Getting Started
This page will guide you through the steps to get started with web development. You will also learn how to get the most from Devblast.
First, a quick introduction...
Hi, I'm Thibault. I have a Master in Computer Science that cost me a lot to acquire, both in time and money. Today, I realize you don't need to spend thousands of dollars over years to become a developer. The right resources will get you there in much less time - but I'm not going to lie, it won't happen overnight.
Also, it doesn't have to be boring. The human brain remembers much better if you're having fun!
Now, let me answer a few questions...
What is Devblast?
Devblast, formerly known as Samurails, is the evolution of my personal programming blog into something bigger, something better.
The goal behind Devblast is a big one: to take you from knowing nothing about web development to being proficient enough to keep learning on your own.
On Devblast, you will find articles about web development using technologies like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Ruby, Elixir and more. But that's not all. You will also find stuff about my projects, how I do them, why and how much success I get from them. From them, you can learn how a developer/entrepreneur can earn money online.
Finally, a new section will be coming to the website soon. In it, a complete path to learn web development will be provided with interactive tutorials to take you from knowing nothing to being a strong web developer. It won't happen overnight, but with the right resources, it will actually happen. Join the community to know when these become available.
What is Web Development?
Web development is the act of creating softwares that will run through the World Wide Web. For example, you could create your own mini-Facebook or mini-Reddit (which doesn't mean you will have the same success as they did, unfortunately).
There are numerous technologies available to create such applications and picking the right ones is not always easy. Being able to create websites and web applications requires a wide range of skills, from being able to build front-end interfaces with HTML/CSS/JavaScript to building the backend side that will handle the heavy computation and interact with the storage layer. You might also need to learn about deployment processes, testing, server management and more!
Don't feel discouraged though, anyone can learn as long as you take it one step at a time!
Why learn web development?
That's a good question, and you might already have the answer. If you don't, let me give you a few examples of why learning web development can be beneficial for your life.
First, the obvious answer is to get a job in the field. Companies are always looking for good developers, and some of them are totally okay with remote work - so you could get a great job, with a very nice salary, and be able to work in pajamas!
Or you could become a freelancer. This is a safe way to get some extra income. If you currently have a full-time job, but would like to make more money, learning to build web applications is a safe bet. By working a few hours in the evening or during the week-end, you could add a few hundreds to thousands dollars to your monthly income!
Or you can become an online entrepreneur. Knowing how to build stuff for the web is not a requirement to create an online business - many people make millions and can't write a line of code. However, if you're like most people and don't have enough money to hire other developers, being able to build something yourself can make a huge difference - you can bring your ideas to life, all by yourself. Even if you do have enough money, understanding how everything works behind the curtain will allow you to make smarter business choices and hire the best developers.
Mythbusting
Myth #1 - Only geniuses can code.
If this was true, there wouldn't be many developers in the world. While you need to be able to think logically about problems, you really don't have to be a genius to learn how develop applications.
Myth #2 - I need to spend years and thousands of dollars to learn.
I believe that anyone can learn anything simply by using the free resources found on the World Wide Web. Some people do need more incentive and might need to actually purchase something to invest time in it (a lot of people are like this).
That's why you will find both free and paying resources on Devblast - to each its own. You can either learn for free, if you have the discipline, or pay and therefore, force yourself to invest time to get a return on your investment.
You certainly don't need years to start building stuff for the web. Your creations will gradually become better and better, but hey, everyone needs to get started somewhere.
Myth #3 - A 30 days bootcamp will make me as good as a guy who studied for 3/5 years.
I'm sorry to break it to you, but that's not going to happen. While you can attain some proficiency in as little as 30 days, you should still see yourself as a beginner. You have a huge amount of stuff to learn, and that's okay! Once you have the basics you can keep learning by yourself, on the job. Indeed, that's when you actually start to build stuff professionally (for someone else or for yourself) that your skills will skyrocket.
What you need to get started
Fundamental #1
A Coding Environment
A coding environment is essential if you want to start writing code. For this, you can use an online IDE or install one on your machine. If you're feeling adventurous, you will want to get a text editor and learn how to use the command line.
Don't worry if you don't understand, everything will be explained in the Devblast tutorials for beginners (Coming Soon).
Fundamental #2
The Right Resources
Until the Devblast tutorials are ready, the single best resource I recommend to get started with web development is the Rails Tutorial. You will learn the basics of HTML, CSS and JavaScript before diving into Ruby, a wonderful programming language that I've been using for years. The best part? It's free, as long as you read it online! But you can also buy it and get the book files, that's totally up to you.
Fundamental #3
The Will To Learn
Finally, the most important thing is how much you want to learn. Learning how to create web applications requires some discipline, but as long as you are willing to keep learning, you will be fine ;)
My Free And Exclusive Email Content
Learning web development is not easy. You will need help along the way to point you in the right direction. Lucky you, I'd be happy to give you advices and hints to make it easier! I will also share with you the techniques I use to make money online as a developer.
The content you will receive by email if you subscribe is exclusive so you won't find it anywhere else.
Click on the button below to instantly join the Devblast community!
Thanks for reading until the end!
I really appreciate the time you spent reading this page. I truly hope I will be able to help you learn more about web development. I'm sure that, very soon, you will teach me new things. That's why I want you to contact me right now and tell me more about you! I do my best to reply to all emails ;)
But just so you know, I'm a normal guy, and I still have a ton of stuff to learn. I do my best to help people but I make mistakes too - I'm not perfect! So I just want to thank you for trusting a random guy on the Internet like me. Cheers!