Based on a request I received, here are some newbie guidelines.
This is for the complete beginner to programming on the web. Although it may seem to some like obvious information, I think it's easy to forget that this is information that we all did not know at one point, so without further adue, here's some steps to learning ASP (or .net).
Server Setup
This will be your application server, whether you choose to get a shared hosting plan, or setting up your own server, there's several things you should do.
- Install IIS (win2k/nt) or PWS (win9x) on your development machine
This will let you test code locally, which can be great when you are first learning because you won't have to have a live server up on the web. Leave that headache for when you are more experienced.
- Download and install the latest MDAC
You can find information on this at http://www.asp.net
- Download and install the .Net SDK
You can find information on this at http://www.asp.net
- If using Classic ASP... Download and install the latest Script engines
This can be downloaded at the microsoft site here
- Get a good editor
There are several options here, depending on your style, you could go with either something like edit plus, or an IDE like something from the macromedia camp (beware IDE's though, view warning further down)
Of course there's always the Visual Studio.Net crowd, but I personally think that it does too much for you... read this article on angryCoder.
Learning to program
- Learn Javascript
Even if you only plan to do server side code... I can't stress enough how important Javascript is to anyone working on the web. Pick up a book like javascript for dummies if you must (good book, that's what I learned from)
- Make small test scripts
Even the simple guestbook app, or form email script that seems like some useless knowledge will come in fiercely useful at one point or another. I suggest you set up all kinds of little scripts as a test... the knowledge you gain will be priceless down the road.
Play with sessions, and application variables
Learn the filesystemobject
Make forms, post them to a page, and experiment with the output I can't stress it enough, even though it may seem dull now, it will stick with you.
Learn how to hit a database
This is perhaps the best advice I can give, it encompasses 90% of what I do on a daily basis. If you know nothing of databases, I suggest this article over on webmonkey
- Know your resources
I feel pretty confident in saying that I can program almost any application in a business environment. Why can I say this? it's not because I know all there is to know. It's because I know where to find it when I need it. Sites like 4guysfromrolla.com or sqlteam.com have proved invaluable to me because whenever I can't remember the exact syntax to something, a quick search on one of those sites, and I've got it. This is not to say that those are the only useful sites. Make it a daily point to browse the internet for new articles, that way, you will find for yourself what sites are useful to you.
- Have fun
If you don't enjoy doing this, then you will not be a happy person, you've got to be the kind of person that will run around to find someone to show when you've written a cool script... no lie. I've been known to drag my wife all the way across my house to the computer to show her something, only to be met with a bland "cool". But that's ok, because I enjoy programming so much, that I wish I could share that enthusiasm with others.
I hope that helps someone out there, good luck.