Forum Moderators: phranque
I am posting this in hopes of someone guiding me in the right direction for the best way to create a "classifieds" website (I'm not sure if that is the proper term). <snip> I have no idea what level of knowledge and software I would need. I have a semi-advanced knowledge of the adobe suite and minimal level of web programming knowledge, and a barely above average level of computers. I can pretty much create a website that a monkey could create <snip>.
I would like to eventually create something that is designed and more thoroughly thought out than just a classified website, but for now I would just like to create something simple and build from there. I would greatly appreciate anyones advice or input, because I am really struggling with creating my site.
I have tried to look on the web and ask my programming friend about how I should go about creating this, but I have just been more confused by their information. I don't know much, so I eventually hit a knowledge wall and give up on that approach. I have been told by some to create a mysyql database and use php, and then incorporate that into my website. I tried setting that up, but then I downloaded a video that walked me thru the setting up process and I never really tied the creation of the website back into the database, so I stopped there.
I was then told I could just create it within html, but I have no idea of how that would work out either. I have also been told many other ways to go about creating it, but I have no idea which way would be the best/easiest.
I would like to eventually develop my website into something where people could have profiles, but would also be similar to the autotrader website, where the user could enter their zip code and it would pull up relevant information to their area. Allowing people to post events, and leave feedback for postings, and also have connections between users listed.
I know that I am taking a bigger bite than I can really chew, but I am willing to learn anything and take any length of time, as long as I know I am headed in the right direction.
So if anyone could guide me in a direction that is easily understandable to monkeys and could be a good jumping off point for me, it would be much appreciated. Thanks for your time!
[edited by: trillianjedi at 10:14 am (utc) on July 9, 2007]
[edit reason] Please read our TOS about posting your own sites. [/edit]
Let's stick to Craigslist and autotrader as two well-known sites for examples of the type of site you want to create.
Picking a language to code in and a database to use is a decision that's not something that can be explained in "monkey language" I'm afraid. It's a complex choice and depends on a whole number of factors.
Is hiring a developer out of the question? You design, someone else codes?
The ZIP code database will have to be purchased - that's probably worth looking into now if it's a requirement.
I was then told I could just create it within html
No you couldn't - what you describe absolutely requires a database backend. And that means programming something, in some language, to get the data out of the database and display it to the user.
I know that I am taking a bigger bite than I can really chew
You would probably be well advised to start with a more simple and smaller project, to act as a means of teaching yourself how to build the bigger project.
There are design decisions that you will almost certainly get wrong the first few times. That kind of knowledge comes from experience, not online videos. The videos might teach you how to build something, but more often than not they won't teach you how to build something *well*. You tend to learn that as you go, by making mistakes, or realising when you've finished something that actually it's going to run far too slowly when used the way its intended to be used.
Finally, you don't have to build it yourself. There are several pre-built open-source CMS (Content Management) systems which probably have "modules" you can add to perform the tasks you want to perform.
You may be better spending your time researching existing software solutions and learning how to install and tweak those.
TJ
