Forum Moderators: phranque
Would having my site database driven be the way forward? or atleast part of the site?
I dont have a clue about databases/mySQL/php etc and would like some advice on which way to go forward.
Learning these things myself is not a possibility, i just dont have the time to start learning programming languages/how to build databases etc, so what sort of cost would it involve getting someone else to do it for me?
Is a database the way forward for my site?
Please advise..
Thanks for any help,
chrisandsarah
All you need is a "Beginner's Guide to [database of your choice]" and a similar book on the scripting language of your choice. What you have now is a maintenance nightmare. Automating the pages will save you loads of time in the long run.
If you are running on a *nix platform, I'll recommend you take a look at PostgreSQL [postgresql.org], the Oracle of the open-source database world. Wrox Press has a good primer on Postgres.
Consider using dreamweaver ultradev (now MX) to get goiung quick. That uses ASP and access which is good for lowish traffic sites.
Move on up to mySQL for heavier solutions.
Cost? For simple stuff you could probably get a few decent features adpated from previous/similar applications that people have developed.
Here is where you need to be: :)
[webmasterworld.com...]
If your website is as big as you say, then you probably are quite busy, and making enough money to invest in the site.
Three ways of doing it:
- Do it yourself. (Learn SQL, scripting language of your choice, modify free scripts, etc)
- Buy a premade CMS. I have no idea if one is available.
- Get somebody to do it for you. Very difficult to give prices for this sort of thing, but insist on a full pro forma invoice before giving the go ahead, check on other work, etc. (Or, drop me a line ;) <Shameless plug>!)
Seriously though, you need to sit down and think about the cheapest option - DIY, or outsource? I know lots of people who spent waaaay too much time trying to do it themselves, then gave up and just paid somebody.
The db you're talking of isn't that hard to build. OTS packages are built upon the logic of someone else. The best way to get what you want is to build your own and then you can tweak it as you need to. If you implement someone elses and you want to make changes you must first wrap your mind around thier code - a major challenge to someone not familiar with the script language being used.
Of course, it goes without saying that the more familiar you are with a script language the easier it is to spot inefficiencies in your code and database structure (oft referred to as normalization). These come with time.
I wouldn't hesitate to start learning and building now. Just don't try to bite off too much too soon. If you find you're in over your head - stop. Get some OTS package and implement it then you can go back and learn/build your own version at a pace that works for you - or take the package you implement apart and see how they built it. Some of my best learning lessons have come from doing this.
A database driven site is really what you need. The end result being a couple of pages to maintain as you enhance the site. No more making copies of a page only to change all of the pictures and text a hundred times over. The code you write will call the right objects if it's done half way decent.
It might take a little doing on the front end, but will save you lotsa hours of work in the long run.
Pickup ASP for Dummies. It's a good guide for beginning programmers.
Need more help you can email me.
Dave
[edited by: txbakers at 12:56 am (utc) on May 24, 2003]
[edit reason] deleted e-mail address (please use sticky mail instead) [/edit]
I am pushed for time so learning is going to be difficult at the mo but hopefully soon i can pick up a book/tutorial an get going. ( ive had ASP for dummies for 3 years and not read it yet!)
I did find a few tutorials online (web monkey?) but to do them i needed PWS (microsoft personal web server) and as my machine is XP Home edition it does not come with it. Infact after a bit of looking into it i found out that PWS and IIS do not work on XP home and i need to get XP pro.
And then i found a website database tutorial in a magazine and guess what? it required PWS to follow!
At the same time i have my new hotel provider breathing down my neck to replace my current hotels with his, so it looks like i will have to do it by hand for now to keep them happy. I also have an ocean of content waiting to be added to the site.
The site is keeping me busy but its not a gold mine yet, so i cant really invest in it at present. Hopefully oneday soon though. We get about 90k visits a month (and rising), and a tiny trickle of hotel bookings. Though the accommodation side of the site is important, its not the main part. it pays for the hosting and a few other things.
I'll pick up that asp book and try and install some sort of server on my system so i can practise. it just all takes time. thanks for all your help
chrisandsarah
I use ultradev and it's really great for simple applications. Now MX allows you to build PHP pages as well as ASP, JSP and Coldfusion wich is always great to have code to rely on when you start learning a new prog language.
Go for the easiest for you: book, UD, WW forum (there's one for ASP [webmasterworld.com] and one for PHP [webmasterworld.com]) and good luck.
Leo
How about emailing me. I might be able to help you out a little at least to get you going.
Dave
deleted email address, please use StickyMail
[edited by: DaveAtIFG at 12:50 am (utc) on May 24, 2003]
Evangelicism aside, XML might be a good way to store more static content such as descriptions of hotels etc... Storing images and huge text files isn't really what mysql was made for, from what I understand.
