Web development is the building and maintenance of websites and web applications. It is basically what happens behind the scene in order to make websites and web apps look good and function in an intended way. Web developers get all these done with markup and programming languages. So, to get started in web development, you need to learn markup languages such as HTML and CSS at least. Then to go far, you must know programming languages such as JavaScript, Python, C#, and/or more.
Getting started in web development could vary based on geographical locations in my opinion. The way one needs to get started in the West, where there is defined access to the needed equipment and infrastructures, might be different from how an African needs to get started. This piece is not particularly dedicated to how an inhabitant of Africa needs to get started, it is for everybody irrespective of where they inhabit, but it goes a long way in helping Africans more.
1. START ON A SMARTPHONE
Personally, I didn't start on a phone, but that was because I never knew I could code on phone. To get started on a phone, I recommend downloading the Sololearn, Mimo, and ACode mobile Apps. When I discovered Mimo and Sololearn Apps, coding became much more fun as I felt I was playing games because I'm a lover of games. On getting to know Sololearn, learning the basics became easier for me. Sololearn is like a social media platform where you can post to ask questions, code using a built-in editor, and even compete with other coders in challenges. But to get far in coding, bear in mind you must code on a computer.
2. HUNT FOR FREE RESOURCES
Make platforms such as W3Schools, freeCodeCamp, MDN, and YouTube your friends. If you can learn by reading articles, then MDN and W3schools might be the best platforms for you. If you like to learn from videos, then scroll all the way to YouTube. You can learn the basics of whatever you want to learn on W3Schools and subscribe to web dev channels such as freeCodeCamp, Traversy Media, and Clever Programmers on YouTube.
3. GO FOR PAID RESOURCES
The best platform I would suggest for paid courses is Udemy. Udemy has tons of courses on web development one could take. On a normal day, the courses cost over $100, but Udemy does $9.99, $11.99, and $12.99 at some unannounced times. A lot of instructors are generous too sometimes as they create discount coupons. Every paid course also comes with a completion certificate. Other platforms are Coursera and LinkedIn Learning, but I'm yet to spend much time there so I literally have nothing to say about them.
4. PRACTICE
The best way to be sure you know what you're learning is to practice. When you learn from both free and paid resources, the next thing to do is build. Fortunately, a lot of tutors out there have their courses structured on real-world projects, so as you’re learning, you’re also building. You can take this to the next level by freelancing and even getting a full-time job, which does not come with ease.
5. KEEP LEARNING
Once you are confident, make sure you keep learning. The tech world evolves every day and we don't know what programming language or framework might emerge tomorrow. To stay relevant in the field, you must not stop learning. I used to think I would be okay with HTML and CSS, but then I realized I have to learn JavaScript for interactivity, when I got comfortable with JavaScript a little bit, I said I had to pick up a framework, I have picked up a framework and then I realize there are tons of things to learn more. It’s a “never-ending journey”.
CONCLUSION
There are more to getting started in web development. There is the need to get comfortable with both frontend and backend tools such as code editors, browser developer tools, alongside some other necessities based on the correct mindset and mentality. This article only pin-pointed important non-technical steps and would be followed by some other ones – both tutorial-based and others like this.
If you find this article helpful, share with your friends and followers and follow me on my Twitter accounts @koladechris (my personal account) and @chriskaydevs (my brand account), where I spend most of my time tweeting and engaging on programming and web development tips. You can contact me via my portfolio, ksound22.github.io, I read every message.
Thank you for reading. Keep coding!