For aspiring web developers

I love people who are trying to become web developers. It's a hard road and they're brave for walking it. It's a road full of uncertainties, obstacles, sacrifice, face-palms, and a plenty of victories.

Becoming a web developer as an adult is even harder. You don't have the luxury of unlimited time, unlimited attention, and no bills. You have to balance your learning with spending time with family, keeping your day job, running errands, household chores, and taking care of yourself. With all those responsibilities, finding time to study on your own is double hard. Add the fact that there's no one looking over your shoulder, no accountability, no grades, and no deadlines and you have the perfect recipe for quitting a thousand times before you reach web developer status.

Forgotten by the Internet

What's worse, the Internet seems to have forgotten that becoming a web developer is this hard. There are plenty of tools, sites, blogs, forums, newsletters, email lists, apps, and Twitterati for established web developers, but there's very little out there for the up-and-comers. During my own journey, the hardest part was the feeling of being alone, like I was the only person in the world still confused about how floats work in CSS.

That's unacceptable. New Method is for aspiring web developers only. I (and the NM community as it grows) will write about the journey of becoming a web developer. We'll talk about:

• how to overcome learning obstacles


• becoming familiar with the different facets of web development


• sample projects to test your skills, learn new skills, and build a portfolio


• getting started as a freelance web developer


• balancing work, home, and independent learning


• rebuilding your reputation as a web developer


• changing careers


• tools of the trade


• reviews of online learning websites and developer bootcamps

I have high hopes for New Method. I want to build a community of aspiring web developers, all helping each other move forward. I want to product learning plans, full curriculum, and dozens of project guides. I want New Method to be a place for beginners to feel safe, to feel understood.

If you're not a web developer, but you want to be one someday, then New Method is for you. Welcome.