Review of educational platforms for studying front-end development

Frontend development is one of the most sought-after areas in IT. The demand for qualified frontend developers continues to grow, which means that the number of platforms offering relevant training is also growing. Let's look at several popular courses that promise to help you become a successful frontend developer and highlight their pros and cons.

1. Profession “Frontend Developer” from Hexlet

Hexlet offers a curriculum that includes learning HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and other key technologies. The course focuses on practical application of knowledge so that you can start creating real projects right away.

Pros:

• Practical focus of the courses

• There is support from mentors

• Flexible study schedule

• They promise help with work

Minuses:

• Still, independence and motivation are required to complete the course, and the course lasts almost a year.

• Expensive and difficult to figure out the price of the course right away

2. JavaScript/​ DOM/ ​Interfaces (for beginners) from JavaScript.ru

JavaScript.ru offers a tutorial and several courses for beginners on the basics of JavaScript, working with the DOM, and creating user interfaces.

Pros:

• Suitable for beginners

• Accessible explanations of complex concepts

• There are free materials

Minuses:

• Blended learning, some will find it convenient, others will find it inconvenient to wait for synchronous meetings

3. Course “Frontend Developer” from Yandex Praktikum

Yandex Workshop offers a course on front-end development that includes learning HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and popular frameworks. The course lasts several months and includes practical projects.

Pros:

• Structured training program

• Practical projects

• Mentor support and career advice

Minuses:

• High cost of the course

• It takes a lot of time to complete and it is advisable to spend at least 20 hours a week

4. Profession “Front-end developer” from Skillbox

Skillbox offers a comprehensive training program covering all aspects of front-end development. The course is generally similar to those already discussed above – HTML, CSS, JavaScript, popular libraries and frameworks.

Pros:

• Practical focus of the courses

• Support from mentors

• Real projects

Minuses:

• The high cost of the course (and again, at first glance it is not clear how much exactly to pay!)

• Need strong motivation to complete the course

7. Profession “Frontend Developer” from Stepik

Stepik has a lot of courses on HTML, CSS, JavaScript, both paid and free, but recently there was comprehensive program on front-end development, let's take a look at it.

Pros:

• Affordable price

• There are interactive tasks on html/css/javascript

• Flexible schedule and access to materials at any time, no face-to-face meetings or deadlines

• Materials from different teachers to take into account several approaches to development

Minuses:

• Less interaction with mentors compared to other platforms, more just interaction with the community and authors

So, how do you choose a training program when all the courses are so similar to each other?

I would give the following advice:

1. Assess your current level and choose a course that matches it, for example, don't take courses for complete beginners if you have already studied before

2. Determine what you want to achieve. Do you need basic skills, or are you looking to learn specific technologies in depth, or is your goal to find a job as quickly as possible?

3. Understand the learning format that suits you. Most expensive programs offer training with mentors, in a group, with deadlines and synchronous meetings. If you are not ready for this yet, at least look at asynchronous online courses on platforms like Stepik to start. If you plan to combine study with work, pay special attention to courses with a flexible schedule.

4. Check if the chosen course has practice, even if it is an online course without checking homework – practical tasks are needed. And also make sure that the course is fresh and covers modern tools and frameworks that are in demand on the labor market.

5. Study graduate reviews and course ratings to get an idea of ​​the quality of education, preferably on independent platforms, at least on Otzovik.

6. Compare prices of different programs and evaluate the potential return on investment in education.

7. Find out if the course offers an industry-recognized certificate upon completion. See what courses other professionals include on their resumes.