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bluelitroom

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Building sites...

I’m looking for a list that includes what programs & languages (server & client) (Linux or Microsoft) one would need to learn in order to build “practically any website.”  A brief description of these components would be appreciated.   I’m not looking for a list of everything, I’m looking for what people have used and gotten results from.  
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brad2575
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For any website you will need to know a few different languages.

HTML and Javascript are the main ones that are client side (computer processing is done on clients computer)

HTML displays basic text, forms, form data, etc.

JavaScript allows you to do some data manipulation and form validation and can be quite powerfull.

If you want to get into database driven websites like storefronts etc, you will need to learn a server side scripting language.  ASP and JAVA are the two biggest ones.  If the machines that will be viewoing them are Windows or Linux the language should not matter since they are run on the server.  If the server is windows or linux you will have to choose because ASP will not run on a Windows server.

As for what they do JAVA (not like JavaScript) and ASP can accomplish about the same things.  You can do data validation (javascript is recommonded for this however), database accessing and saving, and much more.

If you want to get into animation the easiest and best would be Macromedias Flash.  (you need to purchase software to program in this however)

That covers the very basics of what you are looking for, if you need more detailed information please let me know.
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Jermzware

I think I have some info you, if you are going to do this web development I would suggest a application like Dreamweaver reasoning being that if supports ASP,Javascript,ColdFusion,PHP for Linux,etc and it's easy to use and learn so you will find yourself with a kick ass web with all the lastest technology driven site. In less time and you will find yourself doing more development. I also have the link to a site where you can get this software to make your life easier. Dreamweaver MX is lastest.Do let me if you want this info and I will send you the private link to my ftp site.

Jermz
I think some of the most essential are
PHP/MySQL  -- php is a language run off the server, and mysql is the database backend it connects to

or

ASP/Access  -- Despite the comment above, ASP runs PRIMARILY on windows IIS servers, though its not well supported in UNIX/Linux.  Access is your standard microsoft databasing program

HTML/XHTML -- Make sure their "fluent" or extremely comfortable in this

Dreamweaver  -- html editor

Photoshop or Fireworks -- image editing software

Comfortable with Apache or IIS web server basics.

Basic XML

Javascript/Java  --  if they know asp, they'll know either Javascript or VBScript

Optional:  PERL, Vbscript  -- other languages, PERL being very powerful.

Avatar of bluelitroom

ASKER


>ASP/Access  -- Despite the comment above, ASP runs PRIMARILY on >windows IIS servers, though its not well supported in UNIX/Linux. >Access >is your standard microsoft databasing program

What about SQL on windows based systems?

>Photoshop or Fireworks -- image editing software

Any other graphics programs?  I.E. illustrator or Corel Draw worth my time or needed?  Logo program?  3d modeling app?  

   
Illustrator and/or Corel really aren't web tools. If you're doing web work, I wouldn't get them. If you have them, OK, but I wouldn't spend money on them.

I prefer Fireworks. If I could only pick ONE, I'd get Fireworks because it will give you a bit more flexibility. It does great with vector stuff, but it's not a photo editing tool. Photoshop is. Ideal is to have both -- but you can have PaintShop Pro or another photo editor instead of Photoshop (it's EXPENSIVE).

YOu don't need any 3d modeling software. The web isn't 3d. Flash would be good if you want to get something else.

The best option is the Macromedia Studio package (Dreamweaver, Fireworks, Flash, Freehand) and a photo editing program of some kind. If you get that and PaintShop Pro, it will set you back a bit, but you'll be able to do ANYTHING.
SQL is fine too...basically any databasing system (they pretty much all use the standard SQL language).  Just make sure they know how to integrate it w/ asp or php.  (or jsp for that matter).  

I agree on the fireworks comment.  Its not "as" powerful as photoshop, but it works much better with respect to web graphics.
there are a few fundamental questions you have to ask yourself:
1-what platform you want to build on
2-what type of databases you want to build for
3-what browsers your clients will be using
4-what is your current skillset

if you are building on microsoft/IIS platform, try ASP/VBScript/Oracle or SQL Server or MS Access

if you are building on Linux/Apache platform, try PHP/MySQL/Oracle etc

you will of course need to know HTML which is the basic stuff. CSS can be used to manage styles and maintain a consistent look on your pages, very easy to use and very handy. JavaScript is client side scripting, you can definitely use it but its not necessary. Java or Active X is a good idea if you want to do create some cool apps to be used on the web, but again, not necessary.

there are other options, like ColdFusion/JSP but again its up to you and what you can and can't do. PHP/MySQL is probably the best if you are doing it for yourself and don't want to spend any money but want the power and ease of use, since its FREE and open source ;)

hope this helps ;)
to do really cool animation start messing around with flash mx and learn what the various action scropt commands do.
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tenacious

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