Hi everyone! It's been a while since I dabbled in web development, back when Dreamweaver, ASP 3.0, and Photoshop were my go-to tools. I was quite productive back then! Now, I'm curious about what the current landscape looks like for creating full-stack websites. What tools, languages, and methods are everyone using nowadays?
4 Answers
I hear you! 25 years ago, I was also using Photoshop and ASP. Fast forward to now: for front-end, I mostly use PHP, HTML, CSS, and some JS. Figma replaces Photoshop for most designs, but I still do some graphics in Photoshop too.
There's a massive variety of stacks (means different languages and tools you can combine), but for a quick setup, LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP) or TALL (Tailwind, Alpine, Laravel, and Livewire) stacks are solid options for many kinds of projects.
I also still work in ASP daily. Clients usually care about whether the site works rather than what tech it’s written in. Just focus on what fits your needs for speed and functionality!
These days, there's a ton of options for web development, and it's really about your preference. Here are some popular tools:
**For front-end development:** React (especially Next.js), Vue, and Angular are leading the pack. If you want to speed up your work, look into component libraries like Material UI or Tailwind CSS.
**For back-end development:** Java, .NET, PHP, and newer contenders like Node.js are widely used. Blazor is also a great choice if you're coming from ASP, as it keeps that familiarity.
**Editors:** Visual Studio Code is very popular for both front and back-end, while JetBrains offers a variety of specialized IDEs.
**For design:** Figma is the go-to tool for UI/UX design these days. And when it comes to hosting, platforms like AWS or Netlify are common for deployment. Give them a shot!
I totally agree! Using React with Next.js really streamlines the development process and can make things way more manageable!
You might want to consider using tools like Next.js for the front-end and something like Node.js for the back-end—it gives you a full-stack JavaScript experience. And if you enjoy design, Figma is the modern choice for UI mockups. It might feel different from what you used to do, but it's a powerful shift that many find worth adopting.
For coding, VS Code is very much like an updated Dreamweaver, but far more flexible! You’ll pick it up quickly!
Right? I love how easy it is to deploy with those tools. It feels fresh yet familiar!
If you’re returning to web development now, look into Laravel with PHP or maybe even Rust with frameworks like Axum for something more complex. PHP is still popular and useful for building MVPs quickly. There are endless options, so tailor your stack to your project needs!
Exactly! PHP is still super manageable for many projects. Don't let the amount of choices overwhelm you; just start with what feels right!
I feel you! I started building sites the same way. These days, though, I often lean towards using WordPress for fast and easy setups, especially for simpler sites.