Where does it end? Advice please.

[milefile]

I want to be a web developer. Web design is fine but I am bored with it. The next step is intereactive, active websites.

So I start looking into what I need to do to start this.

php: so I need to test scripts and I really want to set up my own computer as a webserver, and not using a loopback address.

Learning programming: I see all over how learning C is a good place to start and will only help me out. When I look at job openings I see the same things over and over C, C++, php, mySQL, etc. But then I find out windows won't run C programs so I look into a free C compiler. It seems simpler and better in the long run to just use an os that will do what I want.

OS: everything indicates that Linux is the best bet for this so my php research turns into webserver/os research.

Partitioning: it only gets more complicated from here. I am confronted with sketchy instructions that assume I know things I don't.

And on and on...

Eventually I'll end up researching electrical engineering at this rate.

All I want to do is run Linux on my machine without getting rid of 98se (I'd just get a new machine but I can't right now), use it as a webserver and an os that will allow me to test scripts and programs without having to upload or buy compilers.

Am I on the right track?

I also would like to do this all myself (and for free). Having to break down and buy software to do it for me seems like giving up, and a lost opportunity to learn.

I just need a little guidance I guess. Please help.

 

[GilesGuthrie]

You don't necessarily need your own web server to test your PHP scripts - you can bounce them off your web host's server., by uploading the PHP page and then pointing your browser at it. That's what I do, but the only disadvantage of that is that you need to be online when you're doing it, which could be an issue for dial-up use.

Setting up Linux is not for the faint of heart, and I certainly wouldn't recommend doing it on a whim. I would think you're better off using your web host's guidance to start with PHP/MySQL, and go from there.

Sorry I haven't written you a guide to getting started with PHP, every time I think about it, all the things I think are important fill my head and swamp me! That and I'm really busy at work at the moment.

 

[LoudMusic]

Nusphere is a nice package of Apache with mods including PHP and the MySQL server. They have a Linux and a Windows version. I suggest installing the Windows version and playing with that before moving to a new operating system.

Additionally there is a really great website called W3Schools which is quite informative.

 

[Pako]

On the topic of partitioning and installing a second OS, if your into a more automated approach, checkout SystemCommander or PartionMagic. I've used SystemCommander in the past when I was running 4 OS's back in the day. The interface is easy, and you just select which OS your going to install, and how much disk space you want to allocate to it. It does the rest for you in getting the hard drive ready for the OS install.

My suggestion is to take this project of yours in stride. Take it one step at a time. As you progress forward, you will learn valuable lessons that will aid you in the understanding of the next step that you have to take. In looking at the big picture, it can be quite overwelming and discouraging.

 

[milefile]

Thanks for the responses. I have an uncle-in-law who hosts a php site for his daughter's volley-ball team. He's been doing it for a couple years now and is giving me some advice, too. But he also offered to build me a stripped down machine to use as a webserver for free; he has a garage filled with computer parts he can't sell on eBay. It seems like a good idea to go that route in the long run because the networking experience would definitely be a plus. I've installed NT once, so I know what a hassle os's can be, especially on a network.

I've looked into partitioning software and did some reading on CNet. The only reason I wouldn't do it that way is cost. Reading reviews of various brands sorta scared me because for many of them the results are pretty much 50/50. The people who seemed to have problems seemed to be running XP and using NTFS so it shouldn't effect me.

So I think I'll save Linux for a seperate machine and upload my scripts to PEHosting, where my site is now (thanks to Epic for the recomendation).

I'd love to see that php stuff Giles. Take your time. It'll be usefull for a long time to come.

On a side note, I decided to defragment my drive (40gig, three years old, never done). The last time I did it I thought it wasn't working because the progress bar said 10% for several hours so I just cancelled it. Well now I know that it just takes a very long time. I started it monday night at around 7:30. Wednsday morning (today), it was 62% complete. Looks like a 48 hour defrag. Is that normal?