I am 19 and really working hard to learn as much as I can so I end up with a good job at the end of it and I can do a lot of web related tasks, this is what I am learning or planning to learn so let me know if you think this is unrealistic or taking on too much. X/HTML XML CSS PHP MySQL & MSSQL PERL JavaScript Flash MX2004 Also I am learning Dreamweaver 2004 MX and Frontpage 2003 because my course wants me to cover them even though I much prefer using Notepad. Anyway, back to what my question is, am I learning too much and will I find it extremely difficult to cover it all?
You can never learn too much. If you want to pass your course, dont you think it is a good idea to learn those 2 programs? Whats there to learn...how to use them? Looks like you are on the right road. 5 years from now...you might think web design and apps suck...move on and get a great gig doing something else. Once you are in that, you might notice something fubar at the company and your previous skills make you the hero. Who knows. Always try to improve your skill set when afforded the opp.
Well I have been interested and making sites for about 3 years and so far am not sick of them (Hope it stays like that), it is only the last 8 months that I have taken it much more seriously and got onto a home course and such. I just worry if I am likely to get confused and mix languages up as I am learning so much, well it feels a lot. Well it is good to hear from someone that it is not too much, thanks for the reply! I spend 24/7 on it to be honest because I wanna be good at it so much.
"I just worry if I am likely to get confused and mix languages up as I am learning so much, well it feels a lot." Let me tell you: in the long run, this doesn't matter. As far as I'm concerned (and a lot of other developers would agree), one of the most important things to have around you is the language manual or whatever it is that you need to remind you about syntax and so on. The important thing about learning to program is not "remember the C++ standard library functions" or "remember how to define a variable in Visual Basic" it's more stuff like "what's a loop?", "how and why do I use pointers?" and "how do I design that database so that it's extensible?". Also, when it comes to web developing, things like "how and when does the browser interact with the server and how does HTTP work?" are good to know, too. So long as you know all of that well, it doesn't matter what language you write it in (picking up a programming language is SIMPLE compared to understanding what it is you are actually trying to develop). BTW, good luck!
My friend is good to learn as much you can...But do know them or you just know <? php ?> and <html></html> you need to practise a lot
Even more than quantity is quality. I recommend you to organize your time and distribuite the subjects. A good option could be start by HTML and Java Script. Flash Mx 2004 will be useful in order to give life and colour to your web design. Php & MySql is easy to learn, only if you have knowledge of basic programming and database theory.
Try picking up Ruby on Rails...I'm guessing it will become even more popular over the next few years. Props for learning so much at 19...at University all I bothered to learn was ASP
When you have no job, no girlfriend and no other responsibilities then what else am I going to do with my time My only focus is the web, lol it sounds sad am sure but I wanna do the best I can.
<joke> Throw in Java or C++ as well </joke> Learn what you have above first. If you manage to become really good at them you will quite easily build stunning websites. But to build really ground breaking applications or better applications you have to be able to think for yourself in 'programming langauaga' - not just keep borrowing existing functions / mods/ classes etc. Best of luck. I admire you're commitment.
Jack of all trades, master of none <--- Not my ideal title.. If it feels like you're taking on too much at once... try cutting down... or try organizing them so you're learning two similar things at once... Like javascript & java... or java & php... once you get the logic or programming down, it's easy to memorize the new syntax in a different language... work on the logic though... PS, make sure you can psuedo-code anything in your head, then work on porting it to a computer language...
Assuming you have limited knowledge of the things you mentioned, this is the order I would put them in: X/HTML CSS JavaScript PHP SQL XML Flash MX2004 PERL I wouldn't even put perl on there personally. When you get that far down the road, you may find another language suits your needs better (e.g., Python). I put XML a little later, because, while easy to learn, you don't have a significant need to use it until you have some server-side scripting down. Flash is a pretty low priority IMO. Again, that's something you could decide on a bit down the road. I'd suggest learning them in groups, with that final group changing once you are actually at that point. (X)HTML/CSS complement each other. JS is an easy intro into programming that you can be a good bridge toward PHP. SQL (in general, since most flavors are fairly similar) is a good step once you are somewhat proficient with PHP (or some other server-side language). Hope that helps
Good suggestions, but the only thing I would change would be moving PHP closer to JavaScript... They share quite a bit of syntax, so if you learn them together, it should make it a little easier... Then once you get proficient with PHP, throw in MySQL... I think too many people make their sites completely too DB-intensive and dependant... Personal opinions though; to each their own..
Great..it's good to learn a bunch of stuff! While you're learning programming, take some time to look at coding methodologies and design patterns. You can use these concepts in whatever language you use. It will help you create code that's more effective, efficient, easier to maintain & scalable.
I think that is fine. You will find commonalities between much of what you learn and that will help you become a well-rounded developer in the long run.
Not at all. You will come to find that the main thing separating most programming languages is syntax. The only problem I've ever had with making one application on VB.net, and making a replica on C++, is the syntax. Learning the basics of one language will automatically give you a mindset to understand the next. This is how one can learn multiple languages, and only need a reference to syntax to "relearn" them. Out of your list, I would think that only Perl, MySQL, JS, and PHP should give you any trouble. Luckily, most classes today are fairly slow paced. I wouldn't worry if I were you.