Recommended Resources

This reading list accompanies the book, combining curated external resources organised by topic. Use it alongside the chapters for different perspectives and official documentation.

TipReading Strategy

Read the book chapter first to understand concepts, then explore external resources for different perspectives and official documentation.

Getting Started with the Web

Companion Chapter

1  Understanding Your AI Web Development Partner

Essential Reading

Resource Topic Link
MDN Getting started with the web MDN: Getting Started
web.dev How the web works web.dev: How the web works
W3Schools Introduction to HTML W3Schools: HTML Introduction

Deeper Dive

HTML Structure

Companion Chapter

2  Structure: HTML as Information Architecture

Essential Reading

Resource Topic Link
MDN HTML basics MDN: HTML Basics
MDN Document structure MDN: Document Structure
web.dev Semantic HTML web.dev: Semantic HTML
W3Schools HTML Elements W3Schools: HTML Elements

Deeper Dive

CSS Presentation

Companion Chapter

3  Presentation: CSS as Visual Communication

Essential Reading

Resource Topic Link
MDN CSS basics MDN: CSS Basics
MDN CSS layout MDN: CSS Layout
web.dev Learn CSS web.dev: Learn CSS
web.dev Responsive design web.dev: Responsive Design
W3Schools CSS Introduction W3Schools: CSS

Deeper Dive

JavaScript Behaviour

Companion Chapter

4  Behaviour: JavaScript as User Interaction

Essential Reading

Resource Topic Link
MDN JavaScript basics MDN: JavaScript Basics
MDN DOM Introduction MDN: DOM Introduction
MDN Events MDN: Introduction to Events
javascript.info The Modern JavaScript Tutorial javascript.info
W3Schools JavaScript Tutorial W3Schools: JavaScript

Deeper Dive

APIs and Data

Companion Chapter

5  Connection: APIs as Business Integration

Essential Reading

Resource Topic Link
MDN Fetching data MDN: Fetching Data
MDN Working with JSON MDN: Working with JSON
MDN Async JavaScript MDN: Asynchronous JavaScript
web.dev Introduction to fetch web.dev: Fetch API

Deeper Dive

Accessibility

Companion Chapter

6  Project: Portfolio Website

Essential Reading

Resource Topic Link
web.dev Learn Accessibility web.dev: Learn Accessibility
MDN Accessibility MDN: Accessibility
W3C WCAG Quick Reference WCAG 2.1 Quick Ref
WebAIM Introduction to Accessibility WebAIM: Introduction

Deeper Dive

Content Management Systems

Companion Chapters

7  Why CMS? The Business Value of Managed Content and 8  WordPress as Platform

Essential Reading

Resource Topic Link
WordPress.org Getting Started WordPress: Getting Started
WordPress.org WordPress Features WordPress: Features
W3Techs CMS Usage Statistics W3Techs: CMS
WPBeginner WordPress Guide WPBeginner: Guide

Deeper Dive

Extending WordPress

Companion Chapter

9  Extending Platforms

Essential Reading

Resource Topic Link
WordPress.org Theme Handbook Theme Handbook
WordPress.org Plugin Handbook Plugin Handbook
WordPress.org Child Themes Child Themes
WPBeginner Must Have Plugins Essential Plugins

Deeper Dive

Headless Architecture and REST APIs

Companion Chapter

10  Headless Architecture

Essential Reading

Resource Topic Link
WordPress.org REST API Handbook REST API Handbook
WordPress.org REST API Reference REST API Reference
CSS Tricks WP REST API CSS Tricks: WP REST

Deeper Dive

React

Companion Chapter

12  Component Thinking: React

Essential Reading

Resource Topic Link
React.dev Quick Start React: Quick Start
React.dev Thinking in React Thinking in React
React.dev Tutorial React Tutorial
MDN React Getting Started MDN: React

Deeper Dive

Frameworks and Professional Practice

Companion Chapters

13  Rapid Development: CSS Frameworks and 14  Professional Practices

Essential Reading

Resource Topic Link
Bootstrap Getting Started Bootstrap Docs
Tailwind CSS Getting Started Tailwind Docs
Git Git Handbook GitHub: Git Handbook
web.dev Testing web.dev: Testing

Deeper Dive

Emerging Technologies and Career

Companion Chapters

16  Evaluating Emerging Technologies, 17  Your Development Career, and 18  The AI-Era Developer

Essential Reading

Resource Topic Link
web.dev Web Vitals web.dev: Web Vitals
web.dev PWA web.dev: Learn PWA
State of JS Survey Results State of JS
State of CSS Survey Results State of CSS

Deeper Dive

Quick Reference: External Resources

Official Documentation

Resource Best For URL
MDN Web Docs Comprehensive reference developer.mozilla.org
web.dev Modern best practices web.dev
W3Schools Quick examples w3schools.com
WordPress.org WordPress reference wordpress.org
React.dev React documentation react.dev

Learning Platforms

Resource Type URL
freeCodeCamp Interactive tutorials freecodecamp.org
Codecademy Interactive courses codecademy.com
Scrimba Video + coding scrimba.com
Frontend Masters Video courses (paid) frontendmasters.com

Community & News

Resource Type URL
Dev.to Articles & community dev.to
CSS Tricks CSS & frontend css-tricks.com
Smashing Magazine Web design & dev smashingmagazine.com
Hacker News Tech news news.ycombinator.com

Tools

Tool Purpose URL
Can I Use Browser compatibility caniuse.com
CodePen Code playground codepen.io
GitHub Code hosting github.com
Lighthouse Performance testing Built into Chrome DevTools

Reading Tips

  1. Don’t read everything - Focus on Essential Reading first
  2. Hands-on over theory - Try examples as you read
  3. MDN is your friend - Best for accurate, detailed explanations
  4. web.dev for modern practices - Google’s recommendations
  5. W3Schools for quick reference - Fast examples, less depth
  6. Use AI to explain - If an article is confusing, ask AI to explain it differently