Learning Programming - What path shall I take?

davec1

I'll keep my question simple. I'd love to be able to design quality HTML & WordPress sites, as well as Apps in the future. However, I have but an incredibly basic HTML knowledge, so where would I start to learn? I'd have to do it all online, but would it be best to do something as follows.

Learn HTML>Learn DreamWeaver/Photoshop Design>Learn WordPress Design

then,

Learn App programming language/design?

I'm a bit confused as to where to start.... could anyone help me out?

Thanks.

debitcardmayhem

For HTML look at http://www.w3schools.com/

gb12345

davec1 wrote: »

Learn HTML>Learn DreamWeaver/Photoshop Design>Learn WordPress Design

then,

Learn App programming language/design?

I personally wouldn't bother with learning DreamWeaver - if you learn HTML and can hand code it then all you need is a basic text editor.

I would add in learning PHP/MySQL as this will open you up to the potential of working on bespoke websites rather than just WordPress templates. PHP will also give you an introduction to a real programming language rather than using a mark-up language, making it a stepping stone to the languages used to develop apps (probably C or Java).

LucianH

gb12345 wrote: »

all you need is a basic text editor.

I've dabbled with PSPad which seems to be a reasonably good freeware editor.

gb12345

LucianH wrote: »

I've dabbled with PSPad which seems to be a reasonably good freeware editor.

I currently use Notepad++, which again is freeware, but have also used Textpad in the past (which is trialware).

They all broadly do the same thing, so it is really down to which one you are most comfortable with.

jaydeeuk1

Learn HTML/HTML5, Javascript and CSS, imo it will be far more useful than C++ and the like

This will open up a whole world of possibilities - apps for windows, playbook etc can be written using it. Javascript is actually pretty powerful, and can be used in dev tools like Unity.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B009WS8FCG/

PDF Version

http://go.microsoft.com/FWLink/?Linkid=270056

Lokolo

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/html5-offer.aspx

Is also pretty useful to have. However it is quite advanced (you would need to understand javascript functions, regex and CSS quite a bit).

nathand_2

If you want to design as well as develop then my suggestion would be:

Photoshop
HTML
CSS
jQuery

The above is enough for a good static site.

If you then want to do WordPress you'll need to learn PHP + MySQL.

If I were you I'd focus on design or development rather than both.

Lynda.com have excellent resources but it is membership based

paddyrg

Design or development, absolutely. Totally different disciplines, you cannot do both well as they require different types of brain (creative/flowery vs highly rational/linear). If you want to make money, be very good at one thing, not someone who makes a ham fist of several.

Are you more rational/linear or creative/twirly? Do you *care* about rounded corners on boxes on websites, or just see them as a PITA and another 4 round trips for page assets before rendering?

If you want to go technical, never underestimate the value of going back to base principles - if you understand binary, why it is important for computers, how to abstractly model data efficiently, etc you will eventually find you can analyse systems and really 'feel' them. It takes some years, but you can pull £300+/day when you're good and find your niche :-)

booler

If you want to learn how to code then stay away from WordPress, which is a content management system (as opposed to a web development system). If you want to specialise in WordPress and you are happy to limit yourself to this then go ahead. It can be used to create decent websites.

paddyrg wrote: »

Design or development, absolutely. Totally different disciplines, you cannot do both well as they require different types of brain (creative/flowery vs highly rational/linear). If you want to make money, be very good at one thing, not someone who makes a ham fist of several.

It's not as clear cut as you suggest. I have been making a living doing web design and development since 2001. I do both and there are hundreds if not thousands of people in the UK doing the same. With regard to design, the Internet is the biggest crib sheet that has ever been created.

paddyrg wrote: »

If you want to go technical, never underestimate the value of going back to base principles - if you understand binary, why it is important for computers, how to abstractly model data efficiently, etc you will eventually find you can analyse systems and really 'feel' them. It takes some years, but you can pull £300+/day when you're good and find your niche :-)

I think it would be highly unusual for anyone to be able to teach themselves to this level. It could bedone with total and absolute dedication but some formal education is likely to be necessary.

Regarding your chances, I have to say that what you are doing is trying to get into a very competitive field where many people operate "on the side" without paying tax, etc. Making a career or a living from this is not easy nowadays.:(

googler

davec1 wrote: »

I'll keep my question simple. I'd love to be able to design quality HTML & WordPress sites, as well as Apps in the future. However, I have but an incredibly basic HTML knowledge, so where would I start to learn?

Not so long ago, building websites was the preserve of the techie, and you could only build them with 'the knowledge' - the keywords and tags.

Along came Frontpage and a bundle of other WYSIWYG editors, and then anyone could build a site without knowing what any of the tags were.

Now there's Wordpress and others which extend this further, and manage a lot of the process for the end-user.

It's not too difficult to project this forward, and as people find it ever easier and easier to build their own websites and wordpress sites, what would you see yourself as being needed for?