So You Want to be a Web Developer / Designer?

The most important lesson that I learned here is that, as a web developer, you must be able to stay current and knowledgeable with the latest available solutions. The best example I can think of at the moment is CSS (Cascading Style Sheets). This is a wonderful resource that's been around for several years now, but is only really beginning to come into its own. It offers a great deal of possibilities that were only possible previously with such solutions as JavaScript, Java Applets or Flash SWFs.

It's evident though that there are a lot of sites being developed with CSS by people who really don't know exactly what they're up to, or what possibilities are or are not available to them. I'm fed up of seeing misaligned sites due to bad CSS positioning work; text under images, menus mixed with body text, etc.

The upshot - by all means use the latest available solutions, but make sure you're up to speed with them, and test your end product across several browsers; IE won't display the same as Safari, Firefox or Opera. The world would be such a brighter place if IE wasn't with us any more!!

So here I am, first year of an undergraduate degree in 'Multimedia Technologies' and I'm 35 years old. I've got a City & Guilds Certificate in 'C Programming', but I don't know the first thing about any of the software that we're expected to use. Luckily neither do most of my peers! The first year's supposed to be a bit of a breeze...not this...bang, straight in!

During the course of the year I'm introduced to Photoshop, Java, Flash, Authorware, 3DS Max and World Up. Lots of late nights and experimentation. I worked hard and got 'A's in just about everything. I found the 'Bible' series of books most helpful during my studies, and still refer to them today. A lot of the other books are laid out in an illogical fashion and aren't too helpful.

If you don't know what the various softwares do and would like to know, read on:

Photoshop: This is a graphics programme that is industry standard. It enables users to create extremely sophisticated raster graphic output. This is bitmap based as opposed to vector. Look it up in Wikipedia if you're struggling with the terminology!!

If you fancy a pretty decent GUI graphics programme that's free, have a look at GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program).No, I'm not having you on!!

Java: This is a 'C' based language developed by Sun Micro Systems for use on the Internet. It's a bit outdated (being superceded by such platforms as Flash), but has been revamped for use within the Mobile Phone Industry over the last few years. It does however allow users to create Object-Oriented applications with almost limitless functional ability.

Flash: One of the most fun pieces of software on the market, Flash was developed by Macromedia and allows users to create animations and interactive applications that are only bounded by the imagination. Adobe have bought out Macromedia and are in the process of removing as much fun as possible from the software whilst inserting as many bugs and glitches as they possibly can! They have also introduced a new version of the integral programming language, ActionScript3, the workings of which even their own demonstrators have no insight.

Authorware: Universally known as 'Awfulware' (a nickname with which I don't agree), this software was designed for kiosk and interface creation. It has a pretty unique icon based development interface that's actually quite good once you've figured it out, but unfortunately most people don't bother and that's probably why it's ended up on the scrap heap!! Its been replaced by the likes of Director, Flash, Encore, etc.

3DS Max: One of the most widely used 3D software platforms available, 3DS Max is relatively expensive and claims to be the complete package. In reality it is expensive and does cover all aspects of 3D, but the likes of Maya (Alias), Lightwave, Blender and others offer better options for modelling, animation and effects than Max ever will without the addition of costly plugins. Blender is free, and should be the first choice of anyone starting out with 3D software.

World Up: Yoiks, this is crappy software. It's ancient 3D software that crashes if you double click quicker than a click a second!! I'm not joking!! It was nice to use for interactive and Object-Oriented scripting though!

It's so old, I don't think it's available for sale anymore.

Here's where things began to make more sense. The Open University is (more than probably) the foremost distance learning establishment in the UK. I studied two modules with them during 2000; Mathematics and Web Technologies. Both were well supported, well structured and enjoyable to complete.

I 90% plussed in both of them and would have continued with the OU, but they were a victim of their own success. They'd given me so much confidence that I'd decided to go to university full time. I'd worked out that I could work part time at my current job and just get by; besides, I'd been saving money like mad over the past couple of years with this in mind.

Once I get a little time in my life, I'd like to go back to the OU to study a full degree. Perhaps one of the Ancient Classic Histories; Greek or Roman.

Next: The full time degree in Multimedia Technologies

Listed below are the two stand-out books recommended by the OU. I'm not shoving them here just to make a quick buck (although that's OK with me!), they are genuinely good books; perfect for anyone studying the history of computing and the Internet. Even if you're not really into computers, Accidental Empires is just a good read - full stop!

I now help to run a very successful web concern: trainstorm.co.uk

The first thing I thought I needed to do was to get a general understanding of the programming environment. I couldn't just drop my work at the time, as there was the mortgage to pay. That ruled out the full time College/University route. There were a few part time night classes, but they don't take you anywhere near far enough. No, I needed something a bit more solid, so I decided to go down the distance learning path.

After signing up with one of the established distance learning houses in this field, I began a year long scrap between full time employment, a certified City & Guilds course and a rapidly narrowing social life. As it happened, the teaching house (who shall remain nameless) were not entirely to my liking; one 'expert' telling me that "even a Monkey knows the answer to that question". I didn't or I wouldn't have asked it. Indeed, if I'd have had all the answers I wouldn't be enrolled on his bl**dy course, paying his bl**dy wages!!

I got that certificate, but also got the feeling that we were supposed to have a good knowledge of the subject in the first place.

Remember that it was 1999. You could Google (only just), or you'd most likely Yahoo! or Ask Jeeves, but you just didn't get the same response to a request back then. So you were more or less on your own...with your books...and your confusion...and an idiot of a primate trainer!!

I vowed never to undertake a distance learning course again.

Next: my experience with Open University, a distance learning school.

Yes, I'm a halfwit!!!

Just to prove that 'expert' wrong, I now help to run a very successful web concern: trainstorm.co.uk