Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.

Looking to learn something new?

Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.

Start your free trial

General Discussion

Robert Doyle
Robert Doyle
4,737 Points

Deciding on the right track

I am just in the process of deciding whether to do the web design or front-end developer track. I am creative but I also like to build things. I have some experience with HTML and CSS but have only briefly tried Javascript which seemed difficult but that was a university assignment that was taught very badly. If I can get confident at Javascript that would be a big factor. it did go over my head on that occasion though. I want to get this right as I'm going to dedicate to this decision this year as I really want a junior job in the industry when ready. Any advice would be most welcome. Thanks. Rob

6 Answers

jamesjones21
jamesjones21
9,260 Points

It depends which road you want to go down :) like as a developer you have one language and stick with it. For me I chose PHP as it is a nice language, and since picking it up in December it’s stuck with me.

I know quite a bit since diving in, and I have to say that JavaScript, python and php are every similar I’m syntax.

But that’s the next goal for me is JavaScript.

Hope this help.

Regards, Jay

Hi Robert!

It depends, you are saying that you want to work on your javascript skills. If you want to focus on only Javascript, you should do the Full Stack Javascript track. If you want to do HTML, CSS, and Javascript go for the Front End Web Development track. Even though I am just a ten year old, and do not have a job yet, If you want to do any interactive web development, you have to learn Javascript. In the Web Design Track, you only learn HTML & CSS. If you have the time though, I would recommend trying to do all three tracks, because a lot of the courses are the same and they all focus on web development.

I hope this helped even though I am only ten!

Thanks! :)

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,236 Points

My suggestion is that if you think you're interested in front end developer, the web design track might be a good warm-up for it, and anything that doesn't overlap would be useful information to know anyway. (The courses that overlap will already be marked completed and can be skipped when you get to the other track).

Jennifer Nordell
seal-mask
STAFF
.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree
Jennifer Nordell
Treehouse Teacher

I agree with Steven Parker on this. It sounds like you already know that you're interested in web development and that's great! Knowing what you're interested in is half the battle. As Steven notes, many courses will be already checked off when you visit other tracks if you've done this track first. Much of JavaScript is about manipulating the DOM (document object model) used by web browsers. In other words, we use JavaScript a lot to manipulate our HTML and CSS. Obviously, this is much easier if you first understand HTML and CSS. Yes, you will likely go through courses that will be much of a review, but that's ok. It just means you have a more solid footing when moving on.

JavaScript is a bit of a unique critter in that it not only is a front-end language but can also be used as a back-end language. And Aayush Mitra is indeed wise for his age. Many programming languages have many similarities. They are, after all, languages. It's not so much the concepts that change, but rather the details of the syntax and implementation. The big ideas tend to remain much the same.

Hope this helps! :sparkles:

Kyle Adams
Kyle Adams
10,180 Points

Hey Robert,

I was in your shoes as well and the JavaScript courses here have been extremely easy to understand. I feel really in control of my web design skills now and JavaScript is no longer a mystery after only a few weeks.

I'd highly recommend learning JS. Worst case you have a new skill to keep in your back pocket, but I suspect you'll use it a lot more than you think if you're often working with HTML and CSS.

Best of luck to you as you move forward!

Robert Doyle
Robert Doyle
4,737 Points

Thank you, everyone, for the great advice. I'm going to do the front-end developer track. Typography and colour theory are good courses on the web design track but I could always do them separately. I imagine in the end I will do both tracks, but I do want to understand Javascript.

Great Choice! :)