Building a Website

[NoelEdwards]

I'm looking to build a website for myself and I was wondering if anyone can recomend a package for me to use. I've not built any website's for about five years so I'm out of touch with which software to use. I can run the software on PC or Mac.

Thanks advance.

[charlesr]

What will you use the website for?
Do you have any skills with css / html?

If you have skills, then a self installed server side piece of software like wordpress for a blog, cmsmadesimple for an easy to use cms with some decent plugins or joomla for complex but very scaleable long term solution.

If no skills, then you can use wordpress to provide an online solution or most webhosts have basic "website builders" that you use online.

Or if you want something that doesn't need a database then a client side thing like Dreamweaver? (does that still exist?)

[GluedOnBeard]

If you know HTML & CSS and have a Mac then:

- Textmate
- Transmit

They work together perfectly and never fail me, no matter the language.

If you are non too familiar you my not like that environment so maybe use a wysiwyg editor like Dreamweaver, it isn't the best but does the job. Aptana and Netbeans are good alternatives too.

[smouty]

I would go for one of the packages too as Charles mentioned.
Wordpress can be used as a very nice CMS system too if needed and is very customisable so not just a blogging tool anymore.
Why re-invent the wheel?

[abigsmurf]

Drupal and Wordpress both are very usable with no CSS or HTML knowledge needed (although having some knowledge of them is a definate plus). Wordpress is suited for blog type sites whereas Drupal can create any kind of site (but it more complex)

[Brad]

Quick plug, I built dogg thang's site based on Wordpress and would recommend that for a lot of people, depending on what you actually want on there of course:

http://jasontammemagi.com

Good luck mate and feel free to quiz me on the details of you like.

[NoelEdwards]

Thanks for the advice and information regarding package's to use. I'm not really sure what I want from my site yet, I just wanted to get a package and start building and take from there really. I'll take a look at some of the package's that have been mentioned.

I'll keep you posted on my progress.

[smouty]

I'm not really sure what I want from my site yet

Don't make this mistake. Have a clear vision of what you want at least to start with as it could be difficult to change later.

[FelixofMars]

I pretty much can do a page from scratch in Notepad ++ and something like Photoshop. I find have the WYSIWYG editors over complicate the code.