Building a Website - Need a Little Help.

[The_Grudge]

I have a few friends that sit on the board of directors for a local charity. This charity is new to my city, but very established world wide. Since this charity is coming to my city, my "friends" asked me if I could build a website for them. All they want at this point in time is a splash screen that basically says "we're coming to cityx very soon, click here to donate". They volunteered me because I'm a computer programmer, it didn't seem to matter that I'm not a web designer

Anyway, I want to set them up with this welcome page. My question is, what language would you guys/gals recommend? I'm not totally out of my league here. Like I said, I'm a programmer and I have built a few websites using raw HTML (am I dating myself or what?...actually, I'm 29). I'm sure I'll catch on pretty fast to whichever language I choose. I'm asking this question to see which language is more robust and will lend itself to expanding the site more in the future.

I'm thinking PHP is the way to go but I really haven't settled yet.

Thoughts, suggestions, advice? I've also heard of something called "Ruby on Rails" although that looks to be more for the application-based websites.

[Hack]

If you are familiar with raw HTML, then why not whip one together using that.

It doesn't sound like it has to be any fancy.

[The_Grudge]

Agreed. But I've been looking for an excuse to obtain some more up-to-date web skills and this would be perfect.

[Hack]

In that case, then I would go with PHP if that is something that you would like to pick up.

It seems like the perfect opportunity as the site you are being asked doesn't sound like it would be too demanding.

As I'm sure you know, we have a PHP section here a VBF, and some very talented PHP folks roam around that section on a frequent basis so I'm sure any help you would need would be quickly forthcoming.

[dclamp]

[brag]I am one of the talented phpers [/brag]

PHP is the best, open source, way to go. There are great tutorials available on the net.

If you have the resources, there is also ASP.net available. You would need Windows server.

PHP + MySQL and ASP.net + MSSQL are the leaders of web development

[penagate]

A "welcome" page doesn't need anything more than static HTML.
I realise that you want to expand your skill set, but don't use technology just because you can.

[RobDog888]

Well you sound a little biased there dclamp as you fail to mention the correct #1 is Oracle. The #1 rdbms in the world. MS SQL Server is #2.

You absolutely do not need a windows server to run asp.net as 2005 express provides a virtual iis server for you to run during development time and then just obtain a webhost thatprovides the platform you desire.

So in reality the door is wide open for you to develop under any platform.


My suggestion would be along the lines of Hacks post. Just do the minimum as you can get it up and runnning fast in basic HTML and then they will be impressed.

If you propose a good enough reason, you can get any training you want for this. You just need to make the point for its need. ASP.NET has power over PHP but PHP is a non-ide development "language" which may slow down development and testing etc.

[dclamp]

sorry for my biasness.. I thought that those are the 2 combo leaders. Sorry for my misleading post

[FishGuy]

If your wanting to update your skills forget about scripting languages such as PHP et al and stick yo plain old HTML but update your webdesign skills by using CSS for all the layout and appearance properties.

[The_Grudge]

If your wanting to update your skills forget about scripting languages such as PHP et al and stick yo plain old HTML but update your webdesign skills by using CSS for all the layout and appearance properties.

That's exactly what I've done. I'm doing the page in Dreamweaver using HTML with CSS.

CSS is freakin' cool!