Where to learn how to create my own websites?

Are npm, Angular and Bootstrap enough to create most websites and web apps or do I need to learn more?

• Do I need to learn Rails, PHP etc or staying with JS (Node/npm, Angular) is enough ? I want to have optimal learning curve to get best ROI in future. Be specific please

• Answer:

  I'm assuming you're an entry level programmer here, or you wouldn't be asking this. The first big gap on your list is databases and data modeling. The heart of most web applications is the data, not the code. In fact, it's not an unusual practice to build an entirely new application in a different language that uses an existing database created for an older app, or to have several applications all using the same database. Data modeling is far, far more important than code. Worse, it's much harder to dig yourself out of the consequences of poor design decisions in the data model than it is in the app that uses it. The second big gap on your list is infrastructure, operations, and configuration management. Actually making an app work in production in a reliable, high performance manner is a whole art in itself. You need to understand proxies like nginx or apache, load balancers, firewalls, system password management, and a host of other things. Speaking as a DevOps guy, developer ignorance of operational reality is one of the worst problems in software. But here's the bigger thing... unless you're planning to take this little thing you know and become the genius CTO of the Next Big Thing startup, you're going to be a junior programmer, taking direction from engineering leads. They will choose the platform, not you - and it will probably be chosen based on their practical experience, comfort levels, local culture, and the low-grade paranoia that comes with knowing how badly things can go wrong. If they say Java, you use Java. If they say Rails, you use Rails. Etc. And this is where your optimal learning curve for best ROI lies... not in the programming languages or technologies you use (which are mostly just fashion), but rather the kind of mentoring you get and the kind of projects you work on. A good technical lead who recognizes and grooms your talent will teach you tons about how to write good software at scale - most of which has nothing to do with whatever trendy tech you happen to be using this year. The important things about programming are timeless. So when you look for a job, keep in mind you're interviewing the employer, too. Pay close attention to your interviewers, who will be your co-workers. If something seems stupid or backwards to you, keep in mind that they have experience and you don't, and they have reasons - maybe wrong reasons, but reasons nonetheless. Work with people who will teach you the most. That's your ROI.