Day 05: Front end development

Hello everyone! Day 5 of my writing challenge. But today, I wanted to do something a little different. I wanted to open a discussion post about today's topic.

So, I really want to get in to learning front end development and I have quite a few questions. I guess it will be easier to list them out and then, if you feel like replying, the points will be laid out and you can address whichever one you want to comment on.

1. Resources: As I said before, I am looking to get into front end development. But, in my research, I have found a TON of resources and I am not 100% which ones are "good" and which ones are "bad". My question is, what resources did you use to learn what you know about front end development?

I will add this, going back to school is not something I can finically do at this stage in my life. So, if possible, free resources would be best. Or something that is subscription based (like coursera or something similar).

1. Portfolio: I have heard from many different videos that having a good portfolio is key if you want to get into front end development. How true is this? How important is it to have a portfolio over knowledge? I know you need a way to showcase the projects you've done but, how important is the education part of that? Is it possible to get a job on just your portfolio alone?

2. Projects: What kind of projects should you have on your portfolio? Should it just be mockup/clones of existing websites? Your own original work? What projects make for an interesting portfolio?

3. Languages: Other than the "trifecta languages" (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) what are some other languages that you should learn to go with it and why? How much of each language should I learn to be able to confidently start applying for jobs?

4. Other: Do you have any other useful tips and tricks that would be useful for a beginner or someone looking into front end development? Things to look into? Things to stay way from?

5. GitHub: Would I need to learn GitHub for this? Would it be just for portfolios or would I use it on the job? I currently have a GitHub

6. Certificates & Certifications: Are there any certificates or certifications that I should shoot for? Are there any that would stand out on my resume?

As I have said, this is something that I would love to learn but, I am kind of loss on direction right now. I thought what better way to gain more knowledge than to talk with people who are either currently learning or are currently employed in the field. I welcome any and all discussion. Thanks so much for reading and have a wonderful day!