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what do i learn next?

hey guys, im a pretty much beginner, and i think that ive got down html and ps, im looking to expand more though - maybe into flash, css, and xhtml? could anyone recommend me on what things i should learn first or some pointers that i should watch out for when learning new things? also are there any good books on these types of subjects or websites? that would be really helpful.

thanks

-win

Try learning php/mysql. And I doubt that if your a beginner you have PS mastered.

If you're a beginner, master HTML, xHTML, and CSS. Then go on to PHP/MySQL. xHTML is pretty much the same as HTML, but with more rules. http://www.w3schools.com/xhtml. You should really learn CSS. It'll make your life much easier. Once done with that, PHP all the way!!

freestyle: i never said i mastered anything, i just said im ready to learn other things.

dhv: thanks for the info ill check out that site

-win

Quote:

Originally posted by freestyle_web
Try learning php/mysql. And I doubt that if your a beginner you have PS mastered.

Quote:

Originally posted by dhv
If you're a beginner, master HTML, xHTML, and CSS. Then go on to PHP/MySQL. xHTML is pretty much the same as HTML, but with more rules. http://www.w3schools.com/xhtml. You should really learn CSS. It'll make your life much easier. Once done with that, PHP all the way!!

Yeah, I agree with that. Maybe learn it like this: HTML> XHTML> CSS> JavaScript>Flash/actionscript(optional)> PHP/MySQL.

XHTML and CSS are kind of like a bundled thing like php and mysql. I suggested javascript in there because it is a relatively simple scripting language that will add some intelligence to your webpages and get you warmed up to other programming lang's like php and such. I'm not too familiar with flash/actionscript but it seemed to fit there and its optional because you don't absolutely need flash but its kind of handy. PHP is of course at the end. Good luck.

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halo2 <3

problem with learning HTML before XHTML is that you have to very quickly change the way you thought about HTML.
but it's useful.. for places like myspace. doesn't allow certain xhtml.. like <br /> or <hr /> (any self ending tag basically)
but yea, only thing I'd change about that order is this..
HTML>CSS>XHTML
CSS is probably (IMO) the most important thing (next to HTML to use it :P)
oh yea, 1 more thing.. you can basically skip javascript all together.. it's pretty much self explanatory if you have html, css, xhtml and if you get to PHP, you'll get it. & if you haven't tried SwishMax, try that.

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Last edited by MinDFreeZ, November 14th, 2004 04:24 AM (Edited 1 times)

thanks for the advice guys, i guess ill go ahead start reading up! .. i guess ill try to learn css then xhtml and then flash , etc

I think it's necessary to learn HTML first if you want to start making pages now. If you have hours much much free time on your hands and really like this stuff, might want to learn XHTML first (you must learn CSS right away). The problem is, with HTML you can do a lot more stuff without CSS than with XHTML 1.1. Granted, CSS is a lot better than HTML for the things they can both do, but if you know HTML, you don't have to know CSS to make a decent page. With XHTML 1.1/1.0 strict you do.

So, basically, HTML > CSS > XHTML is my recommendation, since (right now) it's still very easy to switch to XHTML once you know HTML and CSS. This may change in a few years though.

After that, there are two ways you can go:
1) Become a 'professional web designer', which in most cases means ripping people off for a layout made entirely in Photoshop and sliced up in ImageReady or coded in Dreamweaver. For this, flash/actionscript and Javascript are a must, since you'll need a lot of flashy effects on pages to make them more 'impressive' for the clients who just don't know better.
2) Become a web programmer, which involves learning PHP and also ASP (not instead of PHP) if you want to go pro (most rich clients use ASP/.NET). Working with databases (SQL language, using MySQL) is a must as well. You also want to know Javascript just in case, but it's not very important, so learn it in the background while you're learning the other stuff. Might want to also learn Perl, even though it isn't as popular nowadays.

By my biased writing style in this case, you can tell which way I prefer So yeah, after you've mastered markup and CSS, go for PHP and SQL. However, if you consider Photoshop a necessary skill in making web pages (not saying you are), maybe #1 is the way for you.

Good luck

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Learn HTML

thanks hockey that was a pretty detailed analysis of the roads to take. its like im kinda choosing which direction of my life i am going to goto : door #1 or door #2 ::bandit::

thanks

-win

Quote:

Originally posted by Ynhockey
I think it's necessary to learn HTML first if you want to start making pages now. If you have hours much much free time on your hands and really like this stuff, might want to learn XHTML first (you must learn CSS right away). The problem is, with HTML you can do a lot more stuff without CSS than with XHTML 1.1. Granted, CSS is a lot better than HTML for the things they can both do, but if you know HTML, you don't have to know CSS to make a decent page. With XHTML 1.1/1.0 strict you do.

So, basically, HTML > CSS > XHTML is my recommendation, since (right now) it's still very easy to switch to XHTML once you know HTML and CSS. This may change in a few years though.

After that, there are two ways you can go:
1) Become a 'professional web designer', which in most cases means ripping people off for a layout made entirely in Photoshop and sliced up in ImageReady or coded in Dreamweaver. For this, flash/actionscript and Javascript are a must, since you'll need a lot of flashy effects on pages to make them more 'impressive' for the clients who just don't know better.
2) Become a web programmer, which involves learning PHP and also ASP (not instead of PHP) if you want to go pro (most rich clients use ASP/.NET). Working with databases (SQL language, using MySQL) is a must as well. You also want to know Javascript just in case, but it's not very important, so learn it in the background while you're learning the other stuff. Might want to also learn Perl, even though it isn't as popular nowadays.

By my biased writing style in this case, you can tell which way I prefer So yeah, after you've mastered markup and CSS, go for PHP and SQL. However, if you consider Photoshop a necessary skill in making web pages (not saying you are), maybe #1 is the way for you.

Good luck

Or become both.