Best Learning Path for a Web Development Beginner?

[EcstaticRice6188]

Hi everyone,
I’m new to WebmasterWorld and also completely new to web development.
I’ve been wanting to learn how to build websites, but honestly I’m a bit confused about where to start because there are so many tutorials, courses, and different technologies out there.
I’d really appreciate any beginner-friendly advice, resources, or roadmaps that helped you when you were starting out.

[not2easy]

Hello EcstaticRice6188 and welcome to WebmasterWorld [webmasterworld.com]

You're right, there are a lot of tutorials and courses out there but there are also self help places that have been around for decades. Well known and reliable and free. One place I'd suggest is the www.w3schools.com site where they explain each step and let you try out your work and learn at your own pace.

Another place you can look around and read more about building websites and maintaining them is this site, it is a giant library of learning, often you can learn from others' mistakes. Start at the forum's Index that lists all the forums, so you can read about the various things you need to know: [webmasterworld.com...] The Index can help you find your topic of interest and each forum has a Charter and a Library of some important, helpful topics - those are on the dropdown Forum Options menu at the top, right under the title.

For your benefit, that welcome link above offers tips on using the forums' features and settings.

[explorador]

I’d really appreciate any beginner-friendly advice, resources, or roadmaps that helped you when you were starting out.

I highly suggest w3Schools. The examples are clear and in the right order for learning.

[Kendo]

Most web developers these days start with WordPress and select a theme and plugins to suit the desired scenario.

Not much more is need than familiarity with installing WordPress plugins. Then you have an online page editor to create web pages - it is very easy sailing from there and that is the extent of the skillset that most web developers have today.

[not2easy]

and that is the extent of the skillset that most web developers have today.

and also why there is an endless stream of scripted bots to cause them headaches.

[thecoalman]

1. Get a decent editor, Notepad++ for example.
[notepad-plus-plus.org...]

2. Head to W3Schools for the fundamentals so you're not just the typical cake decorator.
[w3schools.com...]

3. php.net, the comments in the manual provide excellent examples.
[php.net...]

4. Install XAMPP or some other local server for testing and development.
[apachefriends.org...]

5. Install Drupal or some other web application on local server and break it. :)
[new.drupal.org...]

[mack]

I tend to disagree with WordPress being all you need. A developer doesn't just install plugins and templates. They can create a template from scratch and write their own plugins. Someone who knows how to code will quickly discover that WordPress is good at everything but great at nothing. It is designed to be useful for the masses, so the features you want to use will be hidden within menus for things other people want to use.

There is certainly a place for WordPress, but don't call yourself a web developer if the limit of your ability is installing a content management system and add-ons. That's just using something developed by someone else.

To be a developer, you need some knowledge. HTML/CSS is a good starting point. A scripting language such as PHP will also help you out a great deal.

Mack.

[thecoalman]

Someone who knows how to code will quickly discover that WordPress is good at everything but great at nothing.

Back in the early 2000's I had some decent knowledge of HTML/CSS and I installed phpBB. I didn't know a bit of PHP. At the time modifications were manually installed using instructions (memories of copying code out of magazines for C64).

OPEN includes/functions.php

FIND

$a = $b

AFTER ADD

$c = $d 

...........

This process was a very good learning process and helped spur me to learn PHP. Today modifications can be installed with extensions as they are for most web applications. It can often be difficult to find something that does exactly what you want to do especially if it's minor thing.

I do use two extensions available on phpBB.com but my forum still remains heavily modified with custom code.

[graeme_p]

I agree with learn HTML and CSS to start with. The consider what skills to supplement it with. You should learn at least the basics of how HTTP works, and some programming. Some systems admin skills are good too.

I am not a huge fan of w3schools (although I know they have improved a lot, I got put off by the period when they were bad). Maybe look at MDN [developer.mozilla.org ]

I also strongly recommend learning by doing. Set up a simple static website on shared hosting. Start adding to it. Add dynamic elements. As you learn decide what best suites you - design or programming, front end or backend etc.

developer.mozilla.org Learn web development MDN Welcome to MDN Learning Web Development (also known as Learn). This resource provides a structured set of tutorials teaching the essential skills and practices for being a successful front-end developer, along with challenges and further recommended resources.