Github hosts open source software. You can browse through all kind of projects written in a wide variety of languages.
One way of approaching this, would be to pick one language, read about it, and then look for other projects on Github written in that language. That'll teach you a lot.
Let's say for instance, that you've heard about Python, and would like to learn a bit about that language.
You can start by Google's Python class [1]
Once you've grasped how python works, and written a few scripts on your own to get familiar with the language, you can learn about Google App Engine, which is a platform for running python scripts on Google's infrastructure. They have a very nice introduction to App Engine. [2]
Then once you've played with it, and deployed your first 'hello world' program, you can search github for small projects which run on App Engine. [3] Clone them and run them on your local server, read the code, tweak it, break it, fix it.
Within a week, you should be able to write a simple and fun little service. Then go learn about Ruby [4]. And see how it compares to python. Write a bunch of ruby scripts, install sinatra [5], deploy to Heroku [6]. Now, try to write the same simple and fun service you've previously written in Python in Ruby. Then go read about other scripting languages (javascript, PHP) and once you've made your mind about which one you prefer, stick with it for a few months.
You can learn and deploy sites/apps without spending a cent.
One way of approaching this, would be to pick one language, read about it, and then look for other projects on Github written in that language. That'll teach you a lot.
Let's say for instance, that you've heard about Python, and would like to learn a bit about that language. You can start by Google's Python class [1] Once you've grasped how python works, and written a few scripts on your own to get familiar with the language, you can learn about Google App Engine, which is a platform for running python scripts on Google's infrastructure. They have a very nice introduction to App Engine. [2]
Then once you've played with it, and deployed your first 'hello world' program, you can search github for small projects which run on App Engine. [3] Clone them and run them on your local server, read the code, tweak it, break it, fix it.
Within a week, you should be able to write a simple and fun little service. Then go learn about Ruby [4]. And see how it compares to python. Write a bunch of ruby scripts, install sinatra [5], deploy to Heroku [6]. Now, try to write the same simple and fun service you've previously written in Python in Ruby. Then go read about other scripting languages (javascript, PHP) and once you've made your mind about which one you prefer, stick with it for a few months.
You can learn and deploy sites/apps without spending a cent.
[1] http://code.google.com/appengine/docs/python/gettingstarted/
[2] http://code.google.com/appengine/docs/python/gettingstarted/
[3] http://github.com/search?langOverride=&language=python&#...
[4] http://mislav.uniqpath.com/poignant-guide/book/chapter-3.htm...
[5] http://www.sinatrarb.com/intro
[6] http://blog.heroku.com/archives/2009/3/5/32_deploy_merb_sina...