Start Building a Website from Scratch with the Right Tools
Key decisions need to be thought out when going about building a website. You need to know what the fundamental tools are for generating webpages. You have two options of how to make a website. You can either use a free online content management system to set up the basics for you or start from scratch. This article will demonstrate the advantages and disadvantages of both.
The first tool you’ll need is a web development application to code your webpages. Kompozer and Dreamweaver are both examples of these type of applications. Kompozer is free to download online while Dreamweaver will set you back $300 – $400. These applications allow you to generate webpages without prior knowledge of the more technical parts of coding. These programs come with a lot of tools and wizards which will generate the code for you. Dreamweaver has a lot of online material to back it up. If you’re ever stumped you won’t have to look far for a Dreamweaver tutorial. However it is a high price and Kompozer will also provide you will the relevant tools to make a website.
A second requirement when you need to make a website from scratch is an image manipulation application. You should try to get yourself either a copy of Adobe Photoshop or GIMP. The newest version of Photoshop will cost you up to $700 but GIMP is free to download. Photoshop contains a whole bunch of tools for in depth image manipulation. However if you are just looking to jazz up some text or create some basic shapes then GIMP is definitely the cheaper option. It should provide you with all the tools you need for putting images on your site.
So you’ve now got the tools to code and create images for your site. However if this all looks a bit too much work then it might be worth looking into setting up your site using a prebuilt content management system. WordPress and Joomla are two examples. Both these allow you to construct a site in minutes, giving you a head start with a basic template that you can then edit to suit your needs.
Before deciding between Joomla and WordPress you need to consider your site’s purpose. If you’re looking to start a blog then WordPress will definitely be the option for you. You can make posts quickly and easily in it’s admin section. It also has a wide selection of plugins you can easily install allowing your readers to quickly bookmark posts or track the amount of visitors to your site. Quickly adding widgets is also useful. You can display your twitter messages or add a calender to your page with just one click.
WordPress is a good blogging tool but not everyone needs a blog. If your looking to set up a website for an organization it might be worth looking into Joomla. It can be used to convey all kinds of information, more than just posts. Its advanced framework can provide communication tools or even ecommerce systems for your website.
Both Joomla and WordPress provide services for speedy web development They have their drawbacks though. Without in depth coding knowledge you will struggle to deviate too far from their preset themes. Starting your site from scratch will take more time but you have the freedom to build your site whatever way you want. Choosing the right method is crucial when setting out to make a website.
