How can you learn new web development languages?

I'd like to offer a counterpoint: while having a clear goal is beneficial, there's also merit in embracing uncertainty and free exploration in web webdev. The landscape is so vast, mutable, changing so fast, that rigidly defined objectives can sometimes blind you to random discoveries—those unplanned forays into obscure libraries or langs. There REALLY are new Javascript frameworks every day. Specific goals can guide you, but an openness to the unexpected can enrich you, equipping you with a diversified skill set that's more resilient to the industry's capricious winds. So, even as you aim, allow room for a little "aimlessness"; it's often in those 'unplanned detours' that you stumble upon some most valuable lessons. Embrace them.

The BIG reason why I chose JavaScript is that as a beginner. For beginners in programming, opting for JavaScript is a smart move. Its all-encompassing nature, serving frontend, backend, and mobile tech, makes it an ideal starting point. Having a strong basics of any programming language makes path easier to learn other languages.

In order to achieve your goals in web development. It is essential to follow the structured learning approach and gain hands-on practice. And setting a clear plan is one of the priorities.

Before delving into the realm of learning a new web development language, its essential to have a clear understanding of your objectives. Are you aiming to craft interactive web pages, dynamic web applications, or else? Do you plan to concentrate on the front-end, back-end, or perhaps both aspects of development? Are you considering a specific framework, platform, or tool? By answering these questions, you can narrow down your choices and select a language that aligns with your goals and preferences. For instance, if your focus is on constructing user interfaces, you might want to explore languages like React, Vue or else. Alternatively, if database work piques your interest, learning languages such as SQL, MongoDB, or Firebase be valuable.

This is why I fell in love with Javascript (and now TypeScript!). I can use them in almost any context. Reusing my current knowledge is like a superpower. Learn it once and use it with major frameworks and libraries like React, Angular, Vue, etc. Use it with node.js to create CLI scripts. With Electron to build desktop apps for any OS. With react-native to build mobile apps. Maybe it's not the best in all those environments, but it's very good nonetheless!

A problem many people have when learning to code with no other experience in the tech sector, if they don't know who is reliable and relevant. That is part of the reason why I learned via a coding bootcamp; I could trust what I was learning was bang up-to-date, and also skills that employers were looking for. If a coding bootcamp is not for you, FreeCodeCamp is a great resource.

After selecting your desired language, the next step involves sourcing dependable and applicable learning materials. Various online courses, books, tutorials, blogs, podcasts, and videos are available, yet not all ensure high quality or relevance. Prioritize resources endorsed by experts, peers, or reputable platforms. Seek content that directly addresses your objectives and project needs. For example, if you're interested in Python for web development, focus on resources teaching Django, Flask, or Web2py. This tailored approach optimizes your learning journey.

Ask friends or colleagues working in the web development industry what resources they can recommend. People in your network will often be willing to help you and can guide you by suggesting reliable and relevant resources that they themselves have used in their journey, that you may not have heard of.

The free tools are wonderful, but sometimes you may find it necessary to obtain formal, guided help. Your local community college may offer affordable classes. I found I qualified for scholarships. This basically made my courses "free".

An often overlooked factor in learning (or other) resources, is that they must be up to date. Especially in the fast-moving web development field, resources are out-of-date fairly quickly. It helps to look at the official documentation and, after a look at the quick-start guide for an overview, check for a "breaking changes" or similar section. If you know what the old vs. new syntax looks like, you'll be able to quickly identify whether a certain resource is explaining things in the new, supported, way and not an old, deprecated way.

I start by reading any official documentation first, most have a ‘quick start tutorial’ for a brief idea of how to get up and running. After that, I usually do a structured video course tutorial from a well established instructor. Then the next step is to go away and start building things, you’ll get stuck along the way, so at that point refer back to topics that you are unclear on and re-study, use google and stack overflow. By working through your own projects you’ll cement the things you’ve learned and fill the gaps on the areas you are still trying to understand. Doing your own small projects is the best way to learn in my opinion.

Having been stuck in 'Tutorial Hell' in the past, I can vouch for how essential it is to keep practising. As little as 10 to 15 minutes a day solving problems and trying different ways to approach something is, without a doubt, the best way forward. It keeps things fresh in your mind and it prevents you from feeling like you are running on a hamster wheel when trying to move forwards. The sooner you realise it's not a memory game, or 'copy the video', the easier it becomes. We learn best from encountering problems and making mistakes. You learn to overcome things, recognise pitfalls, and eventually, you'll develop a mindset which keeps you feeling in control, even when things are broken.

It’s a lot like the music game. You gotta get in the studio (or the IDE) and lay down those tracks. Syntax? That’s your lyrics. But without delivery and flow, it’s just words on paper. Find those real-world scenarios. They’re your live gigs, where you get to flex and see what you’re made of. Exercises, projects, challenges? That’s your mixtape, your proof of work. And like any artist, feedback is gold. Those mentors and peers? They’re your A&Rs, your producers, guiding you to drop your best track yet. And that JavaScript example? Dope. Jumping into a coding challenge or hackathon is like hopping on a feature with a big artist. It’s where you learn, adapt, and shine. It’s about more than just the bars, it’s about the delivery.

If you're starting from scratch and don't have a portfolio to show prospects, set yourself some personal projects and follow through to completion. Document your journey on social media and through blog posts, and when you're done, write it up as a case study with a demo. Your next project should bring more complexity than your last one, so you're continually challenging yourself and growing your skillset.

