On the eve of Microsoft's Web 2.0 "coming out party" conference, Sean Carton points you toward some of the best beginners guides to CSS, AJAX, video blogging, and other non-MS-related tutorials.Wanna make cool stuff on the Web? Don't have the "mad skillz" necessary to make it happen? Don't fret! Help is here.
Today I bring you a list of some of the best beginner's guides to technologies such as CSS, AJAX, video blogging, hacking Google maps, and even more obscure stuff like writing Greasemonkey scripts to hack Firefox and changing favicons (favorites icons) on the fly. Even if you don't actually DO any of this stuff, taking a gander at these tutorials will at least allow you to talk like you do—an important skill if you're going to wow clients, bosses, or even potential spouses. Well, maybe.
30 AJAX Tutorials
If you want to look like a genius at the next development meeting, hop on over to Max Kiesler's roundup of the top 30 AJAX tutorials. Whether you're a seasoned pro or a rank beginner, you'll definitely find something here to make you look like the smarty-pants you think you are.
PHP for Beginners
One of the big problems with most tutorials is that they're written by experts. And experts (being experts) often forget the stuff that stymies beginners. Not here. This site is actually being written by a beginner as he learns PHP, so you learn at the pace a real beginner learns.
CSS Beginner's Guide
Cascading Style Sheets are an everyday part of a developer's life, but I'm constantly surprised by how little "normal" people know about them. If you're one of those folks whose knowledge ends with knowing how to spell "CSS," this tutorial is a good place to start.
How to Make Enhanced Podcasts
Yeah, lots of people are doing podcasts. No doubt. But there are plenty who aren't, and as podcasts become more and more popular with the corporate set, there's a good chance that you will be called on at some point to set one up for a client (or for your boss). This excellent tutorial from the wonderful people at MAKE magazine runs you through the basics of podcasting and then (as they're wont to do) drops extra knowledge about creating enhanced podcasts with slideshows, URLs and other goodies.
Creating Video Podcasts on Mac OS X and Windows
Video's hot now, and nothing's getting more cred than the on-the-way-to-becoming-ubiquitous video podcast. But how can you make one? These two simple and straightforward tutorials from Apple make becoming a video podcaster a simple process of following a few short steps.
Dynamic Favicons
Favicons are those little graphics that show up in the location bar on your browser as you surf. So what if you could dynamically change them in response to user input or as notifier icons for events on your site? Sound cool? If so, hop on over to this site and learn how to do it for yourself.
Google Maps API Basic Tutorial
Google's open API for its Maps site has allowed developers all over the place to do some pretty nifty stuff like this NYC subway map or this useful e-mail traceroute map. How can you harness the awesome power of Google's maps? Look no further than this tutorial to get the lowdown on hacking the maps for your own sites.
Dive into Greasemonkey
Greasemonkey is a nearly ubiquitous Firefox extension that allows creative developers to bend Firefox to their twisted will. This site's been around for a while, but if you're new to Firefox hacking or want to see how you can use Greasemonkey to create custom stuff for fun or profit, check here first.
Moblog Tutorials
If you want to learn how you can use your mobile phone, PDA, or simple email client for on-the-go blogging, check out this list of tutorials. You'll find quick links to simple solutions that'll make sure you never miss a minute of blogging when you're on the road. Of course, you may have had a life before this knowledge could curtail it, but that's your problem, right?
All Things Web 2.0: "The List"">All Things Web 2.0: "THE LIST"
No, it's not a tutorial. Yes, it uses "Web2.0" in the title. But it isn't a hype-filled rant on the wonders of how Web services are going to change our lives, give us clear skin, and promote love and peace throughout the world. Instead, I include this link for inspiration. It's a great source for finding demos of some cutting-edge technologies that show off what the Web can do and hint at some really cool things to come. So go, read the tutorials in this article, learn some mad skillz, and maybe one day your creation will end up on this list.
Go forth and learn!
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