Question for the webdesigner pros.......

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Hi guys

Quick question - what is everybody here using to build there websites these days, WP or are actually coding the full HTML yourself?

Basically I have full SysAdmin background (Linux, Solaris, Windows Sevrer, SQL Server, MySQL, DB2, Oracle, VMware, Xenserver, Apache, Perl, basic C# etc etc) but I would like to use that knowledge to power a website idea I've had for a while but not sure how to get started, any ideas? I have very little HTML // PHP experience.

Essentially my website would use:

PHP
MySQL
Linux
Apache

(LAMP)

It would mainly be around db stats, graphs, ever changing data - not forums or blogs...but I'd also like to make it look good with JQuery???? I'd like it to look modern and "cool" but heavily stats orientated with constant updates and graphs.

Any tips on what would be the best way to start? I want to do this myself and pick up the knowledge as I go.

Much appreciated guys if you can give me some pointers, thanks :D
 
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A website showing statistics should be a good project to start with as it's relatively straightforward.

I assume you'll have a method of data entry - so either a few web forms, or maybe an import via an admin system. Either of these are easy to accomplish with PHPs database IO methods, if you already have knowledge of SQL and how it works it should be pretty straight forward.

For displaying the graphs there are hundreds of jQuery plugins - personally I use HighCharts as IMO it's the best looking, most descriptive and easiest to modify.
 
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If its just for reporting, take a look at Highcharts jQuery charts. I'm currently using them for an intranet reporting suite I'm developing for a client at the moment. I'm using PHP to run SQL against the database and pass CSV data over to the charts.

With regards to the website, html and css is the way to go. Very easy to learn the basics and you can then build on it from there.

edit - bah, beaten by Spunkey!!!
 
Honestly, unless you're setting off and making some unique website which has a very original idea (e.g. not done before) then I'd stick to software like wordpress, just because they're so fluid for the general joe website (e.g. blog, portfolio, self employment services etc) with great community, addons and support.

It all depends what you want from your website and if it's business or personal. Just basic understanding is all you need in most cases, unless as I said, you're doing something unique which requires specific niche code. If you're doing it just to learn, then great and take the advice above.
 
Quick question - what is everybody here using to build there websites these days, WP or are actually coding the full HTML yourself?

This question does not compute. It's a bit like saying what do you use to drive; a car or petrol?

I use WordPress for client sites and some personal sites, but I still code/design everything in Notepad++/Photoshop.
 
leaning towards wordpress just because I can finish a site so rapidly...and all that most people want is available and easy to do.
In your position though I'd be inclined to code from scratch, you could make it very responsive, quick and pretty!
 
im quite new to all this webdesign stuff myself and i have been using dreamweaver in code view to help me learn.

and followed online tutorials for the more complicated stuff
but by the sounds of it with your backghround youi will have no problems at all.
 
If you're going to develop anything in wordpress, don't be tempted to buy wordpress themes, develop them yourself. The learning curve will be greatly reduced over time and you won't be pumping out templates which are randomly sprawled over the net.
 
Hi guys sorry for taking an age to reply, I've been away with work and mega busy, apologies - just wanted to say much appreciate your replies, thanks guys.

After reading your responses I've got XenServer 6 running on a quad core home dev box with LAMP set up on a CentOS 6 VM and bought the book "Learning PHP, MySQL & JavaScript" (O'Reilly) which I've just started getting into.

Highcharts looks EXACTLY what I was after, thanks! the only graph type it doesnt appear to do which I wanted was a "rev // rpm" style graph which is a shame.

I dont wanna use wordpress or druapl, joomla etc tbh want to do this to learn the skills.

I already have books on HTML, CSS and JQUERY (I have bought the Sitepoint books), so hopefully I have everything I need now.

Thanks again fellas much appreciated!
 
Guys

Quick question if thats cool, do you think it would be possible to embed a specific chart from "highcharts" in an email?

This seems difficult to me as you would need to pass the initial data to create the chart and then render it in some kind of graphic format then embed in the email as an actual image (it would be internal for testing, not external so will be trusted).....

hmmm
 
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