcome would be to become a web developer, by which I mean I build websites including layout and coding, and to break things up I don't mind writing content / doing photos if required. I guess that sounds more freelance / self-employed but doesn't have to be. I'd also like to get into building apps for android which I realise might be a few months away to say the least.

So what language(s) do you recommend I learn next?

Thanks in advance.

David.
#programming #css #html #web design #websites #which language
  • There are 2 main categories in web development. Frontend and Backend. Frontend refers to technologies which have impact on overall design and client experience such as html/css, javascript, jquery etc...
    Backend refers to server side programming such as php, python, ruby, asp.net etc. these are the basics, then there are high level frameworks such cakephp, codeigniter, ruby on rails, python django etc.
    For now I would suggest you to stick with frontend technologies. Once you learn javascript, you will be familiar with basic programming concepts such as variables, loops, conditions etc. So it will help you learn php easily.
  • PHP and MySQL would be a great asset for you to pick up. you can take your time too, you have all the time in the world. jut be sure to at least gradually learn them, if not something else. once you pick up one language, it'll be easier for you to pick up others. like an app language where you can build android apps.

    best of luck to ya sir.
    • [1] reply
    • Hi,

      I agree with this, you must go to PHP & SQL (SQLi is easy then MySQL Langguage)... After you learn this you can jump to jQuery for easy to learning than JS Langguage... It's up to you what you want to do with that. If you in Data Processing project, you can start with PHP & SQL, if not just go with jQuery + UI...
  • Just go for PHP and MySQL. I suggest getting a good tutorial. Go to Lynda.com, they have a bunch. It may not be that cheap but you won't regret it.
    After that you should go for jQuery and Javascript.

    Or, better yet, check this out:

    Web Designers Roadmap for 2011 and 2012 - Web design video tutorials for beginners - Killersites.com Blog

    Good luck!
  • If you learn PHP, including the MySQL functions for database work, and jQuery for the fancy front end stuff you'll have enough knowledge to create pretty much any website or web app you might want to.

    Good Luck!
    • [1] reply
    • I agree, that will you allow to dynamically create pages.
  • Thanks for that everyone. I think I'll do the javascript / jQuery then PHP route.

    Also thanks for the article, though having tried WP as it suggests I can't say I'm a fan. I find it easier to do it for myself with Dreamweaver.
    • [1] reply
    • I know that javascript looks very fancy and easy when you do the programming on dreamweaver, but believe me pHp is one of the easiest and best scripting languages. I myself is a programmer and I recently started learning pHp and now I am cursing myself that why I didn't start learning it earlier.
      The best tip that I can give you is to go to w3schools, learn 1 to 2 chapters per day and within 2 weeks you will be familiar with all the required components that are necessary for you to start coding in pHp.
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  • Here is the best route:
    1. HTML
    2. CSS
    3. Javascript
    4. PHP + Mysql => for database, extremely important, this is the core.
    5. Jquery => for ajax, avoid this until you master all those 4, especially the php, without it you will be super confuse.

    Hope this helps.
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • [1] reply
    • JayWiz's strategy of learning is the way to go.

      Go to codecademy dot com to learn Javascript. You'll love it!
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  • I think you should start now PHP and you have already started yet.
    That's really a good decision. Then you will take a step to MySQL.
    Go ahead by those serial and I'm sure you will be a successful web designer.
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    Think PHP is the best platform to take step next.
    And glad to know that you are doing it already ,
    go on
  • Javascript should deff be your next step. You can learn Jquery at the same time as it is just a modification of javascript and makes working with things a lot more clean (nice selectors and functions). After that PHP and MySQL should be on your list. I feel like PHP is diminishing in popularity since it is kind of getting dated. If you start with Javascript/Jquery, you will have a good understanding of JS and you can look into more advanced languages like nodeJS which can do what others might use PHP for.
  • PHP is best platform.learn it nicely its too interesting to work on it
  • You might want to nail down your goals a little more crisply.

    You can do as little as be an expert in the presentation (HTML/CSS/JQuery/etc) or the business/data layers (J2EE/MVC3/Rails/Grails/Groovy/Roo/PHP) and everything in between. You can be good at creating simple Ma & Pa web applications, or you can be an expert in building enterprise applications (Facebook).

    If your plan is to build simple sites and flip/sell them, you can probably get away with simply using stuff like Joomla/Django/Drupal/Wordpress.

    You'll still need to learn some MYSQL and probably some PHP/Python just to get connect some pieces together.

