<p>Basically I have an idea for a neat website as well as a android game app. Would I better served going to college and completing a CS degree to do these things, or can I start on this a bit faster by picking up some books on html,php and so forth.</p>
<p>I understand the idea that most people on this site believe in a solid education at a brick and mortar, but I question if 4 years of study is needed for what I want to do. If college is needed, so be it.</p>
<p>I am happy to provide more details if needed.</p>
<p>CS won’t teach you how to build a website. Read a book. Take a class on building websites at a local CC if you want. A Bachelors in CS is completely different from website and andriod app building.</p>
<p>Even if its not directly related to a CS degree, a CS department will usually offer some classes along those lines. My school has an iphone app workshop and a class on web development, not major requirements but a lot of people outside the dept take them because they’re useful. The easiest thing to do though would be teaching yourself online</p>
<p>Want to develop Android? Go to [TheNewBoston</a> – Free Educational Video Tutorials on Computer Programming and More!](<a href=“http://www.thenewboston.com%5DTheNewBoston”>http://www.thenewboston.com) and watch Java tutorials then watch Android tutorials. He also has HTML, CSS, and PHP tutorials. Learn everything from that site, it’s very helpful.</p>
<p>But, if you want a stable, high-salary job doing programming instead of having it as a hobby, get your CS degree. You’ll learn a lot of theory and classes will get hard, but it’s worth it.</p>
<p>As simple as plain HTML-CSS-powered website, CS / IT degree won’t teach that.
If you want to get deeper than that - like building the website using a particular framework (or using your own custom framework), or in general, doing databse-powered enterprise level you might want to have some classes related to database, fundemental stuff of computer science…
I personally do Django (Python web framework).
People don’t actually need to have CS degree to build a modern website (modrern i mean database-powered, dynamics, fancy, rich UI). </p>
<p>But if you want to open more opportunities for yourself, get a CS degree then. I am a computer engineering major, and I take CS classes. I am learning to make android app, and I think having knowledge in web development and have a good understanding of computer programming and computer science is very helpful.</p>
<p>I totally agree with RacinReaver. This is definitely a plus on your resume if you can write a good website. There is a lot involved in building a website. My suggestion is be patient when you learning. </p>
<p>Oh. Look through open sources projects written in PHP, such as phpBB, Drupal. Get to know them. Play around with them. They really help me to become a better CS student (I met them during my high school years).</p>
<p>Just because you have a good idea doesn’t mean you’re going to make money off of it. Get the degree, and the education, so that you will have plenty of back-up plans in case your entrepreneurial ambitions fail (which many do). Of course, don’t lost that innovative mindset though. Our country and its individual citizens can use a lot more of that spirit.</p>