Where should I start from?

[CS Geek]

Hi there..

I have decided to learn web programming. Actually, I know I have asked this questions many times but because you could have something new to tell me, so may you tell me what should I do to learn web programming and beocome web developer?

- And could you recommened me a good book - for beginners, please?

[bals28mjk]

What are you interested in doing?

There's client side programming, (e.g: javascript) and server side programming used with a language like php along with a database language like mysql. Client side scripting is used to make for a more entertaining experience for the user while server side scripting is used for more of site management.

Two of the better authors I've enjoyed are danny goodman (javascript) and larry ullman (php/mysql).

[Tailslide]

I'd get to grips with HTML and CSS as a first step.

Excellent online tutorials:

HTML Dog
CSS Basics

[SilentBobSC]

Yup, there are also some great books on CSS and HTML available via SitePoint, I've got several of their books for Flash and CSS, all of which have been referenced many times and been worth their cost.

[JsD2K]

W3Schools.com is a great reference for a variety of languages.

[webcosmo]

make sure you practice them on your computer. just reading won't do much good for you.

[JsD2K]

Books dont help IMHO. Just find a simple website and try to recreate it. It helps more then you would think!

[cyber247]

Build Your Own Web Site The Right Way Using HTML & CSS, 1st edition is a good way to start then you can go deeper by learning php / javascript

[JsD2K]

Don't try to multitask languages. Before you learn any I would suggest researching the language. HTML/CSS is probably the only set of languages that can be multitasked successfully. (php & mysql maybe...)

[felgall]

W3Schools.com is a great reference for a variety of languages.

Some outdated and all getting further and further out of date since the two guys who created that site haven't done much if anything in the way of updates for quite a long while.

If it weren't that people get confused and think that site has some sort of official standing just because they got lucky in the domain name they chose the site would probably be long gone.

[Blake Tallos]

Books dont help IMHO. Just find a simple website and try to recreate it. It helps more then you would think!

Are you serious? Telling CS Geek, that books don't help is complete bologna.
Try reading one before you throw out false information. Yeah, thats why theres millions of sitepoint member's coming to the forums daily telling Sitepoint that their books are the best thing ever and have taught them everything they need to know about Development.

CS Geek, I am here to help you find good information about Webdevelopment/Graphic Design.
How I learned Webdevelopment was through a book. I still am learning Webdevelopment.
It's a daily thing for me. Theres so much information about this topic its unbeleivable.


Here is a list of references regarding Webdevelopment/Graphic Design.

Your #1 Forum about Graphic Design/Development.
http://www.sitepoint.com/

You made a great choice on becoming a member.

http://www.bigwebmaster.com/HTML/Books/
http://www.w3.org/Style/CSS/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTML
http://www.htmlcodetutorial.com/
http://www.w3schools.com/ (Out to date on something's but this site will give you the basics of HTML-CSS)

http://www.sitepoint.com/books/cssref1/
http://www.echoecho.com/htmlbasics.htm
http://www.htmlgoodies.com/
http://www.pageresource.com/html/index.html
http://www.entheosweb.com/website_design/default.asp
http://www.2createawebsite.com/
http://www.w3schools.com/css/
http://reference.sitepoint.com/
http://www.sitepoint.com/subcat/css
http://www.sitepoint.com/books/css2/ (Designing without tables is a great book!)
http://photoshop.aws.sitepoint.com/
http://www.htmltutorials.ca/
http://www.yourhtmlsource.com/
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...s+&btnG=Search
http://www.quackit.com/html/tutorial/
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/
http://www.search-this.com/
http://www.barelyfitz.com/screencast...s/positioning/
http://www.w3schools.com/Css/css_positioning.asp
http://www.w3.org/TR/WD-positioning
http://www.wdvl.com/
http://webdevelopmenttutorials.com/
http://www.pmob.co.uk/
http://www.rayswoodworks.com/css-demos.html
www.cssispoetry.com (This is going to be my CSS & HTML reference page as well the website is up just quite yet.)
http://www.webdevelopersnotes.com/tips/index.php3
http://www.entheosweb.com/photoshop/slice.asp
http://www.graphic-design.com/Photoshop/
http://www.photoshoplady.com/
http://www.tutorialized.com/tutorials/Photoshop/1
http://www.dreamincode.net/forums/showtopic7362.htm
http://www.photoshopsupport.com/
http://www.grafx-design.com/
http://www.photoshoproadmap.com/Photoshop-tutorials
http://www.planetphotoshop.com/category/videos/

If you need more references be sure to PM me and I would be glad to lead you in the right direction.

