Don't Know Where To Start

ErfangC

Hello PHPBuilder,
Since this is the first time I am posting on this forum I wish to say hello to everyone. As of now I know very little about ... well everything 😕 🙁
I have however aqcuired some novice knowledge about Visual Basic and currently taking a AP Computer Science class (Java JDK 1.4.2). Now I am planning to contribute some of my time for my school's website (www.carodozhigh.com). The president of the club as well as some of the elite members recommend PHP, yet I am clueless of its existence prior to this encounter. Overnight I have borrowed a book from my local library and started to read some docs on PHP. However both the tutorials online and the book I borrowed seem to assume I already have a working server. So I treated myself with a .msi installation of a Apache2 server but the installation and compile instructions are full of internet jargons. ( However I do know that my http://localhost thing works though). I have no idea where to go from there, and I can seem to find a directory where I can drop my files for public access. Please help me out.
Thanks In Advance.
-Erfang C

Matt_Kindig

How is your school's website currently hosted? (I clicked on the link and it was dead). Was your school planning to purchase hosting space through a company (more common, but costlier) or host it themselves (easier, but requires someone who knows web servers well to administer it). If you are hosting through a company, check to see if the company already supports PHP. That way, you don't need to worry about setting up a webserver on your computer.

BTW, if you just want to play around with PHP, you can install Apache, PHP, and some other free software on your computer using XAMPP ([url]http://www.apachefriends.org)[/url]. The setup is really simple--basically you just unzip the file and run the executable. However, this setup is not very secure, so I wouldn't recommend using it on production servers.

EDIT: Also, there should be a directory "htdocs" someone in your Apache directory structure. This is where you would put your files.

ErfangC

Sorry, my school's website is actually http://www.cardozohigh.com/
Its already up and running except not much useful information. We are trying to give it a new look and actually add some capabilities to it.
Even though I am just getting battered by the initial learning curve (And thus a development server to fool around with is a very good idea), I would very much like to host a website about me. The problem is I am a internet moron. What is the difference between those webhosts that cost me money and those freely available software like Apache? Also the most puzzling thing so far:
Upon installing Apache, I was met with a few inputboxes asking me for Domain, Full Server Name, and Administartor's Email. The last one I understand but how do I know my Domain? Or Even Server Name? Is my External IP my domain? This computer I am running have a static IP of 192.168.1.47. Is this my server name?
Thanks For the response.

tony_l

Welcome to the boards!

I just want to get you pointed in the right direction. First and foremost - DO NOT...let me repeat this again...DO NOT try to set up your own webserver as a beginning project. Setting up a webserver is a detailed and painful process, even for us experienced system admins. There are settings, installations and the like that take awhile to figure out. You MUST do them securely, or you will be asking for trouble... big trouble.

Now with that out of the way:

This is what I reccommend you do to get started (this is how I started and so far it has worked like a charm).

Find a webhost. I reccommend phpwebhosting.com. Their rate right now is $9.95/month - which is extremely reasonable. They provide you with more than enough disk space, and they provide you with a database which you will want to use. They have everything a real webmaster would ever want. If you go with another webhosting company - make sure that they have PHP installed and that they do not run the cgi module.
Next, you will need a GOOD book on PHP. I reccommend the PHP Bible. There are others out there as well, but I like this one.
Then you need a text editor to build your code with. Guess what? Your computer already has a text editor - it is called Notepad. I personally like to code with TextPad (you can download from here - http://www.textpad.com/)
Start out with some sample scripts, the industry standard first script is called "hello world", and then SLOWLY work on other scripts. As you have questions - learn to read the manual at http://www.php.net . If you cannot find your answer there, try the search function on the boards here at phpbuilder.com and always checkout the articles here too.
Find an FTP program. This is a program that allows you to upload your programs you saved on your computer to the webserver where your website is located. I reccomend WSFTP LE - it is no longer offered for free by the parent company, but you can find a copy for free at other sites on the net - universities and colleges usually are a best bet.
Once you get the basics of PHP down, then you will need to learn about how to get your scripts to use an utilize a database.

