Starting over again...

[kiwi li]

I deleted my site that hasn't been updated since 2003, and was getting back into making a new one. However, my skills are, should I say rusty... and my only knowledge on how to make a website is HTML.

My question is, what are people using to make their website nowadays? (PHP, XML,Flash)?

Right now I have the PHP4 bible that I have on my shelf that I'm probably going to start to read unless there's a new modern website making language out there that I should be using instead. ^^;;

Thank you in advance! ^_^

[the_ancient]

php is still one of the fastest growing web lang. out there. and there is no sign of it slowing..

if you make anything in php though I would suggest making sure it is php5 compatible, more than likly it would be but there are a few things that were changed in 5 that will break programs written in 4, just a FYI

[Gwaihir]

Actually, not that many PHP4 things were broken by PHP5. I'm confident that updating code of your own making won't be a biggie when the need arises.

If you want to extensively work object oriented in your code, you might want to dive into PHP5 instead, as the OO support has been significantly improved in that version. You would however still be unable to deploy it for a while here on jag though..

[the_ancient]

Actually, not that many PHP4 things were broken by PHP5. I'm confident that updating code of your own making won't be a biggie when the need arises.

If you want to extensively work object oriented in your code, you might want to dive into PHP5 instead, as the OO support has been significantly improved in that version. You would however still be unable to deploy it for a while here on jag though..

correct, which is why I stated

"more than likly it would be but there are a few things that were changed in 5 that will break programs written in 4"


there was not much, but there a few,

[Vin DSL]

I've been doing this stuff a LONG time. In computer years, I'm as old as Moses. Conversely, I'm also a 'bleeding edge' kinda guy. So, listen to your 'Virtual Moses' on this one...

PHP is the way to go! To do it right, you're also going to have know HTML, CSS, JavaScript, & MySQL (sql db), 'cause they work hand-in-hand, these days. You really can't run a successful PHP web site without being proficient in the others. So, study...

• PHP
• MySQL
• HTML
• CSS
• JavaScript

...in that order. Once you get these things figured out, e.g. how the pieces fit together, you'll be leading the parade again, instead of following it...

[Spathiphyllum]

I still use XHTML (strict), CSS, and Perl for the most part with some backend SQL. Lot's of PHPers around these parts but I'm preparing myself for transitioning to XML (hence the use of strict XHTML). As always, there is no "best" way, just the suitable way for your target audience and also considering one's own time availability and skill set.

The only one I would, personally, discourage is Flash or plug-in reliant content. This still puts the onus on the end-user to keep up with plug-ins and their idiosyncracies. Plus, some firewalls/proxies disable or filter such content. I like the eyecandy of Flash but don't find it universally utilitarian... a major drawback when trying to appeal to the broadest audience.

Anyway, welcome back to the lab.

[kiwi li]

Hehe, Vin DSL is the only one I remember from the aleti-.... er... old forums.

<--- My avatar hasn't changed either~! XP

Anyways, I'll go ahead and brush back up on my HTML (since that was my first language in making my website), then I'll go ahead and get with PHP, MySQL and Javascript... I'll use the PHP4 bible book and if something goes wrong because of PHP5 I'll try to look it up. ^_^v

Those javascript classes that I took didn't really help me on learning *anything* on how to do this stuff on the web. ^^;; I'll probably look around some "how-to" websites in order to try to get some idea on how to do that type of stuff... ^^

I remember I used to go on cnet.com in order to look up some information on how to make webpages... I wonder if there's any other useful sites out there. ^^

[Vin DSL]

Yes, CSS, for sure. Forgot that one...

You can get by without CSS, but it surely makes things easier!

[Vin DSL]

Those javascript classes that I took didn't really help me on learning *anything* on how to do this stuff on the web...

JavaScript used to be sucky, especially pre-broadband. It REALLY slowed things down. But, they have it figured out now.

Generally speaking, you want to use JavaScript as little as possible, but there are certain things that it does better than anything else. Dittos with raw HTML.

Most of your coding will be in PHP, with a sprinkling of HTML and JavaScript, here 'n' there. So, concentrate your efforts on PHP initially...

[kiwi li]

Okies! ^_^ Going to read up on PHP and hopefully one day I'll create a site that is hopefully somewhat less shameful than the one that I started back in... 1998 I think. ^^;;

[Inserted]In order to restart again, I deleted every single thing in my webspace except for this ".trash" file... ^^;;;

I don't really know how to reset my webspace to where it was when I just started. ^^

[Vin DSL]

When I 'just started', all I had was an (almost) empty directory called 'HTML', containing a subdirectory called 'cgi-bin' (Ocatl 755). That was it...

[kiwi li]

Masood helped me get it all reset. ^_^ Now it's time to get cracking on that book. ;_; Thank you all for the help. ^_^

[JonathanB]

Yes, CSS, for sure. Forgot that one...

You can get by without CSS, but it surely makes things easier!

Not to mention easier on your visitors download times, more accessible to those with disabilities, improved search engine results...