Beginner web development questions

[JtheRipper]

Hi there,

I want to start to learn how to do web development. I do have some background using Macromedia's Coldfusion, but want some feedback from some more experienced users.

- What is the best tool to use?
I read alot about Dreamweaver, can someone give me some
advice whether to make use of that or to stay clear,
especially for a beginner such as myself?
- Any good sites/books that one can get to get off to a
good start?
- How does the hosting of your web pages work?

Any good advice/pointers will be much appreciated.

Thanks,
J.

 

[TheConeHead]

The best advice I can think of is avoid dreamweaver or anything of the like while you are starting out... get yourself a good reference book for whatever language you are learning (html, javascript, asp, coldfusion,...) and work in a text editor (notepad,...) - that way you will understand the code - using a ww like dreamweaver will give you an end product but you will not neccessarily understand how it got there...

 

[ecobb]

If you're using ColdFusion, then you probably already have ColdFusion Studio or Homesite. If you don't, get it. (It's pretty much the same program, just renamed a few years ago) It's an awsome coding tool, that offers the same features as notepad, but color codes tags and has tons of html and cfml help files.


Hope This Helps!

ECAR
ECAR Technologies, LLC

http://www.ecartech.com

"My work is a game, a very serious game." - M.C. Escher

 

[GUJUm0deL]

I'd suggest combining TheConeHead and ECAR's ideas. Since you already have CF experience then no doubt you used their CF Studio one time or another. Avoiding DW for a beginner is a good idea mainly so that you can get the knowledge of how to write HTML code from scratch.

One of the biggest mistakes a web designer does when they start learning from DW (or any editor) is they don't understand how to read HTML.

For online references try:

http://htmlgoodies.com/tutorials/getting_started/

or do a google search on HTML for beginners

In order to publish your site on the world wide web, you need a hosting compnay (unless you want to host your own site, which isn't recommended for a beginner). A hosting company houses all your files, images, etc. When a user wants to see a page (via a URL link) the hosting company's server gets the files, reads it and shows them on the browser. NOTE: this a dumbed down explanation on hosting pages, to get an better understanding do a google search for hosting)

[sub]
____________________________________
Just Imagine.

http://www.imajinarts.com

[sub]

 

[JtheRipper]

Hi All,

Thanks for all your valuable input and pointers. Anyone know of any good books to buy for learning html code that actually explains what you are doing instead of just doing a "hello world" example?

Thanks,
J.

 

[Kjonnnn]

I really luv Dreamweaver MX 2004. If you got the money for the Studio .... better.

 

[Kjonnnn]

Don't invalidate the value of "Hello World" .. but go and save the HTML from lives sites and play with those too.

 

[GUJUm0deL]

I've always been partial to the "Bible" series of tech books. They are very well written and expressed from a total beginner POV all the way to a advanced POV.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0764532200/102-3753551-2265735?v=glance

[sub]
____________________________________
Just Imagine.

http://www.imajinarts.com

[sub]

 

[TheConeHead]

Way back when I just got "Hip Pocket Guide to HTML 4" - just a reference book and started with that ... viewing source from other sites is a good idea - copy and paste and then play around with it....

 

[JtheRipper]

Thanks guys for all the info, will definately be having a look at existing code of live pages.

J.

 

[Volk359]

This is a pretty handy pop up for your desktop:

http://www.visibone.com/popups/

The site has lots of other useful stuff, too.

 

[ChrisHunt]

It's difficult to recommend a book for you - we all have our own preferences and reading/learning habits. I personally like the O'Reilly "animal" books, but they might not suit you.

I suggest you find a big bookshop and browse through their shelves to find something that "speaks your language".

-- Chris Hunt
Webmaster & Tragedian
Extra Connections Ltd

 

[jazz88]

I also prefer O'Reilly series.