What is the Best Language to learn?

[gmono]

Hi,
I've thought myself Dreamweaver, Frontpage and a bit of Flash - can someone tell me which would be the best programming language to learn if I want to get into Web Design?
Thanks

 

[BabyJeffy]

Javascript (as a client-side language that can also be used server-side for ASP). The syntax and structure is similar enough that you will also find PHP (a server-side scripting environment) a breeze to get to grips with.

All the best,
Jeff

 

[ChrisHunt]

Start with HTML and CSS, you'll never understand anything about web-based technologies without a solid grounding in these two. Try

http://www.htmldog.com/

for tutorials.

Javascript is useful for client-side programming (don't bother with VBscript - it only works on MS browsers). However, there are plenty of sites out there offering ready-made javascripts to do most things you're likely to want, so learning to write your own may not be a priority.

You can build richer client-side behaviours, games for example, with Flash or Java. They're less useful for mainstream web development.

Server-side languages are useful - ASP and PHP are popular, and Perl is powerful, if a little less friendly to the non-programmer.

Your choice will depend on what you want to do, what technologies you have available, and what you know already.

-- Chris Hunt
Webmaster & Tragedian
Extra Connections Ltd

 

[gmono]

Thanks guys, Chris - I have html already - I did it in college, along with VB and C - so I have the basics - I'm a network engineer but would like to go down the Web Design road full time in a couple of years.
So have you any other suggestions?

 

[Foamcow]

Get yourself a good understanding of Web Standards and the use of semantic markup. Server side, personally I'd go with PHP, but if you are an MS person then you may find ASP more to your liking. Can't ever hurt to learn the basics in both though. You never know what a client may throw at you.

Depending on the sort of work you will be doing (i.e. what you class as "web design") a broad overview of technologies such as XML and XSLT, XMLHTTP, SOAP etc. Not necessarily to actually use them but so as you understand where they may be useful. It's also handy in case a client throws you a question

You might also find it useful to become proficient in the use of graphics apps such as Photoshop.

Foamcow Heavy Industries - Web design and ranting
Target Marketing Communications - Advertising, Direct Marketing and Public Relations
I wonder what possesses people to make those animated gifs. Do you just get up in the morning and think, "You know what web design r

 

[rhettl]

I've gotten myself into several areas, all on Microsoft platform, starting out with Dreamweaver myself. ASP was fine for me for a long time, and for a lot of the intranet designs I've done this has been my best choice, and now progressed to ASP.NET but now using Visual Studio - a whole new game for me. However, it depends on where you are looking for your clients and what hosts are predominantly offering, and this I find personally to be along the lines of PHP.

I tend to steer clear of client-side scripting like Javascript, and since I only use it for the extra effect on a site, I don't consider it as valuable an investment of my time to learn it more. Why not give a few a try? Like myself, familiar with most but proficient in one I think is best.

 

[cian]

There is no "best language" as such. As mentioned HTML/CSS is a must know. JS is useful and if you want to go server side then i'd recommend PHP simply because it's probably the easiest to learn and also there is a wealth of tutorials/scripts/etc already available online.

 

[GUJUm0deL]

Aside from HTML (which you already know), CSS, and JavaScript, i'd suggest server-side scripting such as Coldfusion, ASP or PHP. Since i'm partial to Coldfusion, i'm going to highly praise CF.

You might also want to conside some databasing skills since most sites now are dynamic with the bulk of its data stored in databases (SQL Server, MySQL, Oracle) and along with learning database you obviously need SQL.

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