August 2008 Archives

29/08/08 - Step 2) Creating The Database

We need 2 databases: the recipes and the advertisers. We could make everything flat file (i.e. without a database) and whilst that would be 'easier' now, it would be more problematic when the site grows.

Here's how I would set up the databases: More

28/08/08 - Step 1) Purpose & Structure

The sample site is one I suggested a while ago - a recipe site. There's a lot of buzz at the moment about healthy eating, dieting, budgeting and a food shortage so this seems quite apt.

So let's take a look through what the site should do and how it should be laid out. More

27/08/08 - Learn PHP and MySQL

(This is a prerequisite article in preparation for the "quirky affiliate site" series.)

We all have to start somewhere and for me it was coding HTML using Microsoft FrontPage. Those days are long gone now as I tend to use HTML Kit to code PHP files. Back then, I never thought I would switch from WYSIWYG editors to text editors but alas, progression dictated that!

I used one book to learn PHP - PHP and MYSQL for Dummies. I like the Dummies range of books as they are simple to use as a reference encyclopaedia as well as a book. The book has mixed reviews on Amazon so I imagine it's like Marmite - you love it or you hate it. I love it - it suited my needs when I was learning. More

26/08/08 - Create An Affiliate Site With A Twist From Scratch

Over the course of the next few weeks, I'm going to take Tania up on the idea of creating an in-depth set of articles detailing exactly how to go about creating an affiliate site with quirky features and functionality.

The aim of the articles is to show how easy it is to get a site up and running using MySQL, PHP and some (open source) ready made plugins.

Here's the order of the articles to follow: More