what is the estimated training duration of Front-end Development?

Thanks dude! Just overwhelmed. So this is the route? Self thought through tree house? Then go from there with a portfolio and web examples?

Well, we're mainly having a discussion about self-educating yourself in skills that will eventually lead to a career in a very competitive industry. The advantage you have above 90% of the competition, though, is that something is pushing you towards online development because you want to be good at it. You probably really enjoy it, and look forward to the challenge because there are ideas floating around in your head that need to see the light of day.

There are many courses available on Treehouse as well, from design to development to programming to business management to marketing, that you'll eventually find yourself completing ones that are combined into a track focused on your main interests. I'm making my way through two major tracks so far. I've also done some individual courses to get a feel for the material.

The Web Design track is awesome. Having done this as a career for a ridiculous amount of time, I found it to be a great thing to work towards completing. I even learned some things on a basic level that resulted in them making more sense the way they were applied here at Treehouse. I find it very hard to say that it's happened all that often during other online courses taught elsewhere and I think the planned length of each session, for each course that I've taken here so far, made them something that I can complete and feel great about accomplishing.

The goal is to use the skills you learn to eventually prepare, plan, perform and perfect your own projects. In fact, you'll also learn about the "Four P's" that I just mentioned. Then, you will have some work to show to future employers, based on the education you gained from the pursuing things that you had a genuine interest in getting good at.

Thank you so much for the encouraging response. I just feel that web design and development is my way out of my life rut right now. It's the only thing I can see clear at the moment and I want to do it right.

As I mentioned previously, most people in my position would consider themselves an expert in their field... but in reality, we'll always be n00bs.

Just the fact that you "want to do it right" is a great first step towards a better career amongst many other people who will never be as open, honest, and demanding of themselves and their abilities.

I wish you luck, and hope to see that score go into the 5k realm and beyond.

I am completely self-taught. Zero college.

I have been into illustration since I was about four, dropped out of school to get a job so I could help my family, and became a designer under the tutelage of two veteran professionals at nineteen years-old. I then started developing websites around 1995 (which was three to four years before CSS became something that demanded attention.)

I've read tons of books and watched tons of videos on YouTube. I've tried almost every provider of online courses to hone my skills. Treehouse, imho, is the best. To the point that I've stopped playing as many video games as I used to, so that the time can be spent building up my skill set. I review and even take courses of subjects that I already know, improving anything I accidentally missed while creating a career for myself.

I would say, as someone that has now been doing this for 20 years (as of 2015)... go for it, dude. Treehouse is awesome, partially addictive, and taught by highly qualified professionals that seem to have a love for the things that they teach.

Also, as a gamer, I earn achievements.

Huzzah!