I learned how to make easy websites way back when there was geocities and homestead. People used <center> and <font>, now is different I guess. There's java and a whole lot of other stuff I'm unfamiliar with. I don't have much going on for me right now though and thought about learning HTML, but then I'm wondering if I'll ever even be using it. Maybe all this will be a waste of time for me?

I really have no idea for an income generating web site and it seems waaaay too late to be getting into...What do most web designers do with their knowledge of web design?

I cannot understand your point properly .
But if i reply basically,
It is worth learning HTML,CSS or PHP. These are the leading technologies that are used for web designing ryt now. You can use developer tools such as Dreamweaver then the developing would be easier and you need to know only less of these languages.

I mean I'm without a job and am wondering if it might be worth it to learn how to do HTML and all that other web designing stuff. I hear about how some people are able to travel and do web design and make a living, I'm not trying to aim that high, but I'm wondering if it's practical for most people to learn how to do HTML, CSS, javascript, etc. and make some sort of income from it? Or do most people just do this as a hobby?

If you want to make some money building websites, then you need to learn HTML and CSS, and at least how to work with jQuery/javascript. I would hardly say 'most people' build sites as a hobby.

Learning through study the theoretical materials is useless, but if you practically are doing something (playing with your website),then you need the basic and it will develop through time

you must learn HTML, CSS, and a little jquery to develop a good website.
Install Firebug (addon for firefox), It will help you to track, how other websites are coded.

Ok what I am going to say is not going to be probably right for other people but is my reality, so it is true for me.

If you want to become a web designer these days, you don't need to learn HTML, CSS, or any other technology. I will say as long as you grasp how the code work on each technology is fine.

I say this because I started my own web company a year ago and I have been understanding HTML, CSS, PHP, and Java with experience. Until now I don't know how to code at all, but I just know how the code works and how I can do modifications on it. I have learned by experience.

* I have never take HTML, CSS, Javascript, or any other coding classes that you can throw in here.

I think I have the ability to read and understand what the code does and be able to build websites. You can find a lot of software to build beautiful websites like Boonex, Joomla, Wordpress, Drupal, and a whole lot more.

As a final though I will say YES! Is worth learning HTML, CSS, PHP, Java if you want to continue growing. Otherwise you will be stuck in one level...

Life is like a game continue learning strategies and keep gaining knowledge (in this case Languages for coding), so you can continue escalating to the next level.

For someone yet to be skilled in web development, it might be a little late to start
learning expecting to get a job at it. The web been already 15 years plus there
are lots of very skilled people out there, and employers can afford to be fussy. I'd almost recommend learning some more physical like being an electrician or builder, that can't be outsourced to India.

hello...

It's worth learning but the way you learn it needs to be different.

a few years ago you could get a complete education on web programming.

nowdays there are too many technologies to learn them all in entirity

that's why I reccomend a learn as you go approach. For example every time you

need to do something just google it. eg html remove whitespace, html image, html gallery, etc. etc.

just about everything you need to know can be implemented as it is needed by using google

Do you have 400+ hours to devote to it?

If you aren't a person who can commit and stick with something, and also really enjoy solving problems (math, layout, etc), and want to be at the beck and call of your clients..

web design *may* be right for you

You'd better know how to use html when developing a website. HTML is simple, I think, so you have no need to worry whether you can master it.

Making money doing web sites does not depend only on your knowledge of HTML, CSS, java, PHP and other tools. After you learn all of that you still need to find someone who will offer you a job. There is big competition in that field, especially on Net, so some good contacts would help you to start earning money, and by contacts I mean people from real life who you know and who are already in this business.

It's worth learning but the way you learn it needs to be different. a few years ago you could get a complete education on web programming. nowdays there are too many technologies to learn them all in entirity that's why I reccomend a learn as you go approach.

I don't agree with this at all. Learning Computer Science gives you the fundamentals of programming and problem solving skills which can be applied to any language. Learning design gives you the fundamentals of Once you know how to solve problems sequentially at a basic level it doesn't matter what language, all you have to do is learn syntax which is easier than learning the problem solving skills.

Also important to know about math and other things which improve your problem solveing which is what programming is for, to solve problems. Now, there is a vast difference between design and development. Most people design websites not develop them because design is the communication of information or media. This can be summed up easily by the use of xHTML, HTML, CSS and to some extent JavaScript.

There is an overlap but don't confuse the two because developing is like the people who develop the software that the desigers use to communicate the information. So simply put developers, develop a CMS were as a designer creates the template or media that communicates the information using the CMS.

Development is more than likely to be outsourced these days, but design is likely not. Also note that design is such a large field that you can easily develop a niche to fill in other areas that are needed such as SEO, Templates & Style (xHTML, CSS, JavaScript), Marketing, Advertising and much more so its not as hard as many people make it seem. Sorry for rambling but never give up because as long as your motivated and persistant you will achieve.

so good，
thanks

it is important to know about math and other things which improve your problem solveing which is what programming is for, to solve problems. Now, there is a vast difference between design and development. Most people design websites not develop them because design is the communication of information or media. This can be summed up easily by the use of xHTML, HTML, CSS and to some extent JavaScript. Making money doing web sites does not depend only on your knowledge of HTML, CSS, java and PHP.