How to Become a Web Developer: A Field Guide
Learn what it takes to become a Web Developer, and how you can become one.
No matter your age or background you can become a Web Developer
This book is for those who are considering learning programming as a career. Or even to be more familiar with the lingo as an advantage at work.
There are a lot of articles, books, and online courses out there. But too often, they make assumptions about what you already know. They start in the middle instead of at the beginning.
This book is a linear path to going from where you are now to becoming a web developer.
In this book, we cover the fundamentals. More importantly, we talk about why the are the fundamentals. For every topic covered, we talk about how it fits into the larger picture of web development.
By the end of this book, you will be able to make an educated decision about your future and understand the steps and commitment it will take to get there.
Why become a Web Developer?
Pay: In the US, according to StackOverflow's 2019 survey, the avg. reported salary for a developer is ~\$100K.
Opportunities: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Computer and IT occupations are the fastest-growing of all US occupations.
Accessibility: All you need is a computer and internet connection to teach yourself the required skills.
What you'll learn
You're not buying just a book. You're buying a Field Guide, with over 50 Exercises to help you learn and understand the material.
- HTML, CSS, and JavaScript - We spend a chapter on each of these core languages. You will become comfortable with each, and understand why they are so important.
- Text-Editor, DevTools, and Terminal - These three tools are used daily by all developers. You will become well versed in how to use them, and why they are so helpful.
- Popular Programming Languages - There are hundreds of programming languages out there. We focus on the top 10. You'll learn about what languages you should focus on for specific roles/fields. This discussion helps you narrow in your interest.
- Git and GitHub - You will become familiar with the general Git-GitHub workflow. More importantly, you will understand how these technologies work, and in doing so, get a leg-up on many of your peers. Most beginner programmers don't understand what makes Git so special, you will.
- Frontend vs. Backend - In the last 5 years, the most significant split in web development is between the backend and frontend. We investigate why this happened, the difference between the two, and how this will impact your next steps.
- Field Guide - We have created an 11X17 PDF Field Guide, showing you where we've gone and what you should focus on after the completion of this book.
FAQ
How long is the book?
The book has 9 chapters totaling 320 pages, with over 50 exercises. We made the exercises fun, and very easy to follow; we use a lot of screenshots with clear directions. Additionally, all the exercises are fun. You won't see any "hello world" or "foo/bar" exercises here.
Do I have to have prior Web Development experience?
Nope! This book is for beginners. If you do have experience with HTML, CSS, etc. there is still a lot for you to learn from this book.