[jonbey]

Build Your Own Web Site The Right Way Using HTML & CSS, 1st edition is a good way to start then you can go deeper by learning php / javascript

Yep, that is actually how I found myself here! Good book. Although I have probably forgotten most of what I read. I am hopeless at remembering how to do things. I will never be a developer!

[JsD2K]

You can not honestly compare reading a book to real life experience.

Pleease I welcome you to go into an interview and have no experience at all but say you've read all the books in the world PLEASE DO THIS and make a joke thread in the General chat forum.

Sad..

[Blake Tallos]

You can not honestly compare reading a book to real life experience.

Pleease I welcome you to go into an interview and have no experience at all but say you've read all the books in the world PLEASE DO THIS and make a joke thread in the General chat forum.

Sad..

Well, hmm. Some of the other members agree with me 100%..

[JsD2K]

You obviously have no idea or experience about what you are talking about. There is not one person here who would do what I said nor would not program at all and only read books before going into an interview

Try google. Might help you out a bit. Learn..

[kronikmedia]

Php of a popular web scripting language is a good place to start if you really want to learn programming. On the other hand if your motivation arises from the need to be able to develop powerful web based applications, then instead of programming I would recommend that you learm a popular open source platform such as Joomla or wordpress. Learning Php and mysql will help in this as well as most popular open source systems seem to be written in PHP and Mysql technology.

[JsD2K]

PHP and mySql isnt the languages to learn if you want alot of money. Java is in high demand now so my suggestion is learn Java.

[Dan Schulz]

Be nice, people.

For the record BBoardX, I learned almost everything I know about development from reading books. And I was able to get work in the industry based on what I learned from reading books. It is possible, and it can happen. As for the experience factor, that's what having your own portfolio of sites is for. Something to show prospective clients and employers.

[bals28mjk]

I learned almost everything I know about development from reading books. And I was able to get work in the industry based on what I learned from reading books.

Why don't you share which ones with the rest of us?

I prefer reading books over online documentation, it's easier on the eyes.

[Dan Schulz]

You're asking me to recommend books I read in 2002 and 2003 that are now obsolete?

[JsD2K]

He was saying that you don't need to program at all and that reading makes you know everything..but your right, play nice

[bals28mjk]

You're asking me to recommend books I read in 2002 and 2003 that are now obsolete?

You've stop reading web related books five years ago? Why? Is it because you prefer reading online documentation?

He was saying that you don't need to program at all and that reading makes you know everything

For myself, reading is a good source of information. Although, I should tell you BBoardX, it doesn't replace the coding itself. Writing is just as important as learning the info to apply it.

Cheers.

[JsD2K]

That ismy point. You can read all you want but none of it is going to stick successfully and you won't be able to figure out first hand the bugs and stuff. I read books, I think they are good resources but nothing can replace coding simple fact. Some subjects are so broad that books do nothing but cover a chapter in that specific language. I don't want to say html/css is one of those but....

[jonbey]

I think that I probably learnt most from playing with open source templates. Reading the Sitepoint CSS/HTML book gave me a much needed foundation (I am also new to the whole computing thing, having wasted 11 years working in the banking industry...) but just getting my hands dirty, designing my own sites by using NVU first, which taught me how bad some WYSIWYG editors are, then using CSS open source templates, and playing about.

Now if I have a problem, I ask on a forum before delving into a book.

[Dan Schulz]

You've stop reading web related books five years ago? Why? Is it because you prefer reading online documentation?For myself, reading is a good source of information.

Cheers.

Oh no, I didn't stop reading books. I just said that the books I read when I was learning are now obsolete as my knowledge in those areas long since surpassed what was provided by those resources.

That ismy point. You can read all you want but none of it is going to stick successfully and you won't be able to figure out first hand the bugs and stuff. I read books, I think they are good resources but nothing can replace coding simple fact. Some subjects are so broad that books do nothing but cover a chapter in that specific language. I don't want to say html/css is one of those but....

But we all have to start somewhere though. If you don't learn from somewhere, how are you supposed to apply the knowledge? (I think this is the part where we agree that we're agreeing while using different language, don't you think?)