With the web development industry booming, many are asking the question: How do I become a web developer? I think that's the wrong question to ask. It should rather be: How do I become a successful web developer?
This is important to ask, because so many people around the world are web developers, but how many of them are successful at it?
My goal for this article is to equip you with the mindset, knowledge and skills to stand out from the crowd and make a success of your web development career --- whether that's at a company or freelancing for yourself.
This article is intended for aspiring web developers and web developers who are struggling to break through the "barrier of mediocrity".
These 21 steps will help you succeed in web development and beyond.
1. Is This Something You're Truly Passionate About?
"Passion" is a word so commonly used that the actual meaning gets distorted. It actually means "a strong and barely controllable emotion."
Passion is not passive: it's a pursuit to act. Most people hate their 9–5 jobs, but few do jobs they love and are passionate about.
It's important to ask yourself these three questions:
- Does the thought of creating websites and web apps excite me?
- Would this be an exciting career for me to do?
- Would becoming a web developer be in line with the lifestyle I'd like to have for myself (and my family)?
If you answered yes to the above questions, you're on the right path to becoming a web developer.
For more on becoming a successful developer, check out the Versioning Show episode on "What Makes a Good Engineer"…
2. What's Your "Why?"
This is one of the most important questions to ask yourself. Why would you like to become a (successful) web developer?
- To make a difference and change the lives of others?
- To build projects for others?
- To build your own projects?
- To earn a good income?
One of my "Whys" is to empower and equip others to make a positive difference in their lives as a whole, so that they can do the same for others.
When you're tired, distracted, upset or not motivated, your "Why" will get you to act if you really want to fulfill it.
3. What Interests You?
Do you prefer logic and problem solving or design and visual?
If you prefer logic and problem solving, you'll enjoy back-end web development.
If you prefer design and visual, you'll enjoy front-end web development.
Backend programming is everything you can't see on a website. Think of a server (a big hard drive with all the site's information) in a location somewhere in the world, processing all the website data and then sending it to the browser.
Front-end programming is everything you can see, click and interact with on a website.
Maybe you prefer both?
Continue reading %21 Steps to Becoming a Successful Web Developer%
by Kyle Prinsloo via SitePoint
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