Whats the best way to learn these skills?

[coolred]

# Knowledge of software development lifecycle (SDLC)
# Knowledge of multi methodologies including Waterfall, RAD, Spiral, Extreme Programming, and Agile
# Knowledge of Microsoft VSS, SQL, HTML, JavaScript, ASP.Net, and IIS Web application

This is for a job I would eventually like to consider. I am fairly proficient in HTML and have very little JavaScript experience. As for the rest I am pretty much out of the loop. Just wondering what the bets way to learn these skills would be? IS it best to take classes to learn them, or can they be self taught, much the way I did with HTML? And if I can self learn them, whats the best way to go about it? I mainly learned my HTML from w3schools tutorials. They have them for SQL and ASP.net as well. But the HTML seemed a lot easier to grasp then these others. Any ideas?

 

[jamesave]

volunteer? or projects?

<shrug>

 

[Pepsi1337]

Everyone learns different but I like to go to the library (or Borders) and skim through all the "Dummy's Guide to..." books then buy a reference book or two to get started. It helps a lot if you already know a language or two beforehand. Then, just start playing around writing some sample code. If you can't pick up the language from those books, you may want to take a class.

 

[akshatp]

Figure out where Keanu Reeves got that thing attached to his head in the Matrix where it taught him how to fight and stuff.

Use the same tactics, only for the skills you listed.

 

[SoundTheSurrender]

Check out the book "Systems Analysis & Design" by Dennis, Wixom and Roth.

That's what we're using in our SDLC course.

 

[imported_Dhaval00]

For ASP.NET, use OReilly's Programming ASP.NET - covers code/controls/Web Services/ADO.NET, etc.

But before jumping on to that, use OReilly's Programming C# (if you already don't know it). Combined together, these will give you a decent headstart.

For, IIS and VSS (I believe you mean Visual Source Safe?), you'll just need to start building projects, and you'll pick as you move along.

For JavaScript, use OReilly's Learning JavaScript (by Powers). For SQL Server (and SQL), pick up OReilly's Learning SQL on SQL Server 2005.

PS: This is not an advertisement for OReilly media. LOL. I just am sharing my experience... I started off with these books to teach myself, before moving on to advanced MS books like ASP.NET Core Reference, ADO.NET Core Reference, CLR Via C#, etc.

 

[ahurtt]

Do you know any programming languages or how to actually program at all currently? (HTML does not count. It is NOT a programming language.) If not, then the first thing you need to do is learn computer programming basics. Those parts of programming fundamentals that are common to every programming language worth its salt. Pick a language like C#, Visual Basic, Java or C++ and take a computer programming course in that language. Since you're leaning toward ASP.NET I'd say C# is your best place to start. Once you know "how to program" then picking up new languages is just a matter of memorization of syntax and data structures specific to each language, etc. . .and for that stuff, there are always references.

VSS is an application for source code control and version management.
SQL is for querying databases. . .so you probably need to get something like MySQL and start tinkering with it.
IIS is a web server.

From the sounds of the job description they want somebody who has experience developing dynamic data driven applications with web based interfaces. If all you've ever done is a little bit of javascript and HTML, you've got a long road ahead of you. Not that it is insurmountable but there is a LOT to learn if you want to be a developer and not just "making web pages."

 

[coolred]

Originally posted by: ahurtt
Do you know any programming languages or how to actually program at all currently? (HTML does not count. It is NOT a programming language.) If not, then the first thing you need to do is learn computer programming basics. Those parts of programming fundamentals that are common to every programming language worth its salt. Pick a language like C#, Visual Basic, Java or C++ and take a computer programming course in that language. Since you're leaning toward ASP.NET I'd say C# is your best place to start. Once you know "how to program" then picking up new languages is just a matter of memorization of syntax and data structures specific to each language, etc. . .and for that stuff, there are always references.

VSS is an application for source code control and version management.
SQL is for querying databases. . .so you probably need to get something like MySQL and start tinkering with it.
IIS is a web server.

From the sounds of the job description they want somebody who has experience developing dynamic data driven applications with web based interfaces. If all you've ever done is a little bit of javascript and HTML, you've got a long road ahead of you. Not that it is insurmountable but there is a LOT to learn if you want to be a developer and not just "making web pages."

The job is basically just software testing for my company. I know other guys doing the job that don't fill the skillset they ask for. But I figured it was something to start looking into

 

[aceO07]

You can give yourself little projects that make use of what you want to learn. SQL, HTML, ASP, IIS.. those you can combine together into a small project. VSS might be a hard one to learn unless you has access to it. The other stuff are just concepts and you can just read up on them.

 

[coolred]

Originally posted by: aceO07
You can give yourself little projects that make use of what you want to learn. SQL, HTML, ASP, IIS.. those you can combine together into a small project. VSS might be a hard one to learn unless you has access to it. The other stuff are just concepts and you can just read up on them.

Yeah I have been reading about the methodologies and stuff.

I mean I want to learn this stuff so I can eventually do the job that requires it, but I am also just looking for something to occupy my time when I am bored. I figured learning this stuff would be a good time waster. I don't really have the money to buy the books to learn this stuff. I haven't even been to school in a couple quarters because I am broke. So being able to learn from the web would be best for me.

Just wondering where I should start. I downloaded mysql a while ago, never really tried it though. Like I said, I have some html experience, but yes I know it's not programming. Some have said to start with C# before I try to learn asp.net

 

[ahurtt]

Originally posted by: coolred
Some have said to start with C# before I try to learn asp.net

Sound advice since C# is the preferred language in which most .NET applications are written.
I just wonder why a software testing job would require in depth knowledge of how to program in all those languages listed. Maybe they just mean you have a "working knowledge" or are aware of them and what they do and are used for but not that you actually have to know how to use them? Because if you actually knew how to use all those things listed you'd be pretty bored as a tester and as a tester you'd be way underutilized with that skill set. Nobody who knew how to do all that stuff would take a testing position when they could make so much more money as a programmer/engineer.

 

[coolred]

Well those skills are listed under Essential skills, knowledge and abilities.

Here are the
Position Responsibilities

* Develop, publish, and implement quality control schedules, test plans, test suites, and automated scripts
* Coordinate with development team to perform positive, negative, unit, functional, regression and integration testing
* Validate and track testing results, report discrepancies, and participate in resolution of defects
* Define and track quality control metrics such as defect densities, defect classification, and open defect counts
* Work closely with business end users and development team in enforcing quality control, processes, and standards
* Facilitate beta and user acceptance testing
* Contribute to the creation and implantation of ?Best Practice? Software and quality control processes
* Participate in planning and coordination of software builds and releases to test environment and production environment
* Other duties as assigned