Site Reference Forums

You have to have the designer's eye to be able to make a good website.  There are generally two types of web people, developers and designers.  Few people are lucky enough to be both.

On the code side of it, start with HTML(XHTML) and CSS.  If you want to do development as well, then start to head into client-side javascript.  Once you nail one object-oriented language, the rest are pretty easy to learn.

I think that JavaScript is good to start because you can see the effects immediately and don't have to have access to a server.  It is a good place to start learning object-oriented programming, though it is greatly enhanced in an ajax setup.

Designing websites can be broken into two parts. 'The Art' and 'The Code'.

Making some real stunning, unique, sites will require you to be fairly handy with a higher-end art program like Photoshop or Corel Photo-Paint.

However, you can make all the pretty pictures you want, but it doesn't do you any good if you don't know HOW to properly place them on the page.

So that leaves us with html, css, java, php, etc. When talking about these codes, it's absolutely inevitable that you're going to need basic knowledge of good 'ol html anyways.

So to answer your question, I would learn the HTML. Then the CSS, then learn some good art software. After that, everything else is optional based on what type of sites you think you'll be building in the future. Static sites rarely use anything more complicated than a well thought out CSS file. While sites like SR get a bit more challenging.

I would add, that IMO the easiest way to learn html, php, and mysql is to download an open source script, and mess about with it. These free scripts usually have a template system, which will enable you to create your own website. You can use the default template as a basis for your own, and you can get help from a forum associated with the develpment project.

You will of course need editing programs such as Dreamweaver, and Fireworks - these are great tools, and make life a little easier.

Bytheway, Thanks Northie for your recommendation of Xampp - I might give that a try. I usually do my development on a test server, but local experimentation may be easier.