Entry

What are the steps in building a DB-driven web app? Pls info on planning, implementing, testing.

Mar 22nd, 2004 23:07
Jason Benson, Rachit Bagda, Andre A, http://www.4guysfromrolla.com http://msdn.microsoft.com/vinterdev/default.asp http://www.macromedia.com/software/ultradev/

Before you plan on building a web app you should decide on the server 
platform you are going to run, each of the choices are important to the 
language you decide to program in.
You should also decide on the database type you are going to use.  This 
is extremely important, as not all databases are created equal.
Some Common Configurations:
Windows/Linux Apache & MySql -- PHP
*nix Apache & ChiliSoft - ASP
Windows/ColdFusion & Sql -- ColdFusion
WinNT/2K & Access -- ASP
WinNT/2K & Sql -- ASP
(JSP is very popular however I have never used it and am not familiar 
with the server it requires, however I'm certain that it's either 
Apache or NT/2K running MySql)
After you decide on the language you want to use you should determine 
how you are going to develop in that language.  Cold-Fusion is Tag-
Based much like HTML. PHP, ASP, & JSP are language based like 
Javascript.  Each language has its benefits and it's drawbacks.  In the 
end it comes to a personal preference about which language you feel 
comfortable with.
If you don't want to make everything in Notepad (bad idea anyway) you 
should choose a development program.  For ASP, JSP & ColdFusion there's 
Macromedia Dreamweaver Ultradev (see link above.)  It's incredibly 
handy.  For PHP there's PHAKT by InterAKT (An add in the Ultradev 
GUI).   Microsoft has a handy program (Interdev) for ASP. It's fairly 
pricy but it nice for developing new .NET applications.
Setting up the Database is the next part.  This is crucial. You should 
choose a database and get familiar with it's built in components.  Many 
things that you want your application to to can be built in to your 
database and save lots of time writting queries and special code.  I 
like SQL or Access, however there are other choices.  Visit 
www.4guysfromrolla.com to learn about those above and others. 
After you've become familiar with the database you choose, then on to 
development.
Most of the GUI programs (specifically Ultradev & InterDev) have handy 
testing features, and there are more available out there.  You should 
develop on an application server (WinNT/2K, Win9X & PWS, Linux & 
Apache)  That way, as you are designing your app, you can test it.
hope that gets you started
jb
Edit: Please note: Some members seem to be abusing the FAQTs resource 
as an advertising tool.  Be suspicous of URLs that you may encounter 
within.