Starting a database driven site

[Valkyre]

Hi there! [img]images/smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

I'm a semi-newbie when it comes to PHP, so I have a few questions about starting a database driven site. [img]images/smilies/smile.gif[/img]

First off, what would I build or setup first? A template system? The user registration process? The news publishing script? Basically, where or what should I start with? Secondly, where are some excellent tutorials for these sorts of things? As for a template system, I had my eye on Smarty, but I haven't heard many opinions on it, and I have found almost no tutorials on it.

Any help would be greatly appreciated! [img]images/smilies/tongue.gif[/img]

[Optimum]

I think if you outline what it is you want to achieve with your site (the purpose) it will make it better when addressing this question.

[Valkyre]

I have, but I was just looking for a general guide to follow when making a database driven site, a certain "standard" way to set it up.

[Jeff Lange]

You start where you start, the best thing to start with would probably a templating engine, if you are going to use one. If not, design how HTML will be output.

From there, I'd go onto the users/usergroups/permissions systems, and from there to articles, and the administration backend of things. The design is worked on throughout this process, and you work on adding features/options as you go.

Make sure you can edit everything you want in the end through the admin panel, as that will make it easiest. (Don't force yourself to go into phpMyAdmin to make changes to a user or something.)


That's my advice, take it or leave it

[Valkyre]

Thanks for the advice.

Any tutorials floating around that go into detail about how to create a administration backend for your site?

[Mark Harbottle]

Ummm... you could start here perhaps : http://www.sitepoint.com/article/228

[Valkyre]

Read it, love it, still reading over it as reference, looking for more tutorials.

But thanks.