I have never had any websites before, but I'm thinkin' bout putting one up. But I don't know much about domain-stuff, so I thought this would be a great place for me to ask!!!

What is a database? When you're gonna sign up, they ask you if you want a database for your website...Do I need a database? Would you all recomend me getting a database?

You can choose between these three databases:

MySQL
PostgreSQL
None of them

What is the best database? And what is the difference between MySQL and PostgreSQL???

I really hope that someone have the time to reply to my questions, cause it would mean A LOT to me!!!

I totally love Lissa's website! It's so nice of her to put up a HTML tutorial!!! It's of great help to me. Thanks, gurl! Your help means a lot to me!!!

I'll talk to you all soon.

-Sabrina

odds are if you don't know what they are, you won't need them. :)

I've never even heard of PostgreSQL, and I know MySQL has to do with php and whatnot. You could always try a search on google, but like I said before - you probably won't need it if you don't know what it is!

m'not really sure what they are
but i recently added a forum to m'site
and i use one
so it might be nice to have just inc ase if its not any extra
and mysql probably

A database is basically a small area set aside to store a bunch of information.

Think of an address book for example. It has names, addresses and phone numbers. All of those can be plunked into a "database" and then it can be searched, organized, sorted, displayed, whatever...

Databases may be used for a variety of different reasons including guestbooks, forums, shopping cart softwares, and so forth...

No matter what namebrand of database you may choose, they all basically do the same function in a slightly different way.

Some starting off advise, go for NONE on the database option for now. You will find out when you may (or may not) require the use of a database sometime in the future. At THAT time, you may upgrade your account to include one. In the mean time, it wouldn't be worth spending extra money on if you don't need it or know how to use it.

Hey pb&j

Thank you *so* much for replying to my post!!! What would I have done without you...Ahhh! I *really* appreciated you letting me know more about what a database is. Could I store say pics, text and stuff like that in the database? It's so nice of you to lemme know more about this!

I'm planning on making my own Guestbook and my own Message Board on my domain! I'm gonna put up the Message Board and the Guestbook as soon as I learn how to, so if I need a database for that; I think it's a really good idea to get that when I sign up for the domain!!! So if you could lemme know what's the difference between MySQL and PostgreSQL, I would really appreciate it!!! And what happens if I choose "None Of Them"...Does that mean that I get another sort of database, or does it mean that I get no database at all?

You're saying that no matter what namebrand of database I choose; They all basically do the same function in a slightly different way. So that means that it doesn't really matter what kinda database I choose? Or is there any particular database you would recomend me getting? Cause if I need a database for a Message Board and a Guestbook (I'm gonna make my own stuff!!!) - I'll definitely get a database!!!

I know for sure I'm gonna make my own Guestbook and my own Message Board. I've been wanting to learn how to do that for a really long time now, so I know I'll need a database. That's why I really need some advice on what database to choose! I really wanna learn how to use it as well. But I'm sure I'll learn more when I get my database!

I really hope to talk to ya soon! Thanks again for replying!!! Your help means a lot to me!!!

Hi lefty2217

Thanks for replying to my post...I'm here because I wanna learn what a database is! LOL I know I won't need one if I don't know what it is, but I'm here because I wanna know what it is!!! I want a Message Board and a Guestbook on my website, so chances are big that I may need one. That's why I'm asking! But thanks for trying to help me. I really appreciated that.

Hello LadyCrow

Thanks for replying! I really hope to find out more 'bout that a database is soon!!!

-Sabrina

Oh Yeah...And one more thing; Do you recomend me managing my database using a web-based control panel?

And do I need a database if I'm gonna make and host my own Guestbook and Message Board?

I hope that someone have the time to reply to my questions :)

-Sabrina

Yes - I use cPanel, which controls all of the features on my account. Real nice.

Yes. Some guestbooks run on CGI which don't neccesarily need a gbook, but lately some hosts have been limited what CGI scripts can be used (uses up a lots of CPU resources). Personally, I'd get a PHP Guestbook & a PHP based Messageboard.

I was just wondering what a programming language is? Cause when you're gonna sign up for a website they ask which programming language you would prefer:

PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor)
Macromedia ColdFusion
Microsoft ASP (Active Server Pages)
Java
None Of Them

What do you all recomend me choosing? And what is the difference between these programming languages?

Is HTML a programming language?

I really hope that someone has the time to reply and lemme know about this :) Thanks in advance!

-Sabrina

Well, they're all programming languages. HTML is one type. You can read more on those other languages by doing a search on google.

If you plan on running a guestbook/messageboard, pick at least PHP.


p.s. you could've just added this question onto your other thread

Hi epolady

Is cPanel a Control Panel or a database? And how does it control all of the features on your account?

