How to become a web developer.
About Phillip (Phil) Donnelly. Stevenage based Web Developer.
Hi, I’m Phillip Donnelly.
I’m a multidisciplinary creator and problem-solver with decades of experience spanning IT systems, web development, manufacturing, and property development. My journey has taken me from hands-on engineering and business systems to elegant, functional web design—always with a focus on learning, improving, and helping others succeed.
I blend deep technical knowledge with real-world practicality—whether that’s streamlining operations with ERP systems, building intuitive websites, or designing tools that empower users without upsells or paywalls. I believe in simplicity, honesty, and making technology work for people—not the other way around.
Today, I focus on building digital content, sharing what I know, and developing tools that support creativity and independence—especially for those just starting out online. I’m also learning music and exploring how digital and creative disciplines intersect.
If you’re interested in thoughtful, hands-on solutions backed by experience and a passion for progress—you’re in the right place.
Post – Learning HTML, a guide to resources and learning.
Photographer – Packaging Development – Packaging Buyer – Production Planner – Logistics Analyst – Production Engineer – Warehouse Manager- Manufacturing Systems Team Leader – Oracle Development Team Leader – Trainer – Web technologies
My Personal Web Development Journey
I began my personal web development journey over two decades ago out of necessity. Without the budget to hire a developer, I taught myself how to build websites from the ground up. What started as a practical decision quickly grew into a passion for design, structure, and functionality.
Learning Without Formal Training
Back then, a personal web development journey wasn’t so easy, formal learning resources were limited, and I didn’t attend college for web design. Instead, I relied on whatever was available — books, forums, and eventually, online tutorials. I was determined to understand the mechanics behind the scenes, going beyond drag-and-drop tools to code from scratch.
Tools, Languages, and Persistence
I can produce a website, I have the coding knowledge, a server, hosting a website, the server has a fixed IP address via the router, hub or switch. The web server might be Apache, the database might be SQL Server, MySQL MariaDB or one of many others. My site might be built using PHP, BootStrap, HTML, CSS and JavaScript. I’ve produced a few websites as well as my Cue80sMusic site which has been my test bed for everything so it has never really been finished.
Over the years, I’ve explored HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, and more. Some of it was tough — especially when learning scripting languages — but I stayed the course. There were breaks and burnouts, but I always returned, improving bit by bit.
Helping Others Start Their Own Journey
Now, I hope to inspire others to begin their own personal web development journey. Whether you’re self-taught like me or just curious about how websites work, I want to share the resources, tools, and insights that helped me along the way.
Let’s Connect
If you’re on a similar path or just getting started, feel free to reach out or explore the rest of my site. I’m always happy to connect with fellow learners and developers.
What else about me.
Non IT Projects……
It turns out that I’m a potential builder. Yes, I’ve done everything. I should really have finished my accountancy course but I’m really a creative person. Creative people aren’t simply artist, actually, being creative and having imagination is a very human trait. We all have it. Just in different ways. I’ve plastered, plumbed, decorated, wired, destroyed, re built, put walls, renovated houses and a whole lot more, but not just for me.
Now, I’m learning to play the piano and read music while doing everything else that attracts my attention. The Go-Pro is still waiting to be put to use!
Posts.
There will be posts, post of places I visit, things I do, stuff that interests me and much more.
Diary
There is going to be a diary.
Music
My other love so posts and pages about my music and my journey while I learn to play. View the Getting Started page.
Something else in product development.
As an aside I would like you to consider my experience in so many areas including product development. I sat on the project team that came up with McVities Hob Nobs so many years ago.
So consider this.
I have worked in product development, sales, manufacturing and logistics. I have learned a lot.
As an example. Lets quickly consider a new product for my Shineasy.co.uk shop.
So, I want a product for my shop. Such products exist already, I’m going to sell a variation of that products.
- I have a supplier, his facility can alter the ingredients for me, to personalise the product. I will need a list of the ingredients for the label. The manufacturer will provide that.
- The manufacturer also providers bottling facilities so I can use his or provide my own, perhaps in a different colour, as long as they fit the filling machine.
- The supplier can also apply my labels. I therefore need to design a label, a very easy process using AI. I then need a company to produce the labels, say 1000 labels. My supplier now has the bottles, the labels, and is supplying the material.
- Now I may need a card based box, say a carton of bleached white cardboard for the individual consumer unit.
- Now a corrugated case, since the product is individually packaged I won’t need a strong box, something that will support another box on top, so a box made of 125 Test paper with a B flute should suffice. If I want a box that will handle printing then I might consider a box made of 125 Kraft and 125 Test paper, a white case with a brown liner. The fluting inside the case will add strength when palletised.
- Now, I have to consider how many of my product I will order. Am I collecting myself or are they being shipped to me. We know empty space is a waste of money unless it’s due to a weight restriction on a vehicle. But If my product is going on a truck then I’ll want them palletised, and shrink wrapped, adding more strength. So my order will be influenced by the pallet, so my best quantities to order will be what ever a layer on a pallet is, as it is, 1000 bottles is a pallet load.
- So there we have, 1000 of my product is on the way.
I am now producing another web page. Getting started with a new product of your very own. Building Your First Product.
I will be producing some content, a page with everything someone needs to know in respect of originating their first tailored product.
Phillip Donnelly. 28th April 2025. Website version number (I’ve lost count). This is what I do.