NOTE Learning to program in PHP (or any language for that matter) takes time and effort. I have been programming for 7 years in C++ and JAVA, but I have programmed in PHP for 5. I am no expert - but with practice, you will learn more and more.

Good Luck man!

ErfangC

Tony,
Thanks for the advice. Looks like I need to foolaround with everything before making a public website.
Can you please briefly go over what I need to just get the localhost thing working and Php ready? Right now when I try to access http://localhost/info.php (which includes the phpinfo function), I get a prompt to download the file. According to the book and web resources, my server is not properly set up. But I lack the skill to set it up.

tony_l

I think you missed my point.

I would have to write a book on the forum here to get a webserver running properly with PHP installed. There are books you can buy on setting up apache, and then you will need another book on how to set up PHP properly on it.

I wish you luck man.

ErfangC

I see,
But didn't Matt mention I can use XAMPP to setup and full around with PHP, before I can use any payware services to host I think Im going to need some practice with PHP. (The real work is, or at least should be, done in school, where the website is already running, but I want to perfect things at home)

laserlight

I can use XAMPP to setup and full around with PHP

Yes, that is an option. I prefer to install the web server and database server separately, since it gives you a better idea of what goes where.

ErfangC

Woa, Thanks guys, XAMMP definitely helped me out there. Now at least my phpinfo() function works hehe. Anyways this whole webserver and domain thing is kind of new to me. However since I can't sleep with confusion in my head, I think I should list some of the things I know to get them straight, please let me know if I am right or wrong.
Top Level Domains such as .com .net or .biz are generalization of a website's category. Domains such as google or amazon or even phpbuilders must be registered with some governmented backed Network Company to ensure no redundant Domain Name exist.
Finally there is a DNS for for each domain that cranks out IP addresses for computers connected to that network. Such as customer.dell.com. And these computers are what we call servers?

james_lamie_net

Setting up a webserver with php really isn't that difficult. Are you trying to get started on a windows box or on a linux box?

I would reccomend trying it out on a linux box rather than a windows box. The windows versions are ports from the originals which are highly optimised for running on linux boxes. Getting a dual boot system up and running with linux is pretty easy nowadays as well. Debian sarge 3.1 distro has a really intuitive menu driven installation.

Don't be put off. Give it a go. The experience will be a rewarding one.

tony_l

Well I guess I mis-read what you were doing. I thought you were setting up your schools server. If you want a personal webserver to tinker with - yes you can do it that way. I agree with laserlight - do the installs seperately; This is a good way of figuring out how the two inter-relate.

jara06

Finally there is a DNS for for each domain that cranks out IP addresses for computers connected to that network. Such as customer.dell.com. And these computers are what we call servers?

Actually, a dns record only contains info about the relation between an ip and (domain)'name'. Its a bit like the phonebook, you knows a number and looks it up or knows a name and looks that up.
But this is rather irrelevant for toying around with php. All you need to know to begin with, is 127.0.0.1 equals to localhost, thus http://localhost/page.php refers to your locally webserver (apache most likely) and tries to get page.php.

With eg. XAMPP you get your webserver running at localhost, and here you can get to learn the language and toy around. No pay service is needed. If you later decide to obtain a domain of your own (to share experience or whatever), you probably would need a service provider for this.

For the period 'learning and getting familiar with the whole thing' you wouldnt need to pay anything. The schools webserver's probably fine, and my guess is the stuff there is accessible from the outside too.

Dont be afraid to ask, just dont ask if you may ask, just ask 😉

Edit:
Note to "james{A_T}lamie.net":
1. He has never heard of PHP.
2. He's not overall sure of the nets structure.
I say, he probably doesnt need a SMP machine with optimized config for 'Hello World's. Dont give him more headache by recommending him an OS (and at least not one which will require lots of setup). Please stay ontopic and help the dude with getting along with PHP. 🙂