People often ask me how to get started in web development. It’s tough because there are so many ways to make a website now. The ecosystem is cluttered with lots of frameworks, and opinions vary widely.
You might spend a lot of time learning a particular framework, only to find out it’s outdated or completely changed in a few months (remember Angular?)
However, every website and framework, when you boil it all down, is built on HTML and CSS. So, I always recommend focusing on learning HTML and CSS first. That’s the foundation of everything in web development, and it will never not be useful.
A great resource for this is called HTML for People, a free website that offers a comprehensive, easy-to-follow guide that teaches the basics of HTML from the ground up.
Here’s why HTML for People is my go-to recommendation for anyone asking where to start their development journey:
- It’s completely free
- Beginner-friendly: The course assumes no prior coding experience, making it perfect for absolute beginners.
- Practical approach: By the end of the course, you’ll have built a personal website with multiple pages, images, and even a blog.
- Comprehensive coverage: The curriculum covers essential topics like creating your first website, adding style with CSS, and even touches on more advanced concepts like PHP.
- Platform-agnostic: Whether you’re on Windows, macOS, or Linux, the instructions are designed to work for you.
What I love most about HTML for People is its philosophy that HTML is for everyone. It demystifies web development and empowers individuals to create their own corner of the internet, regardless of their technical background. It’s the resource I recommend to all aspiring developers looking to take their first steps in the world of web development.
As I often tell my kids, every expert was once a beginner – don’t overthink it, you just need to get started. Happy coding!
