Comments on: The Power of Programming http://www.adam-mcfarland.net/2008/09/25/the-power-of-programming/ Musings of a Balding 27 Year Old Entrepreneur Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:57:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: The New SportsLizard is FINALLY Done - Adam McFarland http://www.adam-mcfarland.net/2008/09/25/the-power-of-programming/comment-page-1/#comment-1487 The New SportsLizard is FINALLY Done - Adam McFarland Wed, 05 Nov 2008 15:19:40 +0000 http://www.adam-mcfarland.net/2008/09/25/the-power-of-programming/#comment-1487 [...] designer.  My graphics skills and CSS skills are a lot better than they were a few months ago.  I upped my PHP skills as well.  I’m really happy with how the new-and-improved Price Guide came out.  So again, [...] [...] designer.  My graphics skills and CSS skills are a lot better than they were a few months ago.  I upped my PHP skills as well.  I’m really happy with how the new-and-improved Price Guide came out.  So again, [...]

]]> By: Growth and Time Management - Adam McFarland http://www.adam-mcfarland.net/2008/09/25/the-power-of-programming/comment-page-1/#comment-1407 Growth and Time Management - Adam McFarland Wed, 01 Oct 2008 18:40:47 +0000 http://www.adam-mcfarland.net/2008/09/25/the-power-of-programming/#comment-1407 [...] SportsLizard revamp that I’m working on now, it would have gone a lot differently.  For one, it would have been programmed a lot worse and probably taken twice as many hours of work to get the same result.  In my head I think that [...] [...] SportsLizard revamp that I’m working on now, it would have gone a lot differently.  For one, it would have been programmed a lot worse and probably taken twice as many hours of work to get the same result.  In my head I think that [...]

]]> By: Adam McFarland http://www.adam-mcfarland.net/2008/09/25/the-power-of-programming/comment-page-1/#comment-1402 Adam McFarland Sun, 28 Sep 2008 19:41:12 +0000 http://www.adam-mcfarland.net/2008/09/25/the-power-of-programming/#comment-1402 @Eric - thanks for reading and for commenting. Always nice to hear from new readers. There are obviously a ton of great resources out there, but I've really become a fan of the O'Reily "Head First" books http://oreilly.com/store/series/headfirst.csp. I'd start with HTML, CSS, and XHTML, and then move on to PHP/MySQL and then XML, Javascript, AJAX. I think that's the best order to go in from a business perspective. Once you have the database stuff down and understand HTML, you can start to build almost anything. I picked up a handful of AJAX books a while back and I thought that the O'Reily one had the best information and was the easiest, most enjoyable read. If you're looking for quick free online tutorials, I like Tizag http://www.tizag.com/. Hope that helps. Email or comment if you have any specific questions and I'm always happy to help. @Nev - definitely, I agree with you completely. There is a ton of existing software out there and if you learn how to install/customize it you can largely avoid needing to learn programming skills while still having the chance to build an innovative biz. However, you also have exceptional photoshop skills (better than anyone on our team from what I've seen) and can clearly modify code when needed, so it's not like you're totally in the dark. If you're resourceful and good at business, you'll find a way even if you don't want to learn to program (or struggle to program - I'm not so naive to think that it's something everyone will just "get"). @Eric – thanks for reading and for commenting. Always nice to hear from new readers. There are obviously a ton of great resources out there, but I’ve really become a fan of the O’Reily “Head First” books http://oreilly.com/store/series/headfirst.csp. I’d start with HTML, CSS, and XHTML, and then move on to PHP/MySQL and then XML, Javascript, AJAX. I think that’s the best order to go in from a business perspective. Once you have the database stuff down and understand HTML, you can start to build almost anything.

I picked up a handful of AJAX books a while back and I thought that the O’Reily one had the best information and was the easiest, most enjoyable read. If you’re looking for quick free online tutorials, I like Tizag http://www.tizag.com/.

Hope that helps. Email or comment if you have any specific questions and I’m always happy to help.

@Nev – definitely, I agree with you completely. There is a ton of existing software out there and if you learn how to install/customize it you can largely avoid needing to learn programming skills while still having the chance to build an innovative biz. However, you also have exceptional photoshop skills (better than anyone on our team from what I’ve seen) and can clearly modify code when needed, so it’s not like you’re totally in the dark. If you’re resourceful and good at business, you’ll find a way even if you don’t want to learn to program (or struggle to program – I’m not so naive to think that it’s something everyone will just “get”).

]]> By: Nev http://www.adam-mcfarland.net/2008/09/25/the-power-of-programming/comment-page-1/#comment-1398 Nev Fri, 26 Sep 2008 21:37:03 +0000 http://www.adam-mcfarland.net/2008/09/25/the-power-of-programming/#comment-1398 100% agree that programming really helps. However I can't program AT ALL. In fact I can barely write HTML. However I am pretty proficient with every program that helps me make webpages (Frontpage, Dreamweaver etc....no jokes please) and can at least edit and understand programs, Java scripts and such. I'm also pretty good at specifying exactly what I want by making mock-ups in Photoshop, so when I do need programming done, I can get it done at a reasonable cost. Although I'll never be able to make a fully custom eCommerce store like you. I'll always have to rely on pre-existing software...there's some benefits and drawbacks to both. The proliferation of apps is definitely helping out though. Example: on HouseOfRave.com I had a really crappy search function that was pretty much useless in the way it displayed results and the results it fetched. No way I could change it myself, but Google luckily has SiteSearch for $100/year, and searches have been up substantially since its (very easy) installation. It also returns exactly what you want on every search. ...but yes, I do agree that if you really want to innovate on the web, it's best to be a programmer yourself. -Nev 100% agree that programming really helps. However I can’t program AT ALL. In fact I can barely write HTML.

However I am pretty proficient with every program that helps me make webpages (Frontpage, Dreamweaver etc….no jokes please) and can at least edit and understand programs, Java scripts and such.

I’m also pretty good at specifying exactly what I want by making mock-ups in Photoshop, so when I do need programming done, I can get it done at a reasonable cost.

Although I’ll never be able to make a fully custom eCommerce store like you. I’ll always have to rely on pre-existing software…there’s some benefits and drawbacks to both.

The proliferation of apps is definitely helping out though.
Example: on HouseOfRave.com I had a really crappy search function that was pretty much useless in the way it displayed results and the results it fetched.

No way I could change it myself, but Google luckily has SiteSearch for $100/year, and searches have been up substantially since its (very easy) installation. It also returns exactly what you want on every search.

…but yes, I do agree that if you really want to innovate on the web, it’s best to be a programmer yourself.
-Nev

]]> By: Eric http://www.adam-mcfarland.net/2008/09/25/the-power-of-programming/comment-page-1/#comment-1396 Eric Fri, 26 Sep 2008 17:14:42 +0000 http://www.adam-mcfarland.net/2008/09/25/the-power-of-programming/#comment-1396 Long time follower, first time poster. Any suggestion on some recommended reading materials for php/mysql etc. Long time follower, first time poster. Any suggestion on some recommended reading materials for php/mysql etc.

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