How do I get Started with Dynamic Web Pages?

Report · Feb 03, 2010

I am presently following Janine Warner's Dreamweaver CS3 video series. I noted that the Advanced part of this tutorial series focuses on Dynamic Web Pages, but only uses Cold Fusion. From what I can gather, CF costs around $1000, while PHP is free! My question is really this: in going from static to dynamic web design I'M A COMPLETE NEWBIE, so what do I need? I am doing some planning here -- I know it won't happen overnight.

(BTW: I was surprised to discover that CF is NOT included in my CS3 Master Collection). It might appear then that support for PHP is better than for CF?

Apparently, I need a server -- well, OK I have PCs to spare. Fast internet, I also have: Comcast standard -- 12MP

Now, I think I also need Apache -- which apparently runs on the server and does something.

So then I DL PHP, figure out how it works, and it will integrate with DW CS3 in some way.

Now, what have I missed? Is there some really basic, first-time-with-using-a-server place or tut I should go to or read? Before you ask: No, I'm doing all this myself on a shoestring budget.

Are there expensive hosting fees for dynamic web sites or other items I will run into? Can I just use a PC over my Comcast cable as the server run from my home? (Really high traffic is not anticipated)

All recommendations appreciated, thanks.

Thom

Report · Feb 03, 2010

Many of these questions have already been answered in your thread in the Dreamweaver General Discussion forum, so I'll just stick to a few basics.

You need a server whichever server-side technology you choose, but "server" is not a physical machine, but a piece of software that you install on your development computer. You'll find details of how to install a PHP environment in the following article: http://www.adobe.com/devnet/dreamweaver/articles/setting_up_php.html.

Similar instructions are available for setting up a ColdFusion server at http://www.adobe.com/devnet/dreamweaver/articles/setting_up_coldfusion.html. The article is for ColdFusion 8, but ColdFusion 9 is installed in exactly the same way.

Hosting for PHP/MySQL is plentiful and relatively cheap. However, make sure the hosting company offers a minimum of PHP 5.2 and MySQL 5.1. Hosting for CF is harder to find and tends to be a bit more expensive, but not prohibitively so.

Report · Feb 03, 2010

Can I recommend David's book on cs3 building dynamic pages, great read, I learned a lot from it.

http://foundationphp.com/egdwcs3/index.php