How to learn Front-end Web Development

Contents

Websites and apps help us operate and interact with our modern, digital world. Front-end Development is the skill of making them. I cannot understate how important a skill it is.

It is true, as in many other industries and skills, Front-end Development is entering a transitional period. Artificial Intelligence has caused a seismic shift in building user interfaces. We do not yet know the extent of the change it brings. Despite the changes ahead, I remain confident that learning Front-end Development is a valuable skill investment.

This article is for those interested in learning Front-end Development. I started learning Front-end Development seven years ago. Using that experience, I want to provide a roadmap to becoming a Front-end Web Developer.

Learn the fundamentals: HTML5, CSS and JavaScript

There is no escaping HTML, CSS or JavaScript. They are the fundamental tools for creating web interfaces - the basics of front-end web development. Many people rush through learning these. They want to get to the sexier stuff like JavaScript frameworks and WebGL. Spending time mastering these fundamentals will pay dividends later on. The sexy stuff is impossible without a strong, foundational knowledge of HTML, CSS and JavaScript.

To become a high-quality Front-end Developer, nailing HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript is essential. In each, there are sub-topics you must learn and understand. What are those sub-topics?

  • Semantic HTML (HTML5) - HTML5 provides several elements that operate similarly but have different names. They are there to give the browser information about the content. Using Semantic HTML has far-reaching benefits, from SEO performance to Accessibility.
  • Accessibility (HTML5) - When digital products ignore Accessibility, they effectively reject groups of people from using them. Learning Accessibility enables you to create digital products that everyone can use regardless of their ability or disability.
  • DRY Code (CSS / JavaScript) - Don't Repeat Yourself (DRY). This principle aims to create more efficient code by only writing something once and making it reusable. Doing this reduces the computation necessary to run the code, making the product faster.
  • Animation (CSS / JavaScript) - In modern applications, animation is expected. Learning how to implement animation is essential. Learning when to use animations is equally important. There are many methods of animating web pages, from CSS Keyframes to JavaScript libraries like Greensock.

There are many areas to learn about in your Front-end Development journey. Understanding these will give you a launchpad into anything you wish to learn or specialise in later.

Date before you marry: How to choose a JavaScript framework

All Front-end Developers must eventually choose a JavaScript framework to learn. They may use more than one in their lifetime. Picking the first one seems like a bigger decision than it is.

The first JavaScript framework I learned was React. It was the most popular, and all the jobs seemed to be for React. I have not written any React code since 2019. I stopped using React when I discovered VueJS. I much prefer the workflow and code style in Vue, and I have stuck with it for over half a decade.

My point is that it doesn't matter where you start. Just start. There are plenty of free introductory courses on YouTube for all frameworks. Try a few out and see which you like. Date before you marry. Try not to think about your career too much. A skilled Developer will get paid roughly the same amount regardless of the framework they use. The less popular frameworks may even pay more as experts are scarcer.

In the early stages, I think it is better to try and have fun and get used to learning. Learning is something you can never stop doing in this field.

What are the most popular JavaScript Front-end Frameworks in 2024?

If you have not looked into these, here is a brief overview of the more popular JavaScript front-end frameworks. Learning one of these will help you find a job and create incredible websites and apps.

  1. React - developed by Facebook. React is by far the most popular JavaScript framework around. It has a large community and extensive documentation. That means there is plenty of support during the learning process. Many popular frameworks use React as a foundation, including Next.js and React Native.
  2. Angular - developed by Google. One of the oldest JavaScript front-end frameworks. Angular is said to have the steepest learning curve. Mastery of this framework can land you a job working on large-scale enterprise applications or even Google.
  3. Vue.js - is considered one of the easier frameworks to learn. It is lightweight and progressive, so you only use the parts your app needs. Many popular frameworks like NuxtJS and Vue Native build on top of Vue.
  4. Svelte - is a radical new approach to JavaScript frameworks. It is technically not even a framework. It is a compiler. It uses a unique development syntax that compiles into Vanilla (Normal) JavaScript code in production. For building small and fast apps, this is a fantastic option. 
  5. Ember.js - JavaScript's answer to a cult classic. Ember has been around since the dawn of JavaScript front-end frameworks. It is not hugely popular but has a devoted community. It is open-source and focused on regular incremental improvements. Some of the largest web platforms use it, including LinkedIn and Netflix. 

