Webmaster Beginner: Html Or Joomla?
March 1, 2010 under FAQ
Hi guys,
I want become a webmaster, I can learn things on my own just need to find out what to study. I searched the web and found out the best way is to start with HTML, then CSS, the Java and so on but my husband said someone told him Joomla is the future and only old age webmasters use the other things, he told to just get a joomla book and study no need to HTML or CSS… What do you guys think about it? If Joomla is so good, why some people still learn the old way? thanks
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Well there is a bit of miss information there. Joomla is not the future, but rather a 3rd party CMS. For those in need of a job done quickly, then Joomla might be satisfactory. Joomla does offer the benefit of being and open source project, thus if and when limitations are met the project can be modified/expanded (if you have the necessary skills). Skilled developers typically create and manage their own proprietary CMS’s as opposed to a 3rd party application like Joomla.
HTML/XHTML is not the “old way” it is the core markup language used on the web. How the HTML is ultimately rendered is an entirely different story.
Java is a development platform, others major contenders include PHP and ASP.net.
HTML is a language for describing the structure and semantics of text. It forms the foundation of any webpage and is essential to know.
CSS is a language for describing the appearance of webpages. It is also essential if you want to do any sort of design.
Joomla is a content management system. It is used to generate HTML on the fly based on data stored in a database. It is far from essential, I would avoid it as much as possible (as my personal experience of it has been unpleasant to say the least). You certainly should avoid it until you know how to build webpages without having to integrate them into Joomla’s templating system - since that adds masses of complexity.
What you describe will require some server side programming. Joomla is one option for base it around. You will likely have to do some degree of customisation, which will probably require learning a programming language. (In the case of Joomla, I believe that would be PHP).
html is the foundation of web. You learn that and CSS, and joomla will come easily. Joomla is not the future, it’s more like a tool. Without HTML or CSS, your joomla site will look like everyone elses. That person who talked to you husband does not know what they’re talking about.
No way - Joomla is for non-webbie people who just want to knock up a quick site, but as soon as you hit its limits, it’s of no use at all. There’ll always be a demand for skilled designers or people who can code efficiently. One area you should look into (as well as html/css) is Web 2.0 using a javascript framework. There are several out there, but I prefer jQuery. It lets you do a lot of really handy things with just a little effort. Google it for more.
Your husband is hugely misinformed. Joomla is a CMS and it’s very limited to what it can do. There is no way a professional would use Joomla.
Learn HTML and CSS first, from a book or a website.
Java is something completely different- it’s for building applications for use on the web that you generally can’t manage to do with HTML and JavaScript.
To use databases, progress from HTML to PHP and SQL.
Your husband does not know much about the web, or listen to mal-informed people…
1. Joomla does not “make” websites: it is nothing else but a Content Management System (that is, it allows you to “change” the contents of your “pages”).
2. Joomla is a huge piece of code (26Mb) that is extremely hard to taylor to your needs, while proper coding can be achieve in just a few kb.
3. Joomla is FAR from being for “newbies”: the code is very complex, and adapting it to your needs will take you much longer than learning HTML, javascript, Php and MySQL all together! In fact, to use Joomla properly, you must be very fluent in Php… and if you are, you don’t need Joomla!
4. Joomla does not support very well (actually, not well at all), the interactivity required for web APPLICATIONS…
So, why do “old age webmasters” do NOT use Joomla?
Answer: because they know how to program PROPERLY. They leave Joomla to those who cannot program.