I don't normally respond to the "Here's a question - now, discuss..." posts. But I think this is a great conversation starter!
IMHO, the question comes down to how we're defining "newer developer". If someone is truly brand spankin' new to development, then I really believe that web development is a fabulous place to start. Why?? Because, if you have a web browser, and you're just starting to dip your toes into programming, then you have a "development environment".
As a 20+ year pro at this, it's easy for me to forget just how challenging it was for me "back in the day" to simply get a local environment up and running. I started doing PHP in 1998 (NOT a typo). And at that time, I had no friggin clue how to run PHP locally (or anything else, for that matter). I had to write my code locally, then FTP it up to the server, then refresh the live page to see the result of my changes. If that sounds entirely amateurish, it's because I was entirely amateurish.
In today's environment, it's an amazing benefit to be able to write some code locally, refresh a browser, and BAM!!!, there's the result of my new hacked-up code! This is not an inconsequential benefit. If you're just getting started, and you're trying crank out your first lines of Java or C# (or... whatever), it can be incredibly challenging for the extreme-noob to even see the results of his/her changes. As "experienced" devs, it can be easy to forget just how challenging it can be to get a "Hello World!" example up-and-running for the true neophytes.
In that respect, I think that web-based development is a tremendous benefit to introducing people to code for the first time.
But I sense a larger question. Once you know how to get your "Hello World!" code running (in any environment), is it "beneficial" to keep routing new devs toward the web sphere?? Umm... probably not. Learning to code outside the warm, comforting environs of a browser is a valuable skill. Perhaps, even... an undervalued skill. And it can make you think of your code (even, your web-based code), in a more "universal" sense.
I've also noticed that the extreme focus on JavaScript leads many brand-new devs to learn the raw nuts-and-bolts of application logic - without having any broader understanding for how that logic is presented to the user. In other words, I've seen some new JS devs that are, honestly, getting quite proficient with the "raw logic" of their initial apps - and yet... they have frightfully little knowledge of HTML or CSS or any other "ancillary" technology that's ultimately critical to being a true "developer".
For further actions, you may consider blocking this person and/or reporting abuse
We're a place where coders share, stay up-to-date and grow their careers.
I don't normally respond to the "Here's a question - now, discuss..." posts. But I think this is a great conversation starter!
IMHO, the question comes down to how we're defining "newer developer". If someone is truly brand spankin' new to development, then I really believe that web development is a fabulous place to start. Why?? Because, if you have a web browser, and you're just starting to dip your toes into programming, then you have a "development environment".
As a 20+ year pro at this, it's easy for me to forget just how challenging it was for me "back in the day" to simply get a local environment up and running. I started doing PHP in 1998 (NOT a typo). And at that time, I had no friggin clue how to run PHP locally (or anything else, for that matter). I had to write my code locally, then FTP it up to the server, then refresh the live page to see the result of my changes. If that sounds entirely amateurish, it's because I was entirely amateurish.
In today's environment, it's an amazing benefit to be able to write some code locally, refresh a browser, and BAM!!!, there's the result of my new hacked-up code! This is not an inconsequential benefit. If you're just getting started, and you're trying crank out your first lines of Java or C# (or... whatever), it can be incredibly challenging for the extreme-noob to even see the results of his/her changes. As "experienced" devs, it can be easy to forget just how challenging it can be to get a "Hello World!" example up-and-running for the true neophytes.
In that respect, I think that web-based development is a tremendous benefit to introducing people to code for the first time.
But I sense a larger question. Once you know how to get your "Hello World!" code running (in any environment), is it "beneficial" to keep routing new devs toward the web sphere?? Umm... probably not. Learning to code outside the warm, comforting environs of a browser is a valuable skill. Perhaps, even... an undervalued skill. And it can make you think of your code (even, your web-based code), in a more "universal" sense.
I've also noticed that the extreme focus on JavaScript leads many brand-new devs to learn the raw nuts-and-bolts of application logic - without having any broader understanding for how that logic is presented to the user. In other words, I've seen some new JS devs that are, honestly, getting quite proficient with the "raw logic" of their initial apps - and yet... they have frightfully little knowledge of HTML or CSS or any other "ancillary" technology that's ultimately critical to being a true "developer".