Where to begin with web development/design

I'm just beginning, not sure of the best approach starting off!

[Malogna03]

Hello,
I am a recent college grad with a BS in computational math. I hadn't gotten a real taste of web development/design until I was too far into my college curriculum to change directions.

I would like to pursue web development/design to a point where I can eventually have a career in the field. Can anyone tell me what is the best approach to begin learning from the ground up? My only background is two college courses in C programming, and simple script writing for my current job.

I've heard to start learning HTML/XHTML & CSS, then learn PHP & SQL. But should I start with more advanced C programming, Java, or Visual Basic before getting into those topics?

I would probably prefer to start down the web development path first, then get into more design related areas later...

Thanks!

[rocknbil]

Digest this site.

webpagesthatsuck.com [webpagesthatsuck.com]

If you can "get" most of it, and stick to your guns when people suggest Stupid Web Tricks, you'll be light years ahead of most designers/developers out there. Most designers come to it late and all they can seem to do is argue and justify their designs, and plod forward committing web crimes. Start there, you'll be ahead of the game.

Second would be this very site. Understand why you would choose XHTML over HTML. It's all here.

[ProblemSolver]

Hi Malogna03,

To pursue a career in web design you need to start with HTML/XHTML and CSS, then PHP/SQL, and also some JavaScript, all this should be easy for you with your background.

Java or visual basic is programming language it's not directly related to web design, but can still be useful.

Also get some tutorials for photoshop, illustrator, dream weaver and flash.

A good website to go to is w3schools.

Wish you the best of luck,

ProblemSolver

[wheel]

I would like to pursue web development/design to a point where I can eventually have a career in the field. Can anyone tell me what is the best approach to begin learning from the ground up? My only background is two college courses in C programming, and simple script writing for my current job.

That's awfully vague. You mean you want to be a programmer? Just for websites? Why the restriction?

The basics of HTML you can learn in 15 minutes. Everything else you need to know you can pick up using reference material when and as needed. Same with CSS.

If you're learning java/C/VM, why are you restricting yourself to the web. These things are client side programs so the fact that they're attached to the web isn't much more than 'your input is untrusted'. If you can program that stuff well, go get a job at some huge financial company, get a regular and decent paycheck with benefits. THere's nothing special about the web from a programming perspective. Just the opposite.

Unless you're going to be a designer? Learn about page layout? Conversions? What about form design - that's a whole field in itself. Bad idea for most technical people.

Web programming is a highly competitive field, treated fairly menially and with serious competitive pressures from offshore. I used to pay $150/hour or so to perl programmers. Now I pay handsomely at $30/hour for php programmers - I could probably offshore it for half that or less. THis is the career choice you want to go? My gawd, this is why your mother wanted you to be a doctor - at least do something that is likely to end up profitable :).

In my opinion, the fun stuff (i.e. the profitable stuff) is marketing and sales on the web. Development is a minor tool in that end goal. A math background surprisingly can be fairly helpful in that career, and a bit of programming doesn't hurt. Consider setting up your own website and learning to market it profitablyl - that way you'll learn both aspects; the development and the marketing.