You say that some Guestbooks run on CGI...I have no idea what CGI and CPU recources are! All I'm wondering about is what kinda programming language I'm gonna choose:

PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor)
Macromedia ColdFusion
Microsoft ASP (Active Server Pages)
Java
None Of Them

And if I need a database or not for a Guestbook and a Message Board! And if I do need a database; What is the difference between MySQL and PostgreSQL? And do you recomend me getting that or "None Of Them"? And if I do get a database; Do you recomend me managing my database using a web-based control panel?

The reason why I posted this in two different threads is that one thread was about programming languages and the other one was about databases!!! No one has really answered eather of my questions, so I thought it was a good idea to have them separate since I have so many questions about each of the two topics!!! Cause I really hope that someone can answer my questions so that I can get my domain :)

Thanks for letting me know that you would get a PHP Guestbook and a PHP based Message Board! What do you recomend me filling out as programming language? And if I choose say PHP - Could I still use HTML then? Or do you have to use that one programming language you choose and no other programming languages?

I hope that someone has the time to answer my questions!!! Thanks a ton for reading my post! You guys rock!!!

-Sabrina

For programming preference, my personal choice out of those would be PHP. It is very usable in many ways. As a standard, you will also be able to use HTML, Javascript, and CSS. More than likely you will have Perl/CGI as well. All of these are coding languages used to create webpages and have the pages do different things. Everyone has thier own preference on what languages they like to use.

There are many guestbooks and message books available that can handle just using PHP or a combination of PHP with a database. So again, you may not need the use of a database. You can check out the homepages of php and a good script source if you like. Checking over some of the scripts may show you which database (or not) to choose as to see what others have chosen...

http://www.php.net/
http://www.hotscripts.com/

So after looking at the hotscripts site, perhaps choose from there if you really need a database or not. Many scripts probably don't need one.

Perl/CGI is a similar alternative to PHP, but I find it a bit more cumbersome. Many guestbooks or forums in this language may not require a database as well.

MySQL seems to be a more popular one to choose although I don't know the difference between this one and the other. You can check out their homepages for some long reading if you like...

http://www.mysql.com/
http://www.postgresql.org/

Cpanel is short for control panel. These usually do give you much control over the "background" happenings of your site such as file placement, permissions, etc..

If you go for mysql, perhaps inquire if they provide an "easy" interface called phpMyAdmin. That helps in creating and editing that database.

CPU resources is the amount of "thinking" the host computer has to do in order to complete a task.

Hi pb&j

Thank you so much for replying to my posts!!! I really appreciate that, cause you're replying to exactly what I'm askin' 'bout, and that means a whole lot to me :)

Thank you so much for letting me know that your programming preference out of those would be PHP. If I choose PHP and Java - Do you think I could still use HTML for the pages then? Or do you think I would have to use PHP for everything if I sign up for that? Cause you said that as standard; You will also be able to use HTML, Javascript and CSS...So you mean that if I choose PHP and Java I can still use HTML and CSS??? Cause I already know HTML, so it would be really great if I could use HTML for my pages!!!

Do you know where I can learn more about Perl/CGI??? I have never used those coding languages before, so it would be great to learn more!!!

What does these coding languages have the pages do?

I definitely like HTML the most since that's the only coding language I know!!! So I really hope that I can use HTML even though I choose PHP and Java.

You said that there are many Guestbooks and Message Boards available that can handle just using PHP or a combination of PHP with a database. How do I make my own Guestbook and Message Board? Where do I go to make my own Guestbook and Message Board??? I really wanna start my website making a Guestbook and a Message Board! Do you have any advice on how to get started? Cause then I'll find out if I actually need a database for it or not!

Thank you so much for giving me all those USEFUL links!!! I just can't get over how nice you are to me! Your help means a lot to me, and I don't know what I would have done without your wonderful help!!!

I will try to find out if I need a database or not ASAP!!! I don't really know if I do or not as for now. So thanks for sharing those links with me!!!

Thanks a bunch for letting me know that many Guestbooks and Message Boards in Perl/CGI may not require a database as well! I will definitely try and find out more about this!!!

Thanks for letting me know that MySQL seems to be a more popular one to choose! I don't know the difference between My SQL and PostgreSQL eather! But I'll check out both sites and see which one I seem to like the most. And if it turns out I need a database, I'll just choose that! Thanks for letting me know 'bout their homepages! You are truly amazing!!!

Some people I have been talking to are saying that a database is where you upload the images you're gonna post on your website. But isn't that FTP??? Doesn't FTP both store and upload images and pages? And do you recomend me uploading stuff at my domain by using FTP or by using the Control Panel?

Thanks a ton for letting me know that Cpanel is short for Control Panel. I'm new to all this, so I didn't quite get it at first. Thanks for letting me know what the Control Panel does as well! I really appreciate that and it means a lot to me!!!

So if I get the MySQL database I'll have to create and edit my database? I have never done that before. Do you know of any good tutorials?

Thanks a gazillion for letting me know 'bout what CPU is as well!!! You are so awesome!

Thank you so much for replying to all my questions! You just made my week and a lil bit more :) You're the best!!!

I hope to hear from you soon! Thanks for everything!!!

-Sabrina