Web development - the right path?

Hi guys, I have a pretty sound knowledge of HTML and CSS and can build static pages (although to be true, I've never built more than a one-page coded website).

I want to move on to the next step - creating dynamic or full-blown webpages. To this end, I've learnt Javascript and bits of PHP.

I'd like your advice as to which road to go on - it's a confusing overload of information out there, with the majority of technical terms eluding my grasp (such as jQuery, AJAX and others).

So to put it simply, I know HTML/CSS fully, Javascript theoretically (not yet applied) and a bit of PHP. What should I learn next to be a web developer? And can you provide good sources/links to tutorials? I'll be happy to add reps.

Thanks!

 

Stick with PHP and become good at it. 99.9% of what you would ever want to do in a website can be done in PHP, if you explore all the functions. The best place to learn? php.net
Just keep writing pages and trying different things. As you build more complex websites, you'll learn the other stuff out of necessity, like AJAX and jQuery.

 

Thanks ntomsheck Reps added!

 

Constant practicing and making your own code is what a great designer do.You must start solving and learning complex codes of others and get a comfortableness in one or more languages.There is no great language.At the end of the day,its how you are comfortable and adapt with that's matter.

 

What are you actually trying to achieve? Are you looking to design sites for others? Program websites for yourself? Are you looking for a job with a company for their own sites or an agency for clients sites?

 

I'm interested in building dynamic web pages and web applications.

 

Again in what context?

If you are going to be a one man band creating sites for yourself or others then you are going to have to have ok skills in all aspects but are unlikely to be amazing at any of them.

If you are going to work in a larger organisation then you will be expected to have specialised in an area and be very good at that but your skills in the other areas are less important. The bigger the organisation the tighter the specialisation and the higher the expected level of skill.

Likewise, if you are a one man band then any technology would be fine but your probably more sensible to go with the likes of PHP. If your wanting to work for large corporate companies then the likes of .Net and Java/J2EE are much more in demand.

 

Well no one can foretell what life will be in a few years' time but I do plan to be a one-man band (don't like the concept of working for others). To put it in a nutshell, I guess I expect to work in the realm of web development and provide services to others.

Considering that, would your recommend PHP?

 

learn PHP or .NET
you'll make more with .NET, but might have a easier time finding work in PHP

 

Based on your needs I would suggest to go with php

start doing simple tasks in it and when you feel you can work comfortably with php
start moving to one of php frameworks like zend or yii etc

 

Thanks guys Guess PHP would be the right choice!

 

You need to study a web framework as Zend o Symphony to use PHP in a productive way.

 

Stick with PHP, and begin learning mySQL as well.

 

I think you are quite intersted in programming so i recommend you to learn os & mobile based application which is in demanding.

Thanks

 

Iphone, Ipad and android are most popular in the market nowadays...

 

Learn ASP.NET if you want to make the most $$$. PHP is a great language, don't get me wrong. I've been coding both for 10+ years, but I see a lot more opportunities in ASP.NET and of course, Visual Studio 2010 is by far the best IDE.

 

Consider also learning Ruby On Rails...

 

I'd recommend getting familiar with a good CMS like Drupal (for complex sites) and WordPress (for more simple sites). You can do a lot of good organizational things in Drupal without even having to know much PHP - after this stage you can begin to learn more Jquery and PHP which will make your sites look very nice and custom.

I should also mention that Drupal 8 is going to be more multiplatform in the future to get more out of the handheld/cellphone market.