CMS Versus FP

It seems I'm investing more and more time on learning Mambo Content
Management System. Before I waste too much time I'd like to ask is it worth
devoting the time into learning? I'd eventually like to commercially do web
design. Am I barking up the wrong tree? I've used Front Page but can't seem
to get as good results as with Mambo. But I've seen a few good FP sites so
I'm wondering if I'd be better off becoming proficient in FP. What's the
logical progression?

--
Warmest regards,

Stephen Horrillo, Realtor / C.Ht.
For MLS & Computer Training: http://www.BrokerAgentTraining.com
Realtors Earn Over 100% at EXIT: http://www.over100percent.com

Stephen Horrillo wrote:

> I'd eventually like to commercially do web
> design. Am I barking up the wrong tree? I've used Front Page but can't seem
> to get as good results as with Mambo. But I've seen a few good FP sites so
> I'm wondering if I'd be better off becoming proficient in FP.

There may be a few here who disagree with me, but I would say that using
FP to build a site on a paying job is inexcusable.

(OK, I just noticed the cross post. Since I don't know which NG you
follow, I'll leave the cross post in. I stand by what I wrote. I'm ready
for the flames.)

> What's the logical progression?

Learn about interface design. Learn how people use the web. Learn what
makes one site useable and another site unusable.

Learn HTML.

Learn CSS.

Learn at least 1 scripting language that can be used to do server side
scripting.

Learn SQL.

Unless you work with an artist, you should learn how to use a paint
package somewhere in there.

Let's not start this FP bashing crap again


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Scott Bryce" <sbryce@scottbryce.com> wrote in message
news:N6KdnYhgDYDNZaHfRVn-jA@comcast.com...
> Stephen Horrillo wrote:
>

> There may be a few here who disagree with me, but I would say that using
> FP to build a site on a paying job is inexcusable.

Scott Bryce wrote:
> Stephen Horrillo wrote:
>
>> I'd eventually like to commercially do web
>> design. Am I barking up the wrong tree? I've used Front Page but can't
>> seem
>> to get as good results as with Mambo. But I've seen a few good FP
>> sites so
>> I'm wondering if I'd be better off becoming proficient in FP.
>
>
> There may be a few here who disagree with me, but I would say that using
> FP to build a site on a paying job is inexcusable.
>
> (OK, I just noticed the cross post. Since I don't know which NG you
> follow, I'll leave the cross post in. I stand by what I wrote. I'm ready
> for the flames.)
>
>> What's the logical progression?
>
>
> Learn about interface design. Learn how people use the web. Learn what
> makes one site useable and another site unusable.
>
> Learn HTML.
>
> Learn CSS.
>
> Learn at least 1 scripting language that can be used to do server side
> scripting.
>
> Learn SQL.
>
> Unless you work with an artist, you should learn how to use a paint
> package somewhere in there.
>
>
>

A couple of observations-

If you become very proficient, there may be money to be made being an
expert in using Mambo.

If you want to make the most out of a Mambo site, you will want to
customise the look and feel of the resulting site, which will require
you to learn something about CSS & HTML, if only to customise an
existing template. And you'll probably want to at least create some
original graphics.

If you eventually want to customise or create from scratch some Mambo
components, modules or mambots (various levels of plug ins, for the
uninitiated), you will need to understand most of the above plus PHP and
MySQL, and a bit of XML.

So I at least don't think you'd be wasting your time.

Unless you just want to build a site using a wizard, when you'd be
better off with Microsoft.

On 19-Mar-2005, Scott Bryce <sbryce@scottbryce.com> wrote:

> There may be a few here who disagree with me, but I would say that using
> FP to build a site on a paying job is inexcusable.
>
> (OK, I just noticed the cross post. Since I don't know which NG you
> follow, I'll leave the cross post in. I stand by what I wrote. I'm ready
> for the flames.)

I read both groups but I'm beginning to realize that they are rival groups
somehow. Like mixing vinegar and baking soda. My last post a couple of
weeks ago started out productive enough but soon degraded to a flame war. I
soul have learned my less not to mix sand boxes. I guess in the web design
world it's some sort of sin to use Front Page.

--
Warmest regards,

Stephen Horrillo, Realtor / C.Ht.
For MLS & Computer Training: http://www.BrokerAgentTraining.com
Realtors Earn Over 100% at EXIT: http://www.over100percent.com

On 20-Mar-2005, David Preston <dave@dbpreston.wanadoo.co.uk> wrote:

> If you want to make the most out of a Mambo site, you will want to
> customise the look and feel of the resulting site, which will require
> you to learn something about CSS & HTML, if only to customise an
> existing template. And you'll probably want to at least create some
> original graphics.
>
> If you eventually want to customise or create from scratch some Mambo
> components, modules or mambots (various levels of plug ins, for the
> uninitiated), you will need to understand most of the above plus PHP and
> MySQL, and a bit of XML.
>
> So I at least don't think you'd be wasting your time.
>
> Unless you just want to build a site using a wizard, when you'd be
> better off with Microsoft.

Being that I have constant contact with Realtors, they will probably be a
large percentage of my customers. I train them so there's a high level of
trust. I see this as a great opportunity to possibly introduce them to other
helpful products but I don't want to betray that trust either so I've been
looking for other products I believe in. I'm just having a heck of a time
finding anyone or anything I would recommend. After a bad experience with an
SEO person, as the saying goes, "if you want it done right you got to do it
yourself." This is what led me to start taking web design more seriously.

The thing is, in the world of Realtors, 90% are barely making it and 10% (if
even that) are making big bucks, so there's a need for low cost sites for
the majority. For them a template (wizard created) site might be more
affordable. But I'd like do the high end sites too. Right now I've seen some
are paying 10k for a template site. IMO something's wrong with that picture.

--
Warmest regards,

Stephen Horrillo, Realtor / C.Ht.
For MLS & Computer Training: http://www.BrokerAgentTraining.com
Realtors Earn Over 100% at EXIT: http://www.over100percent.com

Scott Bryce sbryce@scottbryce.com wrote:
> Stephen Horrillo wrote:
>
> > I'd eventually like to commercially do web
> > design. Am I barking up the wrong tree? I've used Front Page but can't seem
> > to get as good results as with Mambo. But I've seen a few good FP sites so
> > I'm wondering if I'd be better off becoming proficient in FP.
>
> There may be a few here who disagree with me, but I would say that using
> FP to build a site on a paying job is inexcusable.
>
> (OK, I just noticed the cross post. Since I don't know which NG you
> follow, I'll leave the cross post in. I stand by what I wrote. I'm ready
> for the flames.)
>
> > What's the logical progression?
>
> Learn about interface design. Learn how people use the web. Learn what
> makes one site useable and another site unusable.

Lean the rudiments of marketing.

>
> Learn HTML.
>
> Learn CSS.

Learn a little about what's going on technically on a web server. You
don't need to know enough to run one, you do need to know enough to
communicate effectively with those who do.

Learn a little about how search engines operate.

>
> Learn at least 1 scripting language that can be used to do server side
> scripting.
>
> Learn SQL.
>
> Unless you work with an artist, you should learn how to use a paint
> package somewhere in there.
>

Even if you do end up working with a graphic designer you'll also need to
know at least a little about how graphic design works.

--
eric
www.ericjarvis.co.uk
"live fast, die only if strictly necessary"