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Ask HN: I want to write a simple webapp, how should I start?

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Re: Ask HN: I want to write a simple webapp, how should I start?

#11

> But since I have no experience in developing (neither web nor other) I'd try and get some basic programming in first. Javascript makes sense if web development is the end goal.

I tried it, however I want to build something with this try. I always have had problems following through, if I was just building some kind of placeholders.

Re: Ask HN: I want to write a simple webapp, how should I start?

#13
If you go with PHP, I would suggest learning how to use Composer[0], PHP's sort of de facto package manager, to organize your project. What you're describing seems like a really simple application, but even so, with dependency management, a router and the PSR autoloader it's much, much easier.

Of course, choosing another language (Python, Ruby, whatever) will likely mean choosing a framework and the package manager for that language, but with PHP you have to decide whether or not to use package management or a framework on your own. The minimum viable product version of this as I see it can be done within a single PHP file, so it could be argued that the extra complexity isn't strictly necessary.

If you're working in Windows, Xampp[1] makes it very easy to set up a local server and test PHP applications on your own machine.

[0]https://getcomposer.org/

[1]https://www.apachefriends.org/

Re: Ask HN: I want to write a simple webapp, how should I start?

#14
post #10

Miguel Grinberg created an awesome step-by-step guide for building Python Flask applications: http://blog.miguelgrinberg.com/post/the-flask-mega-tutorial-...

Uhhh, thank you. I was interested in using Python, since it seems so omnipresent when you look at the it security space. So this might be a great alternative to PHP (at least for me...)

Re: Ask HN: I want to write a simple webapp, how should I start?

#15

Try Base Rails: https://www.baserails.com It's not free, but you can run through at least one of their full blown web app tutorials in less than a month so you'll only pay $25. I've been helping a friend who is trying to learn to build webapps and this has been his favorite resource so far.

Thanks, I'll have a look at that. The courses look really interesting. Hmm.

Re: Ask HN: I want to write a simple webapp, how should I start?

#16
post #13

If you go with PHP, I would suggest learning how to use Composer[0], PHP's sort of de facto package manager, to organize your project. What you're describing seems like a really simple application, but even so, with dependency management, a router and the PSR autoloader it's much, much easier. Of course, choosing another language (Python, Ruby, whatever) will likely mean choosing a framework and the package manager f…

Wow, thanks, haven't thought of that.

I was thinking to use either a virtual machine or the LAMPP stack on my NAS/Raspberry. I tried Xampp, but it kind of screwed with my installation back than. Plus, the Pi isn't really doing anything, time to change that.

Re: Ask HN: I want to write a simple webapp, how should I start?

#18
post #12
post #7

Learn from W3Schools tutorials HTML http://www.w3schools.com/html/default.asp PHP+MySQL http://www.w3schools.com/php/php_mysql_connect.asp

thanks, those look like really nice ressources. Bookmarked.

Don't rely too much on them. http://www.w3fools.com/

Re: Ask HN: I want to write a simple webapp, how should I start?

#20
post #10

Miguel Grinberg created an awesome step-by-step guide for building Python Flask applications: http://blog.miguelgrinberg.com/post/the-flask-mega-tutorial-...

He now has a book, too: http://www.amazon.com/Flask-Web-Development-Developing-Appli...
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