Need info about Internet site conception

Browser_ICE

<div class="IPBDescription">Thinking about geting one of my own</div>For a long time, I've been thinking about geting a website of my own which I would build and maintain myself. My current ISP only allows me 5Mb which sucks. I need way more then that. So now I am thinking more about it lately and thinking of actualy doing it. I gota have time to build it too.

But what concerns me is under what kind of structure I should do it. I mean :

1) windows or linux version : I'm thinking Linux oriented because it gives more control and since most tools in Linux are free, then it would be easier creating/maintaining my site

2) with or without a database : I do not realy have things to use via a DB but codeing to use a DB might be interesting just to get experience in it

3) for stats (counters, ...), should I use CGI, PHP, PERL ? I know a bit about PERL and since I have learned 20 diff languages in 30 years (some I'm sure I forgot how to do), learning a new one will not be a problem

4) for the actual user interaction, should I build the whole site in ASP, PHP, PERL or something else ? I did ASP a bit on a small contract and know a bit about PERL. For security reasons, which one would be best ?

5) I'm mainly thinking about creating a site for portfolio (carreer prospect, 3d stuffs, texturing, arts, ...), hobby sharing, gaming interests and blogs. Haven't realy planned on anything else. Maybe a forum ? What do you think ?

6) Anything else I should consider ? (Oh yea, my own email domain !)


Like I said, I am thinking about it but since I am doing 12 hours shifts, that doesn't leave me much time to create and maintain. So I have to make up my mind.

BlackMage

for the os, i'd go with *nix or some unixlike system. just remember that you don't *have* to stick with one language for a site (though it does help your sanity). i have a strange mashup of perl/php/python scripts doing my bidding.

puzl

Take a freeware content management system and play with that for a few weeks. I recommend something like joomla, thought it might be total overkill. But if you want to be able to rapidly create sections, articles,host media downloads etc, then taking an off the shelf content management system is the way forward.

I personally think Linux is the best approach especially when considering remote administration. I'd advise using a debian based system.

KungFuDiscoMonkey

I second Puzl's suggestions. Many Linux distributions even have an option to setup a LAMP stack (web stack consisting of Apache, MySQL and PHP/Perl/Python) by default and using an existing CMS would probably be easier for quick setup than writing your own though you'll still have to learn how to do all the theming and such for the cms you end up using.

If you need some help with tutorials, I've found w3schools to be a good quick reference for the basics.
<a href="http://w3schools.com/php/" target="_blank">http://w3schools.com/php/</a>
<a href="http://w3schools.com/sql/" target="_blank">http://w3schools.com/sql/</a>
<a href="http://w3schools.com/xhtml/" target="_blank">http://w3schools.com/xhtml/</a>
<a href="http://w3schools.com/css/" target="_blank">http://w3schools.com/css/</a>

Xyth

Wait, Im confused. Are you talking about physically building the server yourself as well? I ask because for the ammount of money you'll spend building it, you could rent one online for like 10 years....

KungFuDiscoMonkey

I typically buy old computers from the state surplus sales to build servers. Depending on what you're doing with the server, you don't need a very powerful machine. You can find good $10-$20 computers to use for servers if you know where to look.

Mantrid

<!--quoteo(post=1633650:date=Jun 15 2007, 10:02 AM:name=KungFuDiscoMonkey)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(KungFuDiscoMonkey @ Jun 15 2007, 10:02 AM) [snapback]1633650[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
You can find good $10-$20 computers to use for servers if you know where to look.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Where should we look, incidentally?

KungFuDiscoMonkey

Find out where government places or schools send their old equipment when they don't need it anymore. I work for my university and whenever we're done with stuff, we send it to a surplus warehouse. They then hold sales on Friday where they sell off old equipment.

Faskalia

<!--quoteo(post=1633651:date=Jun 15 2007, 07:12 PM:name=Mantrid)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mantrid @ Jun 15 2007, 07:12 PM) [snapback]1633651[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
Where should we look, incidentally?
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Ebay would be a good place to start.

<a href="http://cgi.ebay.de/IBM-Server-Netfinity-3000-Komplettsystem_W0QQitemZ270131565933QQihZ017QQcategoryZ96490QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem" target="_blank">http://cgi.ebay.de/IBM-Server-Netfinity-30...1QQcmdZViewItem</a>

60€ as "buy it now" and it is pretty much overkill for just running a website anyway.

Browser_ICE

I am not talking about building the site on a home PC. My ISP doesn't even allow any kind of server through my account. I will not go on another ISP just to get one that allows me. THere aren't that many people offering High speed cable internet around here. Besides because I have Cable TV, it helps lower down my ISP price.

I am talking about dealing with a host company and build the site myself. I was thinking about <a href="http://hostpapa.ca/Plan_Features.shtml" target="_blank">Host Papa</a> or something similar. They are cheap, very good rating and offer alot. Got the link from <a href="http://www.bestwebhosting-ca.com/" target="_blank">Best Hosting In Canada</a>.