Websites for HackersHow websites work, and how to make

them right now.

You’re hard to hire.

Why does a programmer need a web presence?

It’s central to how we make multi-user applications these days.

Why learn web?

Where do your visitors start?

So, where should we start?

Get a domain.

Step 1

Domains: What is?

google.com 74.125.24.100

github.com 192.30.252.130

wsu.edu 134.121.137.7

Domains: How use?

AuthoritativeDNS Server Web Server

Address Record

Delegating DNS Server

Domains: How choose?

● Your name?● Your brand?● Something personal, fun (yet marketable)?● Memorable.● Easy to type.● Case-insensitive (treat as lower-case).● Don’t use hyphens.

Domains: Examples

● http://ejohn.org/● http://chriscoyier.net/● http://www.hanselman.com/● http://haacked.com/● http://www.scottgu.com/ (blog: http://weblogs.asp.net/scottgu/)● http://daverupert.com/● http://addyosmani.com/blog/● http://www.lukew.com/● http://ethanmarcotte.com/ (blog: http://unstoppablerobotninja.com/)● http://www.paulirish.com/● http://www.crockford.com/● http://meyerweb.com/● http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/

Domains: How get?

Let’s go get one now!

Domains: Review

1. Choose a domain.2. Buy the domain.3. Give public contact information.4. (Optional) Buy privacy.5. Set up DNS.

Where do web servers come from?

Now we need something to point that domain at.

Get hosting.

Step 2

Hosting: What is?

interblag

Visitors

Really just a web server!

There are options for every budget!

But datacenters are expensive.

Hosting: Shared

● Many customers on the same server.● Web panel interface.● FTP and SSH similar to regular Unix users.● Cheap!● Easy to install software.● Less control.● Lots of tenants competing for resources.

Hosting: VPS

● Your own virtual machine.● Pretty much full control.● Standard SSH/RDP interface.

○ Panels sometimes available.● More hands-on.● More expensive.● Still sharing resources with other tenants.

Hosting: Dedicated

● Your own physical server.● HVAC, redundant power, security.● Guaranteed resources, no sharing.● It’s a computer.● Pretty expensive.

Hosting: How get?

Let’s go get one now!

Hosting: Review

● Decide what kind of hosting you need.● Shop around for a reputable vendor.● Buy some.

Get your content up there quickly, so you can get back to hacking.

How can we put all that hosting to good use?

Get a CMS.

Step 3

CMS: What is?

● “Content Management System”● Authoring tools

○ WYSIWYG editor○ Drafting

● Templating● Theming● Users● Comments● Caching

CMS: How get?

Let’s go install one now!

CMS: Review

● Install the web application.● Create and connect the database.● Guided install under shared hosting.● A bit more complicated with a VPS or

dedicated setup.● Install or create an awesome theme!

Get it out of your brain!

Now we have a place for your content.

Make content.

Step 4

Get back to hacking!

And now you have a website.

So Many Choices!Domains➔ Namecheap➔ Hover➔ Gandi➔ Name.com➔ GoDaddy➔ Network Solutions➔ Whoever is selling you

hosting

Hosting➔ Bluehost➔ HostGator➔ DreamHost➔ A Small Orange➔ Rackspace➔ WebFaction➔ Linode➔ DigitalOcean➔ WiX➔ Wordpress.com➔ Squarespace➔ Weebly➔ Google Sites➔ NearlyFreeSpeech➔ Amazon S3➔ You➔ Whoever is selling you

domains

CMS➔ Wordpress➔ Drupal➔ Joomla➔ Concrete5➔ ExpressionEngine➔ Umbraco➔ Orchard

DNS➔ Amazon Route 53➔ ZoneEdit➔ Whoever is selling you

domains

References● http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dns● http://37signals.com/svn/posts/2628-how-to-hire-a-programmer-when-youre-not-a-

programmer● http://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/the-perpetual-and-vexing-problem-of-hiring-

programmers.html● http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shared_web_hosting_service● http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_private_server● http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dedicated_hosting_service● http://visual.ly/most-popular-content-management-systems-2013● http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_content_management_system● http://trends.builtwith.com/cms● http://trends.builtwith.com/hosting● http://trends.builtwith.com/ns● http://www.websitebuilderexpert.com/wix-vs-weebly-vs-squarespace-vs-jimdo/● http://lifehacker.com/5911651/five-best-web-hosting-companies● http://lifehacker.com/5545568/five-best-personal-web-hosts● http://lifehacker.com/5943452/five-best-domain-name-registrars● http://theme.wordpress.com/● http://xkcd.com/181/