What do I need to know to become a ASP.NET Web Developer?

Question

Hello, I am a hobby web developer. I know asp.net(C#), sql server, HTML(beginner), css (beginner).

What books or schools would you recommend. If you were to give someone a full outline of what to do to become a web developer what would it be?

Answer 1

As an occupation?

First of all what other skills do you know? This is business, know business well...4 year degree in business is a good idea, experience in the business world highly recommended. This more so than anything else. This brings you partway into analysis, design, project management, etc.

Also, graphics too, learn Photoshop, Microsoft Expression, Other Adobe tools such as Flash, etc.

That's just a start...

Answer 2

Make lots of websites using the technology you want. Push yourself to make cooler stuff. Find a mentor and have them review your work and offer suggestions. Buy a book on ASP and do the exercises.

School doesn't make you a good developer; it makes you a good Computer Science student. There is no substitute for writing code, failing, and continuing to write code.

Answer 3

In general I would suggest this to a hobbyist who wants to turn "pro". HeHe....

Learn more about how to program, not just web stuff.
For example, learn about:

• Development Practices, Software Design, Estimation, Methodologies Business Analysis Database Design

• Read Code - Open Source Projects are a good place for this. Read
  Programming blogs

• Try to participate on Open Source
  Projects.

• Look for programming user groups in
  your town and/or someone who can mentor you.

• Consider a degree or at least an
  internship somewhere.

The Biggie on this one - Be willing to learn and always look to be learning.

For more specifics for web development:

Decent to In Depth understanding of:

• HTML & CSS
• HTTP / web server
• JavaScript (perhaps even JQuery or the like)

For more specifics on ASP.Net:

• Asp.Net page Life cycle
• Asp.Net Controls usage
• AJAX
• MVC, Dynamic Data or other alternates....
• LINQ, LINQ to SQL, Entities or other alternatives like NHibernate....

Definitely these are just a list and I don't expect a hobbyist to learn them all to find a job but they are a list of desirables I think many would look for. If you can start working on these items you will be OK.

The biggest in my opinion is learning to program! The more you learn to do this well, as technology changes these skills will forever be in your arsenal and will always pay dividends.

Answer 4

Enthousiasm !

Answer 5

You can use this book to start with Click

Answer 6

Some basic HTTP Protocal knowledge,reading source code,reading blog posts. The most important is Coding every day.

Answer 7

You already are a web developer... The move from hobbyist to professional web developer is not a step it is a gradient. As you go along you will try to tackle bigger and more complex applications and you will learn a lot during these jobs. As klabranche says you should always be open for new knowledge and be good at learning from your mistakes. Nobody know all there is to know about asp.net, html, css etc.