Learn how to code

1.) Start here: http://www.codecademy.com/#!/exercise/0.  It’s the basics.  See if it interests you.  It’s a process that’ll take a while, so it’s key to see if it interests you right away.

2.) Download Notepad++ if you are on Windows:  http://notepad-plus-plus.org/.  This is the editor that you’ll be typing code into.  There are 100 others, this is a great one to start with.

3.) Learn HTML and CSS. Get this: Beginning Web Programming with HTML, XHTML, and CSS. You’ll be able to build basic websites at this point.  You can get hired to build a basic business website.

4.) Learn a server side language.  I suggest PHP.  Buy this: Beginning PHP and MySQL: From Novice to Professional.  There is also .NET, python, ruby on rails and a few others, learn those if you’d like.  My resources are in PHP, so I suggest people learn PHP so they can use me as a resource.  At this stage, you’ll need to set up an apache server, if you’re on windows, try this: http://www.wampserver.com/en/.  If you’re on Ubuntu, I will bet you already know how to set up your own server.  You’ll likely run into questions at this phase, it’s the trickiest when stating.

5.) Now you have to build things.  Anything.  Pick a site and try and replicate it if you don’t have any ideas.  My first full scale php site was a beach database where people could rate beaches and look at nice photos of them. It wasn’t the coolest site in the world but it I learned a hell of a lot.

Ask me any questions you have, seriously, any.  I learned the hard way and didn’t have anybody to bounce questions off of. My goal is to help people learn.  Buy those books, yes they cost a few dollars, the return on your investment will be ridiculous.

Coding is crazy right now, every single company in Boston that I know of is looking for developers.  If you’re learning while at school, do part time coding for companies, don’t work at the dinning commons or at the gym, . You’ll make 5 times the money and come out with a skill that will get you hired with no trouble OR you’ll be ready to start hacking on your own projects as well.