6 Web Dev Tips For Beginners (Even For Kids!)

The internet just doesn’t stop expanding. As a result, we see the development of new business websites, and billions of them at that. Now, more than ever, learning web development has become an invaluable skill, especially in the field of data science and analytics. The good news is that anyone can learn how to code – yes, even the little ones! Read on for tips that can help you get started in your web development journey.

Use Online Resources

The world – or the internet, rather – is your oyster. With many online resources available, anyone can get started on their journey to web development. And the best part is, you don’t even have to spend!

Online Courses

Many online courses are available for free. It is, however, important that you check the coursework of the online course you’re taking so you can see if it’s the right fit for you. Whether the course be free or paid, you can access educational content on web development right at your fingertips. There are many websites at your disposal: Udemy, Khan Academy, and Codecademy! Even better, these online courses may have some certifications that you can add to your resumé!

Website Builders

If you’re an absolute newbie, you can also get started with website builders. These are websites like Wix and Wordpress, which can even help kids understand basic principles of the internet! Kids can easily add information about their hobbies and other interests without all the technical knowledge.

Games

You can even make learning more interesting – by gamifying! Kids love to play, but you can always learn at the same time! Some of the popular coding websites for kids include CodeSpark and Codemoji. This form of online learning is especially useful for kids who easily lose interest.

Learn the Fundamentals

Just like any other skill, coding requires a deep understanding of the fundamentals. There are multiple jargons in the tech world that may sound unfamiliar to you. Web development is primarily divided into three parts: front-end, back-end, and full-stack development.

Front-End

The front-end is the aspect of web development that focuses on what the user sees – hence the term ‘front-end’. Front-end developers are focused on developing a website’s user interface and optimizing user experience. Also, front-end development requires a developer to consider the design and aesthetics. If that’s your cup of tea, then front-end development might be the field for you! To become a front-end developer, one must have mastery of HTML, JavaScript, and CSS.

Back-End

Of course, if we have the front-end we also have the back-end. It’s probably what you imagined it to be – the features that are developed behind the scenes. This usually refers to the server-side of things. To simplify things, let’s look at the most basic example: a news article. The font and layout of the article is the job of the frontend developer. Meanwhile, the content that you read is fetched from a database that is then presented to you on the website – that is the back-end. Programmers who want to specialize in back-end development must be proficient in programming languages like Python, .NET, and Ruby.

Full-Stack

If you’re not satisfied with learning either of the two, it helps to learn both! Full-stack developers are versatile as they are in charge of both front-end and back-end development. Being a full-stack developer entails the full understanding of the website – hence, it may take a while before you reach your goal of being a full-stack developer.

Be Ready With Your Tools

The first tool you need is a machine which supports the following operating systems: Windows, Mac OS, and Linux. When it comes to the system requirements of your computer, having 8 GB of RAM is recommended. For the processor, getting an up-to-date CPU will help because this part is difficult to upgrade for most computers. Here are some other web development tools that will come in handy:

Web Browser

This is the most basic tool you will need. If you’re reading this article right now, you already have one! Still, web developers must know how to use different browsers to ensure that your website functions correctly across all web browsers, whether that be Chrome, Firefox, or Opera.

Content Management System

In short, this is also known as CMS. It’s an application that helps you manage a website without having to code all over again. Some of the notable examples include WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal.

Text Editor

Most computers come with a built-in text editor, however there are many other editors you can try using: Atom, Sublime Text, and VS code are just some of them. Find out what works well for you and stick to that editor.

Take Things One Step at a Time

With all the technical gibberish that you’ve been reading on your journey to learning web development, learning can be overwhelming. Instead of immediately becoming a jack-of-all-trades, focus on a programming language that interests you! That way, you won’t burn yourself out in the learning process. Once you feel that you’ve learned enough, that’s the time you can move on to the next language. Take note, that even the most experienced programmer still learns something new everyday. In the world of coding, learning is a life-long process!

Work on a Small Project

Making a small project is the best way to assess your learning process. By working on your own project, you can easily see your strengths and weaknesses. Don’t forget to define your end-point! The end-point helps you determine if your project is finished. Nothing compares to that sense of accomplishment after completing a difficult project!

Do Not Compare Yourself to Others

Age doesn't matter when learning how to code – even kids can learn Python! Still, learning is not a race. It’s best enjoyed at your pace, comparing yourself with others will not do you any favors. Instead of comparing yourself, learn from the more experienced developers. Make a social media account and immerse yourself in the community, you’ll end up learning a lot more.

Final Word

Learning web development may seem intimidating, especially if you’ve never coded before. But like many skills, all you need is practice. And, it’s a skill that is extremely useful, especially in the booming tech industry. So, what are you waiting for? Get coding!