Where to start?

Hello Everyone,

This is my first trip to this site. I must say that this is by far the biggest forum that I have ever encountered. It has left me wondering if am posting this in the right place (I believe I have).

I have a broad question that I am needing help with, and was hoping that I could get some feedback and opinions to help me on my way.

I am currently in the planning/information gathering stage of creating a Movie Review website, and I don't really have any idea where to begin. I know that I am going to have to have some type of database backend and that seems like the best place to begin. But do to the plethora of database/content management utilities out there and my inexperience with all them I have no place to start.

The following is small list of fields and content that I wish to be included in the finished site.

* The ability to enter data into fields, and have thee data indexed in various ways. (ex. fields: Image link, Title, year, rating, genre, etc.)

* When the data is entered, have a subpage generated with the information included into a premade layout/template.

* Have a user signup/login feature

* 2 different rating and comment sections for each Title, one for the "Official" reviews, and one for User reviews.

* A section where the site admins can login, and see all of the reviews made by individual users.

* As well as other less important features to be decided.

Due to the nature of the content there will be allot of database entries, so database limitations in conjunction with serverload will also have to be considered.

I really don't have any requirement or limitations as to how I am going to accomplish this, except for there being little or no actual cost for the software/programs.

I will be the person designing this site, and would prefer solutions that are crosscompatible with Linux and Windows. But as a single Os solution Linux would be preferable do to hosting/server cost, and abundance of opensource/free utilies.

As for my experience with different things... Assume I have no experience because in most cases that may be the fact. But I learn quickly, and have the determination to accomplish almost anything.

I am not looking for total step by step instructions or much hand holding , just an outline of what utilities different ppl would use, and to accomplish which goals.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Eric

PHP (to code the webpages) and MySQL (for the database) should work nicely for your site. There are dedicated forums here for each. Most web hosts these days provide PHP and MySQL in basic hosting packages.

The end user would presumably just be using a web browser so platforms don't enter the picture except for your actual web server, which Linux is probably the best bet, and a bit more affordable (and secure) than a microsoft IIS server.

Thank you Medialint,

I had expected that to be a common answer. I was hopng for a more "boxed" solution, but learning to and coding a completely custom site is most likely the best solution, and will definately be considered. You advice is appreciated.

Any other comments/advice would also be appreciated.

Eric

A more boxed solution would include mentioning PHP and MySQL serveral times over. Maybe the mention of a text editor and a lot of reading/ learning the languages.

I'm currently building my own message board for codding practice and to learn both PHP and MySQL.

Basic PHP/MySQL and HTML

Basic PHP/MySQL and HTML

Basic PHP/MySQL HTML mail server access is required if you want to do it automatically with email. You can set the registration e-mail address to not accept incomming mail.

Basic PHP/MySQL HTML

PHP/MySQL HTML...again

Probably also PHP/MySQL HTML

MySQL has query optimization information in their documentation located at http://dev.mysql.com/doc/mysql/en/index.html. Links to english version...

PHP/MySQL are free. PHPbb is also free I do believe. So is apache web server postfix mail server is free sendmail is also free by IBM but I read all over the place that it's full of bugs and security holes.

An apache server would brobably be your best bet, you install PHP as a module to this. MySQL runs independant of everything prety much, just a database waiting for queries.

...you gota learn then practice before you can do it.

Enjoy

Other resources...
http://www.php.net/manual/en/
http://www.w3schools.com/

You could start with one thing at a time, making a static HTML only version of the site might be a good place to start, the start adding dynamic features. This is where PHP is so useful.

Just add
anywhere in your HTML files, rename it PHP and voila dynamic, database driven content.

For MySQL you will want a different user for each function, adds security. A different password for each is also a good idea.

For me I use naming conventions for usernames AND passwords.

IE
sample username: WHAT_IM_TRYING_TO_DO_and_PAGES_USED
sample password: WHAT_IM_TRYING_TO_DO_random_string_of_letters_and_numb3r5_plus_gibberish_lkjfdhweruwer987sf98srwer

In my messageboard I have about 15 accounts and passwords, none the same all easy to remember because of the naming conventions. Like variable names

I also suggest using XHTML with CSS and validating it...and the inevitable IE/old browser hacks of course.

HINT - I use a PHP page to make all changes to my database, even local. I hate commandline length limits and you can add a delete and keep trying without having to delete all of the failes tries when you finish. Dubugging sucks, especially when you don't know better and are just learning

Starting out you probably won't have much in the server load area.

Thanks for your informed response.

This project is actually a step in learning things for another project. I came up with this project to combine something I like to do (watch movies), with learning different aspects of web site design, hosting management, etc., and hoping to make a small profit in the process.

When I said that I was looking for a more boxed solution, it was because I was hoping to slowly familiarize myself with mysql, php, apache, etc., and learning while making small customizations to existing solutions. But nonetheless starting from scratch and building exactly what I want as I want it, would have a better end result, and provide a more indept learning solution. To a small extent I already knew and understood this, but was just looking for a different slightly slower route.

It looks like its time to jump in and learn, thanks for the links to help with that. I'll definately be putting those and Webmonkey , as well as countless other sources including these forums to good use before I'm done.

Thanks Again,
Eric