Newbie to Development - Where do I start?

[ladyj]

I couldn't find any...but if there are other threads relating to this topic, please direct me to them so I don't waste your time.

I have discovered a real interest in web application development and want to learn more about it. Here's my problem...I can't figure out where to start!!! There are so many options, I don't know what I should teach myself first. I have no formal CS education and am very much a newbie to scripting, etc. I'm good at self-teaching using books/tutorials, but I need help sorting out the sequence so I don't put the cart before the horse.

Any suggestions for how to arrange the building blocks will be most appreciated!! Thanks!

[Eye for Video]

How do you know that you have an interest in Web application development? How does that interest express itself? How you completed several projects that you were especially pleased with, or proud of? What aspect of that was it that you found rewarding?
Perhaps by naming the “thing” as in “What I really find interesting about Web application Development is…..”, you can nail down a better starting point. What would you like to be able to accomplish compared to what you know how to do now? Defining that could help lay the map for studies and education. Almost always we have to learn to walk before we run, so pick a realistic starting point, consult your education road map to find where you would like to go and set some check points along the way.
There will be numerous forks in the road as you travel, (HTML, Flash, PHP, ASP, CSS, XML). While it’s fun to explore other paths, they may not lead you to your goal. In whatever your discipline, learn the basics first ( and learn them well). I know a lot of education can be focused on getting hired. But in my experience, the happiest workers are people toiling away at tasks they have a personal interest and passion for.
Wishing you the best of luck!

[ray326]

The best place to start is with the stuff on the browser: HTML, CSS, Javascript and the DOM. With those you can create web sites. To create web applications requires programming on the server side and that's a huge domain. Today the most popular platform for that is PHP using MySQL as a data store. Note I said popular, not best. No best can be defined without knowing the application's requirements.

[Eye for Video]

Thanks for the input ray326. Seein'zz how as I'm a little partial to PHP and MySQL, I would appreciate your elaboration on “I said popular, not best”. Please realize that I am a video type guy and avoid server end stuff whenever I can, but I really like to learn new things. Can you elucidate?

[ray326]

You may have non-functional requirements like "must use Oracle" or "must use existing IIS/ASP host". There are lots of things that can force you out of a specific infrastructure.

[ladyj]

Thank you for the input, I should modify my statement by saying I've become fascinated by development. I've been working with our IT dept as a subject matter expert on a web app they threw together two years ago. So many things are broken, now they need help to make it work. I'm completely enthralled by how they do what they do, and want to learn to do it. I realize it's just barely the tip of the iceberg, but I've taught myself how to use SharePoint out of the box. I have been building interactive collaboration websites and there's only a tiny bit that can be done that way. I am thirsty to know more more more about how to write code and create applications that positively impact productivity and efficiency within an organization as large as mine.

I think I've missed my calling all along. I used to write "programs" on my first computer, a TI Basic, when I was a kid. Not sure why I quit, but I want to get my feet wet and see if this is the road for me.

In addition to suggestions ray326 already made, what exactly are the basics I should tackle?