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Stewart Judson wrote: How does it get so complicated?
Developers that think they are smarter than everyone else make it complicated by trying to write code that says "look how damn smart I am".
No matter where you go, there you are...~?~
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Chris Maunder wrote: Given you're a Windows guy I'd just stick to bread and butter and learn ASP.NET MVC with C#. That'll get you most of the way there. For the backend use Entity Framework 6 (leave EF7 / EF Core for now - it's not baked) and for the front end learn Bootstrap for styling and maybe Angular 2 and TypeScript for the web based front end.
I concur. Learning MVC means learning a lot of the major web building blocks -- I know 'cuz I'm doing it now. I've been out of development for a few years and my web experience is more than a decade out of date. [Been doing C# desktop and have background in HTML/CSS/XML and pre .NET ASP, plus some PHP.]
At last count MVC includes:
C#
JavaScript
JQuery
Bootstrap
Razor
Entity Framework
HTML
CSS
This list is not exhaustive, I've probably missed something ...
Note: I have found that none of the above is difficult, but there's a lot of pieces that interact. However, it's an excellent starting point.
As Chris pointed out, everything changes, so what you learn today may not be directly useful next year. But the more we learn, the more we become capable of learning, so for a web developer career, it's all movement in a positive direction.
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Only #1 is relevant; unless this is a hobby.
If you want to work "now", its: Magento, Umbrago, Shopify, WordPress, etc.
So, study the platforms' architecture and peddle oneself accordingly. Just being able to configure, create plugins, debug these sites is worthwhile.
A good start to other (web) development opportunities, IMO.
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Sorry to be late but want to confirm all Chris said. I recently researched the same topic and spent a lot of time looking at Python/Django before realizing I was better off sticking with the Microsoft technologies I use every day.
Razor (part of the ASP.NET world) is a lot like PHP but uses C# syntax and is much nicer.
I'm also adding Umbraco on top of the stack Chris describes. It's a lovely content management package with a vibrant, helpful user community.
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I recommend learning Microsoft especially if you have been doing windows development. Assuming your windows development was in C# then you already know the language to use ASP.Net. Granted, there are a lot of concepts from windows development that do not exist in the web so you still have a bit to learn.
Look into ASP.Net and MVC and for client side scripting, jQuery and possibly Angular.js.
But yes, the web is full of possible ways to do things.
There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.
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Kevin Marois wrote: It seem like there are WAY too many technologies to learn to truly be effective, yet if I want to stay employed it seems that I've got no real choice.
You're correct. Web development involves a lot of technologies. You would need to know the stateless nature of web and how the web works by understanding the request and response flow. You need to learn client-side technologies: CSS, JavaScripts, AJAX, HTML, etc.. and also learn server-side stuff: Database, Services, Web API, etc.
Kevin Marois wrote: Can you guys definethe stack that I REALLY need to learn, so I can focus in on what I need?
That really depends on your interest considering that there are bunch of web development platforms to choose from. But since you are coming from a Windows background, then I would recommend you to start looking into ASP.NET. ASP.NET provides a variety of platforms that you can use to get yourself into web development. ASP.NET offers three frameworks for creating web applications: Web Forms, ASP.NET MVC, and ASP.NET Web Pages. All three frameworks are stable and mature, and you can create great web applications with any of them. No matter what framework you choose, you will get all the benefits and features of ASP.NET everywhere.
Now which web development framework to choose?
Since you are coming from a Windows Forms development background, then you can start jumping into WebForms to take advantage of the design surface, powerful server controls and components. This is the easiest entry point to ASP.NET because you are already familiar with the drag-and-drop and event driven model from windows forms.
If you are willing to take the challenge, I would really recommend you to learn ASP.NET MVC over WebForms.
Why?
(1) Provides a clean separation of concerns (the Model, the View and the Controller)
(2) Gives you full control over your codes, HTTP, Request, Response, JavaScripts, CSS, HTML and so on
(3) Provide clean and friendly Urls through it's built-in routing capability
(4) You'll get the feel of real web development because there's no abstraction involved.
(5) It's easy for you to learn Web API as it follows/uses Controller based pattern like MVC
Alternatives: You could also try learning SPA technology like Angular or Knockout as front-end, but this would probably give you a big learning curves as you will mostly dealing with client-side scripting. But if you really want to be a real web developer, then you have no choice but learn these technologies. 
But, Where do I start?
You can pick a book that you are interested or refer to online tutorials and apply three things "READ, DO and LEARN. Learning something is a just matter of doing something.In my own experience, the easiest way to learn is to develop a sample application in your own by applying the things you've learned from the book or tutorials. I'm sure you will learn a lot as you go along implementing your own web application.
HTH. 
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I'm probably not being too helpful here, but the reason I stay away from web client development is because I have an aversion to JS and CSS. I don't want to have to spend several days implementing a UI I can build with WinForms in a few hours. I still enjoy web server development (I use ASP .NET MVC, SQL server) and have recently moved to building Android clients.
/ravi
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Theory, all you need is a theory. Most companies doesn't want to spent resources that you can use in any company in the future. It seems unbelievable at first, but if you know computer sciences well enough and they throw you at almost any language (I exclude "malbolge" here) and any platform (OS, development environment, etc.), you can handle it without knowing it (as long as any resource found by google is available).
In short: learn as you go.
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I feel your pain, Kevin. I'm primarily a back-end (database layer) guy myself and have been developing code for nearly 40 years.
If I need GUI presentation I do it in WinForms. It's a mature (and easy-to-use) user-interface technology and despite what some of the propeller-heads say it's not going away any time soon. It runs on every version of Windows including Windows 10. Microsoft finally realized that they were playing with fire when they tried to eliminate the desktop. It's been entertaining to watch.
