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🚀 Quick Start Guide

New Developer? Start here for a quick overview of your onboarding journey!

TL;DR (Too Long; Didn't Read)

You're about to complete a 6-week onboarding program that will teach you:

  • Programming (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, MySQL)
  • Command-line skills
  • How the web works
  • Building real projects

Start here: ONBOARDING-GUIDE.md

What You Need to Know

Duration

6 weeks (full-time focus)
or
8-12 weeks (part-time learning)

Time Commitment

  • 2-3 hours/day learning
  • 1-2 hours/day coding
  • 30 minutes/day reading

Prerequisites

  • Basic computer skills
  • Willingness to learn
  • Curiosity and persistence

Your Journey in 6 Weeks

Week 1: Setup & Introduction
   ↓
Week 2: Programming Languages (HTML/CSS/JS/PHP)
   ↓
Week 3: Operating System Basics
   ↓
Week 4: Web Fundamentals
   ↓
Week 5: Build a Website
   ↓
Week 6: Build a Web App
   ↓
🎉 CERTIFIED DEVELOPER!

Important Files (Read in Order)

1. START HERE 👉 ONBOARDING-GUIDE.md

Your main roadmap with detailed week-by-week instructions.

2. PROGRESS-CHECKLIST.md

Track your daily progress and check off completed tasks.

3. COURSE-LINKS.md

Curated learning resources and external tutorials in one place.

4. Supporting Materials

Week-by-Week Overview

Week 1: Get Ready

Goal: Set up your development environment

You'll do:

  • Meet the team
  • Install software (Laravel Herd, MySQL, Node.js, Git)
  • Configure your IDE
  • Learn Git basics

End of week: You can code, commit, and push code!

Week 2: Learn to Code

Goal: Master programming fundamentals

You'll learn:

  • Day 1-2: HTML & CSS
  • Day 3-4: JavaScript
  • Day 5: PHP & MySQL

End of week: You can build basic web pages and scripts!

Week 3: Master the Terminal

Goal: Become comfortable with command-line

You'll learn:

  • Navigate file systems
  • Manage processes
  • Write shell scripts
  • Monitor system resources

End of week: You're a command-line ninja!

Week 4: Understand the Web

Goal: Know how websites work

You'll learn:

  • How browsers work
  • DNS and HTTP/HTTPS
  • Web servers
  • Security basics

End of week: You understand the entire web stack!

Week 5: Build a Website

Goal: Create a responsive website

You'll build:

  • Mobile-friendly design
  • Navigation and forms
  • Interactive features
  • Professional-looking pages

End of week: You have a portfolio piece!

Week 6: Build a Web App

Goal: Create a database-driven application

You'll build:

  • User authentication
  • CRUD operations
  • Form validation
  • Secure database interaction

End of week: You're a full-stack developer!

Software You'll Need

Day 1 Installs

  1. Laravel Herd - Local PHP server
  2. MySQL - Database
  3. Node.js & NVM - JavaScript runtime
  4. Git - Version control
  5. VSCode or PhpStorm - Code editor

Instructions

See programming-languages/dev-environment.md

Daily Routine

Morning (2-3 hours)

  1. ☕ Read - Study the day's material
  2. 📝 Take notes - Write down key concepts
  3. 🎯 Watch videos - If links provided

Afternoon (1-2 hours)

  1. 💻 Code - Complete exercises
  2. 🐛 Debug - Fix problems
  3. ✅ Check off - Update your checklist

Evening (30 minutes)

  1. 📖 Review - Read articles
  2. 💬 Ask questions - Team chat or mentor
  3. 📊 Reflect - What did you learn?

🎓 Quizzes & Assessment

Weekly Quizzes

Test your knowledge after each section:

  • ✅ HTML & CSS Quiz
  • ✅ JavaScript Quiz
  • ✅ PHP & MySQL Quiz

Passing Score: 70% (you can retake!)

Final Projects

Two projects to demonstrate your skills:

  1. Responsive Website (Week 5)
  2. PHP/MySQL Application (Week 6)

Code Reviews

Your mentor will review your code and provide feedback. This is how you'll improve!

