Learning path: Where to go after basic (X)HTML/CSS

[generalchaos316]

I just finished plowing through O'Reiley Publishing's Head First - HTML, XHTML, and CSS book and had a blast learning about these different languages. I know that I have a long ways to go to amass the knowledge to be a truly good web designer and am stuck scratching my head as to where to go next. I want to make sure I cater my growth path toward the technologies that are going to be around for a long time, while allowing myself to make kickass websites along the way. Up on the table is Flash/Actionscript, PHP, SQL, Javascript, and oh so much more...I just can't decide.

Also, if anyone has a good recommendation to some intermediate references for HTML/CSS application I am all ears. I usually learn best from books (with lots of examples) and still want to improve my initial foundation while learning more programming languages.

Thanks!

[ngpgeeta]

If you just want to be a web designer then you should have a knowledge of html,css,javascript and flash. You can start making your own web site and upload it on internet and see how much you can apply your knowledge.

For becoming web developer, php, sql etc are needed.

[generalchaos316]

Flash is all fine an dandy, but would you rank Javascript higher on the 'usefulness' pole?

Also, is there any difference between Java and Javascript? I have a Java 5.0 book already that I am going to be pouring through shortly but I am hoping I ordered the right one.

[sachav]

Yes there is a difference between Java and JavaScript.
Java is a computer language much like C/C++; while JavaScript is more like HTML and can be easily input into websites.

[generalchaos316]

Thanks, that is what I was afraid of. Oh well...I figure it can't hurt to learn a little about Java programming while I am at it. Thanks for the input

[sachav]

Anyway,
you can learn it without a book
http://www.w3schools.com
Learn JavaScript and HTML/DOM, because HTML/DOM is just an inclusion to JavaScript, so you can consider them the same.