how do you stay focused on learning to code?

[crockett]

I'e been building my own websites for years now and have managed to work with countless different CMS's and scripts. I've always made my own designs and so on, for most anything I've used. Yet I've never formally learned HTML, CSS, PHP or javascript. Things that would all be helpful.


Yes, I can write very simple HTML & CSS but I can't do complex stuff with out falling back on tools like dreamweaver or cheating and finding pre-written code else where.

With HTML 5 showing it's face these days allowing you to do more complex things as well as CSS and it's complexities in modern layouts, I've been trying top sit down and actually formally learn it. I'd like to later move on to learn Javascript & php but I simply can't seem to stay focused on it.

Anyone have any suggestions on how to stay focused when learning this stuff? Back when I was teaching my self 3D or photoshop, I could spend hours just testing things and experimenting, but I've never been able to do the same when trying to learn to code.

I'm looking for sugestions on how to stay focused on this shit..

[Sly]

Apply the same concepts that you did with 3-D.

Find something that you need to do/build that might utilize HTML5, or PHP, or something of that nature. You will then be forced to learn how to do it. Which forces you to learn the code in a broader fashion.

Not exactly the proper way to learn something because you don't learn structure and a lot of basics that you may need to know later, but it's a decent way to learn for someone that is having difficulty staying on task.

[johnnyloadproductions]

Originally Posted by crockett

I'e been building my own websites for years now and have managed to work with countless different CMS's and scripts. I've always made my own designs and so on, for most anything I've used. Yet I've never formally learned HTML, CSS, PHP or javascript. Things that would all be helpful.


Yes, I can write very simple HTML & CSS but I can't do complex stuff with out falling back on tools like dreamweaver or cheating and finding pre-written code else where.

With HTML 5 showing it's face these days allowing you to do more complex things as well as CSS and it's complexities in modern layouts, I've been trying top sit down and actually formally learn it. I'd like to later move on to learn Javascript & php but I simply can't seem to stay focused on it.

Anyone have any suggestions on how to stay focused when learning this stuff? Back when I was teaching my self 3D or photoshop, I could spend hours just testing things and experimenting, but I've never been able to do the same when trying to learn to code.

I'm looking for sugestions on how to stay focused on this shit..

Limit your time here.
Are you better with instructional videos? Use Lynda.com then.
Tutsplus is pretty good, the videos are more based people with raw talent and less refined (IMO) but still very good, plug you'll get access to all there ebooks as a premium member.

Coding is tough, learning it thoroughly, very few people have a deep knowledge of any technology out there. Culturally induced, GFY is part of the problem.

[Manfap]

Try and use a texteditor instead of dreamweaver, something like notepad++.
I switched about a year ago and never go back into dw now.
If I'm stuck I go searching for the answer rather than let dw do it for me. That way I learn for next time.

[johnnyloadproductions]

Originally Posted by Manfap

Try and use a texteditor instead of dreamweaver, something like notepad++.
I switched about a year ago and never go back into dw now.
If I'm stuck I go searching for the answer rather than let dw do it for me. That way I learn for next time.

Here's my workflow:

For Mac: textmate for quick edits, PHPstorm for full projects with the live edit view going.
I've got the adobe suite as well.

Windows: notepad++ and the PHPstorm.

I've probably got the best tools and workflow of everyone here

[crockett]

The problem I have with using just a straight up text editor, is I'm sort of a visual person. When I build a site I don't actually follow the process like most designers do, which is build layout in Photoshop then convert it to HTML/CSS.

I tend to have an idea in my head with what I'm looking to do and I just start building the page directly in Dreamweaver. I typically do my graphics as I need them to fit what I've built.

I used to have a small theme site that was doing ok. I'd like to start doing that again, but I know with the competition out there today, that I need to do much better than I do. I just find it very hard to stay focused on learning to code stuff.

It's like I have ADHD# when it comes to trying to learn coding. I've tried several of the various video sites but I always find my self day dreaming after listening to them jabber about the shit for a few mins.

[Tofu]

Lots of Ritalin, caffeine and your favorite music, played loudly.







Rinse and repeat.