How to keep your coding skills from getting rusty
October 3, 2007 |
How many HTML elements can you name in five minutes?
Alright so it wasn’t my first try but I didn’t realize the timer started right away at first. I’m pretty ok with how I did. You really should try this HTML quiz. The answer might surprise you. I’m an old hand at HTML. I learned it, practiced and memorized elements for years, never even knowing about the other scripting languages (besides javascript) that were popping up everywhere.
On that note, I thought it was time for a post about keeping your coding skills sharp. This is especially important for us Wordpress users because we often don’t get into our code for months at a time.
- Hanging around tech support/tutorial forums is a great way to keep your coding skills from getting rusty. As people are generally going there to ask for help with their code that isn’t working. Not only do you get regular practice with troubleshooting codes, but you are making new friends and contacts who will likely visit your site (always link your site in profiles/sigs:)
- Handcode in notepad every once in a while. GUI coding software is fantastic. Especially when you are pressed for time. Having the editor finish your tags for you is always good for your sanity, but coding with this kind of software is like an open book test. Sure you still have to do the work, but you aren’t really honing your skills. Every now and then (if not always) put the blinders on and code out some stuff in notepad.
- Peak at the source code of other blogs you visit. This is mostly just for fun. But when you see something you like, right click and hit “view source” and see how it was done. Even if you think you’re sure. You may be surprised.
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Web Development, content creation and copywriting from the desk of Ryan Edmunds. Writer, musician, photographer, student and grumpy old man in training. Read More...
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Suzanne of New Affiliate Discoveries said:
Ryan, I like to use Crimsen Editor for my coding…it’s all by hand, but with context highlighted for you. I discovered it about 4 years ago, and maybe there are better ones out now, but it works great.
I like to get my hands dirty too, but with so many languages, it’s hard to keep up!
Thanks for stopping by.
Comment — October 4, 2007 #
John Lampard said:
Up until this year I’d never used a CMS (I use Wordpress now) because I was worried I might lose my coding skills and knowledge. While my main blog is now a WP blog, I have a smaller website which I intend to keep on static files so I don’t lose touch with handcoding.
Comment — October 6, 2007 #
Chris LaBarbera said:
75 elements is impressive
I use Edit Plus for hand coding, it even has a java compiler. It is a low-budget beefed up version of notepad.
I am hooked on Joomla now, it is way faster than creating div tags by hand.
Comment — October 11, 2007 #
Jan from thrusites design said:
Actually, notepad is something what i haven’t seen for years since I am on linux
. I use Kate which is perfect because every linux text editor hightlights the HTML code nicely.
BTW, I named 35 elements
. It’s difficult to remember elements’ names if man uses div and p tags primarily.
Comment — October 15, 2007 #
Ryan said:
Between 35 - 45 is probably what I would have legitimately gotten but, as I said, I started over. I had already named quite a few by the time I realized I had lost a bit of time just looking at things.
Glad to know about the other coders you guys are using. I will give them all a look.
Comment — October 16, 2007 #
Glenn Grundberg said:
Great quiz, and I wholeheartedly agree…
We should all take a bit of time to hone our hand coding skills! Even with the great editors (I use coffee cup) it is critical that we as designers understand what the editor is doing, and that only comes with education and practice!
Cheers,
Gman
Comment — February 20, 2008 #
Ian Blackford Design Conscious .com said:
I started using a CMS with the view of handing it over to a client to update their own site, he managed to delete the CSS file and the whole site came down around his ears.
I know use Wordpress for a lot of what I do - but I still hand code using Lasso, CSS and a tiny bit of PHP. It’s so easy to let it pass you by though.
I find it hard to filter what to let pass me by though - I just can’t take it all in.
Comment — March 4, 2008 #