Tag Archives: css

Learning To Code

image of space

Learning to code isn’t easy. It takes time and dedication. There are no shortcuts!

I think it’s true that anyone can learn to code. The question is whether or not you’re committed to the task. Nobody can really teach you how to do this. I guess what I mean is nobody can hold your hand each step of the way and say, “OK, do this. Now do this.”

You can follow tutorials, and read. Then read some more and do more tutorials. Then sit in front of your computer and try and apply what you’ve learned so far. Then read more! More tutorials! More reading!

That’s how you learn to code!

Recently I decided to take the 100DaysOfCode challenge on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/hashtag/100DaysOfCode?src=hash

I’m really happy I decided to do this. My coding style for HTML/CSS/JavaScript were way outdated. I’m pretty much a noob at JavaScript. I can fumble around and get it to do what I want when I need to. I’m far from fluent in it though. Anyway, the first thing I learned is just how dated my web design skills really were. I couldn’t believe how much the markup and code has changed over the last ten years.

So I’m on day 19 of my 100 Days Of Code. Basically, it’s a commitment to code at least 1 hour a day. For me, on most days, I’ve been spending at least a few hours a day on it. I was just going to spend the first couple weeks updating my knowledge of HTML/CSS but I’m learning so much I decided to dedicate the first 30 days to HTML/CSS then spend the remaining time hacking away at JavaScript till I’m somewhat fluent. I’m not new to this, and I know the only way to do this right is dedicate the time to it.

I love when you see Youtube videos with titles like, “Learn JavaScript in 1 Week”. Look, I don’t care who you are. That’s just not going to happen. There is no quick and easy way to learn to code. Frankly the quick and easy way to learn to code is actually really long. Simply sit down in front of your computer and start to code. Get stumped, research, code some more. Spend at least a few hours a day coding. That’s how you learn, and that’s how you get good. There are no shortcuts. Read, learn, code / wash, rinse, repeat! When you think you know all there is to know, it’s time to learn some more!

I think the second most important thing is stay up to date. I’ve been messing around with web design since the 90s. A lot has changed. I’ve rested on my knowledge of HTML since around 2005. A lot has changed. By staying up to date, we strengthen our confidence, and are able to give clients exactly what they pay for. A professional looking website, that loads on multiple devices with a modern up to date codebase.

First thing I’m doing after my 100 Days of Code is updating the outdated look of this website. So much new stuff happening. Can’t wait to share what I’m learning.

Latest Course Awards – SoloLearn CSS & HTML Fundamentals.

My latest course awards. I’ve been working on the SoloLearn app and finished the CSS and HTML fundamentals courses. Great courses and a really fun app for the phone. SoloLearn is a community of coders working on everything from Python to CSS and everything in between. The courses are filled with tutorials, code explanations and quizzes. I really enjoyed these a lot. If you’re looking for a fun phone app to practice code and learn, you might want to check it out.

css certification award

My SoloLearn CSS course certificate.

html award certificate

The SoloLearn HTML award certificate.

Getting Real Serious About Web Design

As I stated in some earlier posts. When I got into cryptocurrency trading I put everything on hold including this business. For the most part, I’ve lived crypto 24/7. I learned a lot and made a few friends along the way.

When I got back into web design I realized immediately that a lot has changed in the code. HTML5 features a lot of new tags, and I could definitely use a refresher course in CSS3. Over the last couple weeks I’ve signed up for several code boot camps focused around HTML5 and CSS3. Because most of these courses all have the same general content flow I do them all simultaneously. I’m currently signed up for I think 4 different boot camps.  In a lot of ways, learning code is all about repetition. The more you get your feet wet and do it, the more you’ll retain. At least, that’s how it has always worked for me.

I finished the shortest course last night. It was an introduction to HTML on CodeAcademy.

Introduction To HTML – CodeAcademy

CodeAcademy doesn’t give you a certificate so I took a screen shot.

Completed course for introduction to HTML

Introduction to HTML – Course Completed.

my completed skills screenshot.

HTML first to be added to my completed skills.

I was a little apprehensive about taking an Introduction to HTML. I’ve been using this markup language since the mid 90’s. I was really happy I took it though, a lot has changed since then. The course covered a lot of the new features in HTML5 and I realized how dated some of the markup I was using was.,

I think I’m going to get involved in the 100 Days Of Code challenge. It’s a challenge to code at least a half hour a day and learn something new everyday for 100 days.  I’d like to finish that before summer arrives 🙂

Next up… Another refresher course in CSS!

Well if anyone needs a website, now is the time to contact me. I’m working cheap right now, but that’s going to change soon. I brought on a local real estate developer, and I should be finished up with that in the next week or so then I’m free to take on new projects.

A Link To My CodeAcademy Profile.

Internet Explorer Get On Board

IEsadWhat’s up with Internet Explorer. We have the W3C World Wide Web Consortium and we even have validator services now. Yes HTML and CSS have come a very long way, but for a major company like Microsoft I really don’t understand why its so hard to play ball with the rest of the team.

I know I can’t be the only one who feels this way, or is tired of creating wonderful designs, only to discover the design works great in every browser BUT Internet Explorer. This has been a Microsoft problem from the beginning. They expect the whole world to bend over backwards for Microsoft and play ball by their rules.Even with the W3C as a guideline for the rest of us, Microsoft expects us to write special code just for their products. Yes, it can be fixed by creating a special style sheet just for the IE browser, but really ! Is this what we should be doing ?

Maybe if enough designers and web surfers alike demand Microsoft play ball with the rest of us, then they will indeed change. As a designer maybe we should charge extra for the IE style sheet. As a surfer refuse to use IE products. As designers we can place the W3C validation button on the bottom of every page, and add a link that says if this page isn’t loading correctly download a browser that meets the W3C standard with a link to Chrome or a Mozilla product.

This topic especially hits home with me because I don’t use any Microsoft products. I test my pages in Chrome, Firefox and Konqueror and they always look so much better than in I.E. When I try something new, I’ll also test on a friends Mac Book and their browsers. Although this is really nothing more than a rant, I would love to see an organized Internet campaign to push people away from IE products or at least help Microsoft realize the error of their ways.

The good news is, the times they are a changing. When I look at at my server stats now, compared to server stats from ten years ago, the majority of users are using better browsers, and IE products seem to account for about 20 to 30 percent of my users browsers. Compared to ten years ago when Microsoft still had about a 70% market share of browser traffic. You would think they would start getting the hint. Maybe, with a little push from all of us, we can get that number down to a little less than 10% and not only get Microsoft to play fair, but also educate web surfers, and customers alike on the W3C HTML CSS standards.

If You Use Internet Explorer See The Difference For Yourself

Firefox

Chrome

CSS Tips and Tricks from Blogtalkradio

Three great interview podcasts from Blog Talk Radio with CSS junkie “Big John” Gallant on CSS and web design. These interviews cover all kinds of tips and tricks, and different fixes for dealing with different browsers. These are about 3 years old but are still very informative. If you ever wondered why IE6 has such a hard time displaying modern CSS these interviews really put it in perspective.

4/7/10 First interview, talks about debugging pages for IE6 when using CSS.

Online Computers Radio at Blog Talk Radio with Myra Rhodes on BlogTalkRadio

6/14/10 Second Interview talks about working with .png files and getting them to work better in IE6 and making style sheets for IE6. Also gets into fonts and font sizing.

Find Additional Technology Podcasts with Myra Rhodes on BlogTalkRadio

6/22/10 Third interview. Talks about @media and different tips and tricks for mastering CSS.

Discover Internet Internet Radio with Myra Rhodes on BlogTalkRadio