    My personal favorite is ASP .NET MVC 3 and Rails, but that requires you to really understanding programming (.NET/Ruby) and learning those languages well can take a very long time.

    Hope that helps a little.
  • You must go for PHP after HTML & CSS and after than try for ASP coz in todays world maximum corporate and professional websites are developed on the base of HTML 5 with asp technology and programming with new techniques.
  • As kenzik mentions you need to put a plan in motion by concentrating on goals. You are currently working on user interface presentation model (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) which can get you far into building templates. PHP and other dynamic scripting languages can get you a long way into creating a functional website. Learn SQL, not just MySQL. MySQL and other DB engines provide extensions to the basics of ANSI SQL that can cause problems should a decision to give some other DB engine a try. I would guess that about 75% (no data to back that up) of the web is MySQL and PHP generated so it will be your biggest bang for your time.
  • When you go above some very basic concepts like document.write or alert, javascript can be harder and more confusing than php. I think php is the most easy one, where you can make something useful without knowing much about how it works
    • [1] reply
    • Yes, which is what makes jQuery good but you still need to know and understand the basics. A browser only understands HTML, CSS and JavaScript. Everything else is server side processing to produce that which the browser understands. And to complicate matters, each browser has its own quirks so you have to throw in coding for the browser quirks, especially CSS.
  • jQuery is great, but until someone makes a framework that completely eliminates "this", it still will remain confusing Btw, the most recent "fancy" thing is node.js, which is server-side javascript. With it you don't need to use any other "server-side" language, just javascript on both ends. Though can't say i like it, but i'm not very familiar with it yet.
  • To see the new day, you should be happy.
  • You should learn PHP, MySQL and Javascript. However, you need to practice a lot. Just by learning to code does not mean anything. You need to apply what you learn by doing real work. A decent developer is formed after tens of projects.
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    wordpress is best cms for you to practise after you learned Html and css because wordpress is built base on PHP and it''s easy to learn and developing. Just my cents!
  • Do you want to complete your project on your own or you want to give the project to some professional?
  • You can go for any server side scripting like php and asp.net , so that you can learn dynamic programming. Or you can go for content management system like wordpress or joomla
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  • After learning css and html you can try your luck with dynamic scripting like html 5 and php or asp.net
  • You should try html5 and then go for php language which will be useful for creating dynamic website for oyu and form handling for your dynamic needs.
  • Php is easy when you completely understand html ,How ever I would recommend Javascript & jQuery before php , you can port your javascript and jQuery in html.
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  • You are on the right track, after HTML and CSS you should learn some javascript and jQuery once thats done you would become a full featured front end developer. After that go for PHP as its easiest and most supported as per community available on web. You would get maximum number of documentation, tutorials, videos available on PHP. After that you can go for any PHP based framework or software like Wordpress.

    Note: Everything takes some time to get expert on but once you are there you would be king
    • [1] reply
    • I agree with most of the comments here. However if you can wait 2 to 3 weeks I would learn a little java or c first. Otherwise you will be in the dark about a lot of things.
      I would be happy to share my notes with you.
      What you want to achieve is a grasp about what programming is.

      Learn,

      what a variable is:
      Learn arithmetic and boolean expressions.
      be able to solve simple problems using loops, control structures, and invoking functions.
      Understand the scope of a variable.
      Be able to use arrays.
      You do not want to get into language specific api's. Your goal is to become confortable with the syntax.

      Javascript is essential to learn but not as a first language.

      Also you need to understand parameter passing.

      Hit me up if you like, i am always looking to add tutorials to my sites.

      If i had to pick a pre programming language to illustrate these concepts i would pick true basic or python.
  • Javascript or PHP
  • C, C++, Java as you are interested to do Android Programming and build apps.
  • To make pretty website or web apps one should know html, css, jquery, mysql and PHP if you choose php as your main focus.
    I would also suggest that PHP is best to learn and easy to understand.
  • If i was you don't use Javascript its not needed and no need in using it seriously i don't find it useful at all for coding websites.
  • Everyone seems to be going for the old php but seriously try out ruby on rails (a much better language imo).

    But as was said above - depends what you want to learn for.
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    Where to go after HTML and CSS?

    Hi, all I'm interested in building websites and I've done some HTML and CSS, now I just need practise with it which I'm getting, but where do I go next? I started to learn PHP becuase that's what my WP blog used but that seemed too big a jump, so after some research I dropped WP and returned to Dreamweaver and decided Javascript and jQuery was my next stop. The more I look online the more confused I get however.