I'm currently in my 4th semester of learning web development, and I've picked up a lot of technologies like the MERN stack, SQL, Bootstrap, Tailwind, Git, GitHub, EJS, and more. However, I haven't created any substantial projects; the only major one is a tutorial I followed to learn these skills. Whenever I try to start a new project, I get overwhelmed and keep thinking about other technologies I should learn, like React, Next.js, GSAP for animations, or Figma for design. I'm wondering if these tools are necessary to begin a project, or should I just start with what I already know? How do others typically get started?
5 Answers
At this point, just use what you already know. Don't get distracted by looking for something better and risk feeling even more lost. Sometimes, you can spend more time evaluating new tech than actually being productive. Remember, teams usually take a long time just to agree on switching technology, so just dive into building with your current stack!
You're definitely overcomplicating things! Unless your project is something really specialized, the best tech to use is the tech you already know. Just pick a project and go for it with your current skills. If you hit any limitations, that's actually a valuable learning moment—only by facing those challenges can you understand what you need to improve on. Remember, ten years ago, many websites just used basic PHP with MySQL and jQuery, and they got the job done!
At this stage, building something interactive, responsive, accessible, and semantically correct using just HTML, CSS, and vanilla JS is totally doable. You might feel tempted to chase after every shiny new tech, but focus on solidifying your core skills first. It's crucial to have a strong foundational knowledge before you dive into frameworks like React or Next.js.
I actually can do that. But I keep thinking I should learn React first, which leads to me not starting any projects.
You should definitely learn about project planning and management, along with version control and documentation techniques. Knowing how to create a roadmap to a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and manage a project effectively is just as important as knowing how to code. Can you set up the architecture of a project before you even start coding? Understanding whether or not you need something like Next.js comes from having that planning skill.
Understood...thanks for your advice. Could you guide me more on this topic?
Don't stress too much about finding the 'best' tools. Instead of listening to tech influencers, focus on how to solve real problems with the tools you already have. Many subpar websites are functional despite their poor tech stack; it's about practicality, not perfection. Just get your hands dirty and start building something useful with what you know!
Ohk thanks for the advice!