People learn in different ways. I learn by doing the most, and The first thing I learn about anything at all is how to debug it. This allowed me to play and explore which is how I learned most of what I now know. Still doing this every day! For frontend developers, this means learning how to use every feature in the devtools. Learning how to debug node.js and so on. This is a lifelong investment.

I have a special advice for juniors: Focus on the basics first! Trends, languages, frameworks, and libraries come and go. If you spend all your time following them you will be confused, fatigued, and overwhelmed. Don't rush to learn React with TypeScript before learning: HTML, CSS, Javascript, and Typescript in this order! However, another common mistake is trying to learn EVERYTHING about one topic before moving on to the next. This is humanely impossible. Instead, learn the most important pieces then move to the next topic before you get bored and give up. Then spend the rest of your life learning the rest as you grow like the rest of us :)

In the dynamic world of web development, continuous learning is not just a choice; it's a necessity. The rapid pace of advancements in web technologies demands adaptability and a proactive approach to stay ahead in the game. ???? The technology stack that is considered cutting-edge today might become outdated in a few years. ??? Web development is a dynamic field with a diverse set of languages, frameworks, and tools. Therefore, staying curious and embracing new challenges is paramount for success in this field.?????

Languages, libraries, tools? Those are your albums, your mixtapes. And you best believe they’re always coming with something fresh. Stay ahead of the curve. Web development’s moving at light speed, and if you ain’t evolving, you’re missing out. Trends, standards, best practices – these are your playlists; they define what’s poppin’ in the scene. That open mind you’re talking about? Essential. Tomorrow’s wave might not even be on the radar today. So, be curious, always be on the lookout for the next big hit in the web dev world. Taking Ruby as a case? Ruby on Rails is like that underground artist that everyone in the know is vibing with. Keep an ear out – tap into those blogs, podcasts, and conferences.

Keep an eye on emerging languages and frameworks. You don't have to be an expert immediately, but you should be aware of and understand where the industry in your niche is heading. You never know what requirements a prospective client may ask for, and if you know an alternative solution, that could put you ahead of the others.

While you should keep up with what's current, you also need to develop an intuition about when it makes sense to follow or diverge.

Learning a new web development language is bit challenging task for a Fresher but can be easier for someone who is experienced in IT industry. So lets break it into two parts: 1) For Fresher: Fresher always face this issue when started his/her carrier in the IT industry. I suggest, please clear your fundamentals like loops, if else conditions, OOPs concept etc. Once you know this you are very much comfortable and you can easily learn any other language. 2) For Experienced: You just have to understand the syntax of that particular programming language and the fundamentals like loops, if else conditions , oops concept etc are same for all the programming languages. Experienced can easily take up and work on any programming language. Thanks.

I've found Discord communities to be super helpful, especially CSIT servers because of the wide variety of languages, skill levels, and experience.

The process of learning a new web development language can be both enjoyable and challenging. To mitigate feelings of isolation and frustration, seek connection and collaboration with like-minded individuals. Engage with online or offline communities, forums, groups, or networks that provide support, guidance, inspiration, and prospects. Share your projects, concepts, queries, and feedback with peers who can offer valuable insights, critiques, or even potential collaborations. For instance, if PHP is your target, consider becoming part of the PHP, Laravel, or WordPress communities. These interactions enrich your learning experience and expand your horizons.

There are several communities available for people to connect in the development space. Depending on how involved you want to be, Discord communities offer a quick and easy way to jump into a given topic. It is becoming increasingly common to see access to members of development teams which allow you the ability to ask questions and communicate directly with people behind languages and frameworks. Others might offer a Slack Channel or similar. Outside of Discord, you have 'X' (formerly Twitter), which has an active developer base, and who could forget Stack Overflow!

Collaboration and teamwork are essential for the success of any project. When people work together, they can share their knowledge and expertise, which leads to better outcomes. They can also learn from each other and grow as individuals. Joining communities that align with your goals is a great way to find collaborators and mentors who can help you achieve your goals.

Try to grasp the fundamental concepts behind a language, framework, or library. There are fundamental concepts on which the entire world of software engineering is based. When you understand them, learning a new language comes down to learning new syntax.

One way to stay motivated in your journey is to build something whose end you can envision. A product that you can stop developing, admire and let it rest. Even better if it is something useful or funny, like an automation for a tedious task or a silly website to share a niche meme. When I say product, I really mean just a program that had a beginning and a foreseeable end; you might add features later if you will, but even if you don't, it will nonetheless be complete.

Find an open source project which interests you. Larger projects are likely to provide huge opportunities for learning a new language (I learnt Ruby and VueJS through contributing to the GitLab project).

I don't think that anybody and everybody should learn to code. I still think that computers should be used by scientists to do complicated calculations, and the stuff that we use it for should be put back to elementary school and be learned by the age of 14, like calculus and grammar. People start their life being expert on css and can't write a sentence properly and can't communicate to other people. That's insane. If someone has a serious problem, that needs a computer to be solved, they should hire people who can code. And only those people should code who are interested in solving problems, not those who think this is the best and fastest way to get rich. I'm fed up with coders who learn wordpress then close their eyes and ears.

Find a project that touches your heart. A website for your parents business. The app you wished for. An art project you are dreaming on. Don't follow tutorials to built another To-do-List or a chat interface. Go with what you keeps awake at night. Because you need a lot of energy. Don't waste time with comparing all options (there are too much). Trust your feeling. Do you like the design, can you understand the documentation, is there a nice way to start? In your career in Tech you will never stop learning. And knowledge let you replace technologies. So stop reading and start doing!