|
TheCow
Stranger

Registered: 10/28/02
Posts: 4,790
Last seen: 15 years, 10 months
|
Modern website design
#8232499 - 04/03/08 08:02 AM (16 years, 1 month ago) |
|
|
Ive developed an interest in website programming. I was just wondering what languages people use now? Back when I last briefly tried to learn it was 6-7 years ago and people were using HTML and javascript.
I want to learn how to make a website that I can add/subtract users. Give those users privileges, that sort of thing. I dont actually have an idea for a website, it's just if I did I would want to know how to create one. Basically what does a website like facebook use would you say? Also, are there any decent programs that will help with the layout? Only thing I've ever tried using was an early version of Dreamweaver which was awful. I think layout and making the actual art for a website would be my strongest weakness.
Edited by TheCow (04/03/08 08:07 AM)
|
tak
geo's henchman




Registered: 11/20/00
Posts: 3,776
Loc: nowhereland
|
Re: Modern website design [Re: TheCow]
#8232667 - 04/03/08 09:19 AM (16 years, 1 month ago) |
|
|
What you are talking about is the backend scripting/programming. most common language is going to be php... php.net has pretty much everything you need to learn the language, better than a book.
The users/passwords/content is going to be managed 99% of the time with mysql which is a breeze to query with php. They also make many scripts like this for you places li ke http://www.hotscripts.com etc.
as far as layout and aesthetics go you are gonna be using HTML like you said, aswell as CSS, and for modern web design you would prolly be using something like ajax to handle data interaction without having to reload the page (think google maps)
-------------------- The DJ's took pills to stay awake and play for seven days.
|
Ythan
ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ



Registered: 08/08/97
Posts: 18,840
Loc: NY/MA/VT Borderlands
Last seen: 11 hours, 6 minutes
|
Re: Modern website design [Re: TheCow]
#8232747 - 04/03/08 09:52 AM (16 years, 1 month ago) |
|
|
The 'current' standard is XHTML, but many sites (including this one, and countless others) continue using 'legacy' HTML and it works fine. Honestly, there are some benefits to XHTML, and if it had been the standard from the start we probably wouldn't have all these browser incompatibilities today. But HTML is widely supported and it's not going anywhere anytime soon, in fact HTML5 is now planned. The smart developer will use the right tool for the job depending on if you want fast development time or better interoperability. Your Javascript knowledge will still serve you well, now more than ever since Ajax caught on. JS hasn't changed much over the years but these days there are libraries like jQuery which can significantly ease development. You will also need to learn a server-side scripting language; PHP is a very popular option used by many sites including this one, you could also consider Perl, Python and Ruby (but probably not ASP.net or ColdFusion ). Oh and you will need to learn SQL, since almost all web applications will need to use a database in some way or another. You'll probably want MySQL (again, our choice) or possibly PostgreSQL.
I have the same problem as you, if someone gives me a design I can turn it into a web page but I usually fail at the creative part when I attempt it myself. Check out ProgrammerMeetDesigner.com which is pretty much what the name says. Or you could use of one of the many free templates available around the web, or recruit a paid designer at Elance.
Stay away from Dreamweaver, the best tool for web development is a good text editor. I use UltraEdit. Other options are HTML Kit, jEdit and NotePad++.
Check out Resources For Web Design and Web Developer's Handbook for more information than you'll ever need to get started.
Hope this helps, good luck!
Edit: er yeah, also what tak said.
|
TheCow
Stranger

Registered: 10/28/02
Posts: 4,790
Last seen: 15 years, 10 months
|
Re: Modern website design [Re: Ythan]
#8233092 - 04/03/08 11:50 AM (16 years, 1 month ago) |
|
|
hm, do you think it'd be possible to pay someone to make a layout of a web page, and then I could add the database type stuff? What I mean is, say facebook, someone would design the entire layout with all the buttons etc.. but it wouldnt do anything. Would it be reasonable to then just add the behind the scenes functionality to this? Or to do that would you need to know and understand the code behind the layout itself.
|
sherm
sherman


Registered: 10/02/03
Posts: 20,498
Loc: Euthanasia
|
Re: Modern website design [Re: TheCow]
#8233660 - 04/03/08 02:04 PM (16 years, 1 month ago) |
|
|
you could probably find something to play with here. http://www.opensourcecms.com/
you can run the demos online and find one that you like. then grab the code and do what you want.
>pay someone to make a layout of a web page, and then I could add the database type stuff?
there are lots of these laying around. is this any help?
http://www.oswd.org/
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=open+source+web+templates&btnG=Google+Search
-------------------- shroomery. not even once.
    
|
TheCow
Stranger

Registered: 10/28/02
Posts: 4,790
Last seen: 15 years, 10 months
|
Re: Modern website design [Re: sherm]
#8233800 - 04/03/08 02:49 PM (16 years, 1 month ago) |
|
|
Ah thanks. Those could be a good jumping off point just to understand how to code. The website I have in mind is far more complicated really, but those could help give me an idea of how to implement it.
|
Montanahunter420
Mushroom Hunter



Registered: 05/10/06
Posts: 1,188
|
Re: Modern website design [Re: TheCow]
#8236691 - 04/04/08 12:35 AM (16 years, 1 month ago) |
|
|
Php, mysql, css, xhtml, ajax, javascript are important in my eyes. Learn to hand code without using an editor. Shoot for table-less designs using css, it's more of a pain at first but after you get the hang of it you will love it.
-------------------- All of my posts are purely fictional and for hypothetical purposes.
|
tak
geo's henchman




Registered: 11/20/00
Posts: 3,776
Loc: nowhereland
|
|
If you are looking to make something as big as facebook, I wouldn't worry too much about the layout right now.
You will use some simple layout to test your code, and hopefully make it dynamic enough that you can use templates in the future so no design is written in stone. It will take quite some work to get something like this fully functional, and honestly even for the severely design challenged like me, by that time you will have a better idea of what you want and ways to implement it.
Oh and awesome post by Ythan. I am in desperate need to learn some of that stuff
-------------------- The DJ's took pills to stay awake and play for seven days.
|
|