3 Challenges of Learning Responsive Web Design, by a New Convert
A perspective: How learning HTML, CSS looks like to the codingly challenged.
I used to write off coding as impossible; now I’m going at it like Cookie here:
… I really wanted to eat my Pen. My CodePen, specifically. It’s been an hour. And this Responsive Web Design Test is still at a glaring 2/10, failed in vermillion red #FF4D00. Time to take out my frustrations with my web dev skills unto paper:
The 3 Challenges of Learning Web Design I’m telling you now that you will face if you choose to join this cul — wait, here’s a good one:
What do you call a group of programmers?
A Merge-Conflict! (If you get it, you get it.)
Okay, here are my thoughts on programming.
It’s Daunting with a capital “D”.
I use Freecodecamp. (Not sponsored, thank Quincy Larson either way!) Their course is daunting, but it’s not their fault that my brain thinks in abstract squiggles and that I can’t focus for the heck of me on repetitive lines where each and every character ALL matters. I mean, why the heck does the existence of a “ u ” matter for the CSS attribute color?
A quick note for the non-coders out there is that CSS and HTML strictly follow American spelling. I’m quintessentially British, and I prefer their spelling. I spell “colour” as “colour”. It’s in my code. Syntax intended. Did I mention that Freecodecamp is completely free and has a displayable certification?
Besides, people can be programmed into their preferred selves. Insert favourite “Growth Mindset” story right here: ___. A month ago, I would have laughed nervously if you asked me if I liked details, spreadsheets and basic CSS. I’d probably have said yes if that’s what I need to get a chance at getting hired. I was more of a GDocs type of girl. All blank space and freedom.
But now, heck, I’d sing the praises of Google Sheets from the tips of Mount Kinabalu, dead sober. The point is, you and I change. Slowly, but certainly.
It’s Advanced and beyond me.
The application of a media query is still beyond me. I thought I only needed @ in emails and Medium shout-outs. All of a sudden I need that same symbol 5 times or more to aid in adjusting my page elements. It’s alright if you don’t understand, I don’t understand.
Don’t even get me started on the impending avalanche of knowledge I just found out that I did not know. About 30 minutes into a Discord Voice Channel made up of my friends who like to build their own websites, my confidence took a shredding from the shrapnel of rapidly exchanged jargon.
Though I must admit, I may have accidentally fallen in love. CSS animation, you were the paramour I never knew I needed, sorry Bun (my partner).
Creating interactive elements with a few lines of math equation lookalikes leaves me starry-eyed. I can create waving penguins! I’m definitely easily distracted by bouncy things. I’m looking at you, “animation-iteration-count: infinite;” you cutesy thing.
“It’s for Detailed people only.”
I agree, but I’ll also dispute that. Responsive Web Design catches the details I miss for me with instant feedback in the form of an abominated website with error messages or appearing as completely not what I envision, most of the time. You can see where you went wrong.
It baffles and fascinates me how a simple hyphen or a lack thereof can crash an $18.5 million spacecraft. I have resolved never to touch a NASA project if, by some miracle, I ever got that good at coding. Though I’m pretty sure, today’s 2021’s expeditions have better fail-safes than that of the year 1962.
I especially love how Freecodecamp was detailed enough to include in their syllabus a whole section on Accessibility!
Accessibility for websites is the act of improving websites to allow individuals with atypical abilities such as deafness or blindness to gain similar or even exact benefits from the same website in the way any typical person experiences. Man! Creating a world of equal experiences for everyone regardless of their superpower makes life that much brighter.
Verdict: CSS and HTML are must-try, if not must-gain, hard skills. I managed to complete 2/3 of Freecodecamp’s 300 hours within a week and a half. I have the finished Tribute Page to show for it. This’ll run smoothly once you give it enough time. All the better if you develop a tentative friendship with its Parentheses = ( ) and… curly brackets? = { }.
Why do you need so many types of brackets? “How else are you going to organize it!” — Bun says.
Give it a shot, join our colony, you won’t regret it.
Sincerely,
A New CSS HTML Convert.
Post Script:
Daunting, Advanced and Detailed, has an acronym that spells, yeap, DAD. And cheesily? Thanks, Dad. For getting me this laptop that I sometimes mistreat due to CSS frustration. And Happy (extremely) Belated Father’s Day.
Thanks for reading!
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