Member Avatar for RoyR

Now I'm not exactly sure if this is the right place to put this, or how it will be received at all, but let me try to explain my situation.

I'm an up and coming programmer, and by that I mean I know the basics (HTML, CSS) and the odd smattering of others (PHP+MySQL, Action Script, etc,.)

My question is what do I need to focus on learning after PHP & MySQL to be a competent, and dare I say good, programmer(focusing on website design for now, but later wanting to venture off into other areas of programming) and what are a few good resources to get me started and hopefully become proficient at them?

I appreciate any help I can get and I thank you for your time.

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by antiquee_1987

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A few focused steps will get the most mileage from your PHP/MySQL foundation. Some replies here (for example and ) rightly push learning a more “systems” language for long-term breadth, but for practical web work today prioritize two tracks in parallel: deepening web-specific skills, and building general software-engineering foundations.

First track — web stack and UX: learn modern JavaScript (and TypeScript when comfortable), progressive enhancement, responsive layout, and accessibility. Mastering vanilla JS first makes frameworks (React/Vue/Svelte) far easier to pick up and keeps you from becoming framework-locked; JavaScript remains the most-used language in web development. (stackoverflow.co)

Second track — servers, APIs, and security: move from “raw” PHP to a framework-based workflow (MVC, routing, templating), design well-behaved REST APIs, and understand HTTP semantics (methods, status codes, caching, CORS) because APIs are the contract between front and back ends. Make security a habit by learning the OWASP Top Ten and applying input validation, parameterized queries, and safe auth flows. (developer.mozilla.org)

Tooling and habits that matter: use Git for version control and collaboration; write automated tests; learn basic Linux/CLI for servers; and containerize development with Docker so environments are reproducible and deployable. These practices are what turn “knowing a language” into being a reliable engineer. (git-scm.com)

Practical short plan: (1) rebuild a small PHP project using a framework and add an API; (2) create a single-page front end in vanilla JS then port to a framework with TypeScript; (3) add Git, CI (simple test+build), and a Dockerfile. That sequence teaches architecture, debugging, deployment, and secure thinking — the skills employers value and projects need.

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Member Avatar for Ezzaral

I would recommend Java or C#. There are forums for both of those here to assist with questions:
Java
C#
The Java forum has a Read Me: Starting Java post at the top of the forum with plenty of information to help you get started. I didn't see such a post in the C# forum, but I am sure they could point you towards some good intro material if you were to ask.

Member Avatar for antiquee_1987

ya right ..start with c++ then java...it will take time but relly worth the efforts..

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