I want to learn how to create websites

[Tech Star]

I want to learn how to code and design websites and I do not know where to start. I have been thinking I need to tackle the unknown head on and learn it by making these websites, but I don't know where to start or how to start. How would I start making websites without replying an underlying system, like wordpress? Or how can I make networks where people can chat or talk (maybe like facebook or G+)?

So I guess what I am really asking is how do I started? :p

[Kingy]

Well first things first I guess jump head first into learning HTML/CSS. Specifically follow some tutorials on how to create different types of layouts (2 column/3 column/headers/footers) and how everything aligns and works. Then learn how to pretty it up by changing fonts/colours/borders/images using CSS.

This will give you the most basic beginning. I no you don't really want to but if you are looking at getting something up and running straight away I'd suggest using something like Wordpress and using the inbuilt editor to create your own theme. That way you can easily place content on your website and yet have the flexibility to edit and add to exisiting templates. Lots of plugins etc would give you the added ability to create a social feel to your website. RIght now it's unlikely you'll be creating anything apart from a basic 1-2 page HTML website with not much to do.

Once you're comfortable with that and if you're interested you could then try and take the step up to learning server side languages (PHP etc) and really getting into the web dev environment. With this you can start making using of HTML forms etc to make contact/login/registration forms etc. However, this should go on the backburner until you really are comfortable with HTML/CSS and how it all works together.

[Tom]

First start by learning HTML. This will help you build very basic elements on a page. You'll then need to learn CSS so you make them elements look pretty. After that you learning Javascript so that you can do random cool shiz. Know them all? Congratulations you're a front end developer.

Then learn PHP so that you can control server side. PHP is massive and allows you to do so many things. Along with that learn SQL.

Congratulations, you're a web developer.

[Guest]

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/tag/web-design/

The coding section here might be helpful when you've mastered a few basic tutorials on html and css. There might be a few there actually, I don't know :p

[TheLegendOfMart]

http://www.subcide.com/articles/creating-a-css-layout-from-scratch/

Its a little outdated but that helped me loads transitioning from HTML+Tables to CSS.

[Dapen]

Learn what a doctype is, what the head and body are and get your head around the basic semantics of HTML and then how to add CSS to those elements.

http://html5doctor.com/resources/ In particular: http://html5doctor.com/downloads/h5d-sectioning-flowchart.png

I think that'd be a good starting point.

Then create a simple one page about your favourite hobby or interest for enthusiasm to learn. :) You need to learn by building something you will have passion in.

[Lee G. Veteran]

I recommend using W3Schools and following the tutorials.

[astropheed Veteran]

Start small, there is no rush is there?

Learn basic HTML

Learn basic CSS

Learn basic JavaScript

Make about 50 small 1-2 page websites using notepad only (and graphics program for making graphics).

Pick some of your favourite ones and make them better.... Now delete them, make them all-over.....

Delete them again....Make them again!

Go online absorbing as many tutorials you can on programming methodologies. Anyone can program, but most do it completely wrong (problem with being self taught).

Find source codes, EXPERIMENT. Do not be scared to break code and fix it again or even make it better.

If you've done all that and you're confident in HTML, CSS, javaScript. Move on to a server-side language. This is not necessary at all for most people. I highly recommend it though. If you're confident with JavaScript than learning PHP will mostly just be a memory game of Syntax differences and function (method [later]) names.

At this point you'll need to start thinking about installing some AMP type server locally on your machine for testing purposes. I recommend WAMP, it's extremely easy for novice developers and quick tests of scripts.

Make some simple echo scripts, then move on to echo'ing variables, etc... If you learned JavaScript this will seem easy. Learn the Array syntax, how it's functions work (no overloading here :( ) and the basic rules of PHP.

Now create something useful. Delete it. Create it again better, faster, stronger. Learn Object Orientation in PHP and JavaScript. Learn when things are necessary and when they are overkill. Learn about code sharing methodologies (OOP) and read, read, read!

It's a good idea at this point to learn SQL, PHP makes this extremely easy. And SQL is overall very easy.

Now..... you can begin to learn how to be a web developer, learn libraries (very useful, don't rebuild the wheel), build libraries, learn Java, Python, C... why stop there? It's all easy once you get the hang of it.

Lastly, have fun. Programming is both frustrating and rewarding. That feeling when it all works on first write with no errors for the first time..... Awesome.