i've been up to my eyeballs getting a good grasp on html and css. i see why those are essential. as far as learning java, is there really a reason to do this, since it's client side scripting vs learning php, which is server side scripting? wouldn't it just be better to do everything server side? i'm putting up an educational website with videos/tests/forums/online store. i haven't delved too deeply into drupal yet, though i've got it all installed and running on my local host. i want to be sure i've got the basics down first, and i figure a few more weeks of study to reasonably understand html and css and php would be the best initial place to put my energies. i'm not looking at cranking up a website until early 2011 but i want to be thoroughly versed by the end of december with all the bases covered.
i'm not quite sure why i'd ever need to use java. wouldn't there be less vulnerability if you did everything client side? or should i just throw in the towel and get some basic familiarity? thanks for replies here :).
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Don't get confused Java with
Don't get confused Java with JavaScript. You don't have to learn Java for building a site in Drupal :)
There is no need to learn Javascript
Java and Javascript are two very different beasts. It seems that you are referring to Javascript, the client-side scripting language that runs on the browser.
To use Drupal, there is no more need to learn Javascript than there is to learn HTML. Drupal handles all these technologies so that in theory all you need to know is Drupal itself.
In terms of having a decent grasp of what’s going on your site, understanding HTML, CSS, PHP, MySQL, Apache and Javascript in general can come in handy when you are dealing with advanced stuff.
In terms of vulnerability, you HAVE to do everything on the SERVER SIDE. The client side is there only to facilitate interaction. Javascript on the client cannot be tasked with anything serious, as you have no control over what’s going on there. For instance, you can use Javascript to help add up a total before checkout (to make it easier for the user), but the total must be checked on the server to ensure everything is correct.
If you plan to study the usage of Javascript in regards to Drupal, then I would recommend that you spend your effort studying jQuery, which is the main interaction library used with Drupal.
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