A friend recently said: "I want to learn how to code. How and where do I start?"

I WANT TO LEARN HOW TO CODE - DO I GO TO IKEA OR GROW MY OWN TREE?

It's like woodworking. You can START by growing a tree, then chopping it down and finishing it, sanding it, before you make a table. Or you can go to Ikea. More likely you'll try something in between.

Modifying a WordPress theme is going to Ikea. Writing you own web framework is growing a tree first because you don't like the existing trees. You have to decide where on the spectrum you want to be, from being a custom furniture maker from the Woodright's Shop or someone who assembles prefabricated pieces made by someone else.

I'll admit, I mostly posted this because of the funny Venn Diagram with the jab at TechCrunch.