Here's a funny one: my girlfriend wants to learn HTML in order to make some small changes to a web app she is using. Now, I am kind of a low level guy and haven't done web development for a few years now. What do you recommend to get started - it's her first "programming language", but I think she has the necessary skills.
I actually don't recommend W3 Schools — they don't teach best practices (for example, the "HTML Layout" page specifically encourages using tables for layout), nor do they teach browser incompatibilities. Aside from teaching CSS, the whole site feels very "stuck in the '90s".
Ben Blank
2009-01-29 15:34:29
@Ben: I second your opinion. -1
rmeador
2009-01-29 15:39:07
@Ben Blank, but for someone starting on HTML, its a good enough reference.
Shivasubramanian A
2009-01-29 15:39:07
Agreed. It used to be a good resource, but it's been left behind in the last 5 years.
CJM
2009-01-29 15:40:54
I've got mixed feelings about this - div-based layout is definitely an advanced topic, but I also don't particularly like the idea of getting started on the wrong foot with tables. And I believe that w3c does in fact have tables in their reference for browser support on specific tags.
Daniel Schaffer
2009-01-29 15:41:49
As Daniel said, you have two options: Teach her the right way to begin with (div-based), or the "lazy" way, with tables. I'm honestly not sure what's best for a beginner. Perhaps it's not such a bad idea to do it by the book, and learn to use CSS from the outset, instead of tables as layout hacks.
jalf
2009-01-29 15:43:24
I've seen several inconsistencies and missing information on that site, so better stay away. The site looks like it was designed only to generate ad views.
User
2009-02-07 15:55:25
I like http://www.htmldog.com
kavoir.com
2010-03-05 10:52:19
+9
A:
Point your girlfriend towards W3 Schools. It has some pretty decent tutorials on HTML, and who knows, she might become interested in PHP or SQL ;)
Bartek Tatkowski
2009-01-29 15:09:25
I learned a lot from W3 Schools. Much of the web portion of my resume started with W3 School tutorials.
Bernard
2009-01-29 15:32:29
If I leave Head First Design Patterns out on my desk it is like a geek mating call. I have to beat them out of my cube. Look at the cover to understand.
EBGreen
2009-01-29 15:19:12
@EBGreen: Cute girl + Design Patterns = Geek pron. You have to lock that stuff up! :)
Bill the Lizard
2009-01-29 15:33:40
I wonder if that girl moonlights promoting feminine hygiene products like design pattern girl? http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000380.html
Kev
2009-01-29 15:57:12
@Kev: She has struck the "extreme overhead angle stock photography" pose, so I think she's ready to branch out into other product lines. :)
Bill the Lizard
2009-01-29 16:36:39
@becomingGuru: I have to disclose that Kathy Sierra didn't write this one. This one is still very good, but I think the ones that Sierra and Bates work on are the best of the series as well.
Bill the Lizard
2009-04-03 17:24:24
@EBGreen: Haha, I like to imagine they gave the models a choice of what book they wanted to appear on, and that girl was like, "Ooh, I'll take Design Patterns!"
Dan Tao
2010-08-25 16:50:32
+9
A:
When I started to learn HTML one of my main sources was WebMonkey. Awesome tutorials and write ups on HTML/CSS
They've redesigned recently and look to remain a resource. I believe they still maintain one of the best CSS tutorials.
Pat
2009-01-29 15:10:57
+1 For WebMonkey... Haven't been there in a while, but that's where I first learned JavaScript.
Daniel Schaffer
2009-01-29 15:12:19
+1 From me too - I had some good times with webmonkey, tough nowadays it's not that attractive anymore.
hyperboreean
2009-01-29 15:14:40
+1 for WebMonkey. I started there and http://www.HTMLGoodies.com
Jonathan Sampson
2009-02-07 16:16:11
+1
A:
"Head First HTML and CSS" if you want extra points from your girlfriend.
:)
Sesh
2009-01-29 15:24:13
Read the other answers first, please... Bill even put a link and a pic of the cover in his.
Daniel Schaffer
2009-01-29 15:31:07
I know. Just wanted to make a pun of points. Like the reputation points on StackOverflow the book might get some points from the Girlfriend :)
Sesh
2009-01-29 15:44:43
+3
A:
Lots of other good answers here.
One thing I would add, so you don't have to learn the hard way.
It's awesome if she wants to learn herself, but don't try and teach her! It will only end in tears! (Especially with an actual programming language)
:)
pezi_pink_squirrel
2009-01-29 15:27:44
+4
A:
I had great results when suggesting people to do the htmldog tutorials. They come in three flavours: beginner, intermediate and advanced. They have nice tutorials on CSS too.
tunnuz
2009-01-29 15:31:23
I agree. I think htmldog is a nice place to start. When you master the basics, the W3Schools website serves as a nice reference, but I wouldn't recommend it as a start.
Daan
2009-01-29 16:05:56
That's a great resource, didn't know about it before, thanks. There are far too many "getting started" HTML/CSS tutorials out there that don't teach standards based development, just bad practices like tables for layout and the font tag!
Jack Sleight
2009-02-07 16:04:09
+2
A:
I would suggest you take this as an opportunity to sit down with her and spend time doing something you can both enjoy. Teach her, and teach yourself at the same time. My wife wanted to learn Javascript a while back, so we sat down for an hour or so and she ended up writing her first game that night. Words can't capture how excited she was after she wrote her first game in Javascript. She had began messaging friends that night telling them to go play it.
It was a great opportunity for us to sit down together, and do something I love :)
Oh, and consider the video tutorials on SampsonVideos. They might be a little helpful.
www.HTMLGoodies.com is where I got my start many moons ago. Their site is a bit more complicated now, but their getting-started section seems to have the simple and straight-foward appeal that I remember:
- So You Want To Set Up Your First Site, Huh?
Lately, I've been getting a lot of email asking about setting up a site with numerous internal pages. Read on to learn how! - What is "HTML" Anyway?
Do you know what it stands for? And Why? - So, You Want To Align Text, Huh?
- So, You Want Newspaper Columns, Huh?
Here's a nice short one that tells you how to arrange large blocks of text into newspaper columns.
etc...
Jonathan Sampson
2009-01-29 15:34:04
Our experiences were clearly different - My ex gf asked me to teach her VBA, it was possibly one of the worst things we ever did together!
pezi_pink_squirrel
2009-01-29 15:37:25
+6
A:
Dude....just don't.....take advice from Mr Cholmondley-Warner:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjxY9rZwNGU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39qdhbkTko4
Trying to teach my ex-wife HTML accelerated me down the road to divorce...
I await the tidal wave of downvoting/offensive flagging due to my non-political correctness.
:-)
Kev
2009-01-29 15:47:18