Challenges

I am also learning web development/coding. What websites/videos are you using? thanks

I have been programming for years... as in since 1982 - first computer was a TI-99/4A. Moved on to Apples the II the II+, and IIe. by 88 I had my first dos computer. want to say 90 or so was my first windows computer. First "website' was 95ish... but had built BBS's back in the Apple time frame.

Early on programming was dependent on platform ( computer maker ) and today is dependent on language or again a platform IE Wordpress as an example.

I was one of those snobby guys that could program straight out of notepad - still can, and could / can develop web environments. Its time consuming, and expensive.

Once I put my pride aside and moved to wordpress... I had professional exponential growth. I went from 2 or 3 sites a year to currently on average 10 a week ( with employees ).

When making the shift I quickly realized that learning a specific theme inside and out was the way to go. The learning curve from one theme to the next is often times mind boggling.

Learning how to create "page templates" is above and beyond the best programming skill you can learn. How to take a core theme ( 2022 theme or Store Front as examples ) and alter its "Appearance" through the use of templates, mitigating CSS over writes is game changing - BUT also having the ability to work within minimal environments ( themes ) where the CSS calls becomes second nature - and over time you build libraries of CSS calls, creates an efficiency that can be scaled. From YOU doing all the work to a team of programmers - that are all functioning with the same set of protocols.

Front end mechanicals is the easy part. The back end, end user response stuff... I program most in PHP...not a Gutenberg fan in any way shape of form - you can accomplish 90% of "blocks" with page templates - lower memory, more efficient, and overall less complicated.

Of the dozens of languages I can pretty efficiently program in... Javascript is not one of them. I personally just dont see the need for it - a call is a call is a call... and if you can have it coded directly vs calling a library - bandwidth and time, has never made sense to me. My opinion only - in no way bashing learning a language.

Again the structure of a site is the easy part... its the back-end stuff where the money is at. Programming is a skill, a skill that happens to pay well. Pays Better - dependent on efficiency. Learning and practicing to program is one thing, but learning to do so efficiently is a whole other thing.

Learn to manipulate 2 or 3 themes to whatever someone may ask for... and that is the foundation for income as well as later growth.

Yup, The backend is where the money is made, but, 1 month ago I couldn't do this, so I am pretty pleased with what I am acomplishing so far. Javascript is the 3rd layer of the birthday cake so to speak
HTML 5
CSS 3
Both of which I can write on demand and just passed 3 exams and I can use notepad too but Visual Studio Code actually makes it easier because of Emmet in it. Just push shift and exclamation point and a boiler plate comes up
write a word like link and hit enter and it automatically creates the code for your css sheet to be linked etc.

And Javascript. I used to do 4.01 transitional, but, they changed alot of stuff so I had to start again.
The object is to become full stack, as you are, which means I will be able to write back ends, stores etc so Javascript and PHP is my next blocks . But I just started a month ago so I am no where near that stage yet, but, I got some chops LOL

BTW most every FED knows javascript, it is key to user interactivity in lots of cases and you can do a ton of cool stuff with it, I am surprised you don't know it. You can't become a FED without it now days, it is required learning for MDN course I am taking.
You have a great day Savidge 4
Always Onwards,
-WD

Edit: Just wondering. My original post asks how you challenge yourself. Given the info you provided, How do you challenge yourself ?
I look at something and then try and replicate what I see. That has helped me retain what I learned and refine it.

This is my first try at javascript and I memorized it.
You can switch 2 images back and forth with it using the button semantic

<button onclick="document.getElementById('myImage').src='p ath to your image'"></button>
<img id="myImage" src="path to your image you want to change">
<button onclick="document.getElementById('myImage').src='p ath to image you want to change'"></button>
neat stuff
Always Onwards,
-WD

very difficult but I want to learn