Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.

Looking to learn something new?

Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.

Start your free trial

Business

lihaoquan
lihaoquan
12,045 Points
Posted by lihaoquan
lihaoquan
12,045 Points

Spreading myself too thin?

I'm new to the IT field and I am exploring the various areas of it. I've tried HTML, CSS, Java Script ( Front-End ) and PHP, MySQL ( Back-End ). I am interested in both of them and I have been learning them for the past few years. However, I'm not sure if its good to do this. Is it possible to be good at both? Or should I just focus on one of them ( Back-end developement or Front-end ? ). I'm not really sure myself, should I be learning so many things at once?

1 Answer

Mitchell Springer
Mitchell Springer
2,576 Points
Mitchell Springer
Mitchell Springer
2,576 Points

I guess it all depends on if you feel like you can handle being proficient at both front-end and back-end development. Check out the beginning of this podcast where they talk about that: http://5by5.tv/webahead/101. In fact, that is my question that they answer at the top of the episode.

If you don't want to listen to it, I can quickly sum it up. Pretty much they say, being a full-stack developer is becoming less and less feasible because the technology and information of each language is getting so advanced. Instead, focus on what you find most enjoyable. If you can be proficient at HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, and MySQL, then I say do it and be prepared to demonstrate your proficiency. But in the podcast they say, if they see a resume that says "I'm proficient in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Ruby, Python, etc, etc, they are going to think that you may know something about each topic but not like you would if you focused on a few languages.

Sorry for the long winded answer, but if you really enjoy doing the front and back-end stuff, then I say keep doing it. If you feel like you have to drop one of them because you want to focus on the other, that is also a great route to take.

lihaoquan
lihaoquan
12,045 Points
lihaoquan
lihaoquan
12,045 Points

"if they see a resume that says "I'm proficient in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Ruby, Python, etc, etc, they are going to think that you may know something about each topic but not like you would if you focused on a few languages."

I'm sorry, I didn't quite understand these lines, can you explain? And thanks for your reply, I'll check the podcast out. :)

Mitchell Springer
Mitchell Springer
2,576 Points
Mitchell Springer
Mitchell Springer
2,576 Points

Sorry, let me try and elaborate. What they were saying in the podcast is that they will find it hard to believe if you say you are proficient at 10 different languages just because each language is become more advanced. But if they see someone that says, "I'm highly proficient at HTML, CSS, and Javascript" then employers see that as the person has immersed him/herself in those languages and probably knows them really well.

Sorry if I'm not explaining it well, but the podcasters explain it better. It's worth checking out at least the first 20 mins or so.

lihaoquan
lihaoquan
12,045 Points
lihaoquan
lihaoquan
12,045 Points

Ok, I understand now, thanks for the info!