Future of web development - Asking opinions

[Art Vandelay]

Not too long ago I decided to learn web development. So far I'm pretty proficient with HTML and CSS and about to get into Javascript and then other areas.

My goal is to create sophisticated websites and web applications. Maybe as a freelancer for some time, or as a web development agency or building my own SAAS models.

I've been reading a lot lately on AI / Machine learning in relations to writing code and this is already being done to a small extend and obviously more mundane tasks are going to be automated. Look at text auto complete in apps like Visual Studio Code for example. Those things really speed up repetitive tasks and this will get better and better.

But there are also opinions of so called experts in those fields that say in the coming 5 -10 years or even sooner most programming jobs as we know it today will be mostly automated through machine learning.

Learning programming is awesome. I love it, I dig the challenge and enjoy creating things. But I'm starting to wonder if the effort I'm putting into learning things right now might becomes obsolete and wasted in the coming years.

Anyone wants to chime in and share their thoughts?

Thanks

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[nutleydotie]

I'd agree. 10 years ago people knowing HTML / CSS could charge decent money for making a website, in 2021 various page builders/sass exist that can allow the end-user to create their own website easily. All the technicals a web developer looked after are now hidden.

Have a look at Shopify and how it can help someone get a professional store online, compared to the base price of $10k 5-10 years ago.

For me programming skills are still useful, but only if your building something unique like your own sass project. Clients don't really care if a website is hand-coded, pre-made template or a page builder. Clients only care about the end result, how it benefits their business.

Personally, I'm using "Treehouse" to learn/improve my own coding skills, and build my own sideline projects, Sass, Themes, Plugins with the goal of recurring income. The other area I'm putting a lot of effort into is the actual content/strategy on a page to help get sales / conversions for a client.

These are the 2 areas I'd recommend concentrating on as neither will be automated any time soon.

 

[AceVentures]

My advice would be to think about "programming", "web design", and "engineering" with more clarity.

Engineering, thinking algorithmically, solving problems faster and more efficiently, will never go out of style.

I think the example you use points to that: if you understand lower levels of abstraction, you can simplify them for others to use at higher and higher levels. You create an ability to perform the underlying mechanics more easily. That trend won't stop.

You can do a lot with python that would have been more challenging with C or C++. That's allowed more people to take advantage of that computing horsepower using higher levels of abstraction. It's not made software engineers go out of business, it's helped them become more efficient.

 

[Choate]

Solving problems is never going out of business. I have a lot of clients that can't even manage their own Wordpress website, nevermind getting into HTML/CSS. It's just one part of a business that even if someone could dedicate time to, they'd rather outsource it.

Yes, the environment is going to change over the next, 5-10 years. Just be mindful of that and always learning - truth is, it will probably help out a lot more than it will hurt.

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[Devampre]

Knowing how to code and approaching web design/development as a student who is always willing to learn and adapt to the everchanging environment is likely the best way to set yourself up for success. There's always more to learn and more problems to solve.

Also want to add:
I am not saying that one can't succeed with a no-code solution. But, it has it's limits and can make for additional problems.

 

[wilburmluong]

Not too long ago I decided to learn web development. So far I'm pretty proficient with HTML and CSS and about to get into Javascript and then other areas.

My goal is to create sophisticated websites and web applications. Maybe as a freelancer for some time, or as a web development agency or building my own SAAS models.

I've been reading a lot lately on AI / Machine learning in relations to writing code and this is already being done to a small extend and obviously more mundane tasks are going to be automated. Look at text auto complete in apps like Visual Studio Code for example. Those things really speed up repetitive tasks and this will get better and better.

But there are also opinions of so called experts in those fields that say in the coming 5 -10 years or even sooner most programming jobs as we know it today will be mostly automated through machine learning.

Learning programming is awesome. I love it, I dig the challenge and enjoy creating things. But I'm starting to wonder if the effort I'm putting into learning things right now might becomes obsolete and wasted in the coming years.

Anyone wants to chime in and share their thoughts?
https://networkz.com.sg/best-web-development-companies-in-singapore-review/
Thanks

Is Web development a good career 2021?

 

[John Garrison]

I'm also learning web development at the moment. I agree it's fun, but I am a bit concerned about the future of this path.

From what I can tell, just using HTML/CSS would be pretty limited. Difficult to find clients, unless you find a very narrow niche type of business to build sites for. Something that basically just needs a landing page with contact info and nice pictures, who would keep you on a small monthly retainer to update things for them as needed. Could probably set up some server rental for them as well if needed.

But if you move on to JavaScript the pool should expand a lot, especially if you add back-end server stuff and databases. That's my plan at the moment. About halfway through a JavaScript course, and am working on a couple of project websites both as learning experiences and to begin crafting a portfolio. After JavaScript, I think I'll look into Node.JS and/or React.JS. Possibly Python. Then MongoDB seems to be a good way to go.

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[loop101]

Not too long ago I decided to learn web development. So far I'm pretty proficient with HTML and CSS and about to get into Javascript and then other areas.

My goal is to create sophisticated websites and web applications. Maybe as a freelancer for some time, or as a web development agency or building my own SAAS models.

I've been reading a lot lately on AI / Machine learning in relations to writing code and this is already being done to a small extend and obviously more mundane tasks are going to be automated. Look at text auto complete in apps like Visual Studio Code for example. Those things really speed up repetitive tasks and this will get better and better.

But there are also opinions of so called experts in those fields that say in the coming 5 -10 years or even sooner most programming jobs as we know it today will be mostly automated through machine learning.

Learning programming is awesome. I love it, I dig the challenge and enjoy creating things. But I'm starting to wonder if the effort I'm putting into learning things right now might becomes obsolete and wasted in the coming years.

Anyone wants to chime in and share their thoughts?

Thanks

In the early 1990s the CASE software companies use to say programmers would soon be of jobs. By 1995, *they* were out of jobs. You were supposed to model your entire business using their flowchart stuff, and it would generate glorious COBOL for you. "Eliminate your whole staff, think of the savings!"

There have been computer programmers for as long as there has been computers, and I don't expect that to change.