Mark Kostner

How Much Code Do I Need To Know To Create Websites?

All websites are different and require different amounts of coding knowledge, how much do you know? Do you know enough to begin from scratch or is it worth considering using a CMS like Wordpress or Joomla?

Considering making a website but your coding skills aren’t top notch? The tutorials on Dreamweaver Made Simple are great for learning how to code but there are other ways to build a site. Two other ways you could consider are using Joomla and Wordpress. You simply install them onto your web server and they provide an admin section to your site for putting more content on there. Learning how to code is a difficult process especially if it’s your first language. Fully understanding concepts such as syntax isn’t simple. If you find yourself in this situation then check out Joomla and Wordpress first.

So as discussed Joomla and Wordpress are content management systems (CMS). Wordpress has it’s advantages and it is mainly used for blogging purposes. There is a load of free customizable themes you can apply to your site very swiftly. Also with a click of a button you can add widgets to your webpage to display your twitter feed or a list of tags you’ve used in your posts. If you’re looking to do a bit more than blog then Joomla is also a worthwhile choice. It’s been created to handle more than just blog posts and you can make more advanced additions than just widgets such as adding ecommerce systems and communication tools.

So these content management systems have a lot of pros, why use Dreamweaver? What are the drawbacks of using these online tools? The most important one is that they don’t leave a whole lot of room for creativity and originality. Content management systems don’t provide a blank canvas for you to code on. For a simple project, all the additional services Wordpress and Joomla provide might not be needed. Some templates are easily recognized and if the website is for a company then brand recognition needs to be considered. It could possibly compromise the credibility of your company. Personal use however, this is not so much of an issue.

So in terms of coding knowledge and experience with Dreamweaver which option is best for you? The most vital thing to judge is what exactly are you trying to build. For blogging, Wordpress is the number one selection. Joomla is great for company websites but you need to consider the site’s complexity. If it’s simply displaying content (text, images, etc.) then Dreamweaver might be the way forward. With a little bit of knowledge of coding you can put together something unique quite speedily. However if you know in advance that your site might need something as complex as an ecommerce system then you should know that this takes some seriously good knowledge of different types of coding. Setting something along those lines up is highly advanced and has to be carried out carefully as improper code can violate laws or put your site at risk from hacking. Tried and tested code provided by Joomla could be a much more reliable option.

Knowing your limits is essential when considering how to go about your project. Think back to the things you’ve created previously and compare them to the task you are about to undertake to establish the best way to go. There are great advantages to coding from scratch but it can be time consuming and tricky. Research into all your options will help no end in building the perfect site for you.

Article Tags: Content Management Systems, Content Management, Management Systems

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR