How do I progress personally?

[jimchapuk]

I've been using HTML and CSS for two weeks now. The aim is to build a web site or two. I'm not there yet but it's coming along, a bit frustrating at times but I'm really enjoying it.

I need some opinions on how to progress personally.

Do I buy a book and learn Java script? Should I attend a class or two?. Is learning PHP or AJAX a better way forward? Do I use Dreamweaver? Has anyone got any other suggestions?

I learned HTML/CSS from a book called Teach Yourself in 24 hours by Dick Oliver and Michael Morrison. Is there something better I should read?

I know I can come back here with questions from time to time but I'm keen to work the problems out for myself as much as I can because I learn more that way.

Regards

Jim Walsh

[akapsycho]

I would say now that you know the basics of HTML and CSS, that's all you need to design a basic website. With Google and a helpful forum like this one, all you really need is the basics to be able to understand what you read in searches and what other people tell you.

I would recommend you start learning PHP, I found a great book on http://www.scribd.com. Look around, you can find plenty of resources online.

[drhowarddrfine]

Go to the W3C website and study the HTML and CSS documentation. It's difficult until you get used to it. There is a doc called "How to Read the Specification" or some such. It really helps interpreting things.

Practice making and refining your pages. You'll be surprised with the things you don't know. I am.

You should learn Javascript next. PHP is server side and good but the up and coming languages are Ruby and Python. Both are excellent and easy to learn. I'm leaning toward Ruby, however.

Java is used more than any other language but, perhaps, mostly in the corporate world. Some may say use Perl but, while there are a ton of users, I don't see a reason for new users to learn it except if they work somewhere that uses it.

[gregerly]

Personally speaking, I would learn a server side language before learning javascript. And if your interested in using AJAX, your going to need to know server side programming anyway (for the most part). My basis for this is that I believe that you can do alot more (in the beginning) with a server side language (which ties right in to the basic HTML) than you could with javascript. By "do alot more" i'm reffering to database, dynamic pages, etc... Either way, in the end your going to need to know it all, HTML, CSS, Server side scripting, Javascript, I just think it's more beneficial to learn server side first.

Just my two cents...

Greg

[Death Slaught]

I would go to w3schools.com and learn a browser scripting language like javascript just for the experience then i would learn a server side scripting language like SQL, ASP, ADO, or PHP etc. but before that i would learn XHTML simply because it is a W3C standard and soon it will replace HTML. Good luck with the sites!