web site (hosting and forum) help

[fissionmailed]

Ok, I want to start my own website and I have a couple of people who are willing to help me. The thing is that I have to do all the code writing, setting up everything etc. The thing it that, I'm very new to this, but the fastest way to learn is to throw yourself in so... I need some advice to get started.

#1. What's a good hosting company. Godaddy has good deals it seems link
#2. Getting it hosted on linux I would assume would be better because it doesn't have to restart every day , but really. is there a real difference?
#3. I hear w3schools is a good place to get info on xhtml and php, but are there any other good starter guides and/or tutorials?
#4. Any one know some good forum software that's free? I know one of the free ones isn't that secure but I've heard one of them is actually good but I forget the names. >_<
#5. General advice is more than welcome.

Thanks in advance guy and gals.

[Lord DarkPat]

Servage.net or geocities. they both have some in built things to set up a web site for the first time

[hhhhhx]

1. What's a good hosting company. Godaddy has good deals it seems link
#2. Getting it hosted on linux I would assume would be better because it doesn't have to restart every day , but really. is there a real difference?
#3. I hear w3schools is a good place to get info on xhtml and php, but are there any other good starter guides and/or tutorials?
#4. Any one know some good forum software that's free? I know one of the free ones isn't that secure but I've heard one of them is actually good but I forget the names. >_<
#5. General advice is more than welcome.

1 - 1&1 internet, very good hosting, or check out trap17 for free hosting with no ads
2 - yes it's better to go with linux
3 - w3schools is great, but there are tons of guides, use google
4 - joomla

[fissionmailed]

Servage.net or geocities. they both have some in built things to set up a web site for the first time

Let me say this, I have designed my own website before, but it was basic and was with dreamweaver. I want to move away from that and do it by hand, which I have been practicing. I also want it to look some what professional, so geocities is out right there. I'm looking into servage.net right now though. Thanks for the info.

[fissionmailed]

1 - 1&1 internet, very good hosting, or check out trap17 for free hosting with no ads
2 - yes it's better to go with linux
3 - w3schools is great, but there are tons of guides, use google
4 - joomla

Beaucoup de merci!

I'll look into those now.

[billgoldberg]

For forum software take a look at phpbb.

It's really the best forum software out right now.

To maintain a site, be sure to use a cms.

While not a pure cms, I use wordpress for maintaining my site.

You can easily create a blog with it or a normal site.

It's highly themeable (hundreds of themes on the net, or you can make your own). It's open source and nothing beats it in the "ease of use" category. You can also modify the css files of themes. And it use plugins! whats easier than plugins? and there are hundreds of them.

wordpress website: http://www.wordpress.org

forum software: http://www.phpbb.com/

To give you a idea what worpress websites can look like:

a normal website (ford) : http://autoshows.ford.com/
a blog/website: http://linuxowns.wordpress.com

To give you a idea what a phpbb forum looks like:

black themes forum: http://www.4815162342.com/forum/

lighter theme: http://area51.phpbb.com/phpBB/index.php

[fissionmailed]

For forum software take a look at phpbb.

It's really the best forum software out right now.

To maintain a site, be sure to use a cms.

While not a pure cms, I use wordpress for maintaining my site.

You can easily create a blog with it or a normal site.

It's highly themeable (hundreds of themes on the net, or you can make your own). It's open source and nothing beats it in the "ease of use" category. You can also modify the css files of themes. And it use plugins! whats easier than plugins? and there are hundreds of them.

wordpress website: http://www.wordpress.org

forum software: http://www.phpbb.com/

To give you a idea what worpress websites can look like:

a normal website (ford) : http://autoshows.ford.com/
a blog/website: http://linuxowns.wordpress.com

To give you a idea what a phpbb forum looks like:

black themes forum: http://www.4815162342.com/forum/

lighter theme: http://area51.phpbb.com/phpBB/index.php

The Wordpess looks very interesting to say the least. Thanks a ton for the links.

[argraff]

+10 for 1and1.com - I've been using it for years.

+1 for CMS - I recommend CMSMadeSimple

Learn CSS too - it is easy to learn, powerful and will save you lots of time. Read books by Eric Meyer. Join the forum in my sig - we'll help! We need more designers/coders of all levels to join the discussion. (That includes all of the rest of you, too!)

[klange]

I have to say that learning PHP would be a really good idea if you already have experience in web design. My first major project while learning PHP was my forum. (Which is available for download and released under GPL if it interests you)
Can't help much with finding a webhost (I host my own websites for the most part), but everyone else seems to have that down...