January 9, 2003

How to Learn the 10 Most Important Technologies

recently wrote an editorial in which I listed my personal picks for the 10 most important technologies for developers to know. At the end of that editorial, I asked readers for their input: What did I miss? Where would readers place the technologies in relative importance? I received a lot

#10: SQL

Most enterprise applications today use databases to keep track of their content. SQL is supported by every modern relational database, so learning how to use it means you can apply your knowledge to MS Access, SQL Server, Oracle, and DB2, to name just a few. While each database vendor has

#9: Linux/Windows

The evangelical nature of Linux makes it easy for newbies to get by. We’ve listed a few Web sites here to help you while you’re learning, but there are scads more. And the good news is that everything’s free! Conversely, because Windows is so ubiquitous, there’s information everywhere?the real trouble

#1: XML

Learning XML requires a basic understanding of WWW, HTML, and Web scripting languages such as JavaScript or VBScript. Many of the following articles were written around the time that XML first started to make a splash in the development world. But the information is still valid. Start with the fundamentals

#2: Web Services

Learning how to use Web services takes for granted a solid foundation in XML, mainly because the attendant technologies used in Web services are XML-based (such as SOAP and WDDI). Most of these articles focus on Web services implementations either in Java or .NET. Beginner: What Are Web Services?Building Web

#4: Java, C++, C#, and VB.NET

Becoming familiar with the basics of each of these languages goes a long way to ensuring well-rounded development capabilities. While one language may seem more daunting than another, we think these four languages are not only integral to application and Web development today but will continue to be in the