Framework Agnostic Web Languages
After a great time at a language agnostic conference this past weekend (I don't have pictures, I got a new camera and I forgot to bring it. I was so mad) I've gotten to thinking about framework agnostic languages. The ones you need to know whether you're a Python, C#, Ruby, or Java developer. I came up with the following list:
- HTML
- XML
- Javascript (JQuery, Prototype, YUI...etc)
- Querying languages (SQL, MySQL, Oracle)
- Regex (syntax, not language)
My point is, while it is important to be focused on whatever web framework we currently are working with these languages are a staple to our success. For the past few days I've been playing with Python, and so far I really like it. Say I wanted to switch from .NET, I would still be heavily working with these agnostic languages.
This is why even though I may not be heavily into writing custom HTML/css I am still paying rapt attention to the HTML 5 / css 3 advances. Unless I decide to become a Doctor or a Fireman I will be no doubt referencing them for a long time. These languages have proven their worth by staying around since the beginning of the internet (when I was a wee lass) and I doubt they have any intention of leaving anytime soon.
Any good web developer should be extremely comfortable with any one of these fab 5. If you're worth your salt you know that while you may not consistantly use these, your work will consistantly need to communicate on one of these levels, so it's important to know what's happening on the other side.
I would even go as far to say that if you are a web developer the most important thing you can do is learn Javascript. I never used to make it a priority, and since I have my apps have improved dozens of times over. I hate doing anything in my controllers now. This too may pass, and I can't say that everyone should share my overzealousness.
Here are some great references for info about these framework agnostic languages.
- SQL Server Community Blogs
- Doc Type - new Q & A site for css/html
- The JQuery Site
- Flagrent Badassery - Javascript and Regex blog
- MySQL Preacher
I realize my list is shamefully short, have any you would recommend?
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Comments
Raleigh Buckner on on 8.21.2009 at 9:17 AM
http://www.alistapart.com : Covers HTML, JavaScript, CSS, etc. - pretty much everything front-end web.
Rachel Donovan on on 8.21.2009 at 9:30 AM
http://www.w3schools.com/ is a good starting point for HTML, CSS, and JS
JP Toto on on 8.21.2009 at 9:42 AM
This is especially true if you're a .NET MVC developer. I guess that goes w/o saying. If people (hopefully) start to move away from webforms these agnostic languages (and their frameworks - jQuery) will be more and more relevant.
Gene DeClark on on 8.21.2009 at 4:00 PM
HTML, XML, query languages, Regex, no problem. Except for HTML, I work with these pretty much daily.
But I have to confess a profound hatred of Javascript. My mortal enemy, that which causes me horrible stress-related ailments over simple typos, that which bitterly disappoints me when I require more than one execution thread.
I really need to call an armistice and spend some time finding the tools I need to make working with Javascript less painful. But I do hate it so, and I don't find myself very motivated to do so....
Christopher Bennage on on 8.24.2009 at 12:18 PM
Perhaps you include this in Javascript, but I tend to think of JSON separately.
Diverging just slightly from your point, I've begun to explore things from other stacks that I can reuse. The best example so far is Sass (http://sass-lang.com/). It's an abstraction over css. It was built for RoR, but it wasn't hard for me to get it working with ASP.NET MVC (blog post coming).
Stop Dreaming Start Action on on 9.10.2009 at 12:45 AM
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