How should i go about creating my website?

[robukni]

Hello everyone I’m new to this forum so I hope that someone can help me.

I want to create a new website with few essential elements. I want to be able to sell products securely online. I also want the users visiting the website to be able to upload images to a webpage.

I think I have enough web knowledge to be able to learn how to do this.

What I would like to know is what language would be the best to create my website in? Compatibility is not an issue as my host supports mostly all languages.

What is in involved to allow my users to buy products online?
How do I let users upload to my webpage? Do I have to use database?

I don’t have big budget so I would like to be able to do this myself. I would appreciate it if someone could help me.



Thank you
Robert

[sypher]

For languages i would choose whiever your most comfortable with.

Paypal is free and very secure so i would suggest using that for payments.

Theres two different ways of storing images, you can have them upload the file to a location on your host and your database stores the link, or you can story the image on the database (binary).

[robukni]

Thanks for your help.

I think i would prefer if the image was stored in the database.

Once the user uploads the image i want it to appear on my website.

Is all this hard to do?

Thanks
Robert

[sypher]

Not really, theres plenty of free scripts out there if you get stuck.

www.hotscripts.com

[benbramz]

let us know how u get on!

[rproctor]

Hey man if you are wanting to build it yourself thats a LARGE process, if you want to use a already built script I assume you will be wanting to make majore mods to it, and that too a a large process. No matter how you turn this, its going to be a large process if you are going to make something customized for your needs.

Dont store the image itself in the database, its more secure, but causes more problems and brings down load time, especially if there are many large images. Your best bet is to do the second choice sypher suggested and only store the link to the location of the file in the database, but store the file itself in a folder on your website. If you are looking for security for the accessing of images, good luck, there is no #1 secure way to do it, its a do and learn process.

I personally sugest developing it in php and mysql running on a linux server. You will have heaps of flexibility, free scripts, and support. Not to mention the programs are free as well and open source! Your best bet before you even start to do any web design is to break out a flow chart of every module you will need to make the site function like you need it, find some CMS software that meets them all or most of them, and then either strip away or add to the existing software.