15 replies to this topic

[adm]

Hi,

Im new to making websites and I was just wondering what language is better for my site, javascript or PHP(I am willing to learn either)? On my site I would like to have forums and a way of integrating those forums in with the rest of the site. Also, I would like to know, is it even possible to code forums with javascript?

Thx for any and all help, and sorry if this is a nub question.

adM

[SKETCHi]

Most forums are done in PHP and MySQL, you're best bet is to learn PHP and MySQL (SQL takes like two minutes...). phpBB, SMF and IPB all use PHP.

[adm]

Is MySQL really that easy to pickup?

[NGPixel]

you should compare similar languages. You can't compare PHP with JS. PHP is server-side so all scripts are executed on the server then sent to the client. javascript is executed on the client machine only.

MySQL is a database system, not a coding language. Usually used with PHP. If you want to integrate your website with a forums (like IPB, phpBB, etc), you don't need much coding knowledge. Some HTML and thats all.

People usually learn HTML first, then javascript (an easy start in coding) and finally PHP/MySQL.

Also, coding a forum in javascript is not really possible lol.

Edited by NGPixel, 24 December 2005 - 10:07 PM.

[Nike]

Aww you got here first. I wanted to awnser this one. Yes he is 100% correct. But I wouldn't call MySQL a language really. It is more of a.. tool. I dunno it is considered a language though. And I learned PHP before I learned Javascript. I still feel that Javascript it more difficult than PHP. But that's just me.

[NGPixel]

MySQL is a language as you use commands (SELECT, UPDATE, INSERT, etc). You can also make some operations and conditional events in MySQL so yes, it is a language.

Edited by NGPixel, 24 December 2005 - 10:41 PM.

[adm]

Thx for the help guys, so i guess im gonna be learning php and mysql. But i have one more question, what language was http://fpsbanana.com coded in? Their forums dont look like php.

[Nike]

HTML, Javascript, CSS, PHP (Which is embedded.) and MySQL. I agreed with you NGPixel. It just feels so small to be a language.

[rc69]

mySQL is not a language, it is a database management system that is based off of SQL (which is a language).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MySQL

Also, i would like to adjust what NG said a little bit. No, you can't compare JS with PHP, it's just not logical (for the reasons he stated). But i personally started learning html, then went to php, and i've only touch on JS until more recently.
I'd suggest starting with PHP for your site, simply because you won't have to worry about cross browser compatability, all you need to worry about is the server that hosts your site (which is rarely ever a problem).

Edited by rc69, 27 March 2006 - 01:40 AM.

[adm]

Thx again for the help. ummmmm, Howed you learn php? did you buy a book or what?

[rc69]

Nope. No books, no teachers, nothing but the tutorials here on p2l and php.net

[adm]

So its easy then? I tend to suck at everything to do so this is important for me to know

[rc69]

For me it was relatively easy, but i'm a quick learner, and i happened to be inclined to learning this kind of stuff.
The way i figure it, if you've taken (or are taking) Algebra 2, and passing with ease, you'll pick up PHP easily. If you suck at math, PHP and any other programming language (like JavaScript), won't be easy. Period.

[coolaid]

maybe thats why i cant pick up on languages easy.. im stuck on geometry..

[adm]

im sliding through algebra 2 like butter so i guess php is good for me.