Anyone know any really good web design tutorial sites? - Page 2

Dinthug · 10-14-2009, 02:46 AM

I went for Web and Application development and took courses in a lot of what you are talking about. I ended up stopping school before finishing my major because I thought it was easy enough to learn on my own. I may go back and finish my degree, but it seems like you're in the field. Is there still a good demand for web developers? I was thinking of either changing my major to Architecture, Engineering, Database Administration, or Networking. I'm good at art (drawing, painting, sculpting, carving, graphic design, etc.), so I'd like a career where I'm at least doing drafting or whatnot.

simeon · 10-14-2009, 12:13 PM

I'm graduating with a C.S. degree in December going into a software engineering job. You'd be hard pressed to find a job that has you as a software engineer not designing thin / web app based systems. I'm talking almost exclusively as a server-side programmer. I'm not sure of the market when it comes to front end / GUI stuff, but I'm sure it's more competitive, but regardless, nearly everything is web based.

To give you a perspective: I have had over 10 different companies interview me in the past 2 months, 6 have flown me out, 5 have given me job offers, and I'm still interviewing. Google on Friday - huzzah.

But to warn you, a lot of the 'bigger' companies that are more competitive for their software engineering positions, even though it's technically 'web development' you are required to have a solid C.S algorithmic / data structures knowledge. I am graduating from a university that has a separate web-development sequence for an Information Systems degree, and from my experience, you get a lot of 'application' but not enough theory to make you well rounded.

If you can handle it, get a C.S. degree. It makes you well rounded and more performance driven.

Usha Starchild · 10-22-2009, 06:26 AM

Just another quick question. Is it worth it to set up a home web server for testing while learning to develop? If so do I need a domain name or can I just link though the network address? My credit card expired a few months ago and I have to go back to Canada to renew, so Im out of luck on getting a hosting package right now.

Lenas · 10-22-2009, 12:25 PM

Testing can be done without any actual hosting. If you are on a Windows machine, look into WAMP. Install it, and anything you put in the wamp\www\ directory will act as if it's live on the internet when you run "http://localhost/<project name>" in a browser.

simeon · 10-22-2009, 05:37 PM

Setting up a local server is essential. You can take the direct WAMP route, or get an IDE (integrated development environment) that allows you to do all of your coding and testing in one 'application'.

I'd highly recommend Eclipse. It's an amazing IDE and best of all it's free. It's core originally focused on Java, but they do have a version that allows for PHP development (see: PHP Development Tools Project). Honestly, if you're even pseudo-serious, getting a feel for Eclipse is paramount since many companies use some corporate version (Rational Application Developer, WSAD, etc. etc) built by IBM. (Eclipse was originally created by IBM and given to the open source community).

Even though it may seem 'heavy' on features, it is very easy to use and allows for expansion if you decide to get more advanced. Back to the original topic, it lets you create/start/stop local servers directly in the IDE.

If anything - play around with it. It's pretty neat.

Fog · 10-23-2009, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simeon

Setting up a local server is essential. You can take the direct WAMP route, or get an IDE (integrated development environment) that allows you to do all of your coding and testing in one 'application'.

I'd highly recommend Eclipse. It's an amazing IDE and best of all it's free. It's core originally focused on Java, but they do have a version that allows for PHP development (see: PHP Development Tools Project). Honestly, if you're even pseudo-serious, getting a feel for Eclipse is paramount since many companies use some corporate version (Rational Application Developer, WSAD, etc. etc) built by IBM. (Eclipse was originally created by IBM and given to the open source community).

Even though it may seem 'heavy' on features, it is very easy to use and allows for expansion if you decide to get more advanced. Back to the original topic, it lets you create/start/stop local servers directly in the IDE.

If anything - play around with it. It's pretty neat.

I'd like to offer an opposing view -- Eclipse is the standard IDE for Java, and it may very well be best (I haven't used alternatives) but it's definitely not the best or even a very good general-purpose text editor, or a good IDE for other languages not on the JVM.

You would be better served by learning to use a real general-purpose text editor, which is something that will last you a lifetime. I use Emacs, but opinions vary. (I can vouch particularly for the quality of TextMate on OS X.) Many programmers' text editors allow you to do everything and more Eclipse will offer with the appropriate customization (e.g. syntax highlighting & formatting, statement completion, integrated documentation, control of external tools) and they will work just as well if you use a different language on your next project.

10-14-2009, 12:13 PM	#17 (permalink)
simeon Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bloomington, IL Posts: 927 +8 Internets	I'm graduating with a C.S. degree in December going into a software engineering job. You'd be hard pressed to find a job that has you as a software engineer not designing thin / web app based systems. I'm talking almost exclusively as a server-side programmer. I'm not sure of the market when it comes to front end / GUI stuff, but I'm sure it's more competitive, but regardless, nearly everything is web based. To give you a perspective: I have had over 10 different companies interview me in the past 2 months, 6 have flown me out, 5 have given me job offers, and I'm still interviewing. Google on Friday - huzzah. But to warn you, a lot of the 'bigger' companies that are more competitive for their software engineering positions, even though it's technically 'web development' you are required to have a solid C.S algorithmic / data structures knowledge. I am graduating from a university that has a separate web-development sequence for an Information Systems degree, and from my experience, you get a lot of 'application' but not enough theory to make you well rounded. If you can handle it, get a C.S. degree. It makes you well rounded and more performance driven. Last edited by simeon; 10-22-2009 at 05:26 PM.. Reason: Damn grammar.

10-22-2009, 12:25 PM	#19 (permalink)
Lenas Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,859	Testing can be done without any actual hosting. If you are on a Windows machine, look into WAMP. Install it, and anything you put in the wamp\www\ directory will act as if it's live on the internet when you run "http://localhost/<project name>" in a browser. __________________ 360 / PSN - LenasUchiha

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes	Rate This Thread
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode	Rate This Thread:

10-22-2009, 06:26 AM	#18 (permalink)
Usha Starchild Still in China Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,437	Just another quick question. Is it worth it to set up a home web server for testing while learning to develop? If so do I need a domain name or can I just link though the network address? My credit card expired a few months ago and I have to go back to Canada to renew, so Im out of luck on getting a hosting package right now.

10-22-2009, 05:37 PM	#20 (permalink)
simeon Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bloomington, IL Posts: 927 +8 Internets	Setting up a local server is essential. You can take the direct WAMP route, or get an IDE (integrated development environment) that allows you to do all of your coding and testing in one 'application'. I'd highly recommend Eclipse. It's an amazing IDE and best of all it's free. It's core originally focused on Java, but they do have a version that allows for PHP development (see: PHP Development Tools Project). Honestly, if you're even pseudo-serious, getting a feel for Eclipse is paramount since many companies use some corporate version (Rational Application Developer, WSAD, etc. etc) built by IBM. (Eclipse was originally created by IBM and given to the open source community). Even though it may seem 'heavy' on features, it is very easy to use and allows for expansion if you decide to get more advanced. Back to the original topic, it lets you create/start/stop local servers directly in the IDE. If anything - play around with it. It's pretty neat.