How I became a web developer in 6 months

Just to be clear, my main profession is marketing. I learned web development as part of a startup and use it for personal and freelancing purposes. In this article, I will cover a fast path to becoming a web developer. The path will include directions, obstacles, resources, and tips. By the end of this article, you should have the knowledge to become a web developer faster.

My story

It all started with a startup we worked on. One day the main programmer said that our algorithm is ready and we need to start our web development. My job was to make it happen, but finding a specialist became a major problem. During my search I came across three types of web developers:

1. Those who work and don’t have time for side projects.
2. Those who work, have time for side projects but ask for a lot of money that we don’t have.
3. Those we can afford to hire but lack the skills to get the job done.

These findings led to the conclusion that we can't hire a professional and need to do it ourselves. After presenting these findings everyone refused to accept this task. After the meeting, the main programmer suggested I learn web development and do it, so I did.

An important tip before starting

Start by defining why you want to be a web developer, best to write it and keep it in sight. The beginning is difficult because you will probably have trouble understanding even the seemingly simple stuff. When I started, it once took me 4 hours to realize my text won't become green because I forgot a comma. If not for my obligation to my startup and partners, I would probably rage quit and throw my pc out of the window while at it. So whether it’s for the money, comfort, social status or a combination make sure to properly set a goal that will keep you going when it’s difficult or frustrating.

Directions

If you ever tried to start learning web development you probably encountered some terms like stacks and ends. Let us clarify the most basic part, there are three types of web development roles:

1. Front-end works on the visual parts of a website. It includes the development of layouts, styles, animations, transitions, buttons, and more. A common task for a front-end developer is making a website look exactly as drawn by the designer on any device and browser. Keep in mind that the developer is not a designer.
2. Back-end works on the unseen magic of a website. It includes the development of databases, server communication methods, and more. A common task for this kind of developer is to create a database that stores user input and allows simple navigation and extraction of data.
3. Full stack is a combination of the above. This kind of developer should be able to create and launch a proper website alone.

Obstacles

Now that you know the differences let's talk about the similarities and required skills. All developers are required to learn theories, languages, popular libraries, and APIs (application programming interfaces). In addition, they need to use project management tools depending on the companies they work for. Last but not least is a set of required skills:

1. Learning ability is the number one most important skill for a web developer because trends change fast and you will constantly need to learn new stuff in order to keep up.
2. Logic is needed to properly structure your code.
3. Organization of your time and tasks is key to avoiding sleepless nights and motivational speeches from the project manager.
4. Attention to detail can save you a lot of debugging making your development faster.

*Math is not on the list because you mostly use it to compare numbers (bigger, smaller equals).

Resources

There are tons of resources available to overcome those challenges however for most beginners the variety is only making things more complicated. So let's start by breaking down the types of resources available.

1. Online degrees are usually a 6 months program that gives you the needed tools and experience to become a web developer
2. Courses are a combination of lectures, exams, and practical tasks that should help you develop a certain skill.
3. Guides/lectures are usually describing specific problems and/or solutions.
4. Documentations are guidelines for working with a specific language, library, or APIs.

Don'ts

The worst thing you can start with is documentation, a lecture, or a guide. Since it is specific and assumes you have some basic knowledge it will most likely get you confused and frustrated.?

The second worst start is from developing personal skills since it has nothing to do with the web and will probably take a while.?

A basic course might be considered a start however, it’s not enough and the time you will spend searching for courses will probably make your path a long one.

Conclusion

The best and fastest way to become a web developer is a good online degree. That’s how I became a web developer in 6 months. Good online degrees are constantly adjusted by senior professionals in order to teach the most important and demanded skills for you to start working. However, there are tons of online degrees available from many schools which makes it difficult to choose. A good way to assess the quality of a school or course is by checking comments, reviews, and recommendations, especially of past students. In my case, our main programmer insisted I get the Udacity front-end nanodegree (which is just 4 months at the moment). The tools I got then allowed me to easily learn some back end, Python, C sharp, React and Vue later, even got me a job when I needed one. So if you want to become a web developer fast I recommend you get a proper online degree.