Getting Started Building Websites

Hello Fellow Geeks,

I have spent the last 2-1/2 years working for a great company (Bondware Web Solutions) providing technical support for website software clients (and am still there enjoying every minute of it). A high percentage of what I do has been content, HTML & CSS assistance instead of just simple software technical. support. Anyway, I may have found a niche. I like website implementation. Working with Bondware has its limitations though. Because of this, I have had no need to learn about doctypes, ftp, javascript, etc. I have only needed to know what is required within the walls of a Bondware website...basically, I now know HTML and CSS between the body tags.

I want to expand and look a more complete understanding of websites and website technologies. Can anyone recommend books or other resources for this? I am a practical and visual learner. Example: Reading an entire 50-page chapter in a book about meta tags would bore me. Having many examples of meta tags demonstrated & explained for me would be better suited for me.

Anyone know of great Dummies books or others that would be a decent 'get started' resource? ALl suggestions would be appreciated.

Kind Regards,
Jason

 

Peachpit Press has a line of books called "Visual Quickstart Guide" on various Web related topics. You might try a search at Amazon.com for Peachpit Press Web or Peachpit Press Javascript, etc. depending on what you want.

I have the "HTML, XHTML & CSS" sixth edition by Elizabeth Castro which is part of that series and it is pretty good but I would not recommend it as a way to learn CSS.

I think the best CSS book is CSS: The Missing Manual.

This may all be stuff that you already know.

Since you mentioned DOCTYPE, here are a couple of resources:

W3C: Recommended list of Doctype declarations

Fix Your Site With the Right DOCTYPE!

 

Greetings, toehead410.

Along with mjnc's excellent links, I'll throw in my standard mantra: look at the source code!

As you surf the 'net and stumble across interesting websites, look at how they're written - simply right-click the page and click 'View Source' or 'View Page Source' (depending upon your browser).

It's amazing how much you can learn by comparing what you see on a website vs. how the page is written.

Good luck!

 

Thanks Geeks!!! Much appreciated.

 

I recommend http://www.amazon.com/HTML-XHTML-Si...UTF8&qid=1302720480&sr=1-1&tag=vglnk-c1032-20 to. Its one of the best book i read, after Javascript for dummies.

 

The best resources for me so far have been:

• HTML, XHTML & CSS, Sixth Edition, Elizabeth Castro
• Javascript, Fifth Edition, Don Gosselin
• http://www.w3schools.com/

I hope this helps anyone who might be asking the same questions.

Regards,
Jason