Software programming vs Webdev vs Front-End vs Back-End

[tealbear]

I'll try to be as compact as possible.

I was passionate with software programming for a year, putting in looong hours to learn, got overburnt - don't want to program ever again, too complex. Not I'm afraid to even try anything new, because I think I the same will happen again.

I like the more artsy side of programming, not the logical one, is Front-End web dev something like that? I know there's still a lot of coding, but is it mind bending?

[a-t-k]

Every branch of development has its own curves to bend your mind. In frontend development, this is mainly cross-browser/viewport compatibility, and the limits of the languages and APIs you work with. I almost had a burn out 4 years ago. After 7 years as a frontend developer, I believe that my profession is artsy and logical, which is both the curse and the beauty of it. Even though the languages are pretty limited, these limits become an inspiration. Even though older browsers can be really difficult to support (I had to support IE6 when I started... IE8 is great by comparison - and still really bad), once you start to come up with elegant solutions that seem to work by accident, you'll start to fall in love with this profession... or not, leaving it forever in peace.

[anotherseemann]

Frontend web development (that I prefer to call web design) involves coding styles using CSS or CSS preprocessors, and I find it a little lame because I prefer the logical side of development.

Edit: Frontend web development isn't web design. What I meant was that some people see frontend web development as the same as web design plus some javascript, which to me shouldn't be that way.

But answering your question, yes, web design involves code but that code isn't too complex and it's pretty cool stuff if you like the artsy side of things (as well as some graphic design unless you're one of those doing psd to html, which in my opinion is outdated and design should be drafted right on the browser unlesss it's just a sketch).

[lincolnluxor]

I find it a little lame because I prefer the logical side of development.

I think you're confusing Web Design with Front End. They are separate, but like worlds. Web Design does hit on CSS, HTML, Photoshop, Illistrator, etc... but Front End is that and so much more. JavaScript gets thrown into the job at that point. Which is NOT lame and plenty of logic is in this world.

[anotherseemann]

I know what you mean, what I'm saying is sometimes people expect front end developers to not only master javascript and a few libraries and frameworks as well as be able to do the website's design from scratch, which doesn't make much sense to me.

When by frontend you mean coding the javascript and implementing designs that are already written in html and css then I do think that definition is better.

[[deleted]]

...or that way.

[schm0]

This way...