Hi

I just started creating website using xhtml strict 1.0 and css. Now that I know a little bit about each. What should I learn next because when I look at the job posting, there are so many requirements that you need to know. EX: XHTML, CSS, Ajax, XML, Javascript, XSL, PHP, MYsql, ASP.net, Photoshop, Flash, Illustrator, InDesign, etc. I meant how can you be expert in all those areas? Any advise?

I would poke around at javascrpt a little next. See how it can help your pages, what it can do - don't get too into it, just be able to write basic functions and know you could use google and probably get something to work. Then I'd move on to PHP / mysql at the same time. Create a database use php to interact with it, get used to phpMyAdmin look at the sql it produces. Then create a really simple CMS - maybe a message board. Create login pages and sessions. From there move on to Ajax and xml. Now that you know php you can output your own xml file containing database information, then use ajax to return the xml to javascript and the javascript to get it on your page.

Photoshop and Illustrator are graphics programs. You do not need InDesign for web sites. I guess someone could layout all their flat designs as pages in InDesign, but focus on the other 2 and you will be able to use InDesign enough to turn flats into a website. I have designers do my design for me, so I need to only know enough to slice what I need, and hide/show layers, although I've picked up a lot in the last few years just dicking around with them.

Flash you can play with whenever you feel like it. It's fun to play with and draw stuff and move it around the screen. I followed some tutorials from www.newgrounds.com a few years ago and those gave me enough to make simple animations like fades, tweens, think they had some snowman 'game' to build back then you could jump around the screen.

There's a lot of stuff, but it really isn't as much as you think in the beginning.

Hope that helps point you in the right direction.

Thanks alot for the information. I guess I will start looking into Javascript now.

AJAX, Javascript, and XML are all very closely related, and generally used together (AJAX IS Javascript).

You said you already know a bit about XHTML and CSS.

PHP and ASP are used to generate (X)HTML markup dynamically. Generally you only use one.

MySQL is a database used to store information. If you're just designing a webpage chances are you'll only need to know how to run queries.

Photoshop is used to edit images. Illustrator is a program to create vector images. Flash can be used to create interactive controls on websites (but should never be used for security).

I've never used InDesign.

The things you've listed may sound like a lot, but most of them aren't very hard and frankly you should be able to pick them up as you use them.

Thanks for the very helpful information. How do you seperate yourself from others in this field? I meant there are so many people in this field and most of them are experts.