Website building software

[AndyRM]

Once you get your head around Wordpress, it really is excellent.

Re - looks, might be worth having a designer type look at it if you're struggling? You can code the most compliant site you like, but it could still look duff without the right eyes having a look at it. I was going to link to Jakob Nielsen's website as an example, but it would appear he's finally come to his senses and actually put some thought into it.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Geeks might say it's shite but moonfruit is a reasonable web builder if you're a complete novice. Mrs 3BM uses it for her business; it's free, easy to set up and easy to maintain. If you want something pretty straightforward and undweeby it's worth a go.

 

[Spinney]

Sorry if I'm being a bit thick here, but for joomla, wordpress (or even moonfruit) - would I be designing the website etc using the software, and then just transferring a load of files with the website on them to my webspace? Wordpress etc don't actually host anything?

 

[dan_bo]

For about 10 minutes, until the business went bankrupt!

Did they?!?

Oh well. Bunch of clowns.

 

[marknotgeorge]

Sorry if I'm being a bit thick here, but for joomla, wordpress (or even moonfruit) - would I be designing the website etc using the software, and then just transferring a load of files with the website on them to my webspace? Wordpress etc don't actually host anything?

They're content management systems - software you install on your website which allows you to design the website in situ, so to speak. That's why you need PHP (a programming language) and MySQL (a database system) support in your hosting package. Generally, a suitable hosting package will have a settings page where you can install these things automatically.

 

[marknotgeorge]

I need to get my head round website programming at some point, especially if I want my cycling app to sell. Problem is, I don't enjoy it.

 

[Spinney]

They're content management systems - software you install on your website which allows you to design the website in situ, so to speak. That's why you need PHP (a programming language) and MySQL (a database system) support in your hosting package. Generally, a suitable hosting package will have a settings page where you can install these things automatically.

OK, thanks - I'll take a look. I may need to upgrade my hosting package - their basic package doesn't mention databases, but the next one up does.

 

[ColinJ]

Did they?!?

Oh well. Bunch of clowns.

No, I meant that they would only last about 10 minutes if they did start using "Expensive and $h1t" as a strapline!

 

[Cuchilo]

I use 1 and 1 as an online portfolio . Its a bit crap but it does what I need it to do . Easy to use and not a bad price I think .

http://jfcarpentry.co.uk/3.html If anyone wants to take a peek .

 

[vernon]

[QUOTE 3329067, member: 9609"]Have you found anything decent (and free) yet. I could do with something to help lay out web pages on. Notepad is a bit limiting[/QUOTE]

www.freeserifsoftware.co.uk will give you access to Serif's Web Plus software. Webplus X6 - the last but one version is available for £29.99 here

A free imitation of Dreamweaver, Kompozer is available here: http://kompozer.net/ Versions are available for Windows/OS X/Linux

A free version of Netobjects Fusion is avalable here: http://netobjects.com/html/free-website-design-software.html


WebPlus is easy to use - it's widely used in schools and can produce visually appealing pages. I've taught adults and children how to use it with very few problems/

I have used Komposer once or twice to test if it was useable in schools and, yes, it does a decent job but is a tad more complex to use - just like Dreamweaver.

It's a long while since I've used Netobjects Fusion but it was easy to use, creates standardised page layouts painlessly and the last web site that I built with it won a £10k price and a trip to Lisbon to pick up the cheque from Bill Gates.

I rarely build web sites now my most recent one was with Wordpress which does a wonderful job at delivering exactly what you want if you know exactly what you want and how to get exactly what you want. http://pieman.noip.me/pieman/ It's a work in progress and neatly sidesteps the hosting problems by being hosted on a Raspberry Pi computer that sits on my desktop.

 

[vernon]

[QUOTE 3332158, member: 9609"]how come you have such a strange URL ?[/QUOTE]

I am using a free redirection service which always points to my Raspberry pie through my router even if it reboots and has a different IP address when rebooted. I am at the mercy of what's available for free from the service until I dip into my pocket and pay for the premium service where I can use a more memorable and appropriate URL. The plog (pie-blog) is a work in progress and proof of concept and takes a back seat to my other distractions like pulse jets, tesla coils, aeromodelling, cycling, railway modelling and educational blog creation for some A-level students that have asked for help in school and I don't have the time resources to deal with them face to face for the number of hours that they need to address their needs.

 

[vernon]

I am using a free redirection service which always points to my Raspberry pie through my router even if it reboots and has a different IP address when rebooted. I am at the mercy of what's available for free from the service until I dip into my pocket and pay for the premium service where I can use a more memorable and appropriate URL. The plog (pie-blog) is a work in progress and proof of concept and takes a back seat to my other distractions like pulse jets, tesla coils, aeromodelling, cycling, railway modelling and educational blog creation for some A-level students that have asked for help in school and I don't have the time resources to deal with them face to face for the number of hours that they need to address their needs.

The beauty of the Raspberry pi solution is that all of the software; operating system, web server, database, php and wordpress are on a memory card and the net annual operational cost of the web site after shelling out around £35 to purchase and set up the Pi is £0. No hosting fees at the moment, no bandwidth restrictions, can be remotely accessed and from my mobile phone, tablet and laptop via the domestic network and via the Internet from any internet connected device.

 

[CopperBrompton]

I started with a hand-coded site in a text editor, and now use an elderly version of Dreamweaver, but if I were starting again today I'd use Wordpress. It's a bit of a faff to set up, and there is, as Vernon says, a learning-curve, but once you're familiar with it, updating your site is utterly trivial.

Also, if you get bored with the look some way down the line, you can completely change the design without having to touch the content or structure. I created my wedding photography site in it, and highly recommend it.

 

[vernon]

I started with a hand-coded site in a text editor, and now use an elderly version of Dreamweaver, but if I were starting again today I'd use Wordpress. It's a bit of a faff to set up, and there is, as Vernon says, a learning-curve, but once you're familiar with it, updating your site is utterly trivial.

Also, if you get bored with the look some way down the line, you can completely change the design without having to touch the content or structure. I created my wedding photography site in it, and highly recommend it.

Wordpress is now my tool of choice having ironed out all the creases of getting it installed and operational on a variety of hosted services. There are minor differences in configurations and uploading procedures depending on the hosting companies but once the dust has settled it is a wonderful tool. Reliance upon the templates/themes that are available can sometime be restrictive or leave your site looking like lots of others. Some Wordpress hosted sites are instantly identifiable as being Wordpress sites but the customising options are infinite.

My next project with Wordpress is to create my own theme and template set.

 

[CopperBrompton]

Reliance upon the templates/themes that are available can sometime be restrictive or leave your site looking like lots of others.

My photography site is probably recognisable as Wordpress, but is customised sufficiently that it doesn't look generic:
http://www.beautifullytold.com