Learning web oriented programming

[shadowwolf]

I know little about web oriented programming but I want to start learning. I was wondering what programming language I should start with. I want something that I will be able grow off of and use to help myself learn other languages in the future.

Thanks- shadowwolf

[Uriah]

Learn javascript. It's the language of the web. It might also be helpful to learn HTML and CSS at the same time, although those are not programming languages. They are also very simple and easy to learn. If you want to do server side programming primarily then perhaps PHP but afterwards you should still learn javascript IMO.

Also, there's a few things that you can do concerning "web oriented" programming so if you get a little more specific maybe we can help you more in that niche area.

Good luck!

[Schalla]

That's bullshit. Javascript is not the language you should start with, since there is not that much usage without HTML/CSS with it.


I recommend to start with HTML5+CSS3 and after that either JavaScript or PHP. That way you learn how pages are build, and after that how you can manipulate them with JS e.g.

[Uriah]

Schalla: HTML/CSS aren't languages so I didn't specify them in that way. Of course, if learning web development in general you should learn those two first, but since I dont know what he knows and he just asked for a language I gave JS and merely suggested the rest of the tech stack.

So far much as php vs JS goes it really depends on whether you're looking for server side or front end development. I recommended learning JS either way eventually because it's big on the web and will help you understand the other developers you may find yourself working with.

Geoff: I agree with your statement on PHP, but unless server side dev. is what he was looking for he has no choice but JS. I guess our answers our different because we interpreted the question differently. When I see web oriented I think JS because it's the largest player as far as the web is concerned.

OP: Basically: if you're going for client side development: Learn HTML/CSS, and then javascript. If you want to develop on the server side with a language that will help you learn other languages and grow off of, learn PHP. But as Geoff said a rudimentary understanding of the former technologies is important as well, since you might find yourself involved with them a bit every now and then.

[joepie91]

For front-end development, you need HTML/CSS/Javascript. There's not really any way around that. Yes, all of them are languages, just perhaps not *programming* languages.

For back-end development, it depends on your needs.

PHP: Widespread, supported by just about everything, but terribly inconsistent, and generally a poor language/platform.
Python: Strong focus on 'correct' and reliable code, but poor documentation, and HTTPd support is not as good as it should be. Somewhat hostile community.
Node.js: Server-side Javascript.  Good documentation, good platform, but not very widespread (yet). Uses prototypical inheritance, which is different from the classical inheritance that most other languages use. CoffeeScript can be used to make it faster to write.
Ruby: Supposedly makes writing code really fast and easy, but I've never really seen the point of it personally. Known for using a lot of resources and having pretty awful version management, primarily.

Here's a comparison chart: https://docs.google.com/a/cryto.net/spreadsheets/d/1Z0ZQUH3EwTzCF0jJUN5eQZ1P7UFz3gJgjbMFoVDyjfk/edit#gid=0

[shadowwolf]

Thanks for responding. I don't currently plan on getting into web programming, but I do want to have a wider base of knowledge that I can use to help myself learn even more in the future. I think that I am going to try and learn a little bit of both php and javascript.

[0E 800]

I know little about web oriented programming but I want to start learning. I was wondering what programming language I should start with. I want something that I will be able grow off of and use to help myself learn other languages in the future.

Thanks- shadowwolf

Thanks for responding. I don't currently plan on getting into web programming, but I do want to have a wider base of knowledge that I can use to help myself learn even more in the future. I think that I am going to try and learn a little bit of both php and javascript.

I really wish I could learn things as easily as separating skittles by color too.

Unfortunately learning programming languages is not as simple as deciding what to eat for dinner on the following Tuesday.

dafuq?

[shadowwolf]

@0E 800
Believe it or not I'm not just some dumbass skid who wants to "hax de world." I know it's going to take me years to learn new programming languages, and I am not expecting to master these languages in a week. I made this thread because I know very little about web based languages, but I want to learn. I wanted to find out if there was one main language to learn but it seems like both php and javascript have their ups and downs. Because of that I have decided that it would be good for me to eventually have a decent understand of both. I'm just trying to learn about a type of programming that I know almost nothing about.

Thanks anyways, I guess

[techb]

Learn javascript, then do some research on what you want next. Could be a number of web languages.  PHP is probably the biggest atm. SQL or any database software would be good too. But ruby, python, pearl, blah.

Hell, you can even do some pretty neat things with ActionScript. Just depends on what you learn.

[Code.Illusionist]

Schalla: HTML/CSS aren't languages

Are you sure? Because HTML stands for Hyper Text Mrkup LANGUAGE. Css is not a language but it's style for HTML elements, either applyed inside html document or as external .css source .

@Thread: in case you have nooo knowledge with any language go like this :
HTML ( and Css goes with it), PHP (great OOPL) + SQL . But that's all pretty much said in this thread.

[Schalla]

He ment is is not a programming language, but a mark-up language.

[Uriah]

He ment is is not a programming language, but a mark-up language.

Yeah that's what I meant. I should have been more specific though, as not to confuse people who are learning.