Can web development be self taught?
Discussion
Yes 
, just depends on your dedication and willingness to invest in yourself.
They also do loads of learn code camps and schools too
One warning: being a developer is different to most other jobs, things are are always moving forward every couple of years, so you have to stay committed.
, just depends on your dedication and willingness to invest in yourself.They also do loads of learn code camps and schools too
One warning: being a developer is different to most other jobs, things are are always moving forward every couple of years, so you have to stay committed.
Edited by hyphen on Sunday 10th May 22:25
D1on said:
Anyone here taught themselves how to code? Seems to be lots of books and online web courses available.
How did it work out for you?
I've been dabbling for a while on and off...started out with python did some some online courses such as code academy etc etc and then tried Django, you really need a project to work on as I find that the best way to learn. for example, I am working on a web app at the moment...basic django framework with a bit of html, css etc etc and i realised I needed a new feature...ok how do i do that then? bit of research later ooops need to learn about AJAX requests....and then a bit of Javascript to take my data and make pretty graphs, oh i needs some forms...no, I need a formset etc etc suddenly the scary bits of code you looked at when you began don't look so scary and you kind of know what it does.How did it work out for you?
I am no where near good enough to get a job doing this and it has 0 to do with my actual work but I love what can be achieved.
D1on said:
Ah great, yeah iv seen code academy and the boot camps, I'm checking them out.
Is wordpress used by web developers?
Yes WP is used alot by developers, good start snd quick set up, I usually build bespoke HTML/CSS components (using CSS frameworks) then chuck/wrap them into WP/PHP, but there are good WP themes out there with good, but limited WYSIWYG drag and drop components (Elementor/Bakery) spring to mind, have a Google Is wordpress used by web developers?
Yep, there are countless resources out there and it's a very open world.
The problem for new starters is you will get encouraged to learn frameworks before core skills, but frameworks come and go like the wind. If you start with the getting strong with HTML and CSS, you'll be on a good foundation.
I've been doing it forever and see new developers seem to skip over those bits, and they end up writing piles of Javascript to do something that could be done with one HTML tag or a CSS property.
You will then likely need to know Javascript, which is usually where the frameworks come in.
And there's PHP and/or .NET when things get more advanced...
To get started, I always recommend setting up a Codepen account. It's a fantastic tool where you can write HTML, CSS and Javascript without having to do any configuration or install any apps:
https://codepen.io/
The problem for new starters is you will get encouraged to learn frameworks before core skills, but frameworks come and go like the wind. If you start with the getting strong with HTML and CSS, you'll be on a good foundation.
I've been doing it forever and see new developers seem to skip over those bits, and they end up writing piles of Javascript to do something that could be done with one HTML tag or a CSS property.
You will then likely need to know Javascript, which is usually where the frameworks come in.
And there's PHP and/or .NET when things get more advanced...
To get started, I always recommend setting up a Codepen account. It's a fantastic tool where you can write HTML, CSS and Javascript without having to do any configuration or install any apps:
https://codepen.io/
durbster said:
Yep, there are countless resources out there and it's a very open world.
The problem for new starters is you will get encouraged to learn frameworks before core skills, but frameworks come and go like the wind. If you start with the getting strong with HTML and CSS, you'll be on a good foundation.
I've been doing it forever and see new developers seem to skip over those bits, and they end up writing piles of Javascript to do something that could be done with one HTML tag or a CSS property.
You will then likely need to know Javascript, which is usually where the frameworks come in.
And there's PHP and/or .NET when things get more advanced...
To get started, I always recommend setting up a Codepen account. It's a fantastic tool where you can write HTML, CSS and Javascript without having to do any configuration or install any apps:
https://codepen.io/
+1 this, been doing it for over 10 years now, and sometimes the simplist HTML tag etc, things can be done with the basic grounding knowledge before jumping to frameworks. The problem for new starters is you will get encouraged to learn frameworks before core skills, but frameworks come and go like the wind. If you start with the getting strong with HTML and CSS, you'll be on a good foundation.
I've been doing it forever and see new developers seem to skip over those bits, and they end up writing piles of Javascript to do something that could be done with one HTML tag or a CSS property.
You will then likely need to know Javascript, which is usually where the frameworks come in.
And there's PHP and/or .NET when things get more advanced...
To get started, I always recommend setting up a Codepen account. It's a fantastic tool where you can write HTML, CSS and Javascript without having to do any configuration or install any apps:
https://codepen.io/
Least you will now how the framework is working, rather than going round the houses with new cool ways of doing things.
