Getting Started in Web Technologies

It is my belief that part of any journey or process of taking on new challenges is learning the ins and outs of whatever it is to be accomplished

. Don't get me wrong, I would love to charge everyone tons of cash to throw up customized WordPress sites on a daily basis, but people still need to be able to do the routine stuff for themselves. The problem is that there is a lot of information out there that is glossed over or not even mentioned. The following will attempt to lay it out a bit more transparently, but I must state up front that there are no shortcuts to programming. The good news is that when you learn a specific type of language, the rest of them within that type are cake.

HTML and CSS are Just Gateway Technologies

These are the basics of web development and also the place to start for anyone wanting to learn how to code web pages. HTML pretty much defines all of the content on a page while CSS determines how those elements look and where they are placed on the page. The best method for getting a good grasp on these subjects is to get a book that covers both topics together. It is also important to get a recent book as new versions of technologies come out at a rapid pace, and you may as well learn the current material the first time around. For example, I would look for material that covers HTML5 and CSS3, because they are the future as far as I can tell.

Tools and Research

As soon as any programming book is opened there is going to be a section on choosing an editor. It will guide you through the process so no worries there. I would suggest using Notepad++ in the beginning for no other reason than to be familiar with the actual code. After that it is wide open when it comes to WYSIWYG programs such as Adobe Dreamweaver. You have to research what is available for your platform, budget and inclination. I personally use Dreamweaver because FHSU requires me to build my sites with it. This also means that I have to use Windows or Mac because that is the only platforms supported by Dreamweaver. A note of caution though as these programs increase the learning curve because they have many features and powerful functions, so be prepared to research or buy another book. What I am trying to communicate is that mastering the tools can be just as intensive as learning the languages they edit.

PHP, MySQL & JavaScript

With the popularity of programs such as WordPress, Joomla and Drupal, a basic familiarity with these languages is essential. I am not saying the normal blogger needs to become expert at any one of them, but every site owner will benefit from being able to research and make small changes as needed. They are what enable web pages to be dynamic such as browsing and purchasing products online. PHP is a server side language which means that the server does the processing and displays the requested page to a user's browser. JavaScript is the opposite (client side) in that all of the processing is done on the local machine viewing the web site. MySQL is an open source database platform used to store all the information needed on dynamic sites. Many, if not most, blogs and shopping carts use PHP and MySQL as well as being available with hosting providers. Everyone will also benefit from using a hosting service that uses cPanel (I use JustHost). Haha, now I just added something else to become familiar with.

Tutorials and Forums

One of the most important aspects of maintaining an online presence is getting familiar with, finding and using good tutorials. This is what allows the beginner to get the job done. Almost anything you need to do can be found in a tutorial and, this will immediately jump out if you ever try to customize a WordPress theme. The process of "how do I..." will be a frequent activity on any coding journey, so get used to it early. Eventually there will come a point when it is just routine searching on how to do something specific, and your efficiency will vastly improve.

We are living in the information age and it is available in abundance, so it stands to reason that people should use this information to their benefit instead of relying on others. Especially considering that a little knowledge is all it takes when there are multiple sources of step by step instruction on how to get most tasks accomplished already online. Good luck on your path.

Keith Bishop of bishtekk.com, collegiate web developer, future star blogger, future e commerce guru. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed it.

Getting Started in Web Technologies

By: Christine

POST COMMENT

Techniques for Cloning Plants Knowing More about the Various Technologies Used in Water Filter The Science of Getting Rich - How Anyone Can Become Rich - Part 2 The Negative Effects Of Technology In Our World Mutli Synth Technology with Crystal Oscillators Integrating Mapping and Technology Aarkstore enterprise---Global Pico Projector By Application, Technology Financial Analysis Tools and Techniques Info On Best Quantum Hair Care Shampoos And Quantum Hair Sciences Unveils cordless power tools with Lithium-Ion technology The Science of Getting Rich - How Anyone Can Become Rich - Part 3 Weak, Defiled, and Seared Consciences The Most Powerful Hypnosis Technique - Conversational Hypnosis