It’s not easy to start learning something completely new and realize that after a couple of months you are still rather far from being a professional in the area. Especially when you got used to think about yourself as you are some kind of an experienced developer and discover the web environment is a whole new world with completely different rules and even sometimes those rules are not so sure to be valid and universal. I feel like I’ve left my cosy place what the Microsoft platform appeared to be and dived into the stormy sea of the everchanging web standards.

For someone who has chosen to use the platform and the tools of a single vendor, it’s quite easy and straightforward to focus on only one or two areas of knowledge. After some basic experience is gained of course. As a Microsoft-based developer, I usually have everything I need at one place - platform, tools, documentation, official support. Compatibility issues? Not at all. Integration problems? I wouldn’t say so.

That was very nice indeed but unfortunately it somehow came to my mind I want to become a web developer as well.. So what we have to fight here:

• XHTML
• CSS
• W3C web coding standards
• JavaScript
• Different browser specifics (the main of them being Firefox, Internet Explorer and Safari)
• PHP
• MySQL
• Adobe Photoshop (oh yeah, a fu**ing artist!)
• SEO

Some of those things in the list are kinda familiar from some past experiences and I thought I could pass with some minor knowledge refreshment.. So my majesty started to write “awesome” HTML layouts using complicated table structures thinking “let me show you what the old bone can do with this lame stuff…”. Then I saw some guys on DP asking for tableless CSS landing pages.. What the heck means “tableless”? How am I supposed to put those elements on the same row?

So I wasted a LOT of time just looking at the existing templates and examples in order to realize how those < div >’s are used to get fancy layouts INSTEAD of sitting on my ass and reading all the theory like a good schoolboy.. And needless to mention, I had no clue about the current standards for web page coding. Got used to applying css styles directly in the html tags. Couldn’t be bothered with searching the .css file where the particular tag is formatted so I’ve made quite a mess so far… Including in this blog!

About the PHP language - I have some past C and Perl experience and have read some articles that PHP is an appropriate language for the “weekend programmer” and random hobbyists. Now I think the author must have been on crack while writing that statement. Or it could have been true in the past. Currently I see PHP as a very rich and sophisticated tool. And I still have problems reading and understanding PHP code - looks kinda “bushy” to me with so many symbols included in the syntax..

The two products I find easy, are MySQL and Photoshop due to some wide previous experience with database systems in general and playing with Adobe products in the past for fun.

Two books are stealing most of my spare time last days:

• HTML Dog Best Practice Guide XHTML & CSS - Patrick Griffiths
• PHP 5 Power Programming - Andi Gutmans, …

On the top of that I’m getting more and more attracted to the Apple products - Mac OS being the main of them. There is some strange appeal there… Still not completely sure about the practical benefits. But a MacBook is greatly considered once I get some extra cash for spending.

Too much reading recently combined with a bit of frustration and occasional “hitting the wall“… I guess it’s just how life and success work.

You have probably seen those open Asian markets where the variety of goods could easily make you dizzy. Especially if you are not sure what you are exactly looking for. And if the last is true, then there are some significant chances you would find something that might look very “useful”. Maybe not at this moment, but sometimes in the future…

Well if you haven’t noticed yet, DigitalPoint Forums/Trade Section is such a place. If you are at least somewhat interested in the webmaster business and browse for a while through all “hot” offers, there is no way you won’t spot some post about selling stuff that instantly gives you a great idea for the next business opportunity. “Hey I have a huge database of acne articles - 20000 in total! Price is $20 and $10 for the first 3 buyers!”.  And you think “Great! I can create a blog about acne problems and load it with this instead of writing all the crap myself! And then complete the design with some AdSense and cosmetic products affiliate links! I’m a genius, lol!”.

Since I’m a quite new DP member, I had to pass through that same phase too. I’ve bought some traffic services, a couple of ebooks, etc… I don’t say they weren’t useful. They were a nice way to learn some basics and most important - to get an idea how those DP traders and crowds of Internet Marketers make their money.

For example the last ebook I bought from a DP member was 3-4 pages in total and the guy merely describes his way to earn money from affiliate programs in a very BlackHat manner. Not exactly scam, because the “victims” don’t loose any money. Just waste some of their time. I must admit I’ve had similar ideas after reading about a number of affiliate programs - I thought there should be an effective and legal way to force those lame visitors to fu**in’ signup so I can get my money! . I didn’t want to use this exact method but the book actually gave me some further thoughts… And the last lesson in this case is that when you get (or just steal) some (not so great) business idea/knowledge, you can simply pack it as an … ebook and sell it!

Last week I spotted a thread in the “Content” section where some guy offered a collection of celebrity wallpapers for a couple of bucks. After the initial shock I got by the fact that a pack of wallpapers actually could be sold, my first reaction was to do a fast search and post a link for free download of some similar stuff. Yes, I got a bit angry for a second or two. Then I thought “Oh well, this is just business. If people need to buy that crap, then why not sell it?!”.

Next thing I thought was that I had downloaded some big wallpaper archive a couple of months ago…. Much bigger than the currently offered one. You could guess what I did a bit later. Yes, I chopped it to small pieces, uploaded it to my accidentally paid (forgot to cancel subscription!) GoDaddy hosting and put it on DP for sale! I still feel a little ashamed by the fact I’m getting money from people who don’t know how to do a basic search in random torrent tracker…

The final lesson should be we can sell virtually anything if we:

• Do our homework
• Are a little more informed than the competition and our potential customers
• Invest some time for learning new things
• Put the effort to make our product attractive (for example - make a well structured sale post with screenshots and lists, describing the product in the best possible way)

I’ve never liked traders and Trade in general, but I think I’m starting to enjoy it… This is a crazy world indeed.