frugi
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What sort of site do you want? Can you code XHTML / CSS / PHP at all?
Dreamweaver is the standard GUI web design /dev tool for non-coders, though of course you can edit the code directly if you want. From version 8 onwards it lets you add database calls and other dynamic bits to your site and writes the code for you. However if you are from an IT background you may find this annoying and end up writing the code yourself. PHP is pretty easy to pick up, not a hard programming language like C, very forgiving and for doing all the usual web stuff there's always an example you can lift / learn from on the net already. Notepad++ is my favourite editor, keeps it all neat. But I think it's fair to say most start with Dreamweaver, it's pretty powerful these days.
Or, Wordpress is great for setting up a smart blog quickly, with minimum fuss. There's a wealth of free templates and plugins for doing just about anything, e.g pulling selected photos off Flickr. You can also hack the templates to death if you want to get more involved, as it lets you get right into the code.
If you can describe in a bit more detail what you want your site to do I can probably be a bit more use. What choices overwhelmed you, I might have heard of some of them?
Dreamweaver is the standard GUI web design /dev tool for non-coders, though of course you can edit the code directly if you want. From version 8 onwards it lets you add database calls and other dynamic bits to your site and writes the code for you. However if you are from an IT background you may find this annoying and end up writing the code yourself. PHP is pretty easy to pick up, not a hard programming language like C, very forgiving and for doing all the usual web stuff there's always an example you can lift / learn from on the net already. Notepad++ is my favourite editor, keeps it all neat. But I think it's fair to say most start with Dreamweaver, it's pretty powerful these days.
Or, Wordpress is great for setting up a smart blog quickly, with minimum fuss. There's a wealth of free templates and plugins for doing just about anything, e.g pulling selected photos off Flickr. You can also hack the templates to death if you want to get more involved, as it lets you get right into the code.
If you can describe in a bit more detail what you want your site to do I can probably be a bit more use. What choices overwhelmed you, I might have heard of some of them?
trendie
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thanks for reply, frugi.
yes, I am from IT systems development background.
my bro-in-law wants to set up a edirectory of builders, plumbers and tradespeople, whereby people can subscribe to, to have their details uploaded.
I have indeed looked at templates, and will recommend such a path, especially templatesmonster, etc.
I could develop from scratch, but if I got involved, would prefer a template which does 80%+ of the work, and where I just tweak the rest. Much prefer to keep at arms length! (prefer to offer a solution where I am not involved (I have better things to do
), and thus prefer something off the shelf.)Will look at Dreamweaver (again), as I am a tad rusty.
Also, the DB and connections aspect needs to be robust.
The epayments I am happy with, as my bank has a very good technical department, and given excellent advice about integrating e-com type set-ups.
(Fully relate to being irritated by wywiwyg systems where you end up modifying the code directly. :cheesy: )
littlemog
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also do take a look at:
- Aptana Studio
- like Frugi said, Notepad++ is awesome, but you can also take a look at PSPad, Eclipse - latter which is more like a powerful IDE when you're up for it
- Also if you're familiar with some PHP or up to get some basics, look at frameworks (e.g. Prado) which might help you do most of the heavy lifting.
- Aptana Studio
- like Frugi said, Notepad++ is awesome, but you can also take a look at PSPad, Eclipse - latter which is more like a powerful IDE when you're up for it
- Also if you're familiar with some PHP or up to get some basics, look at frameworks (e.g. Prado) which might help you do most of the heavy lifting.
littlemog
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oh one more thing,
if you DON'T have to just go with PHP, may I suggest Plone? (Plone CMS: Open Source Content Management)
if you DON'T have to just go with PHP, may I suggest Plone? (Plone CMS: Open Source Content Management)
The author of this blog unseen Blog Archive Netbeans for PHP FTW
seems to think Netbeans with PHP support is pretty good. He also gives a rundown on other stuff he has used. May be worth a look.
I rather like Netbeans for Java - it's come a long way and is very mature.
The "IDE" I have used for PHP in the past was vi, but I doubt that is what you want.
seems to think Netbeans with PHP support is pretty good. He also gives a rundown on other stuff he has used. May be worth a look.
I rather like Netbeans for Java - it's come a long way and is very mature.
The "IDE" I have used for PHP in the past was vi, but I doubt that is what you want.