Hey everyone! I'm at a turning point in my web development journey. I've spent several years creating websites using Webflow and WordPress, specifically with the Bricks Builder. Lately, I've been leaning more towards using Bricks in WordPress because it feels more like a development environment, allowing me to write my own CSS and create GSAP animations. However, I'm eager to push my skills further and dive deeper into programming rather than just page-building visually.
The challenge I'm facing is figuring out what the next steps should be. It feels like I would be jumping into something much more complex, and I'm unsure of where to start or how to get there. Unfortunately, going back to university isn't feasible for me as I'm the sole provider for my family and have a newborn to care for. I'm really looking for some professional advice on how to expand my skill set in a meaningful way!
5 Answers
I had a friend in a similar spot, and I advised him to try Astro. It's a great way to learn the fundamentals of building static sites while quickly getting a functional website up. It helped him transition away from WordPress and he's really happy with his new tech stack!
You might want to consider stepping outside the WordPress environment a bit. While it’s a popular platform, it has its limitations and a lot of legacy code that can slow you down. Why not start a simple project using Vite, JavaScript, or TypeScript? It’ll help you learn newer and more efficient development patterns!
If you're looking to evolve as a WordPress developer, I'd recommend checking out Laracasts. It’s a fantastic resource for learning about proper web development practices. It should give you a solid grounding to move beyond just WordPress.
How about trying to create a WordPress theme from scratch using PHP? Once you grasp that, learning a reactive framework like Vue or React could be a good next step. You can use the WP REST API to create a headless theme, which would be a great project to expand your skills! That's how I transitioned from WordPress to higher-paying software jobs.
You could stay with WordPress for now and experiment with building your own theme without relying on page builders. Over time, you'll learn when to create custom themes or plugins and when to use page builders. This approach will also ease you into the frontend stack and help with adopting React or Next.js eventually.
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