[Pro] general web question

Freeway
1

I use Freeway because writing code doesn’t really interest me. But I want to learn more about web sites, and cool ways to construct them and so I read this forum regularly.

But often the questions are on topics that are over my head, which is a good thing – I want to learn more, after all!

I’ve looked at books but most of them are either specific to Dreamweaver, for example, or are too much code and not enough philosophy. Too much how and not enough why and what, in other words.

Does anyone have any suggestions on books which would be good for someone who is curious about CSS3, or what a div is, or… Someone must have written something along these lines, right?

Finally, I want to thank everyone here for their help as I got my site up to speed this year. You were all very helpful and patient, and I appreciate it very much. Thanks.

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2

As far as CSS goes pretty much anything by Dan Cedarholm is a good bet though there are many other great options. As for HTML 5 there are again many options but this short-list is a decent start http://tinyurl.com/czy4qsa.

I know many people will disagree but you’re going to find as you explore the “how-to” aspect of web design that it’s not so easy to maintain a strict hands-off approach to code. People like to tell themselves that they can build sites in a code-free world and to a limited extent it holds some truth, but it’s also a very small world to live in and if you make your living building sites it’s not a practical long-term plan. It has less to do with the ability or desire to write code and everything to do with understanding what it means and how to put it all together to make something cool. I admire your desire to learn more.

Todd
http://xiiro.com

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3

That’s a good question that I think will generate some very interesting
responses as this tends to be a pretty well-read group.

I expect that most will have been self-taught, but not without a
significant number of guideposts in the form of books, articles, and heroic
figures. That is how I learned html/css.

For good, hard basics on definitions and specifications, I still rely on
the W3 Schools HTML Elements

Google also works well to find helpful discussions and explanations, once
you work out the search terms you want.

One of the names you’re likely to run across is Dan Cederholm, who years
ago wrote ‘Bulletproof Web Design’ which introduced me to inspiring
concepts like Web Standards and User Experience. His books challenged me as
a designer to consider that my work was more than a visual experience, and
that my tools were more than just graphics.

Many inspiring and challenging articles from sources like A List Apart (
http://www.alistapart.com) and the likes of Jeffrey Zeldman (
Jeffrey Zeldman - Wikipedia) helped stimulate my growth.

The most important thing still are groups like this list where I learn more
fascinating things all the time. Whether it’s abstract discussion on how to
do something that seems impossible, or following some of the interesting
links users drop out of the blue, this list is just the best. If you’re not
subscribed to the off-topic forum, DO IT NOW! :slight_smile:

Best wishes,

–
Ernie Simpson

On Wed, Dec 26, 2012 at 5:30 PM, marka email@hidden wrote:

I use Freeway because writing code doesn’t really interest me. But I want
to learn more about web sites, and cool ways to construct them and so I
read this forum regularly.

But often the questions are on topics that are over my head, which is a
good thing – I want to learn more, after all!

I’ve looked at books but most of them are either specific to Dreamweaver,
for example, or are too much code and not enough philosophy. Too much how
and not enough why and what, in other words.

Does anyone have any suggestions on books which would be good for someone
who is curious about CSS3, or what a div is, or… Someone must have
written something along these lines, right?

Finally, I want to thank everyone here for their help as I got my site up
to speed this year. You were all very helpful and patient, and I
appreciate it very much. Thanks.

freewaytalk mailing list
email@hidden
Update your subscriptions at:
http://freewaytalk.net/person/options

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4

A few months ago I made up my mind to learn the fundamentals of code, and it has been most freeing! How Freeway operates makes so much more sense to me, which means that I can harness its power to a much greater extent.

Having come from iWeb, I was of the class of people who suffered from codaphobia, and even knowing the basics has been such a powerful tool in my tool box, as I’m much more comfortable working with code and tweaking more advanced stuff to my needs.

If you’re interested in learning the fundamentals, and learn much better in a hands-on instant-feedback system, as I do, I don’t think there is anything better out there than Codecademy. They have a great web fundamentals course, and I’ve heard their JS is good too.

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