Korean Job Discussion Forums

[kylehawkins2000]

Hello,

I'm thinking of teaching myself HTML. I've started learning the basics and it seems pretty easy so far. I'm well aware that it will get way more comlicated.

My question is who has experience with learning HTML? What do you think is the best way to learn? Can anyone reccommend and good websites or books? Anyone try the "DUmmies" Or "Complete Idiots" guides?

How long does it take to teach oneself enough to set up a basic website?

Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

[Tiger Beer]

HTML is really easy.. its Javascripts which are near impossible.

The best way is to buy the software for Dreamweaver. It writes all of the code for you.. you just move objects onto the screen and do everything visually.

Later you can see the HTML code and I've just learned to modify very easily..

You can write a page in Dreamweaver in 5 minutes whereas even if you are fluent in HTML the same page might take a few hours to write each line of code.

Both DreamWeaver and/or HTML can be learned extremely quickly but the time involved to create pages is worlds apart.

[kimcheeking]

Tiger has it right. Get dreamweaver, while your at it get Macromedia Studio and you will have a good bunch of programs to help you with your site.

For basics in HTML or anything else just do a search on the net for "whatever" tutorial. For HTML a good start is web monkey there are tons of others as well.

good luck.

Dreamweaver basics can be learned quickly, but actually the more intricate parts take more work and are difficult to learn.

The easiest program to learn is probably Microsoft Frontpage, but it does shitty coding and will eventually hold you back. Actually dreamweaver has a feature "clean up microsoft HTML", so you may want to avoid that.

[matthews_world]

I've been using HTML since 1997. I got hooked on the Internet and writing webpages.

I use fairly basic code that I've learned by picking it up here and there.

I don't have imaging software on my computer to make really cool graphics, buttons and stuff. It helps to have that.

I've always wanted to learn SQL, C++ and languages like that.

However, the job market for web designers isn't as wide-open as it was back in the dot-com boom.

Anyway, long story short, definitely use a publisher and learn the code that way.

[GirlFromMars]

I used webmonkey to learn the basics to set up my site, and search for code generators if i want to do anything complicated.

GFM

[uber1024]

Even if you get a tool, such as Dreamweaver, to help you build your sites, I recommend that you learn HTML. "For Dummies" books are good. I'm a professional web developer and I still get them when I want an intro to something.

Sometimes tools don't get things exactly the way you want them and that's when it's REALLY useful to know HTML.

If you plan to include any complicated Javascript in your pages (which I advise AGAINST), then it's important to think about where your sites will be viewed ... Internet Explorer, Netscape, Safari and what kind of computers ... Windows, Mac, Linux. There are HUGE differences between all the permutations.

But unless you plan on making a career out of web development or programming ... the BEST way you can do things is to make a friend that knows how to do them and get their help and pick their brains. Dinner and/or drinks are usually standard.

And for the guy that wants to learn SQL and C++, your best bets are either Linux with MySQL (both free or cheap) or find a friend who is a professional developer with Microsoft Software, since he/she will probably have a copy of the MSDN Library, which includes development copies of all of Microsoft's currently supported Operating Systems, Development tools (which you'll want), Server technologies (which you'll want ... SQL Server), and everything else. Once again, a friend that knows these technologies will help because you'll get some insights that you won't get from a book (and there are LOTS of learn C++ and learn SQL books out there).

That's my two cents from the trenches.

[kimcheeking]

Uber,

any tips for someone wanting to learn php? right now I am just finding scripts on the net that suit my needs and using those...

[Manner of Speaking]

kyle,

I started teaching myself HTML around 1994(?), basically by just saving some of the (very simple) webpages on the internet at that time, opening them in a text file, and monkeying around with the code. It's addictive; I put on 20 pounds in one year just from sitting at a terminal, and it took me six months to write my first really 'finished' website. There are lots of tutorials out there, and yes I think it is worth learning some basic HTML. Have fun!

[Dan]

HTML is dead. Learn design and photoshop and there are 50 programs that will put the page together for you, dreamweaver being at the top end of the spectrum.

Search for well designed pages and see how they combine functionality with aesthetics. I have a good range of programming skills, but I must admit my eye for design is weak, and for front end programming that is killer.

[Stunted Wookie]

I do have to disagree somewhat that html is dead....it is STILL a very good idea to learn the basics as even in php you use snipits of html code when building tables, forms, etc.

I am a php/ SQL man myself...I started with html back about 6 years ago and still use it today. Not as a main platform however; but if I am coding for design out of dreamweaver it makes it a heck of a lot easier when you understand the raw code.

[url]sitepoint.com[/url] is a great webmaster site with lods of quality tutorials and links.
When you are ready to move forward, I suggest php, sql, XML

[Dan]

perhaps you are right. i'm not looking at this from a completely new set of eyes, so maybe i just take for granted certain things.

[The King of Kwangju]

If you just want to make a site, you might as well use an WYSIWYG editor - whichever one is cheapest/easiest for you. Dreamweaver MX is nice cos it has a split screen where you can move things around graphically and see the HTML change in real time.

If you really want to learn or want to do it professionally, you should be learning XHML and CSS. HTML is dead - 4.0 is the final version, and from now on, XHTML is what sites will be made in.

That said, the WYSIWYG editors are easy to learn and all right for low-end stuff and mucking about. But when those people dig themselves into a hole, or when there's a big project on the table, they call in someone like me to code the thing properly.

[uber1024]

[kylehawkins2000]

How much does DreamWeaver cost and where can I buy it?

Anyway to avoid the expense? Can I get it off of a file-sharing program like Kazaa I wonder?

Thanks all! Your input has been helpful.

Kyle

[Trinny]