Learning Programming - What path shall I take?

gb12345

googler wrote: »

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?

Which is why I suggested the progression in to development with PHP/MySQL.

I earn more these days doing backend development work and fixing coding bugs than I do in design work.

FrugalMummy

Doing it online is the best and most cost effective way of learning html. Trial and error is a big part of this aswell. You could even buy books online to follow or download free ebooks to make sure your learnin al the right stuff?

paddyrg

booler wrote: »

It's not as clear cut as you suggest. I have been making a living doing web design and development since 2001.
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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.
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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.:(

Totally agree that that middle ground is the hardest place to make any cash, which is why I suggest a deep understanding of what is involved gives you a well-paid niche area. £300/day is relatively easy to pick up outside London for a demonstrable skill, I know guys on £625/day for being very good at something quite specific.

In terms of programming languages/syntax, javascript is popular but pretty dirty - it's an interpreted scripting language for quick and dirty - not at all suitable for developing 'apps' as the OP has indicated an interest (where a 'C' - variant is really what's needed). Using copy and paste javascript libraries doesn't really prepare someone for the rigour and discipline a structured language demands. That said, it will get you reasonable results fairly quickly and can be good for prototyping as well as web interfaces.

nathand_2

booler wrote: »

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.

I'd have to disagree with you there.

WordPress still requires development of plugins and themes and is a more specialist area than PHP as a whole. I don't think you'd be limiting yourself though; quite the opposite.

booler

Feel free to disagree.

If all you learn is WordPress then you are limiting yourself to WordPress. It is a much more speciallist area, which is the point I am making. There is much more to Websites than WP can provide.

Lucero_2

jaydeeuk1 wrote: »

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.

Eh? Apps for windows are not written in HTML / Jave or CSS, They are all markup languages for websites. Applications for windows are written in C or some variant of (C#, C+(+)) for example

gb12345

Lucero wrote: »

Eh? Apps for windows are not written in HTML / Jave or CSS, They are all markup languages for websites. Applications for windows are written in C or some variant of (C#, C+(+)) for example

Apparently you can according to the book that he linked to.

They would probably be fairly basic Apps and you would probably be limited to developing for Microsoft platforms. Also, even the book acknowledges that the HTML/JS/CSS combination is not powerful for some app features -

As a dynamic language, JavaScript shows its strength in easily gluing together functionality provided by other components that do the heavy lifting for certain kinds of tasks (like camera capture, background transfers, etc.). Those heavy-lifting components are often best written in other language such as C++, where the compiled code runs straight on the CPU instead of going through runtime layers like JavaScript.

InsideInsurance

Step 1, step back and decide what you actually want to do. Are you talking about a hobby? Are you talking about running a few of your own sites for modest income? Are you wanting to work for a web developer/ designer company? Are you wanting to work for a web company? Are you wanting to work for a blue chip company?

Step 2, is very much dependent on the above.


If you want to stay small, doing things for SME or below then agree with others, having a broad skill base over PHP & MySQL is the way to go. If on the other hand you fancy programming a banks online systems then not only will you more likely have to go either the .Net or Java route but you'll also need to be more specialist than generalist.

The one advantage is that after you learn about Object Orientated Programming (OOP) and particularly if it is a C based language then moving to other languages is much more straight forward.

bluesnake

Davec1, just start to do one thing at a time, say html. Your interest and language changes will vary with time and jobs.

For a trial, just emulate the start page as a static html of www.moneysavingexpert.com and test it on multiple browsers and phones.

Once your page is working and has the correct layouts and browser compatibility? (could be java too?) then put the java stuff on too, and see how far you get. If you enjoy it progress further.

[Deleted User]

Lucero wrote: »

Eh? Apps for windows are not written in HTML / Jave or CSS, They are all markup languages for websites. Applications for windows are written in C or some variant of (C#, C+(+)) for example

You can use HTML/CSS/JScript to design apps for Windows 8, should you so desire.