12 months is barely enough to scratch the surface. I look at my code from 10 years ago, and it's absolute crap.
Modern web development is not just knowing one language, it's a bunch of technologies, and many of them seem deceptively simple, while they aren't. Just off the top of my head of what I use as a web developer:
1) HTML (and DOM) and XML
2) CSS
3) Javascript (+jQuery +JSON)
1,2,3 include
a) the knowledge of different versions
b) browser compatibility issues
c) how to write it properly and efficiently
4) Different image formats, proper compression. CDNs.
5) Unix shell + apache configuration + deployment
6) Database + SQL
7) Memcached (or alternatives)
8) Various tools like firebug, profilers, http sniffers, etc
I couldn't agree more. But I think 8 belongs near the top. I am currently helping re-condition experienced mainframe developers into web developers, and I can't stress enough the importance of tools. Understanding the browser, HTTP request and response, cookies, web security, and the OSI model is crucial.
Modern web development is not just knowing one language, it's a bunch of technologies, and many of them seem deceptively simple, while they aren't. Just off the top of my head of what I use as a web developer:
1) HTML (and DOM) and XML
2) CSS
3) Javascript (+jQuery +JSON)
4) Different image formats, proper compression. CDNs.5) Unix shell + apache configuration + deployment
6) Database + SQL
7) Memcached (or alternatives)
8) Various tools like firebug, profilers, http sniffers, etc