Hey guys, I tried searching these forums, and can't seem to find a thread that covers this topic. I have no html or web design experience but have always wanted to learn. I've played around with dreamweaver, but nothing serious ever came out of it. I created one page from it and this is it right here: http://members.cox.net/clcomputerservices/freelaptop/laptop.htm I want to really learn how to code in html and whatever else it takes to make a fully functioning website. I also want to be able to take "signups" and have members. Not a forum, but a way people can sign up and create an account, whether it be an account to shop on my website or an account like a myspace account. If you notice with the website I made, I hosted it on my free webspace from my ISP. I just uploaded the .htm file to the server. So, I would also like to learn about domains, purchasing domains and webspace and installing a website on the space. I have thought about going to school and learning, but school means I have to be there at a certain time and at a certain day. I cannot do that right now. I need something that I can access whenever I have free time. So my question: For my what I'm looking for... is there some kind of a tutorial (either on the web, video, or software) that I can access to learn everything I want to learn? Something preferrable free, but if I have to pay for a good quality tutorial, I am willing to consider purchasing it. I am looking forward to your reponses, and I thank you for your time.
Welcome aboard -- there's so many of them out there, and since you're apparently quite new to Webmastering, I'll point you to a site that will give you a good start, on both HTML and CSS; but I strongly encourage you to learn as much HTML as you can before attempting CSS. The site is here -- "http://www.draac.com" -- I'm sure others will follow with more great sites, such as -- "http://www.w3schools.com"
Back in the 1990s, when I first started learning HTML, I used to read http://webmonkey.com/ but also http://www.htmlhelp.com, if I remember correctly, but not sure if either are good now. However, I think you're better off with http://www.w3schools.com.
My favorites are: http://www.htmlgoodies.com/ http://www.tips-tricks.com/ I highly recommend you learn to code HTML from scratch, even if someday you decide to use a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) editor. (Dreamweaver is a WYSIWYG editor.) At the very least, you'll be able to read the code and fix problems in WYSIWYG code. I also agree that you should learn HTML, then CSS, and then worry about finding a content management system (or whatever other system you want to take signups.)
thank you for all the kind replies, i will be checking out those sites. i have a question that arises from one of the replies. Content Management System: this is something that will allow me to take signups, and be able to give my visitors "accounts" correct? Is Content Management System something I will have to learn separately from HTML and CSS? Is Content Management System another language such as HTML? Any information on Content Management System will be much appreciated. Thanks again!
I never learnt the proper HTML, just using the WYSIWYG editor. NVU HTML editor would be perfect for newbies. Good luck!
A blog is a kind of CMS, maybe that gives you an idea. Most decent websites run some sort of CMS. There are many open source CMS.
CMS are usually written in php, perl, python, cold fusion, asp, or a similar language. CMS typically use a server-side scripting language to handle content, user sign-ups, et cetera, it allows you to focus on the content (hence content management system) rather than coding, et cetera. It's best to learn HTML/CSS first. alterego85 mentioned nvu which is quite nice but also PSPad is a very good editor too, but it doesn't have a WYSIWYG mode (thankfully). Note, PSPAD is Windows-based so if you have Linux or Mac OS X you might prefer bluefish, jedit, vim or similar.
ok so i checked out w3schools, and WOW they've got tutorials on everything. i skimmed through everything and i already have a better understanding of what css, php, asp, sql is. I am now going to go back to the HTML section and learn it in depth, then i'll learn SQL then ill move on to XHTML then CSS. After that I'll learn JavaScript, then ASP, ADO and then PHP. anyone think that's a good path of learning? any of the above things i mentioned that i should skip and probably wouldn't need? anything i should add to the list? thanks
Check this website http://www.tizag.com "Tizag was designed to teach beginner web programmers how to use HTML and CSS. We invite you to begin the tutorials right away." It is free...
Those are all great sites but you may want to also refer to this article since it leaves out all of the more complicated aspects of web design and gives you the basics at a 3rd grade level http://www.funender.com/phpBB2/about17003.html
When I was still an html baby, I just learned thru the books I got from the library. They're quite helpful actually.
I love this place. I'm a HTLM n00b to. And I appreciate the way the people in here are willing to help n00bs out... like me. Much thanx to you all. I'm glad I found this thread.