Every so often I will receive an email that asks the following:
How can I learn how to build websites?
There are two approaches you can take to learning how to build websites.
- Learn how to build websites
- Learn how to build websites the right way, aka the Web Standardistas’ way
I built my first website over 10 years ago but it wasn’t until final year of my University degree course Interactive Multimedia Design (IMD) that I discovered how to build sites properly using well structured HTML and CSS. Before this I was using tables, unstructured markup and invalid HTML. Who do I have to thank for this? Chris Murphy and Nicklas Persson, two lecturers on the IMD course.
Now you don’t have to take a University course to be taught by these two world renowned mentors. They have branded themselves as the Standardistas and have put all their years of wisdom and knowledge on paper in the form of HTML and CSS Web Standards Solutions: A Web Standardistas’ Approach.
This book will teach you how to build websites from scratch. Starting with the basics of semantic markup and how web pages work moving onto styling your first web page with CSS. It’s a one stop shop for putting together your first web site.
Who is it for?
- People who want to learn how to build websites
- Developers who need to brush up their front end markup skills
- Designers who are using outdated techniques e.g. tables, to build websites
- Professionals who want to earn the badge of a Web Standardista
Benefits of the Web Standardistas’ approach
- Separates content and presentation (easier to update layouts)
- Reduced markup (reducing page download times)
- Increased accessibility (for screen readers and other platforms)
- Cross browser compatibility
- Forward compatibility
Recommended
It’s an easily read book, clearly laid out with lots of code examples to help you get started. After reading this you’ll be able to build websites with your eyes closed.
Want to read more?
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David Bennett says:
They would need to do an update to the book to cover HTML5 and CSS3.
Tommy says:
They’re working on one at the moment.
Christopher Murphy says:
Thanks so much for the review Lee, it’s very much appreciated.
David, our next book is ‘Beginning HTML5 and CSS 3′, again on friends of ED. It’s currently scheduled for publication in April, 2010. However, this book builds right into that book, i.e. it should be read first to establish a solid, standards aware platform, before embarking on the HTML5 and CSS 3 shizzle majizzle.
Everything in our first book is still 100% valid, HTML5 and CSS 3 build on standards aware web design and development. If you, or anyone else, are interested in getting a heads up on our new book (and contributing some ideas – elements that you’d like covered) please do get in touch:
chris [at] webstandardistas [dot] com
If anyone has read our first book we’d love to hear from you. We strive to ensure our teaching is not only inspiring, but accurate and your feedback is very much appreciated.
Again Lee, thanks for the review.
Lee says:
No problem Chris – looking forward to the next installment!
Ben says:
I misread the part of your post: “Before this I was using tables, unstructured markup and invalid HTML. Who do I have to thank for this? Chris Murphy and Nicklas Persson, two lecturers on the IMD course.”
It implied (to me anyway!) that they taught you how to code badly with tables etc! It took me a few seconds to understand why you were recommending the book!
Christopher Murphy says:
Ben, Lee’s post might indeed be interpreted that way at first glance. I can assure you, however, that – short of breaking the rules (or any laws of the land) – we take a firm a line with any students that opt for tables all the way. (I’ll leave you to interpret the words ‘a firm line’).
Emma Smyth says:
Very good article Lee ;)
Eric says:
I just stumbled across your website from the wordpress website as I was browsing templates and such. I like your site design and layout and just wanted to say that.
I also read this post and agree. I need to definitely brush up on my skills as you could easily tell from my website.
Ray says:
Hi, i’m in the market looking for a book to guide me to build websites the “right way”. Should I just wait for ‘Beginning HTML5 and CSS 3′ which is scheduled for publication in April, 2010? As far as my googling research tells me, both HTML5 and CSS3 is not slated for “official” launch anytime soon, so..? [Just a little background, i'm a "print" graphic designer precariously maintaining my company's website, using Dreamweaver and common sense, haha ....]
Christopher Murphy says:
Ray, The book you’re looking for is this one, trust me (I’m one of the authors!). The other book, if it’s ever released (a long story) is a different type of book.
Good luck!
Ray says:
Thanks Chris. I actually bought your book 2 days after I read your above comment! haha… I’m now on page 262, fyi and so far so good. I like the way you don’t “hurry” things, laying down the basic html “abcs” proper and building up at a noob-friendly pace with meaningful visual illustrations.
Ok, having said that, I do think I spotted a syntax typo on page 249, somewhere at the centre:
~~~ Shouldn’t this be ?
I was googling for some sort errata of your book but couldn’t find one.
It would be helpful if there is one, so I don’t end up learning the wrong thing because of a typo! lol… thanks for reading. ;]
Ray says:
Ok… the codes are missing! Must be some parsing conflicts with this site.
try again…
div id=”blog_entry” should be div class=”blog_entry” ???