How I Taught Myself Web Development
I wasn’t always interested in web development. I never was one of the people you’ve read about that began making websites at a young age. The only exposure I really ever had was tinkering with the HTML on my “Myspace” page. Those of you who don’t know what Myspace is…you have just made me feel kind of old. So you might be asking why did I go through the trouble to teach myself in the first place. In my case, as is probably some of yours who are reading this, it’s because I didn’t enjoy my job at the time and I was looking for a change.
I was working as an IT Analyst for a very large company. I would answer phones all day and provide technical assistance to customers. I appreciate the opportunity given there and learned a lot that has helped me in my current position. But, the job just wasn’t a good fit for me. However, I was very limited in my opportunities elsewhere because I lacked a college degree. Knowing that there was an increasing demand for web developers and that I was eager to learn a new skill, I started on a journey to teach myself. Following these steps eventually led me to land a job as a developer within a year. I know with confidence that if you follow these steps you will be on your way to your next job!
Tools of the trade:
All you need to get started is basic text editor. I’ve provided a link with a list of some of the best free text editors available Free Text Editors. I am currently using Sublime Text, which I have grown to love. I recommend not spending too much time on this. In the end they all do the same thing.
Step One:
What is it you need to learn? Basically, it comes down to three things:
- HTML (Framework of the house)
- CSS (Color and design of the house)
- JavaScript (What gets the water running and lights turned on)
Its important that you learn these subjects in this order as they build upon each other. It’s important however that you do not need to be a master of HTML before moving on to CSS, just have a basic understanding so that you have a solid foundation on which to build upon. As you progress you will begin to learn more. I still have to google HTML and CSS syntax. Don’t get caught up on memorizing every HTML or CSS tag. What you need to focus on is understanding why you do something and how to do it. Web development is a field where you will always be learning and there is always something new to learn.
Step Two:
Read Read Read! I cannot stress the importance of reading books on web development. My two favorite books are by the author John Duckett:
- “HTML & CSS”
- “JavaScript & JQuery”
These books are extremely well written and beautifully designed. Read the content and practice what you read. These books are written so you can follow along and implement what you’re learning. I recommend doing 30 minutes to 1 hour each day. If this amount of time isn’t possible, just try and get some reading in at least. A little done sometimes is always better than nothing done all the time.
Step Three:
Use tutorials, some may argue against this, but this is what helped me learn. Check out sites like these:
These websites offer great beginner tutorials and can help build a strong foundation. I found that even though you are just following along in a tutorial, you begin to understand how HTML, CSS, and JavaScript all function together. I still use tutorials today to learn new web development skills. It’s important to remember that using tutorials should be done to supplement what you are already reading and practicing. The more you’re able to involve yourself in web development the better!
Step Four:
Just do it! This is the most important step. All of the practice and learning doesn’t matter if you don’t branch out and create something on your own. I know from personal experience that web development can be intimidating. After all of the reading and tutorials you’ve done, you may be a little afraid to try something on your own. I recommended creating your own personal website. Don’t worry if it doesn’t look good, just make one anyways. If you made a webpage in a tutorial, just mimic that one and customize it to fit your needs. Again, you will get better!
Step Five:
This isn’t really a step, but advice. Stay confident. Don’t compare your work to others, as this can be discouraging and deter you from developing your skills further. When you are starting out it’s easy to feel inadequate. One of my favorite quotes is “You are not inadequate, just inexperienced.” Web development is like any other skill, with practice and persistence you will be good.
Conclusion:
This isn’t meant to be the perfect step by step guide to becoming a web developer. This is just what worked for me. Try and see what works for you, everyone is different and will learn in different ways. I hope that this post was helpful on getting you started. Feel free to contact me with any questions or recommendations on other useful resources. Remember to stay confident and practice!