W3schools was my bible way back, back to basics, I often go back there there now.
In my experience...
HTML & CSS - piece of piss. Scripting languages - no chance. IMO you need to be working on a live project with someone to guide you so you can understand it in its context and be helped to get your head around it. If you like algebra you'll like scripting languages.
HTML & CSS - piece of piss. Scripting languages - no chance. IMO you need to be working on a live project with someone to guide you so you can understand it in its context and be helped to get your head around it. If you like algebra you'll like scripting languages.
MitchT said:
In my experience...
CSS - piece of piss.
CSS - piece of piss.
A mistake far too many people make which means they don't bother to learn it properly and end up in a massive mess. It's a language that needs to be learned like any other.
HTML is easier in the sense there's less of it. There are something like 150 tags that you should know really, if you want to build robust, accessible pages.
D1on said:
So html and css is the best starting point?
Yep.I would start with the Codepen editor:
https://codepen.io/pen/
Some resources that might be useful:
MDN have extensive documentation about HTML and CSS so it's a great place to learn and has loads of examples:
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/
CSS Tricks has been going forever so is a massive resource:
https://css-tricks.com/
I don't know about beginner courses - maybe Wes Bos has some:
https://wesbos.com/
Yes. As a kid, about 13 years old I managed to create a perfectly working fake noeopets login page... i was a we sh..t. but luckily I was banned after my first catch and lost my really strong 2 year old pet. Taught me never to do that stuff again. Today I cant even remember how the hell I managed it just using one of those free hosting sites.
I just googled what I wanted to know tbh. Ended up easy really. This was back when it was dial up and your mum would scream that you've engaged the phone for hours.
I just googled what I wanted to know tbh. Ended up easy really. This was back when it was dial up and your mum would scream that you've engaged the phone for hours.
Edited by hotchy on Thursday 14th May 07:42
Wordpress would be one of a plethora of options.
I learnt a lot of web dev when I was a teenager. Then went off to uni to do a computer science degree and have now been working in the field for the last 14 years.
If anyone thinks CSS is easy, check out https://tenor.com/view/family-guy-css-open-window-... ! Give me a pissed off customer and a difficult bug to work on over doing a load of CSS
I learnt a lot of web dev when I was a teenager. Then went off to uni to do a computer science degree and have now been working in the field for the last 14 years.
If anyone thinks CSS is easy, check out https://tenor.com/view/family-guy-css-open-window-... ! Give me a pissed off customer and a difficult bug to work on over doing a load of CSS
I've been working as a Senior Full Stack Developer for nearly 10 years, and managed dev teams. Self taught pretty much everything I know.
Started by learning basic HTML/CSS, and then got a job in a small web agency as a Junior Developer.
Then taught myself PHP/MySQL and moved on to more complex stuff including SQL Optimisation and Linux server configuration.
Most recent job is at a large company that uses Coldfusion (I know!), and MSSQL - Both of which, I've never touched in my life until about 12 months ago when I got the job
- But I like a challenge, and only took a few weeks to get up to speed.
Started by learning basic HTML/CSS, and then got a job in a small web agency as a Junior Developer.
Then taught myself PHP/MySQL and moved on to more complex stuff including SQL Optimisation and Linux server configuration.
Most recent job is at a large company that uses Coldfusion (I know!), and MSSQL - Both of which, I've never touched in my life until about 12 months ago when I got the job
- But I like a challenge, and only took a few weeks to get up to speed.D1on said:
What are peoples opinions on the bootcamps and online courses? As opposed to the likes of the open university...
If you're looking for online courses, I'd recommend Udemy. It's best to wait for a sale as you'll get the courses for £10-12. I bought Colt Steele's web developer bootcamp course last year (https://www.udemy.com/course/the-web-developer-bootcamp/).Got to the part where Javascript begins and never completed it and got the itch again to get back into web dev so am going through the course from scratch again, relearning the basics. I'd highly recommend it as it goes through basics really well, HTML is surprisingly easy to pick up as it's a markup language unlike Java/C/Python etc which are you high level programming languages. When it come's to bootcamps, I know General Assembly does both a full stack, full 3 month course that costs around £8000, and a part time online or in-person 10 week Front End course for £3k. Also wouldn't mind an opinion on these as it's genuinely tempting.
Edited by 75Black on Sunday 17th May 20:04
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