need help /guidance on becoming webmaster!

Firstly welcome to TWF,

Have you actually built any websites that are online? Before you do anything you really need to understand and be able to write good valid html (or xml/xhtml) and have a grasp on good design. This thread touches on the same subject you are asking about.

I would disagree with that, actually. If you're looking to concentrate on the backend side of things learning good design would probably not be a good use of your time. One thing you didn't mention in your post is .NET, which seems to be the next big thing as far as MS programming initiatives go. You might want to look into that.

It would probably also be a good idea to look into some sort of formal training. Do you have any sort of degree or college certificate? You should probably look into what kind of certifications are available and/or university-level programming courses. These will give you a good background general programming theory as well as a piece of paper which employers usually like to see.

That's all the advice I can give you, unfortunately, since I'm not really a programmer myself. HOpefully one of the others can drop in and give you more specific advice on which languages are best to devote your time to.

I guess that depends on whether you are going to be doing the whole thing yourself or have someone create a nice inface/site and you do the techy programming. The two are important together though as I know someone who builds sites and is great at the backend stuff but absolutely sucks at design and ends up with very nicely functioning sites that look old and tired because of bad design.

I'm sorry, it sounded to me like webby was more interested in doing the techy programming rather than the design things ("I am planning to shift to full fledged technical aspect of website development"). I was also going to say that "webmaster" can mean a lot of different things to different people so it's best to clarify what you mean when you use that term.

Webby, maybe you can clarify for us a little bit what sort of end goal you have here. Are you looking to improve your skills as a complete website builder or are you looking to end up with a contract or full-time job doing backend programming only?

Thanks a lot Julia n' Megan for your timely replies.
As Megan askes, I would like to clarify that, I would like to become a
complete website builder. To be more specific...
I have Engineering background in Electronics and communication.
At present I know front end part of a website...like Graphics-using photoshop and flash , and html CSS part.

AS i told earlier, I am aware of ASP and JSP logics. But at present i am intereted in doing JSP part. But my final aim is to be a complite website builder.

So could you please let me know how to go about it.
What all aspects I should know to be come a complete website builder.
How much effort i need to put to be come a complete website builder.

regards
webby

There are very few complete web builders. Most tend to stray towards design or programming. The more sites that I do, it seems that I care less and less for the designing part and more and more for the programming side. IMO, you really don't have to excel in every area but you should know your way around.

For the programming end, you should add a language or two. Some would say to learn C or C+, then you would be able to figure out most of the others quite easily. You should also know about SQL and database design. Then branch out towards either MySQL, Oracle or SQL server. JSP is okay but I am not a huge fan.

In the design part, you should at least know what looks good. You should understand and be able to optimize graphics. Know HTML backwards and forwards. Know how to use stylesheets. Know how to make Search engine friendly pages. Then relearn it when things change.

Thanks Mark.

As you said.. it's true, I am also getting interested in more of programming part. But if i look out for a job..how should i tell my skill sets. (either I have to have strong programming skills). I can't just put that I have working knowledge of ASP JSP etc....

So at this point I am anxious as well lost...how to go ahead in programming aspect.

If I get into JSP, then as you said, i have to know in and out of JSP stuff then only i will be able to say confidently that I know graphics and programming as well.

To start with I liked JSP . But the point is JAVA is such a huge thing to learn (at least for me:)). So where to start now! !

I asked it before, but have you built any sites that are online? You really need a portfolio to show potential clients.

Have built the sites. corporate sites, a product site and couple of intranets.
I have designs of all of the above with me (on A CD!). But unfortunately they are not on line, since the sites are redesigned.

But I am well versed with designing the site and hosting it too. Hence at present I am intereted in moving on from design/CSS/ and build html and hosting ...etc steps to technical part..to start with programming.and that' where I am stuck. !!
If I get in JAVA, what should i concentarte on.!..considering it's huge thing to learn..

so could you pls help

thanks

I don't think it's possible to be a complete webmaster. I mean, I guess it would be possible to learn all of the necessary skills (from business/marketing, information design, visual prettiness, content management and editing, client-side coding, backend programming, site promotion, search engines etc. etc.) I just don't think it's possible to be really good at everythinjg. It would be best to concentrate on one or two areas while learning enough about the others to get along with other people you work with. A portfolio is definitely necessary but other than that I don't know too much about what employers are looking for in regards to backend programmers.

I will, however, reiterate what I said above about formal training - look into university courses if there's one near you (or distance/online courses from universities). Employers do like to see a piece of paper of some sort or at least some evidence that you're working toward one.

Read a lot of tutorials. Copy and paste, and try different things with them. In no time will you become very knowledgable in it.