If you want to stay current with web matters, but have no time to explore all opportunities this list is for you. (Caveat – this was post was published in the Spring of 2008.) The categories below will be updated with the most interesting sources in each category to match your favorite style of learning. Enjoy!

1. Relevant Web Sites, Articles and Blogs

There are brilliant collections of knowledge all over the web. Starting with this site DianaZink.com here is the list of web sites and blogs that have made the biggest impact on the web industry:

• A List Apart – a central source of ideas and knowledge
• 37 Signals – an inspiring company based in Chicago that delivers simple and intuitive productivity software for web teams. Make sure you look at Getting Real – their phenomenal free book on engineering of web based applications.
• W3 Schools – the most concise learning source on web languages and best practice available.
• ReadWriteWeb – a blog / zine with news on the latest and best in the web world
• WASP – The Web Standards Project
• Jeffrey Zeldman – The author of Designing With Web Standards and one of the most respected web gurus in the industry
• Eric Meyer – The author of numerous books on CSS and another one of the most respected web gurus in the industry
• CSS Zen Garden – a unique project demonstrating cutting edge css techniques and a source of inspiration for many

Here is also a great list by Six Revisions.

2. Books

There are two strong lines in web related literature sources that you can follow. Which one you choose, is entirely up to you and your resources.

1. Publishing houses:

• Apress – a leading publisher of knowledge in web scripting. Code examples for the books they sell can be downloaded free at Apress.com
• O’Reilly – The books with the great wild life picture covers that none of us can do without.
• Wrox – a leading publisher of programming and engineering titles. Code examples for the books Wrox publishes can be downloaded free at Wrox.com
• Wiley – a major publisher of educational literature, including the series for Dummies
• Friends Of Ed – One of the best in Flash and Flex literature publishing. Code examples for the books they publish you can download free at friendsofed.com
• Peachpit Press’ New Riders series – a great source for latest and best in web thinking and standards of development.

2. Subscription based Online Book Libraries

• Safari
• Books 24×7

3. Colleagues

Needless to say, if you are in an environment where teamwork is encouraged, your colleagues are some of the best resources of information in your industry. Build good relationships with them, added them to your LinkedIn account, and seek out colleagues and other industry leaders on Twitter, Digg.com and Ma.gnolia . The web gives you many resources for distant collaboration and social networking. Use them.

4. Discussion Boards

Here are several industry go-to places:

• Computer Graphics Society
• Ultrashock

5. Tutorials and specialized training

• Lynda.com
• Kirupa
• MIT’s Open Courses

6. Seminars and conferences

SXSW interactive, web 2.0, An Event Apart, Flash Forward, and many others are updated each year with new sites and great panels. Expect links in this section soon.

7. Trial and Error

Obviously this is the one method which you want to avoid, but there is nothing wrong about trial and error. Best way to reduce this type of learning is to follow the best practices listed in resources above. In the near future this section will feature some of the best solutions to common problems in web design and development.

Enjoy, and feel free to chip in with more links to be added to this list.

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Posted by: Diana Zink on Sunday, 23rd Mar, 2008