I Learned to Code Through WordPress and So Can You

WordPress DC, June 2017

Beth Soderberg | @bethsoderberg

Learning to code is hard.

You will need to learn abstract new languages.

Many English words you will encounter on this journey will also be new to you.

You also need to learn how the internet works.

The internet is not a tangible, tactile thing.

It takes a lot of time.

Learning to code is not a singular task.

• Accessibility
• Ajax
• Code Inspectors
• Command Line Tools
• CSS
• CSS Preprocessors
• Data Migration
• DNS Management
• Font Management
• FTP
• Git
• Google Analytics
• htaccess
• HTML
• Illustrator
• Image optimization
• JavaScript
• jQuery
• Local servers
• Photoshop
• PHP
• Search Engine Optimization
• Security
• Server Management
• Sketch
• SSH
• SQL
• Task Runners
• Text editors
• Webmaster Tools
• WordPress
• XML Sitemaps

Photo by sophisticat at Morguefile.com

You CAN do it.

Photo by Acrylic Artist at Morguefile.com

If you don't do the work to learn, you CAN'T do it.

Where should I start?

At the very beginning.

Step 1: The Fundamentals

Step 1: The Fundamentals

Learn HTML.

Step 1: The Fundamentals

Learn CSS.

Step 1: The Fundamentals

Get a text editor that isn't Notepad.

Step 1: The Fundamentals

Learn to inspect code in the browser.

Step 1: The Fundamentals

Install self-hosted WordPress on cheap hosting and use it.

Step 1: The Fundamentals

Find and go to a local WordPress or web development meetup.

Step 2: Apply the Fundamentals

Step 2: Apply the Fundamentals

Learn the difference between posts/pages and categories/tags.

Step 2: Apply the Fundamentals

Learn about the WordPress template hierarchy.

Step 2: Apply the Fundamentals

Make a child theme for your WordPress site.

Step 2: Apply the Fundamentals

Start attending WordCamps.

Step 3: Expand Your Knowledge Base

Step 3: Expand Your Knowledge Base

Make a website for a friend.

Step 3: Expand Your Knowledge Base

Learn about search engine optimization and analytics.

Step 3: Expand Your Knowledge Base

Read a book or two on user experience design.

Step 3: Expand Your Knowledge Base

Learn the basics of accessibility.

Step 3: Expand Your Knowledge Base

Learn the basics about website security.

Step 3: Expand Your Knowledge Base

Start reading industry blogs and listening to podcasts.

Step 3: Expand Your Knowledge Base

Watch random talks on WordPress.tv.

Step 4: Take it to the Next Level

Step 4: Take it to the Next Level

Make a website for a different friend.

Step 4: Take it to the Next Level

Learn PHP basics.

Step 4: Take it to the Next Level

Play with JavaScript and jQuery a bit.

Step 4: Take it to the Next Level

Find out how to break in to your own website.

Step 4: Take it to the Next Level

Get on the WordPress Slack channel and lurk.

Step 4: Take it to the Next Level

Submit a talk to your local meetup.

Step 5: Deepen Your Knowledge

Step 5: Deepen Your Knowledge

Find a designer and collaborate on a project.

Step 5: Deepen Your Knowledge

Build a website using Underscores as a base theme.

Step 5: Deepen Your Knowledge

Learn about the WordPress database structure and MySQL.

Step 5: Deepen Your Knowledge

Make a simple plugin.

Step 5: Deepen Your Knowledge

Submit a talk to a WordCamp.

From there, specialize and create your own path.

My Path

My Learning Curve

Catering to My Learning Style

Photo by lauramusikanski at Morguefile.com

Mentors & Teammates

Community Support

Real Projects

Work Experience

Formal Learning Opportunities

Sharing What I've Learned

Thank you!

@bethsoderberg

bethsoderberg.com

bit.ly/dc-june17

Sample Milestones

Learning Resources