A little web design help please?
Hi, I’ve started a blog, not through a blogging service, but my own domain. I know some html. I would like my users to be able to comment on my page…I know it has to to with mysql and php….but don’t really know what I need to do this. Could someone point me in the right direction please? A good tutorial? I’m willing to put in the effort to research, but dont know where to start. What will I need. By the way, I use a web host, not apache. Thanks for any help.
Tagged with: apache • blog • right direction • web host
Filed under: Apache Web Hosting
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Sounds like you’re starting from scratch here. You’ve a lot to learn
Try this for starters:
http://dev.mysql.com/tech-resources/articles/ddws/index.html
Agree with coder. I was going to say exactly that. Upload wordpress its easy and lots of webhosts have a one button set up these days.
You don’t need to use mysql or php unless they’re the only things accepted by your host. You can actually code the entire form for posting comments in HTML, and use ANY scripting language to store the comment within the hosts system. That is, unless they mandate database management, so try downloading a free ebook on the subject. They’re out there if you’re willing to search. Just be specific in the search engine.
Use WordPress, or a similar blog-centric CMS (content management system).
This will take all of the trouble out of the programming. You can customize them by hand, or you can find a template (I always suggest to newbies to find a template that is close, and tweak it by hand).
Writing your own system is a security issue, as you are not experienced enough to code a secure environment. Read up on WordPress, that will get you moving in the right direction. It is far and away the easiest, and best, blogging CMS out there.
http://www.phpeasystep.com/mysql.php
jdfc713’s answer, though it is technically correct, isn’t usually recommended. There can be security issues with storing data in flat files on your host. For example, what if I decided to post a 500MB file as a comment? Suddenly your script is trying to store more data than you’ve purchased space for. Your hosting provider will either cut off the script (leaving you with no space at all) or charge you through the nose for the overage. It can also be very hard to write systems to search through your flat files or to parse them into individual records. (This is, after all, the very reason that databases like MySQL exist!)
Ask your hosting provider if they offer a database for your use — the good ones do. If you are really dead-set on not using a pre-made blog software package or CMS, you will have to write php scripts to interface with their database to store the comments. Be sure to have the script handle error conditions properly (for example, if the input is too big, or if the database is full, or if your script fails to connect to it).
However, if you want to write your own system, I highly recommend getting your own server instead of using a hosting provider. Or, if you can’t do that, I highly recommend using blog software or a CMS. Generally speaking, it’s maddening and risky to run your own software on a hosting provider’s server.
i agree with the others on using Wordpress or other blogging applications due to security issues. Yes, you can surely build your blog site using HTML, but you’ll also run into a lot of security problems that your web host might not be happy with (unless you own the entire server). I recommend finding a blog application that best fit your needs and then tweak it if needed. All open source applications is easy to customize.
Check out Wordpress and TextPattern.