4 replies to this topic

[DCaban]

Hey guys,

I'm curious about entering the field of web development.
So far I am teaching myself flash, c#, HTML and JavaScript.
Is there anything else I should be learning? And in what order should
I tackle these technologies?

Also,...since I want to make nice dynamic
looking websites when do I incorporate my
knowledge of c#?

Another question...since the web is changing so
rapidly how do I go about learning how to
make mobile apps/games with the knowledge
I've already acquired?

I'm also interested in creating games and apps for
sites such as myspace and facebook and lastly windows mobile.
What tools and languages do I need to pick up to break into that?

Someone please give me easy and descriptive answers.
I am new to the field and would love to be pointed
in the right direction.

[Alexander]

Flash on the usable web is beginning to die, it is only used for when there is nothing else. The HTML 5 specification (to be widely implemented later) allows the <canvas> element which will provide similar power for animations and alike, so for hobby or practise it should be fine to learn but otherwise it's not the most needed technology in business.

If you're looking into just C# for web programming you must use something such as a Microsoft IIS ASP server. ASP allows integration of some Microsoft languages such as VB.Net and C#, but there's more needed to be learned to run it.

An application on Myspace or a-like will require much more knowledge than just flash, you may actually need a PHP backend server to handle data (Facebook and MySpace provide PHP frameworks for example), and to connect to a MySQL database. This is how web apps generally work, I'm not sure if it'd be a good option or is generally allowed to use ASP for these types of things, it is not ASP's strongpoint for cloud-like database handling like this on the web.

[DCaban]

So... You're saying it's necessary to have
knowledge of php in order to make apps for
facebook and myspace?

I understand that I would need to know
SQL to store data and the like. I thought visual
studio would allow me to develop apps for those sites
by writing my programs in c#?

If flash is going the way of the dinosaurs than why
does silverlight even exist?

These are just curious questions, I'm not
doubting your knowledge or anything.

What else do I need to make facebook games/apps?

I really appreciate the response you've given me, and
am gathering info on my own. What else am I missing? Anyone??

[Alexander]

Ah; It seems there is support for ASP powered apps on facebook:
Facebook Developer Toolkit
COMPUTER BEACON | ASP.NET FBML and Facebook Connect Application Tutorial

Facebook has documentation, but it seems only for PHP and related:
http://developers.facebook.com/docs/

If you browse the documentation it only seems Facebook also provides PHP/JS/Python APIs, so it may take a bit more digging to find anything to do with ASP (if there is a method for it). In my personal experience I've not worked with ASP at all, especially for web applications in that manner so I don't think I'll be able to help you much more on that.

As for flash/etc; to be humble I've only seen a Silverlight application once on a corporate setting website for a screencast, I doubt from what we see now there's a major need for silverlight developers. Maybe just best for freelancing, Although I'm somewhat of a dinosaur myself on technologies.

[DCaban]

Thanks a lot for that info! I appreciate the tips, and don't say that about yourself...you are not a dinosaur!! Very helpful indeed :cool: