Create a web site for free

[MickyBobs]

Hiya guys, im thinking as an aid, i want to create my own web page/site, does anybody know of a genuine place, where ill be able to.

[hbroomhall]

What's wrong with on your PC? Or do you want the world to see it?

If you want the world to see it, ask your ISP if they include web-space with your subscription - many do, although the facilities offered may be limited.

Harry.

[grim]

you wanting to code from scratch or use front page, deamweaver etc ?

run it locally on your machine until its ready

Grim

[MickyBobs]

Yes, i checked my available web space, thats in with my sub, and.....Well to tell the truth, its not worth a bean.

So basically what it is, im analyzing(hope thats the word) two things:

(1) Create from scratch, but im very scratchy meself, regarding the mark up codes, i mean im currently near the end of section 1 part B in the CIW Web design manager course, so still got a real lot to learn.

(2) Use some design tool, like dreamweaver, to get me on route.This is ok, but ive never used it before, and are you charged a lot for using it, or maybe you are for publishing it.

Truth is, im open to suggestion!

[hbroomhall]

Originally Posted by MickyBobs

Yes, i checked my available web space, thats in with my sub, and.....Well to tell the truth, its not worth a bean.

But it is there, and will get you started. Also experiment using your own machine to start with until the site looks reasonable.

Originally Posted by MickyBobs

So basically what it is, im analyzing(hope thats the word) two things:

(1) Create from scratch, but im very scratchy meself, regarding the mark up codes, i mean im currently near the end of section 1 part B in the CIW Web design manager course, so still got a real lot to learn.

This way you will learn what makes the web tick properly!

Originally Posted by MickyBobs

(2) Use some design tool, like dreamweaver, to get me on route.This is ok, but ive never used it before, and are you charged a lot for using it, or maybe you are for publishing it.

Dreamweaver isn't cheap - and has quite a learning curve in itself. Dreamweaver is charged for the purchase - you don't need to pay after that just to use it!
There are many here who use it, but I'm not one of them, so I'll leave comments on it to others.

There are free and very cheap HTML editors which might be an intermediate step.

Harry.

[Notes_Bloke]

A good and free alternative to DW is NVU.

HTH

NB

[Davidus]

If I may ask a further question to MickeyBobs.

I too am looking for a cheap option/alternative (who isn't - lol) to Dreamweaver.

I am beginning down the web design, and am wishing to get a program where I can mainly enter code from scratch. To have wysiwyg would be fine, but not my first option. Notes_Bloke has kindly suggested NVU and unless others can recommed anything better, I will go with this.

Just thought I would ask (and apologies if I've 'hijacked' this thread).

Davidus

[hbroomhall]

Don't forget that any text editor can be used to create the HTML for a web page. It may be hard work, but it at least will force you to learn HTML!

Harry.

[Davidus]

Originally Posted by hbroomhall

Don't forget that any text editor can be used to create the HTML for a web page. It may be hard work, but it at least will force you to learn HTML!

Harry.

Good Point.

I'd completely forgotten that. Mind you, twas a while back that I last dabbled with web design stuff.

Thanks for the info.

Davidus

[thecatsmother]

Hiya Mickybobs. If I remember correctly, you're doing the Website Design Manager course with Scheidegger/Skillstrain. Correct me if I'm wrong. If you ARE, you'll be getting a copy of the latest version of Dreamweaver bundled in with your course materials in the last part of Section 4 of the course, so don't go spending any money on software in the meantime. You've effectively paid for it already.

You're a bit vague on why you actually want this website just now, and what you're intending to do with it?

As others have said, you can start practising with writing html and using your own machine, or very basic webspace provided by your ISP, to view your efforts. You will learn the basics of how x/html is structured quite early on in the CIW course, and as I know you like to supplement your course learning with your own reading, you can use this foundation to follow some of the many html tutorials on the internet, or check a book or two out from your local library. All you need is a basic text editor like Notepad (which is already on your Windows PC) or Notepad++ which is free to download and use. This way, you will learn HTML and get a head start on understanding what tools like Dreamweaver are doing when you come to use them. These tools undoubtedly speed up the process, but it's good to understand what's going on under the bonnet (hood for you American types reading!) if you want to work in the industry.

Most of the "free" website providers make their money out of placing annoying adverts on your site. Much better to learn your craft by making use of the space your ISP has provided, or just using your local machine for development. (You can even run a server on your local machine if you want to test scripts when you get to the Perl section of the course). By the time you know your craft well enough to really need a website for selling your services, you will have a much better idea of what technologies you're going to use/need for the site, and therefore which provider meets your needs. It won't be a free one, though.

[JonnyMX]

Originally Posted by thecatsmother

If I remember correctly, you're doing the Website Design Manager course with Scheidegger/Skillstrain. Correct me if I'm wrong. If you ARE, you'll be getting a copy of the latest version of Dreamweaver bundled in with your course materials in the last part of Section 4 of the course, so don't go spending any money on software in the meantime. You've effectively paid for it already.

Seriously?

Or is this one of those things that is in the brochure but never materializes in real life?

[tripwire45]

I created two websites using text editors and no GUI web design application. As has been said, Dreamweaver isn't cheap and it isn't always the best tool, depending on what you want to do. Frankly, I taught myself HTML and CSS using a few books and some online tutorials such as 3schools. Books you can get at a library without paying a cent. All that adds up to is zero in terms of your out-of-pocket cost. Worry about a web host when you've got it up and running.

[dmarsh]

I have to agree with the rest, I've worked with many professional web devs and very few of them used Dreamweaver. A standard editor with syntax highlighting for javascript, CSS and HTML should suffice.

This combined with firefox and firebug will cover 90% of a (front end) web developers work.

Designers tend to also use more arty packages like photoshop.

Theres absolutely no reason why you should have any difficulty creating a reasonable website for free using free tools. You can possibly even use free hosting if its a static site with low traffic.

[tripwire45]

Originally Posted by dmarsh26

Designers tend to also use more arty packages like photoshop..

Or GIMP!

Sorry...just had to slip that in there...

[MickyBobs]

Yes, thankyou to all, i appreciate any help, and indirectly can help others.

I sometimes surpass meself and RUN when walking at a steady pace is , get over anxious!

Yes your correct "thecatsmother", and ive been informed off a SkillsTrain/scheidegger that even though photoshop isnt explored in my course materials, something call Adobe Fireworks, is.

Maybe i should just bow down and keep me head stuck in to my course material, and go with that, eh.

In the back of my mind i knew about the editing, html etc, im just becoming an outsider with 1 foot in the door of this exciting industry, always had the passion, now need the skills.

Thanks all, but dont know what JonnyMX was delving into, sorry mate!

Ps: Dont know what gimp is, ill take a look at it, sometime.