Hi, one of the best way to know the in demand skills of a programmer is by browsing through job ads sites like jobstreet/monster. Browse each job at recent pages and look for the requirements and you'll have an idea what's the most needed in the market today. The last time I checked it was mostly Java, Ruby, and .NET.
As I am not really familiar with all of these, (i only know php+mysql during that time) I decided to research each one then I found .NET to be more "of my style".
If you plan on taking web development like I did (ASP.NET MVC4/5)
I'd like to share some resources I started with.
Here are the tools you will need in your arsenal:
Software:
Visual Studio 2012 or Visual Studio 2013 (express or complete)
Knowledge:
Fundamentals of HTML, CSS, and Javascript
Basics of C#: variables, data types, classes, looping and array
Basic SQL queries specially about SELECT, UPDATE, DELETE, ALTER
Razor Syntax
ASP.NET MVC 4/5
This sure looks a lot right but the first mistakes in learning programming is that we try to memorize the syntax during the learning process. DON'T.
Syntax are memorized little by little through constant programming.
So how will we code if we dont memorize the syntax?
All programmers even senior developers I work with uses a collection of docs/pdf called "code reference".
If you dont know the syntax for something that you know this language can do, open up your code reference then copy. Its not illegal.
Be it on the internet, or in your phone/laptop. Resources are everywhere, and you should utilize it.
You'll get familiarized on the common syntax that you use till you no longer need your reference.
And by the way, with ASP.NET MVC 4 or 5, almost all essential module of a web app can be auto-generated like login page, registration, add-edit-delete.
So its really easy to complete a working program in just a couple of hours.
Recommended site for learning:
Of course the o'l great
w3schools. <- this got everything you need!!!
And
ASP.NET's MVC guides are better and easy to understand.