Need pointing in the right direction – Writing first plugin based on Coda Slider

So I’m pretty much a PHP beginner – I can logic my way through PHP code to tell what does what and make adjustments, but I can’t really create something from near-scratch. I’ve created some WP themes but never created a plugin before, and I’m in a situation that requires I create one now.

My goal is to take these instructions (https://css-tricks.com/creating-a-slick-auto-playing-featured-content-slider/) apply them to the newer release of the Coda Slider jQuery plugin (2.0), and stick it in a WordPress plugin where the posts displayed can be chosen and changed via an options page in the admin area. Also, unlike some other news slider plugins out there, it needs to be accessible to certain lower user levels, e.g. editors (which I just figured out how to do using add_options_page).

Thing is, while there’s good documentation on all the various functions, there’s no roadmap even coming close to helping me out with getting from one point to another since there’s obviously so many ways to go about so many different plugins. But again, I’m pretty inexperienced with PHP. I’m going to keep at it, but any guidance or useful resources would be appreciated.