Having said that, if you feel that you need to learn web technology I would encourage you to ease into it by learning the basics of HTML (probably HTML5 since that's the level it's at now) and work into ASP.Net. The reason for this is that you have a fighting chance at leveraging what you already know, particularly if you are already .Net aware (C# or VB.Net). I have been "dabbling" into web development for a long time and the myriad of things you have to know can drive you bonkers. In my case I've developed enough knowledge of it to fix bugs in it but to have to learn everything there is to create new stuff for the web, well, I'd just as soon be out back painting the fence at this point! I'm still tinkering with AJAX and other things here and there but not with the intent of actually developing that much with it.
You're probably a bit younger than I am, so go for it but, like I said, you will probably want to pick up the basics of HTML and ASP.Net before you begin fooling around with CSS, AJAX and all the other goodies out there. The software development industry (particularly when it comes to web development) is a real minefield as far as protecting your sanity is concerned!
HTH,
-CM
If you think that hiring a professional is expensive wait until you hire an amateur! - Red Adair
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Take everything that everyone has said with a grain of salt.
Different cities have completely different common stacks. For example where I am it's hardly worth knowing ASP.Net MVC because there's so many senior devs around who will convince managers that MVC is just a fad and we should stick with Web Forms.
Your best bet is to look at job listings local to you and see what they're looking for.
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Kevin,
I was the same way not very long ago. I have a plan to get you going.
1. Research the Tech, and get conversant in what it actually does like this:
-------------------------------------------------------------
Technology Type
-------------------------------------------------------------
Javascript Web Scripting
Type Script Web Scripting (Compliesto js)
jQuery Navigate HTML without DOM
NODE JS Event Driven Asych programming languge for the web.
Angular JS Advanced java Script Framework
JSON XML replacement
BootStrap (front-end web framework)
AJAX Async HTML/Scripting
REST(ful) WebAPI Web Technology/Design pattern
ASP.NET MVC Web Technology/Design pattern
IOC/Dependency Injection (inversion of control) Advanced Coding Technique, separates the client from having to know the services info.
Entity Framework ORM Database mapper, Code gen.
CSS Presentation layer manipulation
Design Patterns Software Design Patterns
SQL Database/Language T-SQL
NoSQL Database in Memory
MongoDB Database in Memory
Redis in-memory data structure store, used as database, cache and message broker
Kafka publish-subscribe messaging (Think 100's of millions of messages and transactions)
Memcached in-memory key-value store for small chunks of arbitrary data
ActionScript Replaces Flash
HADOOP Big Data
Informatica Premier ETL tool
2. Start with Java Script, and pick them off one at a time.
Assuming you know C#, use this site to start a first web site. Commit 30 mins a day.
You have to actually write the code, not just read about it.
I know the list is long, but you dont have to code in all of them, the point is - get started.
AND Armed with a list like above, you should be able to become conversant in them.
w3schools . com has Quizzes you can take. Take the Java script quiz cold, and see what you score.
The getting started part, is hard. That List above is just a primer.
You need to add to it: For instance, Knockout.js is not on the list.. theres a lot more that are not
on there.
Just doing that research gets you conversant in the technology, then you have to do some work, but
dont try to do it all in one day. It doesnt work that way. 30 min a day, is a commitment you can do.
Where there's smoke, there's a Blue Screen of death.
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Thank you
If it's not broken, fix it until it is
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One more thing:
To answer your question, since you know windows well, I suggest this stack:
ASP.NET MVC5, TypeScript, (Compiles to java script but gives you an object model you are used to).
JavaScript - its just a must, but there are a lot of frameworks out there - Angular is going to rule the world I think.
Get your basic Northwind thing going on with SQL.
There are links on CP that will get your started, but you have to do the "Sub Homework" on Javascript.
Also - you may run into a "DEV OPS" Shop doing Aigile, scrum, Test Driven Development, and they
may be using Git Hub for Source control. nUnit, and nHibernate are 2 more you will probably need.
Here's how you read: Scan the text, dont labor over it. Think Speed read. You will pickup more than
you realize. Then go back over it, this time doing the code.
This is not the only way, but its a plan. Hopefully, I can give you that. This is doable.
Where there's smoke, there's a Blue Screen of death.
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Did Genghis have a “Khan do” attitude?
Late, for which I apologise - but Old Lady Support was required.
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
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Was Genghis slogan, "Yes I Khan"?
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I heard Genghis was friends with Carl IKhan.
/ravi
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I Khan hear the history repeat like a Khanon.
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You wear Old Lady Supports? 
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Yes. It's to prevent Deep Email Thrombosis.
Somehow - and I have no idea how - she'd managed to add herself to the email blacklist, so mails wouldn't arrive or send...
Of course, she didn't mention the large error message she got every time she started her email program when she called me. 
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
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OriginalGriff wrote: she'd managed to add herself to the email blacklist
How is that even possible? 
What do you get when you cross a joke with a rhetorical question?
The metaphorical solid rear-end expulsions have impacted the metaphorical motorized bladed rotating air movement mechanism.
Do questions with multiple question marks annoy you???
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I have absolutely no idea.
Unfortunately, neither does she...
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
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Which means you WILL be repeating the steps you did today.
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What client was she using?
What do you get when you cross a joke with a rhetorical question?
The metaphorical solid rear-end expulsions have impacted the metaphorical motorized bladed rotating air movement mechanism.
Do questions with multiple question marks annoy you???
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Live Mail on Win10
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
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