I'm thinking about creating a website that will basically be a frontend of a database. I'm thinking that its going to be similar in design to facebook or myspace, only it won't be social networking. I know java and c++. I work as a linux systems admin currently. The server (which for the development phase) will be a spare linux machine that I have running. The database itself will most likely by a mysql one.

I'm not sure what language I want to use for the frontend though. Is php the best bet? I honestly don't know that much about it other than that its a popular scripting language. I've also considered java (javascript) and ruby on rails. I'm asking because I'll basically have to teach whatever language I go with to myself and I don't want to get half way through and find out that I need to use a different language to do what I want. So what advice do you guys have?

As far as timetable, I'm looking at (many) months. And if it turns out that I end up creating this thing and just using it for personal use I'm fine with that. I really just want a side project to work on over the summer. And I would like some experience developing a real world resource. Any links/advice you all can give will be appreciated.

PHP is perhaps the most popular language used with websites with database-driven content. However, since you already know Java, all you need to do is to install a server/container as Tomcat and start coding JSP (JavaServer Pages) and Servlets. Here are some tutorials about JSP:

http://www.jsptut.com/

http://www.apl.jhu.edu/~hall/java/Servlet-Tutorial/

There's also a good ebook that you will want to have:

http://www.theserverside.com/books/a...lknerJones.zip

This book is just awesome. The problem is, you will need to register before downloading. Not a big deal, really.


Basically, to have a server up and running, all you will need is a computer (with Linux or any other OS) and

Apache tomcat Web server:
http://tomcat.apache.org/

MySQL:
http://www.mysql.com/

Java - MySQL drivers:
http://www.mysql.com/products/connector/

And a working Java Runtime Enviroment. Get the one from Sun's website. I've just started getting into JSP/Servlets, so if you get stuck let me know .

That's for the server part. To develop your pages, I recommend Eclipse WTP. It has support for many advanced features, like starting and stopping Tomcat, among other finessess and plugins. I can give a hand to set up Eclipse WTP if you need it.

Now, I'm not saying you should not use PHP (or any other language for that matter), but since you already know Java, it feels pointless to learn yet another language since Java is very robust, very well supported and it really shines on the web side

Best of luck!

Certainly PHP will do what you want to do. There is a bit of a hump (rather than a real curve) learning it but once you're over that it is a quite smooth language to work with. Get a good book or tutorial on php and mySQL (there are loads out there, Kevin Yank has a good one you can find it here)

Well that's my bigoted view

graeme.

I would vote for php also. However i have heard good things about ruby on rails as far as speed and ease of development.