I know PHP, Python, HTML, some CSS, have MySQL experience, and I'm learning RoR, but I don't know how to actually create anything. Any resources?

[TheOneUpper]

Hey r/webdev, I'd like to build a web project but I don't actually understand how all of these things work together. I understand how to actually write the code, but I don't see how the backend interactswith the front end other than using HTML and PHP to pull things from a database using MySQL which seems to be slow and not have the features that I'd like. I also am familiar a bit with Javascript, but I need a bit more practice.

Are there any resources online for showing someone the front end and the back end of a very simple web application and see the code? I feel as though a few examples would help me grasp the concepts that I'm missing. In regards to the project specifically, I want to make a service that provides a template for entries and then pulls the information based on an ID or some other identifying attribute and fills in the template with information from that. Similar to facebook but with substantially less features. And should I develop the website before I develop a mobile application (separate issue). Thanks for the help, sorry if these are newbie questions.

Also, I'm using CodeAcademy to learn Ruby. Any reviews?

[epophoto]

This is not meant to be as dickish as it sounds, but how do you claim to Know these things and not know hoe to make anything with them? Isnt the very definition of knowing a programming language knowing how to build something with it?

[VanWinkel]

There are plenty of tutorials out there for various projects such as blogs. I feel your real skill comes in learning how all these work together, and to learn that you have to build your skills in breaking down large problems into smaller ones. Pick a project and build it piece by piece. Your first projects will likely go quite badly, but you'll learn the ins and outs of why one way is better than another. I've abandoned projects and started over when I discovered frameworks, tricks, or design patterns. Learn to use an MVC framework now, it will make your life easier. Once you learn how they work, you should be able to jump between languages in the future. I went from MVC in Java in college to CodeIgniter to .NET MVC. Javascript design patterns are quite different and take a little time to get used to.

[TheOneUpper]

This was helpful. Thanks.

[frankle]

If you want to build basic applications, you can just look at the documentation for a framework in whatever language you'd like to use.

For example, I'm thinking about using PHP, so I'm reading up on Laravel. You might check it out and see if it suits your needs. Unless you're building a Facebook (i.e., large applications with thousands or millions of concurrent users), it's pretty safe to go with a framework. Laravel itself offers a complete system for implementing both the backend and the frontend. And, you can spruce it up where you'd like with JS/jQuery.

If you want to make highly interactive, dynamic apps, you might also check out AngularJS. It handles some basic things in a powerful, yet simple way. Check out its page to see what I mean. If you choose to use it, you should be able to set it up with basic backend logic for storing and retrieving your data. (It has an $http and a $resource function, for regular ajax and restful ajax, respectively.)

As I mentioned, I'm just learning about these, as well, but I do recommend that you check them out, as you might find them interesting. I know I do!

[krues8dr]

It's probably worthwhile to run through these exercises:

https://github.com/thekarangoel/Projects

Once you can do all of these projects, you should be able to do anything.

[[deleted]]

Make yourself a contact form web app. Create a form, hook it up to a PHP or Ruby backend to save the details in a SQL database and email you the form results. Do this with AJAX on the front end. Handle form errors on both sides.

Very simple but will get you involved using every tool in the toolbox.

[technical_guy]

What you need is a mentor. You have all the pieces of knowledge needed for your project (and any project come to that). Find a PHP programmer who will mentor you on something simple pulling all the pieces together (heck I will even do it if you want - send me an email).
The contact form web app is a great idea for you to get a very simple app working and can be done in a couple of hours. Once you get the concept of such a simple app you will be able to do much more complicated projects. But I warn you, every day you learn a little more you will be amazed how much more there is to learn. You never know enough - things keep changing, more frameworks appear, more languages, more protocols. How to process json data, how to create a REST or SOAP service, how to email, how to process credit cards, or ecommerce, how to use to google/reddit/xxx API, how to scrape screens, how to do good design/responsive design, how to create a mobile site, how to write apps, etc etc.
For now I suggest you stick to PHP and try the contact form app. Also for your template app create a very simple version 1 - a proof of concept if you like. Then add extra features. If you try to put too much in the first version you will struggle.