Getting Started with Web Development: What Do Web Developers Do?
Whether you’re a designer that wants to expand your skill set to the coding side of website creation, or you’re just interested in exploring web development otherwise, everyone has to start somewhere. There are so many areas involved in web development, from the basic languages and how to get your first website from scratch online, to advanced programming that can build entire web applications.
This will by no means be an advanced tutorial by me on coding websites from scratch or learning WordPress, PHP, or the basic HTML/CSS. There are endless tutorials online for you to learn all the syntax, best practices, and help on understanding how to think like a programmer. This series will, however, be an introduction to what web development is, where to start, how to progress in your knowledge, career opportunities, and I’ll also cover some basic concepts so you can have a basic knowledge in the field.
- Part 1: What Do Web Developers Do?
- Part 2: Where Should I Start?
- Part 3: The Top Tools, Websites, Apps, and Resources
What Do Web Developers Do?
In this part of Getting Started with Web Development, we’ll look into exactly what web developers do, and what the job entails. We’ll also look into some of the “stereotypes” or assumptions we web developers must face. If you have more to share, I’d love to hear them in the comments!
Web Development is Not Web Design (Although some of us do both)
Any of my friends or family can tell you, the thing that annoys me most about being a web developer is that most people have a complete misinterpretation of what I do for a living. It’s one thing when someone doesn’t know what a web developer does, that’s fine, I’ll just tell them. What bothers me is when people think they know what it is, and they could not be more off base. “Oh your a web developer. Can you design my friend’s business logo?”
The most common assumption is that a web developer is a designer. I really never understood this. Yes, I happen to be a web designer and developer, but just because they have something to do with websites doesn’t mean they’re the same thing! Many developers are not designers as well, at least not primarily. Because so many people expect all designers to do all code and all developers to do design as well, this is likely why most professionals in this field pick up both skill sets — it’s just easier when dealing with clients! While web designers vs. web developers are somewhat understanding, what I really have never understood was why some people think that since I can code them a web app, I can design their brochure too. It’s completely overlapped with “graphic designer” now too.
Stop Telling Me You Learned HTML in High School Too
Another thing that’s a major misinterpretation is that web development is easy. I can’t even count the times I’ve heard, “I learned HTML back in high school too,” when telling someone I’m a web developer. Many people don’t understand that you can’t create a website with just HTML. (Not to mention their HTML was probably un-semantic, disorganized, and not even close to validated!) Web development requires knowledge beyond that, even if you are only doing front-end development and taking designs from PSD to their working versions.
At the most basic level, web development requires an understanding (and a proper understanding I might add) of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Many developers, including myself, also work with PHP, Ruby, and other advanced programming languages, and their respective databases. It’s always seemed ironic to me that when I work to build or customize web applications I’m using the same programming logic as when I was getting my Computer Science degree, yet many people have made comments about how easy web development must be compared to the same sort of programs and web applications I was building, and concepts I was learning, while in school.
Even if a web developer never wishes to build fully custom applications from scratch, many go on to use some sort of CMS (content management system) for their websites, such as WordPress, Drupal, Magento, osCommerce, etc. In the web’s modern times, it’s almost necessary for clients to have some sort of CMS to work with. While not to the advanced level of building custom web applications, there is a certain level of programming knowledge needed in whatever the platform is built with. For example, WordPress is build in PHP, and web developers who work with WordPress must know some PHP in order to build themes, plugins, and customizations.
There Are Endless Niches to Web Development Work
In the most modern times, we are now seeing other forms of web development become far more popular. For example, those who build mobile applications has added a whole new niche to web development in recent years. You’ll want to look into and research the various niches. Do you want to build WordPress themes? Do custom Drupal development? Or, perhaps you want to build themes, plugins, and do customizations for a wide range of platforms? Do you want to create web applications for your clients, or build iPhone or Android apps? Do you just want to do front-end development, learning the in’s and out’s of the most modern practices in this area, including HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript framworks? Do you want to work with responsive web design, and focus on building websites, mobile web applications, and native applications for a wide variety of other devices?
Web developers are simply programmers — just as other programmers build applications for the desktop or produce the code behind the software for all device types, web developers are programmers for anything that can access the World Wide Web. From bringing a basic PSD to HTML/CSS and implementing JavaScript functionality, to building themes and plugins that surround premade system, and to web applications, mobile apps, and working with databases and server configurations.
What does being a web developer mean to you?
Next: Where Should I Start?
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Nice article. Sums up usual confusion newbie web developers usually have. Looking forward for next part. Keep up!
Thanks Niraj, I think it’s important to clear up some of the confusion many new web developers may have, not to mention the confusion those not in the industry may have that are looking to get a website up and running!
Alas, the infamous, “I learned that in high school, too.” Comments like that, that discount the work required behind being a professional, in any field really, drive me crazy. I think you’ve covered that really well here by explaining how much more is needed. I’m not sure whether a congratulations or a giant thank you is more appropriate on that front!
Thanks for the comment Ali.
This post didn’t start out as a rant, but half way ended up that way and it’s great to know it’s not just me that has to deal with some of the stuff I hear!
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