6 Ways to Get Started as a Web Developer

Everyone who wants to get started in software development or programming or any branch of Information Technology has, at some point, googled the following terms listed below

• How to learn programming?
• What programming language should I learn first?
• How can one become a software developer without a degree in computer science?

All these questions are normal for one to ask when they are just starting out in the field. This article will show a simple pathway to achieving an answer to those questions that led you here in the first place.

Outlined below are steps towards becoming a web developer

1. Decide That This is the Path You Want to Follow

Nothing good comes easy and greatness takes time, so you cannot rush it. Those might sound like rap lyrics but in all sincerity, it has been said that mastery takes about 10,000 hours of practice. It is of utmost importance that you commit to following this path of lifelong learner and skill perfection

2. Get Familiar with HTML, CSS and JavaScript

This is the foundation for getting started in web development. The trio of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. This will be the building blocks of your understanding of web development. HTML deals with the structure of a web page. It will introduce you to parts of a web page that you have always seen but now, you will learn firsthand, how they work. CSS deals with styles and optimization of the beauty of a website. JavaScript is about the functionality of a website. In JavaScript, you will be introduced to programming first hand.

3. Seek for Online Resources to Learn Coding

As at the time of writing this article, there are a ton of websites and applications that teach people how to code and write software. I will suggest only two below. This is because I want you to get started as soon as you finish reading this article and not spend time browsing through a million places looking for where to begin.

• Free Code Camp has a ton of resources and a very detailed curriculum and guide to take you from complete novice to someone who understands algorithms. You can sign up for their various certificates ranging from the responsive web design certification, through to the JavaScript Algorithms and Data Structures Certification, the Front End Libraries Certification etc.
• Codecademy is easy to use and very helpful for beginners. It will show you, step by step how to get started in web development, various programming languages and a lot of functional topics in software development.

4. Look for a Place to Learn Offline

People generally learn and consume content/information in different ways. Some people prefer videos, some audio recordings or podcasts and some others prefer learning one on one with a teacher. It could be noteworthy to state that having direct access to a mentor in person is invaluable.

Well, a good place to start would be checking locally around you for places where you can learn web development. You are more likely to meet mentors and people who are more advanced learners than you. These people could offer assistance in ways that would save you hours of worry and frustration over a comma or an unclosed curly brace in programming. If you are in Port Harcourt, a great place to learn online is elitePath; the website you’re viewing right now and our contact information is in the footer of this website.

5. Go to a Meetup in your town or city

A lot of developers go for meetups and conferences. It offers a unique opportunity to network with other professionals in the field. By making an effort to go for any of these conferences or meetups, you’ll get the chance to meet learners in your level of learning and people in other areas of learning in software development. This will increase your network which can be invaluable

6. Get to Work

You have seen everything you need to get started. So stop reading more articles on how to get started and actually go out there and get started.

If you enjoyed this article, leave a comment below and subscribe to get awesome software development mentorship content from the software developers at elitePath

Leonard Ata

Software developer. Lifelong learner. Lover of the finer things in life. Brand Marketer. Digital Consultant. Co-founder, elitePath.