Tips for Success

DO:

✅ Ask questions (no question is too small!)
✅ Practice every day
✅ Read error messages carefully
✅ Google when stuck
✅ Take breaks
✅ Help other learners
✅ Document what you learn

DON'T:

❌ Copy code without understanding
❌ Skip exercises
❌ Be afraid to make mistakes
❌ Compare your progress to others
❌ Give up when frustrated
❌ Learn in isolation

When You're Stuck

The 30-Minute Rule

Try to solve it yourself for 30 minutes first:

  1. Read the error - What does it say?
  2. Google it - Someone has probably had this problem
  3. Check documentation - Official docs are your friend
  4. Debug step-by-step - Use console.log or var_dump

Still Stuck?

  1. Ask your mentor - Schedule a quick call
  2. Team chat - Post in your channel
  3. Pair program - Work with a teammate

Your Support Team

Your Mentor

Name: _________________
Schedule: _________________
Contact: _________________

Your mentor is here to:

  • Answer questions
  • Review your code
  • Guide your learning
  • Celebrate your wins!

Team Lead

Name: _________________
Contact: _________________

Your team lead can help with:

  • Project assignments
  • Career guidance
  • Technical direction

Buddy/Peer

Name: _________________
Contact: _________________

Your buddy is another learner or junior dev who:

  • Studies with you
  • Shares the journey
  • Provides peer support

Success Metrics

You're on Track If:

  • ✅ Completing daily tasks
  • ✅ Understanding concepts (not just copying)
  • ✅ Passing quizzes
  • ✅ Code reviews are improving
  • ✅ Building confidence

Warning Signs:

  • ⚠️ Falling behind schedule
  • ⚠️ Repeatedly stuck on same topics
  • ⚠️ Not asking questions
  • ⚠️ Skipping exercises

If you see warning signs, talk to your mentor immediately!

Important Dates

Start Date: _________________

Week 1 Ends: _________________
Week 2 Ends: _________________
Week 3 Ends: _________________
Week 4 Ends: _________________
Week 5 Ends: _________________
Week 6 Ends: _________________

Final Review: _________________
Expected Completion: _________________

🎉 What Happens After?

Upon Completion:

  • 🤝 Join team projects
  • 👥 Start contributing to production code
  • 📈 Continue learning advanced topics

Career Path:

  • Junior Developer → Mid-Level → Senior → Lead
  • Specialize (Frontend, Backend, Full-Stack, DevOps)
  • Contribute to open source
  • Mentor new developers

Glossary of Terms

CLI - Command Line Interface (the terminal)
IDE - Integrated Development Environment (your code editor)
Git - Version control system
Repository - Where code is stored
Commit - Save a snapshot of your code
Push - Send code to remote repository
Pull - Get latest code from repository
Branch - Separate line of development
Merge - Combine branches
PR - Pull Request (code review request)

Learning Resources

Documentation

Tools

FAQ

Q: What if I fall behind?

A: Talk to your mentor immediately. We can adjust the pace or provide extra support.

Q: Can I go faster?

A: Yes! If you're comfortable, you can move ahead. But don't skip exercises.

Q: What if I don't understand something?

A: Normal! Ask questions, review the material, and practice more.

Q: Do I need to memorize everything?

A: No! Focus on understanding concepts. You can always look up syntax.

Q: What if I make mistakes?

A: Mistakes are how you learn! Every developer makes mistakes daily.

Q: Is programming hard?

A: It's challenging but rewarding. With practice, it becomes easier.

Ready to Begin?

Your First Steps:

  1. 📋 Fill in your details in PROGRESS-CHECKLIST.md

  2. 📖 Read ONBOARDING-GUIDE.md - Week 1

  3. 🛠️ Set up your development environment

  4. 💬 Introduce yourself to the team

  5. 🚀 Start learning!

Motivation

"The only way to learn programming is by programming."
— Dennis Ritchie

"First, solve the problem. Then, write the code."
— John Johnson

"Every expert was once a beginner."
— Anonymous

"It's not about how fast you learn, it's about how much you understand."
— Your Mentor

Final Words

Welcome to your development journey!

The next 6 weeks will be challenging but incredibly rewarding. You'll build skills that will serve you for your entire career.

Remember:

  • Be patient with yourself
  • Stay curious
  • Ask questions
  • Practice daily
  • Celebrate small wins

We're excited to have you on the team! 🎉

Now go to: ONBOARDING-GUIDE.md

Let's code! 💻🚀