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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?

#21

> 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.

"Web development" can cover a lot. JavaScript makes sense if you want to be more font end focused. PHP or Rails (or Django or Flask) make more sense for back end focused stuff.

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

#22
post #19

Sounds to me like indexing the magazines is perhaps the most challenging aspect of this.

Yeah, data entry will be a whole lot of work. But since it is just for me, I can take my time :)

It's not just data entry. The actual search aspect is gonna be challenging (it's not harder than the web itself, but you need to know where to look, the keyword would be either "Lucence, "Solr" or "Elastic Search", for the record).

One thing I want to note is that you didn't mention which "kind" of webapp development you care about (ie frontend, backend or both). Roughly, the distinction is whether you care about making a website (the part where people look at) whether you care most about just the functionality part of the webapp.

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

#23
post #18
post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

thanks, those look like really nice ressources. Bookmarked.

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

>>For many beginners, W3Schools has structured tutorials and playgrounds that offer a decent learning experience. However, it would be a mistake to continue your education without learning from more reputable sources, so when you're ready to level up, move on.

Oh thank god, I thought I had stumbled in some kind of developer flamewar there.

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

#24
post #21

> 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.

"Web development" can cover a lot. JavaScript makes sense if you want to be more font end focused. PHP or Rails (or Django or Flask) make more sense for back end focused stuff.

Yes, I know, its a little vague. But that's how it is if you look at it from the outside, I guess. There are so many languages, frameworks etc so it is kind of hard to find the right starting point.

One of the reason why I asked here :)

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

#25
post #9

If you want to go up with PHP then better use Laravel + Mysql or Postgresql. And if you want to learn you can opt for laracast.com videos. They are one of the best resource for laravel. P.S Laravel is one of the best PHP based framework.

Thanks for the answer, I haven't thought of using a framework. Looks interesting. Any downsides to using a framework?

Frameworks will give you a lot of learning to do up front, but it will pay off in the log run. PHP will be easier to get started with, but you will probably create a bit of a mess if its your first application. Maybe a microframework (like Flask) will make you do to enough things correctly, without being to much of a learning overhead.

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

#26
I would recommend not using PHP. http://eev.ee/blog/2012/04/09/php-a-fractal-of-bad-design/

Here are some suggestions for web-app languages:

Python + flask.

Ruby + rails.

Go standard HTTP library.

Haskell + snap.

I've used all of those and thought they were at least decent. The last two are my favorite for web development.

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

#27
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-...

I agree Miguel's tutorial is fantastic for a step-by-step walkthrough. He also has a video to cover much of the material: http://pyvideo.org/video/2608/flask-by-example

If you're going down the Python route I'll throw in Full Stack Python http://www.fullstackpython.com/ I wrote FSP to provide beginners with context as to what these terms like web server, WSGI server and platform-as-a-service mean without assuming you have prior programming experience.

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

#28
I agree with grandalf: the search component will be the most challenging part of this. (The data entry may be challenging too, depending on what format your magazines are currently in.)

I would start by building a tool that can do this easily at the command line or with hard-coded inputs (whether you write it in Python, Ruby, PHP, Go, etc). Once the hard part (the search) is working to your liking, you can then go building out a web interface to it.

With this approach, you will work on the most interesting part of the problem first, which should be intrinsically motivating. And, when it works to your liking, you will be motivated to develop a functional interface, which will sustain your drive to finish the project.

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