Website Construction Advice/Suggestions

JLM-AWP

Hey guys. I took a couple HTML classes over 2 years ago in school (2 years = eternity in internet years), and I'm planning a considerably large project that will most likely take a while to complete, so I will need all of the wisdom and advice I can get.

To start off: Dreamweaver. I seriously doubt this is the best html editor out there, it's al I used in school, but it's really all I know. Anyone have any better suggestions? Preferably one with a preview window?


Essentially, I'm looking to create a free game-trading website, with a lot of networking and Web 2.0 capabilities (forum sigs, feeds for other site profiles, etc). I'm going to need a membership-based site with lots of room for editing game lists, and hopefully integrating a lot of information from other parts of the site to make each profile more customizable. I have absolutely no idea where to start with this. Is there a good set of code that I can use as my basis?

I'm willing to put in a lot of work to make this site a success for everyone, but I just need a couple nudges in the right direction, and any advice would be immensely helpful. Additionally, if anyone thinks they would like to contribute to this project, feel free to PM me. I'm not doing this for profit, but rather for lack of options on the internet, and because GS is a ripoff.

If that last paragraph is breaking the rules in any way, mods, please let me know and I can delete it. Thanks.

Jimmy King

Personally, I do all of my web design stuff in a regular old text editor. You get much cleaner code that way which is much easier to maintain and probably easier to turn into a template (which you'll likely want to do for something like this). Then again, I don't do much on the front end, and I've heard full time web designers go both ways on using tools like dreamweaver and frontpage vs doing it by hand.

The other thing is that you're going to have to learn some sort of real programming language and how to do web based stuff with that language (unless someone volunteers to help with that, of course). The back end that does all the storing stuff in a database, pulls out dynamic content, etc. is done on the server side via code written in perl, php, python, c#, etc. depending on the platform and preference of the developer. Web based apps have their own set of caveats, peculiarities, security issues, etc. Adding in ajax stuff adds to these somewhat.

I'm not saying don't do it, starting on projects like this is how you learn. Just making sure that you're aware that there's probably far more involved than anything you did in school and much of it is not HTML or web design related at all, but back end programming, sql, db design, etc. for a project like this.

taliosfalcon

I'd suggest starting out with a pre-made CMS like Joomla. Its very easy to get a basic site up and running, there are many pre-made modules out thanks to the large community and as you get more comfortable with php you can make your own. Although for most casual websites (not for a large company) there are generally pre-mades to do everything you could want

Lewisham

Just to echo Jimmy, Dreamweaver is not suitable for what you're talking about. Dreamweaver is what I would call a SOHO web editor, it's good enough to make marketing web sites, but anything else and it is out of its depth.

The most important part about what you are talking about is the database. If you know nothing about databases, then, as talios says, you need to evaluate off-the-shelf Content Management Systems, but even then, I think for the specialist services you are talking about, it won't stretch that far.

You're essentially making an application that just happens to output to the web. You need to know exactly what you're doing, how it will be achieved by a database, and build it up from there.

Web applications are my day job. Even "simple" programs like a seminar booking system take me weeks of 9-5 work. Security, parameter passing and all the other necessary scaffolding makes web applications orders of magnitude harder than normal applications.

Jasconius

Dreamweaver is shiiiiiit, I prefer Aptana for a straight HTML editor, it also has support for PHP and Ruby.

Depending one what language you go with for your dynamic stuff, there will be an editor for it specifically. Aptana is just an HTML editor but it beats the hell out of Dreamweaver IMO.

As far as prepackaged code, you aren't going to find anything free that does what you just listed. It will take heavy modification, most likely.

JLM-AWP

Lewisham wrote: »

Just to echo Jimmy, Dreamweaver is not suitable for what you're talking about. Dreamweaver is what I would call a SOHO web editor, it's good enough to make marketing web sites, but anything else and it is out of its depth.

The most important part about what you are talking about is the database. If you know nothing about databases, then, as talios says, you need to evaluate off-the-shelf Content Management Systems, but even then, I think for the specialist services you are talking about, it won't stretch that far.

You're essentially making an application that just happens to output to the web. You need to know exactly what you're doing, how it will be achieved by a database, and build it up from there.

Web applications are my day job. Even "simple" programs like a seminar booking system take me weeks of 9-5 work. Security, parameter passing and all the other necessary scaffolding makes web applications orders of magnitude harder than normal applications.

I should have clarified this initially. I know what I'm up against. I'm sure what the two of you have said is even a huge understatement. I'm planning on learning how to do a lot of this on my own, and hopefully with a little help down the line, but I know this is going to be HARD.

The main reason I was asking about HTML is I want to just get a refresh in it, and I wanted to get a good tool to work with. My friend and I plan to build a Lost fan site (i know, i know, but we love it), and I figure it would be great practice. I'm planning on going to Borders this weekend and splurging on some PHP and MySQL guides. At least I think that's the route I'm gonna take.

JLM-AWP

Jasconius wrote: »

Dreamweaver is shiiiiiit, I prefer Aptana for a straight HTML editor, it also has support for PHP and Ruby.

Depending one what language you go with for your dynamic stuff, there will be an editor for it specifically. Aptana is just an HTML editor but it beats the hell out of Dreamweaver IMO.

As far as prepackaged code, you aren't going to find anything free that does what you just listed. It will take heavy modification, most likely.

Awesome. Thanks!

Lewisham

PHP / MySQL is a good way. I am personally a fan of Ruby on Rails or perhaps Django, I think these technologies are better suited to modern web development. Have a read of various comparison reviews from Google and see which syntax makes most sense to you.