We spent 15 hours diving into Colt Steele's Web Developer Bootcamp, and here's what we discovered. This isn't just another coding course, it's a 74-hour marathon that promises to transform complete beginners into full-stack developers.
The course underwent a complete overhaul for 2024 (we verified this claim), modernizing its entire curriculum. Starting with HTML and CSS fundamentals, it progressively builds through JavaScript ES6+, then ventures into backend territory with Node.js, Express, and MongoDB.
What caught our attention? The YelpCamp project, a full-scale web application students build from scratch. It's not just theory, you're coding authentication systems, implementing security measures, and deploying real applications. Colt Steele, former Lead Instructor at Galvanize (we confirmed his credentials), structures each concept through live coding sessions.
The numbers speak volumes: 2.8 million students enrolled, with 722 lectures, 62 coding exercises, and 133 downloadable resources. But here's what matters, does this massive scale translate to quality learning? Our testing revealed a methodical progression that rarely leaves students behind, though the sheer volume can feel overwhelming (more on that later).
Beginner (No Prior Experience Needed)
moderate Moderate (5–10 Hours/Week)
Self-Paced (Work On Your Own Schedule)
Learn A New Skill
After analyzing thousands of reviews across Reddit, YouTube, and Udemy itself, we found an overwhelmingly positive reception. Students particularly praise the 2024 update, which addressed previous concerns about outdated content. The consensus? It's the gold standard for beginner web development courses, though experienced developers suggest it's best supplemented with additional resources.
"Completely beginner-friendly. I landed my first internship after this course."
"Way more structured and engaging than 'video-only' courses."
"Some lessons feel a bit drawn out, but I'm grateful for the detail."
"Colt's explanations are gold. Still my go-to resource."
"I wish the backend sections were deeper, but overall worth every dollar."
Reddit discussions on r/learnprogramming consistently rank this course at the top for beginners. We noticed a pattern, successful students emphasize the importance of completing all exercises, not just watching videos. Quora threads echo similar sentiments, with many citing it as their entry point into professional development careers.
The student feedback paints a clear picture, this course excels at its primary mission of taking beginners to a functional developer level. While it won't make you job-ready overnight, it provides the foundation most students need.
The course promises to teach "everything needed for web development." Our analysis confirms it covers essential technologies comprehensively, though "everything" is subjective in the ever-expanding web development field.
Regular list price of $159.99, but we tracked consistent sales bringing it to $15-$20 range. This pricing strategy is platform-wide on Udemy.
No aggressive upselling within the course. Colt offers other courses, but they're presented as optional additions, not requirements.
We found verified LinkedIn profiles of students who transitioned to developer roles post-course. Shane Duggan's review confirms students landing positions at Google and Salesforce, though these likely required additional portfolio work beyond the course.
Honest marketing that focuses on skills acquisition rather than get-rich-quick schemes. The main "trick" is Udemy's pricing psychology, which ultimately benefits students.
Udemy's platform proved reliable during our testing. Video playback is smooth, course navigation intuitive, and the mobile app allows offline downloading.
Lifetime access verified. All code files downloadable, lecture notes included. Videos stream in multiple quality options.
Full mobile support through Udemy's iOS/Android apps. We tested learning on tablets, functionality remained strong.
Basic computer with 4GB RAM sufficient. Internet speed of 5 Mbps+ recommended for smooth streaming.
Udemy's infrastructure handles this massive course well. The platform's maturity shows, few technical hiccups, consistent availability, and practical features like speed adjustment and closed captions enhance the learning experience.
We investigated common complaints and found most center on course length rather than quality issues. The primary concern? Some sections from pre-2024 versions contained outdated syntax (now fixed). A few students reported feeling lost in later modules, but this typically correlated with skipping exercises.
Standard Udemy 30-day guarantee applies. We found no widespread refund complaints specific to this course.
Udemy's pricing strategy raises eyebrows (listed at $159.99 but perpetually "on sale"), though this benefits students. Colt Steele himself makes no unrealistic income promises, focusing instead on skill development.
The developer community views this course favorably. No reports of hidden fees, aggressive upselling, or misleading content.
Minimal concerns detected. The course operates transparently within Udemy's ecosystem, delivering on its educational promises without predatory practices.
At the typical sale price of $15-$20, we calculate you're paying roughly $0.20 per hour of instruction. Compare that to bootcamps charging $10,000+ for similar content, the value proposition is undeniable.
Our comprehensive review confirms The Web Developer Bootcamp delivers exceptional educational value. Colt Steele's teaching methodology, combined with the 2024 curriculum update, creates a learning path that genuinely transforms beginners into capable developers. Yes, the course is massive, sometimes overwhelming, but that's a feature, not a bug. Web development is complex, and this course doesn't pretend otherwise.
For $20, you're getting what many coding bootcamps charge thousands for. The catch? You need self-discipline. Without external accountability, that 74-hour journey can easily stretch into eternity. But for motivated learners willing to code along, complete exercises, and push through challenging sections, this course provides everything needed to start building real applications.
We recommend it without hesitation for beginners. Just remember, completing the course is the beginning, not the end, of your development journey.
At the typical sale price of $15-$20, we calculate you're paying roughly $0.20 per hour of instruction. Compare that to bootcamps charging $10,000+ for similar content, the value proposition is undeniable.
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