Welcome to the World of Web Development

The term “web development” may seem like a vast and intimidating field to dive into. But don’t worry, in this blog post we will break down the basics of web development and the different components that make up a website. We will also discuss the recommended tools, such as programming languages and libraries/frameworks, for each part of web development.

The Front-End

The front-end, also known as the client-side, is the part of web development that deals with the user interface. This includes the layout, design, and overall look and feel of a website. The goal of front-end development is to create a seamless user experience that is visually appealing and easy to navigate.

The three main languages used in front-end development are HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

• HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) is the backbone of a website. It is used to create the structure and layout of a website, including headings, paragraphs, images, and links.

• CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is used to add style and formatting to a website. It allows developers to control the layout, colors, and fonts used on a website.

• JavaScript is a programming language that is used to create interactive elements on a website. It allows developers to create things like forms, animations, and dynamic content.

There are also many popular libraries and frameworks that are commonly used in front-end development. Some of the most popular include:

• React: A JavaScript library for building user interfaces. It follows a component-based approach, where each component represents a piece of the UI. This allows for easy reusability and maintenance of the code.

• Angular: A JavaScript framework for building web applications. It follows a component-based approach and uses a powerful template language to create the UI. It also has built-in features for handling forms, routing, and data binding.

• Vue: Another JavaScript library for building user interfaces. It uses a template-based syntax and also uses a component-based architecture. It also focuses on performance and reactivity, making it a great choice for building complex and large-scale applications.

The Back-End

The back-end, also known as the server-side, is the part of web development that deals with the behind-the-scenes functionality of a website. This includes things like databases, server-side logic, and security. The goal of back-end development is to create a seamless and efficient system that can handle the traffic and data of a website.

The most popular programming languages used in back-end development are:

• PHP: A popular language often used for building dynamic websites and web applications.

• Python: A versatile language that is commonly used for back-end development, data analysis, and machine learning.

• Ruby: A language that is often used for building web applications and is the language behind the popular framework Ruby on Rails.

• JavaScript: With the introduction of Node.js, JavaScript can now be used on both the front-end and the back-end.

There are also many popular web frameworks used in back-end development. Some of the most popular include:

• Ruby on Rails: A web framework that utilizes the Ruby programming language and follows the Convention over Configuration paradigm, which allows for rapid development and easy maintenance of web applications.

• Laravel: A web framework that utilizes the PHP programming language and provides an elegant syntax and a modular structure for building web applications. It also has built-in features for handling tasks such as routing, authentication, and database management.

• Django: A web framework that utilizes the Python programming language and follows the Don’t Repeat Yourself principle, which encourages reusability and maintainability of code. It also includes built-in features for handling common web development tasks such as database models, authentication, and URL routing.

• Express.js: A web framework that utilizes the JavaScript programming language and is minimalistic and flexible, making it great for building small to medium-sized web applications and APIs. It is also commonly used as a foundation for other JavaScript web frameworks.

Getting Started for Free

Web development can seem overwhelming, but there are many resources available for learning and getting started for free. Here are some ways to get started with each language and framework/library mentioned in this blog post:

HTML, CSS, and JavaScript

• Codecademy: Offers interactive coding lessons for HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
• FreeCodeCamp: Offers a comprehensive curriculum that includes interactive coding challenges and projects.
• W3Schools: Offers tutorials and references for HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

React

• Reactjs.org: Offers an official tutorial, documentation, and resources for learning React. The React Beta Docs (at the time of writing) are a great place to start, as they include function-based components for their tutorials.
• FreeCodeCamp: Offers a comprehensive curriculum that includes interactive coding challenges and projects using React.

Angular

• Angular.io: Offers official documentation, tutorials, and resources for learning Angular.
• FreeCodeCamp: Offers a comprehensive curriculum that includes interactive coding challenges and projects using Angular.
• Codecademy: Offers interactive coding lessons for Angular.

Vue

• Vuejs.org: Offers official documentation, tutorials, and resources for learning Vue.
• FreeCodeCamp: Offers a comprehensive curriculum that includes interactive coding challenges and projects using Vue.
• Codecademy: Offers interactive coding lessons for Vue.

Ruby on Rails

• Rails Tutorial by Michael Hartl: Offers a free online book and accompanying video tutorials for learning Ruby on Rails.
• FreeCodeCamp: Offers a comprehensive curriculum that includes interactive coding challenges and projects using Ruby on Rails.
• Ruby on Rails Tutorial: Learn Web Development with Rails by Michael Hartl offers a free online book and accompanying video tutorials for learning Ruby on Rails.

Laravel

• Laravel website: Offers official documentation, tutorials and resources for learning Laravel.
• FreeCodeCamp: Offers a comprehensive curriculum that includes interactive coding challenges and projects using Laravel.
• Codecademy: Offers interactive coding lessons for Laravel.

Django

• DjangoGirls: Offers free online tutorials and resources for learning Django.
• FreeCodeCamp: Offers a comprehensive curriculum that includes interactive coding challenges and projects using Django.
• Codecademy: Offers interactive coding lessons for Django.

Express.js

• Expressjs.com: Offers official documentation, tutorials, and resources for learning Express.js.
• FreeCodeCamp: Offers a comprehensive curriculum that includes interactive coding challenges and projects using Express.js.
• Codecademy: Offers interactive coding lessons for Express.js.

Putting it All Together

Web development is a combination of both front-end and back-end development. The front-end is responsible for the user interface and the overall look and feel of a website, while the back-end deals with the behind-the-scenes functionality. Together, they work to create a seamless and efficient experience for users on the web.