Where to learn Front-end Web Development

Front-end Developers are in a constant state of learning. At first, the best information and educational resources can be hard to find. Over time, you will find the platforms and methods that best fit your learning style. Here are some things I use to educate myself and stay up-to-date with new developments in the space.

Learning Platforms

  • Code Academy - everyone uses Code Academy at some point. It offers free introductory lessons and paid comprehensive courses that can take you from beginner to professional level. I have not used it for some time as I prefer video-based learning.
  • Front-end Masters - is a huge library of professional courses. Experts from every field create comprehensive video courses. The courses come with unique insight from the experts' professional experience that you may not get from more generic courses.
  • Team Treehouse - I first learned front-end development here. It offers many video-based courses across every topic imaginable. As a beginner, these are very helpful. As your knowledge grows, the lessons can start feeling slow and rudimentary.
  • Udemy - the platforms I have mentioned so far are all subscription-based. Udemy allows you to buy courses individually without committing to ongoing payments. The courses come from different sources. Some are better than others. Discerning the good courses from the bad can be tricky. I use Udemy for more niche and project-specific topics.
  • LevelUp Tutorials - Scott Tolinski offers a plethora of fantastic, in-depth courses. Like Udemy, you pay for each course individually. I often come here instead of Udemy. The teaching style suits me and is more reliable coming from one person. Finding a teacher that suits you can speed up your education as you gain knowledge more quickly.

Industry Updates and Alternative Education

  • Podcasts - there are countless podcasts about web development. I have learned a lot from hearing a topic on a podcast and researching it myself afterwards.
  • Blogs - like podcasts, blogs and blog posts exist about anything you want to know. I often use blog posts to learn about niche topics that come with code examples.
  • Newsletters - if you want regular updates on the world of the web from reliable sources, many blog writers and podcasters produce newsletters. These mean you can find new information even if you miss a post or episode.
  • Social Media - if you prefer short snippets of information, social media presents a great option. Short-form content can whet your appetite for a topic before you dive deeper and do more research and learning.

Which skills complement Front-end Development?

As you would expect, Front-end Developers require complementary skills to excel. You can be the best coder in the world, but your skills may go unused if you can't operate within a team. With this in mind, let's examine the complementary skills that take an average developer to a great one.

  • Communication - Front-end Development is a technical skill with a lot of jargon. Many people a Developer interacts with do not have the knowledge to understand a lot of technical concepts. Learning how to simplify and communicate ideas effectively goes a long way.
  • Fast and proactive learning - as I have mentioned, all Developers are constantly learning. Technology moves fast. We must educate and re-educate ourselves on new concepts and technologies to stay relevant and useful.
  • Wholistic knowledge - a Developer is primarily a problem-solver. We create solutions to problems presented to us. Understanding wider organisational concerns will aid you in finding the right solution to a problem. Knowing how businesses work, what users want and what makes products sell will help you find better solutions.

More specific, 'hard' skills that may be useful for a Front-end Developer include the following.

  • UX Design - as a Developer, expect to be in frequent contact with Designers. Understanding UX Design facilitates better communication with Designers and enables you to create UX solutions yourself.
  • Generative AI - the last year has seen a monumental shift following the emergence of Generative AI. ChatGPT, Midjourney and Claude can help you generate copy, assets and code. A working knowledge of such tools can only help you as companies look to invest more in AI.
  • SEO - when building a website for a business, knowing how it can rank higher in search engine results is hugely valuable. You can make the best website in the world. If no one finds it, it doesn't matter.
  • Accessibility -  as the world grows more dependent on digital products, it becomes more important to make them usable by everyone. Knowing and implementing Accessibility best practices is vital for creating a more equal web experience. Mastering web accessibility will make you incredibly valuable to any web company.

Conclusion: Front-end Development is only growing in importance. Get on the bandwagon.

We live in a digital world. Consumption of digital products is only becoming more prevalent. Knowing how to build digital products is invaluable.

Front-end Development is changing. It is not just about writing front-end code anymore. To be a Front-end Web Developer, one must constantly evolve. As the landscape changes, so do the Developers.

In a decade, we may not be writing code anymore. We will still be building interfaces. Come and join us.