#basic web development

Welcome to the exciting journey of becoming a web developer! In today’s digital age, the web is an integral part of our lives, and web development is at the heart of it all. If you’re an absolute beginner with little or no prior experience in programming or web development, fear not. This guide is designed to be your compass, your starting point, and your trusted companion as you embark on this incredible adventure.

Imagine being able to create your own websites, build web applications, and even pursue a career in one of the most dynamic and in-demand industries. Whether you aspire to showcase your portfolio, launch an online business, or simply quench your curiosity about the inner workings of the internet, this journey begins with a single step, and that step starts here.

In the coming chapters, we will demystify web development, one concept at a time. You’ll learn the fundamental building blocks: HTML for structuring content, CSS for styling, and JavaScript for interactivity. We’ll explore the tools and technologies that power the web and guide you through the process of crafting your very first web page.

But this journey is not just about the technical aspects; it’s about unleashing your creativity, problem-solving skills, and the joy of making things come to life on the internet. So, let’s dive in, hands-on and step by step, as we transform you from a complete novice to a confident web app developers. Buckle up, and let’s embark on this adventure together!

What is Web Development?

Web development is the process of building and maintaining websites and web applications. It involves a combination of skills, including programming, design, and problem-solving.

Web developers use various programming languages, frameworks, and tools to create websites and web-based software that can run on web browsers.

Here’s a beginner’s roadmap or “stature” for web development:

**1. HTML (HyperText Markup Language):

Start with HTML, the backbone of web development.

Learn how to structure content using HTML elements.

Understand tags, attributes, headings, paragraphs, lists, and links.

2. CSS (Cascading Style Sheets):

Dive into CSS to control the appearance and layout of web pages.

Learn about selectors, properties, values, and styling rules.

Explore layout techniques, such as flexbox and grid.

3. JavaScript:

Begin your journey into JavaScript, the programming language of the web.

Learn about variables, data types, and operators.

Understand control structures like if statements and loops.

Get familiar with functions and event handling.

4. Responsive Web Design:

Learn how to make your websites look good on various screen sizes.

Study media queries and responsive design principles.

Practice mobile-first development.

5. Version Control (Git):

Start using Git to track changes in your code.

Create a GitHub or GitLab account to collaborate and showcase your projects.

6. Basic Text Editor/IDE:

Choose a text editor or integrated development environment (IDE) to write your code.

Some popular options include Visual Studio Code, Sublime Text, and Atom.

7. Web Hosting and Domain Basics:

Understand the concepts of web hosting and domain names.

Learn how to upload your website to a web server.

8. Introduction to Front-End Development Frameworks:

Explore popular front-end libraries and frameworks like Bootstrap and jQuery.

Understand their advantages and when to use them.

9. Introduction to Back-End Development:

Learn about back-end development languages like Node.js, Python, or Ruby.

Understand how back-end servers work and interact with databases.

10. Databases and SQL:

- Get acquainted with databases and structured query language (SQL).

- Learn how to create, read, update, and delete data in a database.

11. Web Development Tools and DevOps:

- Familiarize yourself with developer tools for debugging and testing.

- Explore basic DevOps concepts like continuous integration and deployment (CI/CD).

12. Practice, Projects, and Portfolio:

- Build small projects to apply what you’ve learned.

- Create a portfolio website to showcase your work.

- Contribute to open-source projects or collaborate with others.

13. Advanced Topics (As you progress):

- Dive deeper into JavaScript with frameworks like React, Angular, or Vue.js.

Explore back-end frameworks like Express.js (Node.js), Django (Python), or Ruby on Rails.

Learn about APIs, authentication, and security best practices.

When I started as part of Team Alpha at Awesome Inc, I had no clue what kind of things that I would be doing. I knew that I was there to learn, but I had no clue how absolutely brilliant and driven all the people there were. But one thing always stood out as a crucial background of Awesome Inc: coding and programming.

Whoa, I felt behind, because I had never taken one class or learned anything about it. It was just a foreign language that I didn’t feel like I needed to know, simply because I felt like it wasn’t my area of expertise, nor would it ever be. As a few months progressed, I realized that my wanting to learn how to code wasn’t coming from any sort of pressure, it came from the excitement that Awesome Inc provides.

When you’re at Awesome Inc, you tell someone of your work, and they reply, “Awesome”, it makes me smile. Awesome Inc exists to create an awesome environment, so when I found myself itching to learn and be part of a community that knows how to do these amazing things, I couldn’t have been more proud to be part of this place.

I took that itch to learn how to code and finally signed up for the Awesome Inc U Basic Web Development Course. Again, I had never tried to learn how to do this kind of stuff before. I didn’t know what any of it meant or how people even understood it. All I knew was that I wanted to have some sort of understanding of what it all was.

That Saturday, I was kind of nervous because I thought that everyone would know more than me and I’d fall behind, but full of hope and enthusiasm, I had a blast at the class and learned more than I ever thought possible. It turns out that the basics of this supposed language isn’t that difficult! Granted, I took an introductory class, but at least having a grasp of what was going on made me feel like I could do something with it and really apply it. A couple hours of learning and having fun reminded me of why I love being a part of Team Alpha and the overall Awesome Inc community. Everyone, no matter what, is here to grow as a person and as an intellect, and that’s what being awesome is all about.

It’s a pretty well-known fact that speaking many languages makes you cooler. Bradley Cooper, Will Smith, and Charlize Theron are just a handful of multilingual celebrities. I also speak multiple languages, English and Tagalog, but it’s totally up to you whether you think I’m cool or not. I’ve been around both languages my entire life so learning them came naturally. However, I’ve been around one language for all my life but I still don’t know how to “speak” it. That language is HTML. It’s one of the most common languages used for web development and can be found anywhere on the Internet.

Taking a class at Awesome Inc U is going to change that. Awesome Inc U is offering a crash course in Basic Web Development, which will teach HTML among other things. The class will be held on December 7th from 12pm to 6pm. Prices are $50 for students and $100 for non-students. The class is open to all skill levels so all you need to bring is a computer and your smiling face. Nick Such and Brian Raney will be the instructors for this edition of Awesome Inc U. Coding is all around us and Awesome Inc U is there to help you learn it, one class at a time.