What's the best way to build a website?

shunx91

Hi,

What's the best way to build a website right now? I remember a decade ago people are just using static pages, then people started using frames, and now templates. I THINK now people are using PHP includes to classify and separate all the different contents into separate classes or files. Is that the best way to go?

For example, here's some pseudocode:

Header.inc.php would be something like:

and Fotter.inc.php would be something like:

</td>
</tr>
</table>

Then for every page that you make you would just have something like.

<?php include(header.inc.php)?>

Contents..
Contents...
Contents....

<?php include(footer.inc.php)?>

//sorry i'm still new to PHP so some of the commands may not seem right.

macmonkey

I use a lot of includes for my header, navbar, footer, and many other segments. It works out great - especially when dealing with finnichy (sp?) clients that like to change their mind a lot.

LoganK

Macmonkey - "finnicky".

Shunx - that's a very common approach, plus it makes things very easy later on to change layouts/footers/etc.

Rodney_H_

The best way to build web sites, in my opinion, is to do exactly this:

Use includes for headers footers, and navigation. Reason: You only have to update one file to change content on all pages of your site that use the includes.

The Second best thing you can do for your site is to use CSS positioning and jettison the old design-with-tables notion. Web designers today are using <DIV> tags in favor of <table> tags and you should definitely create an external style sheet.

Include files will let you update content such as headers and nav, and footer and copyright info quickly. And CSS style sheets will let you update the look and feel and colors or even the fonts you use on the site with just one file. You should look into it. I strongly recommend it.

edit: Lastly, validate your markup and use XHTML and a doc type declaration, too!

Create a site that will last and be easy to add to in the future.

LoganK

CSS vs. Tables? I think we're getting into a debate here... 😉

macmonkey

haha... no thanks!

LoganK

😃

last post had a typo...too lazy to fix it

Drakla

Somebody will slap you for not editing your posts soon, as concurrent posts from the same user are classed as spam around here.

LoganK

I've seen a few concurrent posts, even from experienced board members...but I'll keep it in mind. 🙂

Rodney_H_

LoganK wrote:
CSS vs. Tables? I think we're getting into a debate here... 😉

I did say it was my OPTINION!! 🙂

LoganK

Yes, we all agree and respect that it was your OPTINION. By the way, what's an optinion? 😃

jansky

OPTINION (n)= UNKNOWN ERROR

leatherback

Hey Logan,

Considering you are relying so much on client-specific tools such as AJAX, why do you have such a hard time realizing that CSS is/has replaced tables for page-layout?

vaaaska

leatherback wrote:
Hey Logan,

Considering you are relying so much on client-specific tools such as AJAX, why do you have such a hard time realizing that CSS is/has replaced tables for page-layout?

J.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzing!

leatherback

vaaaska wrote:
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzing!

?? Sound of swords being drawn..? Or..??
:bemused:

leatherback

LoganK wrote:
Yes, we all agree and respect that it was your OPTINION. By the way, what's an optinion? 😃

'optinion' = wordmerge('OPTIon', 'opiNION');

There really was some LOGIC to it 😃

LoganK

leatherback wrote:
Hey Logan,

Considering you are relying so much on client-specific tools such as AJAX, why do you have such a hard time realizing that CSS is/has replaced tables for page-layout?

J.

CSS vs. Tables can be an interesting debate...see a few posts earlier 😉 In any case, both are acceptable and both are still used. However, I continue to use tables because unlike some of the more graphically-inclined members of this boad, I suck at design. Therefore, using CSS - having to sepcify everything in pixels and colors and widths and absolute positioning - absolutely terrifies me because I don't have the slightest design skill in my body. Tables are easy for me - I understand them, and I like to code what I understand (You wouldn't code in C++ if you didn't know it, would you?).

LoganK

leatherback wrote:
'optinion' = wordmerge('OPTIon', 'opiNION');

There really was some LOGIC to it 😃

It was a joke...I know he was trying to say "opinion"...

leatherback

Well,

I'd learn C++ if that is what the job required. So I use CSS if that's what is required. And I do not see how sucking at design affect the technique used.

But sure. Use tables if that works for you. Nothing really wrong with it. (..?) Hell, I used them forever untill I finally found out how to do acceptable layout in CSS, which I do admit, is still a bit of a pain.